26 Real-World Places So Magical They Belong in a Fantasy Film
22. Sintra, Portugal: A Real-Life Romantic Fantasy
Tucked in the forested hills just outside Lisbon, Sintra feels like a fairytale brought to life. Here, colorful palaces rise from misty mountains, and hidden gardens lead to crumbling castles. The whimsical Pena Palace—painted in vivid hues of yellow and red—is the crown jewel, while the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira enchants with its secret tunnels, inverted towers, and mossy grottos. With every path winding past ferns, ruins, and fountains, Sintra is a place of magic, myth, and Moorish splendor that invites endless wandering.
