“Is this real life?”

Sintra is what happened when Disney and Mother nature bunked up in Portugal.

This magical town is all about bizarre castles (think Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance styles) mixed with tropical wilderness and masonic hideouts.

Pena Palace is the hilltop Queen of the castles. It looks like a bunch of different buildings were all smushed together to make one giant multicoloured boss.

You know you’re somewhere special when a duck emerges from a medieval, duck castle in the middle of the lake…

The palace gardens come complete with tropical plants, huge redwoods and mysterious lakes.

But you’ve got to go to Quinta da Regaleira if you’re after Dan Brown style initiation wells.

Descend the spiral stairs to its mysterious core, muttering Latin incantations under your breath.

Enough freaky castles?

It’s time for Praia da ursa.

This sandy stretch is considered one of the world’s most beautiful beaches by the Michelin guide (and everyone who’s visited).

The tough route down over rocky terrain means you often have the place to yourself.

A trip to Portugal is never complete unless you’ve added a flabby tyre to your waistline.

The best way to do this is with Queijadas (mini sugar glazed cheesecakes).

Try em at Cafe Saudade- a cafe-gallery-concert venue with the best cake rep in town.

Sintra is where ancient castley culture meets misty mountainscapes.

Get it inside you before the weather snaps.