Queluz

Halfway between Lisbon and Sintra, the otherwise rather unremarkable town of Queluz is dominated by its magnificent palace and gardens, located in the plaza of the town’s center. Across from the palace stand the rebuilt royal guard’s quarters, which have been turned into a lovely pousada. Unlike its metropolitan surroundings, the rest of the town’s buildings still mimic the 18th-century style of the palace, which gives you the unique feeling that you’re stepping back in time once you cross the bridge into the area.