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Last year, my sister and I started to plan our travel for 2019 and were researching options where to go. We already had France on the itinerary, but we always like to add another country we haven’t been to. Enter: Portugal. Beautiful cities located atop hills, tiled architecture, and castles in remote towns were just some of what I wanted to see. As I dove into more research, I learned of the amazing food, wine , history, and culture that this country had to offer.
DESTINATIONS: 3
LENGTH OF TIME: 6 DAYS
*Lisbon: 4 days*
*Sintra Day Trip*
*Porto: 2 days*
HOW TO GET AROUND: walk, train, uber, tram
CURRENCY: Euro
Table of Contents
Lisbon
The capital of Portugal is known for its many hills and is located by the Tagus river. The iconic yellow trams and tiled buildings are also what this city is recognized for. We arrived mid-morning from San Diego, with a connection in London. Despite the weather being perfect the week prior, we happened to arrive right when a heat wave started.
Where We Stayed
Located in the historical quarter of Lisbon, Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel was one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at in Europe. Although somewhat of a splurge, we were able to use our Chase credit card points plus $200 for four nights. Some features of this hotel are great location, free unlimited water bottles, happy hour, and daily free ice cream. The room was a good size and the bathroom had a spa-like feel complete with mood lighting and music.
Where To Eat
- Time Out Market: This massive food hall has a wide range of food to satisfy any craving. From Italian to burgers to Japanese, you will leave with a full stomach. If you love chocolate, get the chocolate bomb at Nós é Mais Bolos.
- Da Prata 52: Excellent tapas style food to share, including grilled sausage that they finish grilling over an open fire right next to your table. Make reservations via their website since this place is tiny.
- Manteigaria: You can’t go to Portugal without trying their famous egg custard tarts called pastéis de nata.
- Portugália: Located on the coast in the Belem district, this spot is perfect for a light lunch and refreshment.
- Dear Breakfast: Before a long day of walking in the sun, fuel up here for tasty food, including eggs benedict or smoothies.
What To Do
- Explore the Alfama and Barrio Alto: Get lost among the the steep hills in these neighborhoods and admire all of the tiled architecture. Stop for drinks at rooftop bars along the way. Don’t miss the famous Bica lift for a photo op.
- Watch the sunset at Castelo De Sao Jorge: Although it’s a hike to get here, this castle has one of the best views of Lisbon.
- Visit Belem: Don’t miss the Jerónimos Monastery, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and the iconic Belem tower.
- Walk Along Rio Tejo: Add Praça do Comércio and Cais das Colunas to your list of sites to visit along the river. Lounge on one of the grassy hills along the path.
Sintra
Day Trip from Lisbon
Sintra is a tiny town located within one hour of Lisbon, which makes this a perfect day trip. It’s known for its 19th century architecture, royal palaces, and beautiful gardens. While there are multiple castles to visit, time only permits for two in one day. Below are the ones that we visited.
Quinta da Regaleira
This UNESCO World Heritage site is located near the center of the town and is easily accessible by taxi. Lush green trees, fountains, and caves fill the grounds. It’s easy to get lost in this park, however, the map and the signs on the path are helpful.
Pena Palace
This palace is the most popular in Sintra, therefore, I recommend going to visit when you first arrive in the city. The beautiful bright castle is what draws the massive crowds every day. To reach the the castle, walk up the steep hills and wait in line to get inside. Tip: buy your tickets online before you go to save time.
Porto
Porto, known for its port wine and steep roads that lead to beautiful tiled buildings, is located on the Duoro River. We took the train from Lisbon, which took around three hours.
Where We Stayed
Our AirBnB was located on the other side of the river in the Gaia neighborhood, but was close enough to walk across the Dom Luís bridge. There was no air conditioning, but at least my sister and I got our own rooms. Did I also mention that the view from the balcony was incredible?
Where To Eat
- Duoro Velho: The location of this restaurant is right on the river, which is perfect to watch the sunset. Although the food was good, what set this restaurant apart was the service. We stayed for hours and the waiter treated us with complimentary wine and port until midnight.
- Fábrica da Nata: We went here for a quick coffee and breakfast during our sight-seeing and it was delicious. A simple croissant sandwich and pastéis de nata was just the right amount of food.
- Majestic Cafe: Go here for the romantic ambience and beautiful decor.
What To Do
- Go hunting for the buildings with the beautiful Azulejo tile: One could spend all day exploring the hills of Porto. All over the city, this beautiful blue tile is present around every corner.
- Get lost in the streets: Most of the charm and beauty of the city is located in its hidden streets and alleys.
- Take a boat tour: Once you’re done with the walking, a boat tour is an excellent way to cool off, see the six bridges of Porto, and view the ports from the water.
- Go on a day trip to the Duoro Valley: Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to plan this day trip, but wine tasting in the Duoro Valley is a popular way to spend a day. There are many tour companies that offer this through AirBnB or Viator. If I had an extra day, I would choose one that included a boat cruise on the Duoro river.
- Try the port wine: There are many wine houses that have tastings, but any restaurant will have this wine that Porto is known for.
This itinerary only highlights three of the regions in Portugal, however, there are many more cities that seem just as amazing. For example, Lagos in the Algarve region is known for its beaches. Hopefully one day I’ll be lucky enough to return to Portugal and experience more of what it has to offer.
