Travel Through Portugal: Porto, Douro Valley, Sintra, Cascais, Lagos and Lisbon

Things to Do in Porto:

• Igreja dos Carmelitos

• Sao Bento Train Station

• Porto Cathedral

• Palacio de Bolsa

• Igreja de Sao Francisco

• Cockburns

When you first arrive take a stroll around the city and stop in for a cup of coffee. The coffee there is delicious!

Starting a new city with a free walking tour is the best. Yes its' free- they work off of tips. Although walking tours don't take you inside buildings, they give you a feel for the city and an introduction to the history. Portugal is very hilly so make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes! The steep climbs are worth it when you approach the top and take in the beautiful panoramic sights of Porto.

Take a walk the Igreja dos Carmelitos and Igrega do Carmo - These are two churches separated by a tiny little house (Casa Escondida- the hidden house). It was built so that the two churches would not share a common wall and to prevent any relations between the nuns of the Igreja dos Carmelitos and the monks of the Igreja do Carmo.

Visit the Sao Bento Train Station and admire the blue and white tiles surrounding the walls. It's so mesmerizing seeing the intricacy of the tiles and how they were put together piece by piece to create the artwork you see today. You see these blue and white tiles all over Portugal.

Porto Cathedral - Another must visit spot- this is located in the center of the city.

Igreja De Sao Nicolau - Another church where you will see the blue and white tile. Although the church was destroyed by a fire and later rebuilt, the tile was placed much later in the 1860's.

Palacio Da Bolsa - This was built on the site of a burned down convent. The Palacio provided Porto with a site for its stock exchange. Each room inside the Palacio is vastly different. As you walk around, you will see the different styles throughout the building. One very different room is the Arab Room- which was decorated in the Moorish style. It is unlike any other room in the building but absolutely stunning.

Igreja de Sao Francisco- It was initially a small church and convent, but later part of the temple was destroyed by a fire and the Stock Exchange was built. The window is the only original decor.

The Lello Library - This is a gorgeous bookstore where supposedly J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for the Harry Potter staircase. It gets quite busy there. Buy tickets in advance and get there early as there is always a very long line to get in.

If you love port, you came to the right place. Porto has many port houses that have tours and tastings. Some of the more popular ones require a reservation ahead of time. So make sure you go on their website and see if one can be made. Take a fun leisurely stroll over the Ponte Luis Bridge to Gaia on the other side of the Douro River where all of the port houses are located. Check out some of the well knows port houses such as Sandeman, Cockburns, and Taylor. The mood in Gaia is so lively. It is full of waterfront cafes and bars. Stop in one of the rooftop bars for some live music, fun crowd, and breezes from the waterfront.

Things to Do in Lisbon:

• Pantheon

• Lisbon Cathedral

• Convento do Carmo

The easiest way to get to Lisbon from Porto is by train. You can book the train tickets up to 60 days in advance and it takes about three hours.

Again, my suggestion is to start Lisbon off with a free walking tour. A reservation ahead of time is required as they only have a limited amount of spots per time slot.
Some guides may be great and others not so much. You don't know who you are going to get, but the beauty of this is that they are free so although it's not very nice you can always choose to leave the tour early.

Lisbon is made up of several unique neighborhoods. Alfama is very picturesque with narrow streets, tiled buildings, and quintessential beauty on every corner. The oldest neighborhood in the city, Alfama transports you to another world. Here you can visit the Pantheon and the Lisbon Cathedral.

Baixa is a hotspot of the city. Visit the Commerce Square, which was considered the door to Lisbon as this was where commercial ships would unload their goods. Or go see the Santa Justa Elevator- a tower that links downtown to the Chiado district up on the hill.

Chiado is the shopping area. Here you will find a series of boutiques, cafes, and bookstores. The oldest bookstore in the world is located here. Make your way to the Convento do Carmo. This is Lisbon's greatest medieval building, which sits as a reminder of the devastating earthquake that happened in 1775, which destroyed most of the city. The roof had collapsed as a Mass was happening and it was never rebuilt.

Bairro Alto is one of the higher points in Lisbon. Walk along the cobbled streets and take in the true spirit of Lisbon. With the relaxed atmosphere, enjoy having a drink at one of the many cafes and listen to traditional Fado music. This is the neighborhood, a mix of traditional and modern, is where you want to go to for the nightlife. This is where the party happens. People enjoy sitting outside in the fresh air with a drink in hand.

Things to Do in Lagos:

Want to take a break from sightseeing and have some relaxation time? From Lisbon, take a car to Lagos, in the Algarve part of Portugal, and spend 1-2 nights there depending how many days you can spare in your trip. My recommendation would be at least 2 nights just so you don't feel rushed. Lagos is a coastal town made up of giant rock formations and nice beaches to just sit and relax. Enjoy some fun in the sun and lounge by the pool. Take a walk over to the beach and feel the sand between your toes but keep in mind the water in Portugal is very cold. You can't really swim in there for too long.

In the evening, take an Uber to the lively town center that has many restaurants, bars, live music, and street entertainment. Walk over to the marina and take in the essence of the area.

The second full day, charter a boat that will take you around to the different caves and show you the different parts of Lagos by sea. This is especially fun for a group to go on. Sail with a drink in hand and snacks provided by the crew while the captain is giving you some history about the area. Enjoy a day out on the water and breathe in the fresh salty air. You're not one that can sit and relax too long? No problem. you can adventure off the boat and do some snorkeling or paddleboarding.

Day Trips:

I would highly recommend a day trip to the Douro Valley from Porto and experience the oldest wine region of the world. It is best to book a private tour from Porto, where a driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you there. It's about an hour and half ride. The guide takes you to a selection of wineries, provides lunch at a restaurant on site followed by a sailboat ride on the Douro River while you enjoy the beautiful landscapes.

Escape Lisbon for a half a day and visit Sintra and Cascais. You can take an Uber from Lisbon directly to Sintra or take a quick and easy train ride. In Sintra, you would visit the amazing colorful and magical Pena Palace. It's best to purchase your tickets ahead of time to be able to avoid the long lines. You can either book a park ticket which allows you to walk around the outside of the palace and take in the stunning views from the terraces or can do a combined ticket to include going inside the palace to view the different rooms. When purchasing the tickets a time slot is chosen. You MUST enter within your time, or your ticket will not be valid anymore. After spending some time at Pena Palace take a quick Uber ride to the enchanting Quinta Da Regaleira. When you are there, you feel like you're in a fairytale. Although the inside of the Quinta itself isn't anything special, the gardens and the grounds are worth the time to stroll around and make your way to the Initiation Well. After all this walking, you deserve a break! Make your way to the town of Sintra and pick one of the many restaurants to sit down, unwind, and have a nice lunch with a glass or two of wine.

To continue the relaxation, take an Uber to Cascais, a seaside town only 20 minutes from Sintra and 30 minutes from Lisbon on the Portuguese Riviera, that used to be the summer retreat for the royal family and other Portuguese nobility. With its beautiful cobblestone streets, relaxing atmosphere, and magnificent coastline you can explore the entire town by foot. Cascais is the perfect blend of modern and traditional. Visit the lively town center, enjoy some fresh seafood at a local eatery, eat some delightful pastries or delicious gelato, or just relax at the sandy beach while staring at the clear turquoise water and hear the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks. You won't be disappointed with anything you choose to do here.

Porto:

Lunch:

• RIS8TTO - Located in the Baixa section, sit on the terrace and enjoy a selection of different risottos.

Dinner:

• Espaco Porto Cruz - Located in the Gaia section on the riverfront, is an incredible restaurant and lounge. Try all the different appetizers - you wont be disappointed- Everything tasted so fresh and was just decadent. You can try Portugal's famous Vinho Verde "green wine" here or try some other wines from the Douro Valley. Portugal is a fairly inexpensive country- so a meal here is priced very reasonably, and you may even be shocked at the final total.

• Abadia do Porto - Is a very traditional and authentic Portuguese restaurant. You see a lot of locals come here so you know it's a good place.

Drinks:

• The View - rooftop bar featuring live music and a good atmosphere.

Lisbon:

Lunch:

• Time out Market- This essentially is a huge food hall with many different and delicious options. Although, this place may feel overwhelming as their are so many places to choose from, you can try a little bit from a couple booths to fulfill your tastebuds with different textures and flavors.

• Pastéis de Belém - Stop in here for the best Pasteis de Nata, a Portuguese egg tart. Although, there are many places that make them- you will notice some are better than others. So just walk around and try from the different local eateries.

Dinner:

• Sea Me - In Chiado an innovative concept mixing a fish market and seafood restaurant serving freshly caught fish and a touch of Japanese sushi. You MUST make a reservation here ahead of time or you will not be able to get in. You can start your experience with some sushi or other seafood appetizers. In this unique place you choose the featured fresh fish off the boat laying over ice and how you would like it prepared.

• Taberna Do Lis - A charming Portuguese tavern in the Baixa area of Lisbon. Sit inside to enjoy the nice atmosphere. The Portuguese steak is a must try! The octopus was a fairly big portion and was delicious.

• Espada Restaurant and Bar - A contemporary restaurant located in the Chiado section puts a twist on local Portuguese cuisine. Order several of the shared plates/tapas and try a little bit of everything.

• Belcanto - This Michelin rated restaurant in the Bairro Alto area is on the world's best list. The tasting menu takes you on a gastronomic journey making your taste buds come to life and taste flavors you never knew existed. Although Portugal tends to be inexpensive, this restaurant is one of the most expensive ones in Lisbon. You can either sit at the chef's table or dine in the elegant dining room.