A Perfect Portugal All Around Country Trip with Hidden Gems

A perfect Portugal all-around country trip with hidden gems. Portugal’s allure lies in its breathtaking diversity, offering a tapestry of experiences. From awe-inspiring monolithic complexes steeped in centuries of history, cork farms, Douro Valley wineries, medieval villages, sun-kissed beaches, bustling markets and lively city streets. Each cobblestone street and ancient monument tells a story of resilience and innovation. The culinary adventure makes each meal a gastronomic delight with a dedication to freshness and flavor, particularly its remarkable seafood. Each destination unveils a different facet of Portugal’s rich cultural heritage. There are endless adventures for those willing to explore this magnificent country.

In and around Porto

Portugal’s 2nd largest city with its streets and sidewalks made of granite cobblestone. Be prepared to walk up hills and ladies don’t even try to wear high heels in the evening.

• Walk the Dom Luis Bridge - A double-deck metal arch bridge spanning the Douro River between the Porto Old Town (Ribeira district) and the wine-making district of Villa Nova de Gaia. It offers panoramic views of the city’s colorful waterfront. If the bridge looks like the San Francisco Bay Bridge, you are correct. It was in fact copied from that bridge.

• The historic Ribeira district has charming narrow streets lined with colorful buildings, cafes and shops. And wine enthusiasts can explore the cellars of numerous wine cellars, sampling the world-renowned port.

• Want to see a 1917 grocery store? It’s still there. And the most beautiful McDonald’s in the World. Inaugurated in 1995 and a former Art Deco café. Not your conventional McDonald’s as they have genuine Portuguese sweet bread, custard tart, soups, sandwiches and more.

• Don’t forget to see Igreja do Carmo and dos Carmelitas, 2 churches that stand almost side by side, separated by a very narrow (1 meter wide) house that was inhabited until the 1980s. The city was not allowed to have two churches side by side, so they built a narrow barrier in between. It’s easy to miss this masterpiece.

• Pinhais Sardine Factory tour is a real adventure and a treat. 20 minutes outside of Porto and you’ll package your sardines and sample some at the end of the tour.

• Capela do Senhor da Pedra (Chapel of the Lord of the Stone, on Vila Nova de Gaia beach (Praia do Senhor da Pedra beach — residential area). The chapel is perched on a rock and exposed to the Atlantic Ocean. A one of a kind.

In and around Lisbon

Portugal’s largest city where the cobblestone streets are made of Limestone as opposed to Granite like in Porto.

• Lisbon's main square Praça do Comércio is situated along the Tagus River and is one of the largest squares in Europe. It is very lively for locals and tourists alike. The square is surrounded by elegant yellow buildings and features the iconic Triumphal Arch at its center.

• Tower of Belem is a 16th-century fortification built to defend Lisbon from enemy ships. It’s an iconic monument at the waterfront that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation.

• Jeronimo Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its intricate stone carvings, elaborate ornamentation and stunning architecture. It is associated with Portugal’s Age of Discovery since many explorers, including Vasco da Gama, embarked on their voyages from here.

• Take a peek at the famous historical store Bacalhoaria Silva, which is the oldest establishment in Lisbon selling salted codfish. You’ve never seen such enormous dried codfish.

• Castelo de Sao Jorge — Offers breathtaking panoramic views of Lisbon and the Tagus River from its hilltop location. It is steeped in history dating back to the Moorish period in the 11th century. Be prepared to walk up the steep hill.

• Sintra – No trip to Lisbon is complete without visiting Sintra, which is home to several stunning palaces, the most famous being the colorful Pena Palace. You can hike through the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and visit many of the historical sites. It’s a magical escape from the big city of Lisbon. Beware, it is the most visited place in Portugal, so go early.

• Biester Palace in Sintra — A little-known palace recently re-opened to the public where a real family lived. Built in 1880 as the residence of Ernesto Biester with a wooden elevator, the first one in a private home. Gorgeous gardens and views of the city.

• Cabo da Roca, Colares - The most western point of continental Europe. It is a dramatic and windswept headland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean with rugged cliffs that rise out of the sea.

• Cascais is a charming coastal town that was once a quaint fishing village and is now an exclusive destination due to its picturesque coastline with golden sandy beaches. It’s also known for its excellent surfing.

Let's head to the Algarve

Carvoeiro – Called Algar Seco, which is a network of caves, holes and rock formations- Carbonated rock (limestone). Caves and rock formations are concentrated on the coast between Lagos and Albufeira, sometimes referred to as Costa de Ouro (Golden Coast).

Tavira Island — Praia do Homem Nu beach (Beach of the Naked Man), Praia da Terra Estreita and the Anchor Graveyard, which is a memorial to the lost tuna fishing industry that once thrived here. The anchors were used to keep the nets in place as opposed to mooring the boats. Take the cute old-fashioned choo-choo train to reach the island (Ilha da Tavira) and Barril beach.

Santa Luzia is a traditional fishing village with a 2000+ year-old olive tree on the grounds of a residential area.

Alentejo Region

Evora – The capital of Alentejo and a UNESCO site. Ruins of the 1st-century Roman Temple. Evora has the 2nd-oldest University. The Chapel of the Bones is a marvel because the interior walls are covered and decorated with human skulls and bones. Read the story of why!!!

Cromeleque dos Almendres — A megalithic complex. This stone circle is known as “the Portuguese Stonehenge”. Huge oval boulders that look like gigantic stone eggs form a mysterious circle. One of Europe’s largest prehistoric monuments with close to 100 stones built over several different periods between 5000 and 4000 BCE. It remained undiscovered until 1966.

Arraiolos – Village of rugs and a circular castle built 1279–1325. One of the few castles in the world with circular architecture. Known for producing famous tapestry rugs since the 16th century – Persian period and decorative rugs.

Estremoz – The city of marble. The local marble quarries have supplied high-quality stone for centuries, and visitors can admire exquisite marble sculptures and crafts at workshops and galleries throughout the town.

Observatório do Lago Alqueva – (Lake Alqueva Observatory) is the first and largest astronomical observatory in Alentejo. Located in the heart of rural Portugal, near the medieval village of Monsaraz, its location offers a truly magnificent dark sky to all visitors

The Douro Valley — This is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and is famous for producing Portugal's renowned port wine. It is characterized by terraced vineyards that cascade down the hillsides, and you must embark on a leisurely cruise along the Douro river.

Day Trips

Guimaraes – Cradle of Portugal, about an hour from Porto. The birthplace of founding father Alfonso Henriques in 1109. This was the 1st capital and a UNESCO site. The Castle is the most connected to the origins of Portugal.

Braga – Minho’s capital and the youngest population in Portugal. The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte was developed over 600 years ago and consists of five senses of stairways. You take the funicular up because it is powered by two water tanks.

Coimbra – University of Coimbra and between Porto and Lisbon. The city is made up mostly of Shale vs granite and limestone. The library shouldn’t be missed and has 60K books. No photos are allowed and you are limited to 15 minutes in the library.

Porto

• Lunch at Cervejaria Gazela — A snack bar. Make sure you eat outside. Known for its unique hot dogs. They are cut into little pieces. For a quick stop.

• Lunch at Joi Ah Restaurant for grilled octopus in the Afurada area, which is a wonderful fishermen's village still not damaged by tourists.

• Dinner at Cantinho do Avillez — well-known chef Jose Avillez – first venture outside of Lisbon and a Michelin 1*. This is his casual place. Try dishes like the delicious deep-fried green beans with tartar sauce, exploding olives and sauteed scallops with portobello mushroom risotto.

• Dinner Taberna do Mercados excellent jovial taberna. Delicious Codfish croquettes, clams in garlic and olive oil and octopus in octopus rice shouldn’t be missed.

Lisbon and surrounding area

• Pasteris de Belem (Pastel de nata) for the famous Portuguese egg custard tart pastry, optionally dusted with cinnamon. This is the original location as they make 30 K a day so you’re getting the real thing!

• Dinner - 2 star Michelin - Belconte for dinner – 4+ hours. 12 courses plus three dessert courses and one last bite after dessert. Have you ever had a Smoked ham ice cream sandwich?

• Dinner - Bistro 100 Maneiras – Art Deco building with two floors. Portuguese, Yugoslavian and French with some Italian. Fabulous loaves of bread. Spinach Burek (like a puff pastry) whipped homemade yogurt sauce on top.

• Tasca do Chico for Fado. No reservations required and you need to line up 30 minutes before they open. Monday nights are when locals sing. You want to get in for the first show.

• Cascais Mariscaria Praca restaurant for lunch. Overlooks the Ocean. Order from the case by the kg — spider crab, barnacles (wow — never had them before), tiny clams with olive oil and garlic.

Algarve

• Outside of Faro– Ze Maria restaurant on the water. They are known for their razor clam rice and the special dessert (not on the menu) that is only in the Algarve — Dom Rodrigo, colorful pyramid-shaped packets — sweet dessert balls of almond-egg yolk mixture wrapped in dough and then wrapped in aluminum foil, so it resembles a pyramid.

• Chicken Piri Piri at Ramires restaurant in Guia, which is the home of Piri Piri. The restaurant has been there since 1964, and Guia is Portugal's capital for grilled chicken. Birds raised here are supposed to be tender and flavorsome as they are basted in piri piri sauce before grilling over charcoal. This is a dish that originated in Africa.

• Tavira Dinner at Come Na Gaveta – gastro pub. Excellent. Sardines hanging from clothes pins. Algarve platter, which included carrots, olives, octopus ceviche, tuna pate. And try the Tempura Octopus.

• Sabores de Monsaraz. Eat outside overlooking the city, which has the largest manmade lake in Europe, the Alqueva.

• Sem Fin – Monsaraz. The restaurant was an olive mill and still retains many of the features of the mill. On Saturday night, they have a singer.

Douro Valley

• DOC for lunch or dinner — This is a culinary gem known for its spectacular setting, perched on the banks of the Douro River. Led by acclaimed chef Rui Paula, the DOC Restaurant is known for its creative and contemporary approach to Portuguese cuisine. Try to get a reservation for sunset.