5 Days in Portugal
In May 2022, as part of a longer trip, we spent 5 days in Portugal with my Mom. There is so much more to discover in this beautiful country, but we tried to do as much as we could in Lisbon and Porto before flying to Scotland. Here are our top 10 picks (from the places we saw):
#1- Sintra
Visiting Sintra is like walking into a fairytale. Only one hour by train from Lisbon, this is an easy and worthwhile day trip. Once you arrive at the train station, it is a short walk to where the park buses depart from. Buy a bus ticket from the bus directly and you can ride in a loop to the different areas. Start your day at Palace of Pena to get a wonderful view of the surrounding National Park (you will need an entrance ticket). The history of this site reaches back to the 12th century, when it was the location of a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. The entire park is worth exploring, but our favourite part was Quinta de Regaleira. Designed and built in the late 1800s, every path leads to a beautiful tower, an underground cave, or a lovely garden. Don't miss the spiral Initiation Well. |
#2- Sunset in Jardim do Morro, Porto
On our last night in Portugal, we headed across the Dom Luís I Bridge to the Jardim Do Moreo. With a few beers and a bottle of wine in tow, we found a spot on the grass amongst the other onlookers and fixed our gaze above the Douro River to watch the sunset. With food and drink vendors scattered throughout the park, we even found some popcorn to enjoy the last rays of sunlight for the day. This beautiful view is enjoyed by all, so you feel a bit less like a tourist and like this could be how you unwind from a regular workweek in Porto. |
#3- Alfama, Lisbon
Alfama is one of Lisbon's oldest neighbourhoods, complete with cobbled streets, steep hills, amazing viewpoints and even its own castle. There is also an outdoor escalator if you don't feel like climbing the hill. This is a great place to meander through in the evening. Stop for a drink, dinner or just to sit and admire the city from above. |
#4- Ribeira, Porto
Another famous neighbourhood in Portugal, Ribeira in Porto, is a great way to spend a day. Start at São Bento Train Station to admire the tile artwork that covers the walls and ceiling. Then head to Church of Saint Ildefonso. Explore your way through the small streets towards Cais da Ribeira on the river's edge. There are plenty of viewpoints, alleys and churchs to entertain you on the way. |
#5- Belem Tower & Jerónimos Monastery
In the west of Lisbon, along the edge of the Tagus River, you will find the Belém area. Here, a short distance from each other, you can visit both the Belém Tower and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Erected in the early 1500y, the Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the late Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. Belém Tower serves as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. Built in the 16th-century, it was as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers. |
#6- Francesinha Sandwich
While in Porto, we searched several restaurants trying to find the best Francesinha Sandwich. The recipe was born when a returned French emigrant from France and Belgium moved to Porto and tried to adapt the croque-monsieur to the Portuguese taste. The sandwich is made with bread, ham, linguiça, fresh sausage, steak or roast meat, and covered with melted cheese and a hot and thick spiced tomato and beer sauce. The best one we found was at Tasquinha do Bé. They even had a gluten free option. |
#8- Pastel de Nata (Portuguese custard tarts)
Another Portuguese food creation was first baked before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and sold after 1820 as Pastéis de Belém. In 1834, the monastery was closed and the recipe sold to a sugar refinery, whose owners opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém in 1837. The original recipe of the pastel de nata is still kept there in a secret room. |
#9- Oldest Operating Bookstore, Lisbon
Opened in 1732, the original Livraria Bertrand store in the Chiado neighborhood of Lisbon, holds the Guinness record as the world’s oldest bookstore still in operation. Throughout history, the bookstore served as a meeting place for many historic figures in Portugal's history and for Lisbon's elite. There is also a famous bookshop in Porto, Livraria Lello, but the queues to get in were enormous. We opted for looking in the window after closing to see the iconic red staircase. If you want to go inside, get your ticket early and be there before it opens. |
#10- Listen to Fado music, Porto (or Lisbon)
Fado music is a form of Portuguese singing that originated in Portugal around the 1820s, though it is thought to have much earlier origins. Fado is known for how expressive and profoundly melancholic it is. We went to Casa da Guitarra to listen to a Fado performance and our ticket included a glass of port. We also did a walking tour of Porto and at the end our tour guide surprised us with her own Fado song. |
Questions about travelling in Portugal? Email us and we will be happy to help!