Portugal

…Fairytale villages, medieval castles, riverside cities, fabulous beaches, delectable seafood, powerful fortified wines…

Portugal has everything you need for a satisfying holiday...UNESCO World Heritage Sites, idyllic scenery, friendly people, beautiful & delicious food, and fantastic wines (white, red, and fortified).

We had a lovely week long visit to Portugal.  We flew into Lisbon and then leiusurely drove up to Porto with stops in several fairytale-like villages (Sintra, Obidos) and the University city of Coimbra.  It was awesome to experience both of the two main cities as well as some of the smaller villages and student life. We plan to come back to check out more of the beaches, countryside, and wine regions!        

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Lisbon

• Enjoy a self-guided walking tour from Marquês de Pombal Square down to Praça do Comércio (Lisbon’s main square) near the Tagus River
• Take Tram 28 (quaint yellow tram) to Alfama near the castle.  Walked through the narrow laneways of Alfama with beautiful tiled frescoes
• Take tram to Belém, eat a Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese egg tart pastry dusted with cinnamon) at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, then walk to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a large cathedral, and Torre de Belém, a castle in water with views of the “25 de Abril” bridge (looks just like the Golden Gate Bridge)
• Visit the Oceanarium
• Explore Bairro Alto with its jam-packed streets, tons of bars, and festive atmosphere
• Enjoy cocktails and snacks at Pavilhão Chinês, a funky bar in an old grocery store with five rooms decorated like a museum with toys from the two world wars
• Watch a soccer match at the Estádio da Luz

Sintra (30 min west of Lisbon)

• Enjoy the views of Unesco World Heritage-listed centre Sintra-Vila wih its pastel-hued manors and luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic
• Walk around Castelo dos Mouros and enjoy fabulous view of Sintra from the upper rampart.  
• Hike up to Palacio Natcional da Pena and ascend Serra de Sintra’s highest point, the 529m Cruz Alta (High Cross) for amazing views all over Sintra
• Explore Quinta da Regaleria, a huge mansion with amazing architecture, outdoor gardens, and underground tunnels
• Stay in a 150 year old mansion turned boutique hotel (Hotel Sintra Jardim) with a lovely terrace overlooking lush gardens and a beautiful pool

Obidos

• Explore the labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed houses decorated with flowers and bright yellow & blue paint
• Walk on the crenellated wall surrounding the historic centre and enjoy fantastic sunset views

Coimbra

• Visit the University of Coimbra - Alta and Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on a hill overlooking the city.  Notable sites include the 18th century clock tower in the courtyard, 12th century Cathedral of Santa Cruz, the Joanine Library with its rich baroque decor, the 18th century Botanical Garden, and the University Press.
• Experience one of the university students' festivals (Latada, a homecoming parade at the start of the academic year, or Queima das Fitas, “the burning of the ribbons” at the end of the 2nd semester)
• Enjoy a typical Portugese meal of Balcalhaus (fried cod) and chips at an outdoor cafe by the river

Porto

• Take a self-guided walking tour from Trindade down to river and indulge in a cheese and port tasting at Portologia
• Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Douro River
• Walk through the Ribeira area and across Douro River to enjoy views back to Porto and sample ports at Taylor's and Sogevinus
• Eat an iconic Franceschina, a Portuguese sandwich originally from Porto, made with bread (the thicker the better), wet-cured ham, linguiça (a Portuguese sausage), steak or roast meat, and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce