Have you been longing for sunshine, white sands, and a wide ocean after the past winter months? Have you been in your home country long enough to feel in need of a sweet escape to the seaside? Now is the perfect time to start planning a summer trip for your upcoming holidays. Consider adding this stunning city by the coastline in Western Europe to the top of your bucket list - Portugal. Below, I will go briefly through some of the most famous destinations in Portugal, and provide hands-on tips for you to keep in mind while traveling through these places.
The undiscovered historical Porto with excellent wine
Known as a busy industrial and commercial centre, Porto remains an undiscovered destination in Portugal. There are plenty of hidden beautiful landscapes here along with many activities for visitors to experience. Built along the hills overlooking the Douro River, this UNESCO World Heritage City is famous for its historic Ribeira District, with an abundance of old colourful houses lying by various boats along the river. The city is filled with plenty of art, ranging from abundant Azulejo ceramic tiles seen in numerous buildings across the city to street-art by the famous artist Hazul. From Porto you can easily walk or take a boat to Gaia - where some of the best Porto wines are produced. Though Porto is quite small and can be travelled on foot, it may be tiring to walk up and down the hills within the historic centre. Hence getting a transport card for only 80 cents, to which you can load money, can be useful for getting around. Ryanair offers many cheap flights via Porto International Airport.
The vibrant and versatile capital Lisbon
Lisbon city centre consists of 6 main districts. Some of the most interesting ones to see are Rossio (the modern central meeting point commonly known for the city life vibe), Principe Real (the trendy shopping district), Chiado (the historical area filled with vibrant nightlife), and Praça do Comércio (a splendid plaza facing the river). Some of the most spectacular attractions and viewpoints (miradouros) of Lisbon can be reached by the old tram for tourists, number 28. From Lisbon’s centre, you can take many buses, trams, and trains to visit the historical and cultural Belem district. Between Lisbon and Porto there are good train connections, but you can enjoy lower fares with Ryanair by booking at least one week in advance. Lisbon Portela Airport has good flight connections with many cities across Europe.
The mystic and romantic Sintra
Famous for its mystic, romantic, and magical atmosphere, Sintra is also known as the home to one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe - the Pena National Palace. Additionally, the UNESCO World Heritage City has a lot more to offer besides the world-famous castle: the Castle of the Moors, the Palace of SIntra, and the Quinta da Regaleira Estate with its romantic palace, chapel, and a luxurious park. There are frequent trains every day between Lisbon and Sintra. Sintra is very small, but it can get tiring having to walk through everything. Therefore, I recommend taking the bus 434, following the track for tourists, for 3 EUR (about 3.5 USD) per single ticket. Visiting Sintra can be expensive for low-budget travellers as the entrance fee to the Pena National Palace is 12 EUR (13.5 USD), 8 EUR (9 USD) for the Castles of the Moors, and another 6 EUR (7 USD) to visit the Quinta da Regaleira Park.
The 'Atlantic Pearl' Madeira
Known as a subtropical archipelago and an autonomous region of Portugal, Madeira is made up of two islands: Madeira and Porto Santo. This so called ‘Pearl of the Atlantic’ is a popular destination for all sorts of tourists. There are a couple of must-see attractions including the Levadas - a system of aqueducts bringing water from the mountain to the farmland, and Cabo Girão - one of the world’s highest ocean cliffs. Other attractions in this area that you should not miss are the Funchal Botanical Gardens, the volcanic caves, and various viewpoints (miradouros). The island is a heaven for those who enjoy outdoor water sports: kayaking, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, etc. The island attracts a large number of visitors during New Year’s Eve as the biggest firework show in the world took place here in 2007. Madeira is accessible by flight to Madeira Funchal Airport, ferry, or boat from Lisbon.
Ready to explore other interesting destinations?
There are plenty of other famous destinations to explore in Portugal, including Funchal, Albufeira, Cascais, Portimao, and so on. Do not miss out on trying Portuguese cuisine with some of the best seafood dishes in Europe and Porto wine. Most locals don’t speak English well, so be prepared to practice some basic Portuguese and have fun with body language along the way!
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