A Portuguese trip needs to be on any household’s European must-visit record. It’s a fantastic nation, with scrumptious meals, beautiful websites, and pleasant individuals. With three worldwide airports positioned on mainland Portugal, it’s pretty simple to entry from most US locations.
Though it’s a small nation, there are lots of nice cities, small villages, and cities to see when you are there. So, you’ll have to perform a little analysis prematurely to determine that are one of the best cities in Portugal to go to throughout your trip.
Disclosure: My first go to to Portugal was complimentary as a part of a media journey with Martinhal Accommodations, and I paid full worth for my second journey. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order by considered one of these might end in a fee paid to us at no extra price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Greatest Cities to Go to in Portugal on Trip
Lisbon
You’ll most likely wish to embrace the Portuguese capital metropolis of Lisbon in your trip plans. It’s the biggest metropolis in Portugal and one of many main cities in Europe.
Lisbon additionally has the biggest of the worldwide airports within the nation, so that you’ll usually have the ability to get one of the best flights to and from there. There’s a lot to see and do in Lisbon, and there are additionally loads of day journeys from Lisbon for those who determine to base your trip there.
When you are there, it’s a good suggestion to ebook a guided tour so you may get an summary of the town and study extra about its wealthy historical past. There are many choices, together with tuk-tuk and tram excursions. We additionally loved a yacht tour of the Lisbon Tagus River waterfront.
See excursions in Lisbon right here.
We’ve stayed in a number of accommodations in Lisbon, and have beloved them. There are many choices, from smaller, extra boutique accommodations to worldwide chains. Listed below are three we’d suggest:
Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Luxurious Lodge and Flats – I had the chance to tour this lodge earlier than it opened, a number of years in the past. It’s a family-friendly lodge within the fashionable Chiado neighborhood and presents luxurious residences which can be particularly designed for households. In case you are in search of a bit of extra space, this could be a nice selection.
The Olissippo Lapa Palace Lodge – we stayed right here on our final night time in Portugal, and I want we had extra time there. The house of a former palace, this hilltop lodge presents some rooms with views of the Tagus River. It additionally has a fantastic lagoon-style pool which is a stunning oasis for a metropolis lodge. We loved spending a day at this lovely pool.
Tivoli Avenida Liberdade – we spent three nights at this metropolis lodge, positioned on an expensive and swanky road in downtown Lisbon. It presents a number of eating places and bars, together with a classy rooftop bar with lovely night time views of the town. We felt it was an ideal location for our Lisbon trip.
Porto
We began our most up-to-date Portuguese trip within the beautiful, historic metropolis of Porto, positioned in Northern Portugal. There may be a world airport in Porto, and we had been in a position to fly from Boston to Porto with a layover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Porto is the second-largest metropolis in Portugal.
Porto presents a lot to do, and is a fantastic metropolis. We spent 4 nights there, and I really feel like we might have spent our complete trip there. It’s received a hip, fashionable vibe, with numerous boutiques and cafes, among the many historic points of interest and slender, cobblestone streets.
Throughout our journey to Porto, we stayed on the Intercontinental Porto. It’s a contemporary lodge positioned in a historic constructing – the previous Palacio das Cardosas.
From there, we might take a brief stroll to most historic points of interest, together with the Douro River waterfront. We discovered Uber simple to make use of on the town for the locations we couldn’t stroll to. Should you determine to drive, do not forget that some very hilly, slender streets might be difficult to navigate.
One of many highlights of our journey was the Porto Bridge Climb, a comparatively delicate journey on the Arrábida Bridge. Though you’ll be harnessed, there are stairs to climb.
Gaia
Throughout the Douro River from Porto is the city of Gaia. Identified for its wine and port cellars, Gaia is a superb place to go to for the day when you find yourself staying in Porto. There are a lot of totally different eating places and wine cellar excursions (together with wine tasting) – we suggest visiting at the least one!
Need to absorb some beautiful views of the Douro River and of Porto? The Gaia Cable Automobile runs year-round, is a few 5-minute trip, and presents aerial views of the realm. One-way or round-trip tickets can be found.
Douro Valley
The Douro Valley is positioned about an hour and a half from Porto metropolis heart. This wine-country area of Portugal is completely beautiful, with inexperienced rolling hills and a winding river.
Throughout our go to, we kayaked alongside the Douro River after which visited Quinta da Pacheca, a winery the place company can keep in a transformed wine barrel.
You’ll want to attempt port wine, which the area is known for. The truth is, wineries can’t use the “port” label on wines not from the Douro area.
Sintra
Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, is a city and a municipality. Whereas it’s hottest for the intense and colourful Pena Palace, there’s a lot extra to do and see in Sintra.
Different points of interest embrace the Fortress of the Moors (Moorish Fortress), the Sintra Nationwide Palace, and Quinta da Regaleira (positioned close to the town heart, with Knights Templar symbols).
Whereas visiting Sintra is unquestionably attainable on a day journey, I’d suggest arriving early. It’s probably the most in style locations, particularly in summer season. Pena Palace particularly will get busy all through the day. Don’t miss visiting the small city of Sintra, a fantastic historic city with retailers, cafes, and extra to discover.
Cascais
The very first place I visited in Portugal was Cascais. It’s a beautiful resort city and former fishing village with lovely seashores, retailers, resorts, out of doors cafes, and extra. It’s a fast distance from Lisbon, so it’s a straightforward day journey. There are additionally loads of luxurious resorts.
Cascais is positioned on the Portuguese Riviera, which presents a number of the most lovely seashores exterior of southern Portugal.
Évora
The historic metropolis of Evora, positioned southwest of Lisbon within the heart of Portugal, presents some in style points of interest. These embrace the Roman Temple of Évora, positioned within the historic heart of the town, along with the Chapel of Bones (a Sixteenth-century temple with an inside lined with skulls and bones). Evora is about midway between Lisbon and the Spanish border.
Sagres
The city of Sagres is positioned in probably the most southwestern level of Europe, within the Algarve area of Portugal. It’s residence to a number of lovely seashores, with an lively surf neighborhood. Throughout my first journey to Portugal, I stayed on the Martinhal Sagres Household Seaside Resort, a big, luxurious resort made particularly for households that’s the good place for a household to calm down.
Attending to the Algarve could be a little difficult for those who fly into Lisbon. Choices embrace rental automobiles (for a street journey from Lisbon – about 3 hours), public transportation (trains), or non-public transportation. There may be additionally a world airport in Faro, east of Sagres however nonetheless within the Algarve area. Nevertheless, I’d suggest visiting Portugal throughout your journey as a result of it has a number of the greatest seashores within the space.
Carvoeiro
Throughout our most up-to-date go to, we stayed in Carvoeiro within the Algarve. This space presents seashores, resorts, retailers, and eating places and is known for the Carvoeiro Caves. I’d suggest occurring an Algarve cave tour throughout your time within the space – it’s such a novel expertise and a enjoyable factor to see.
Throughout our journey, we stayed at a fantastic, clifftop resort, proper in Carvoeiro. The Tivoli Carvoeiro is a luxurious resort providing a spa, eating places, an outside pool, and beautiful views of the pure fantastic thing about the ocean and cliffs.
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is positioned on the archipelago of the Azores within the Atlantic Ocean (on São Miguel Island) and is the capital metropolis of the Azores area. The Azores might be one of many best European holidays for households, attributable to their proximity to the East Coast of the US. It’s a comparatively brief flight.
Though I haven’t been to the Azores (aside from a flight layover), they’re positively on my record. These lovely islands are identified for his or her beautiful hydrangeas and supply many issues to see and do.
Have you ever been to Portugal? Which metropolis or city in Portugal is your favourite?
