PORTUGAL 2018

I returned from a 9 day trip to Portugal last week and I must say, it was an amazing experience! To be completely honest, I didn’t have much expectations because Portugal is a place that hasn’t been talked about as much as others like Positano or Marrakesh. I have been making it a priority to explore places that aren’t as publicized on Instagram because I love being able to find hidden gems. I was in Paris earlier and you can read about my recap here. I knew I wanted to explore another country and I basically did a random search for everywhere on Skyscanner and Portugal stood out because it was inexpensive and also very close to Paris.

For those who aren’t aware, Portugal is a huge country! Time was on my side, so I knew I had flexibility and more than a week to fully explore. With that being said, I decided to do Porto and Lisbon, the two largest cities in Portugal and also explore more of the coastline so I did a mini road trip for the second half of the trip and travelled from Porto to Lisbon to Sintra, down to Lagos and making our way to Faro. We also explored different towns along the way and this was my first road trip ever so it was something new and exciting for me!

It’s difficult to do a recap on my trip because as you can imagine, I did a lot within my 9 day vacation. However, I would like to share the highlights from each city I visited and share some photos from my adventures.

I fell in love with Porto the moment I checked into my airbnb. Although Porto is pretty small and easy to explore within a few days, I must say it is absolutely beautiful! There was something refreshing about the city atmosphere and maybe it had to do with the perfect breezy weather, but I was absolutely fascinated by everything it had to offer.

The top three must visit sites are:

1. Livraria Lello: If you can only do one thing in Porto, then this should be on your list! For book lovers and Harry Potter fans, this is your heaven. Livario Lello is the oldest bookstore in Portugal and in my opinion, the most beautiful bookstore in the world! You should definitely get here early as there is a huge line in the morning, but it does move quickly and the wait is well worth it. A huge thing to note is that you have to buy your ticket before entering. There is a little shop that says entry to the library so make sure you go in that first before heading to the line. It costs 5 Euro to get in but you can also redeem that when you make a purchase at Livaria Lello, so it’s a great incentive to get a book. Of course, you should also take photos, but I would recommend to also set some time to actually explore the bookstore because there are many books available and tons of options to choose from in terms of genres and languages. I was easily impressed by the interior design of the shelves and staircase and found myself feeling positively overwhelmed by the beauty. I will say, it can get crowded and a bit chaotic, so plan your visit accordingly and try to be strategic with your time.
2. Dom Luís I Bridge: If you google Porto, then most likely you will see photos of Dom Luís I Bridge, which is a bridge that spans the River Douro and connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. It’s pretty difficult to miss this if you spend the day touring but it’s truly the best site to get views of Porto. I would highly recommend to also explore the cafes and restaurants below the bridge because it’s extremely peaceful and romantic. I went during the early evening and there was an amazing musician singing and I found myself caught up in the moment and knew it would be a feeling I would remember forever.
   
3. Azulejo Tiles: The blue tiles that you see all over Porto are called Azulejo tiles and you don’t have to actually search for them because they are everywhere. I was in love with the design and found beauty in the color and styles. If you would like to admire them and take photos then you have to visit Church of Saint Ildefonso, Chapel of Souls and the famous São Bento railway station. The São Bento railway station is also the main location to catch trains to other parts of Portugal and that’s what I did to get to Lisbon.

After two days in Porto, I left to Lisbon and it only took 2.5 hours to get there. Lisbon is much larger and busier than Porto so be prepared to walk! There is a city centre but there is also other neighborhoods outside, which is where my airbnb was located. There is plenty to do in Lisbon and they have the BEST pastéis de nata so here are my recommendations:

1. Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém: I have to start out with mentioning the famous Portuguese tarts because I honestly would fly to Lisbon just for them! You will realize that pastéis de nata is everywhere in Portugal but I have been recommended by friends to visit Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém because it’s the best of the best. I can’t begin to describe how amazing the tarts were but just know that this bakery has been around since 1837 and only 6 bakers know the recipe, so that’s very telling of how exclusive and worthy these tarts are. The pastries are also very inexpensive, but there’s always a huge queue, but definitely worth it! You can also actually taste the difference from their tarts amongst others. I would also like to mention that the second best place to get them is at Manteigaria.
   
2. Portugalia: A friend of mine recommended me to dine at Portugalia, which is a famous restaurant in Lisbon. They are known for their steaks and although I actually don’t eat meat, I knew they had other amazing items on the menu, so I wanted to see what the hype was about. There are multiple locations within the city but the best one in my opinion would have to be in Balém because it overlooks the water. It is also near Padrão dos Descobrimentos, which is a famous monument that was built to mark 500 years since Henry the Navigator’s death. I would include this visit during the same day you visit Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém because it is all in the same area since they’re all located in Belém.
3. Pateo 13: If you would like some delicious fresh fish and dine outside, then come to Pateo 13! I will warn you that you will have the company of many flies during your meal. It was definitely distracting and annoying but I embraced their presence because it made me feel like a true local. The fish is divine and it was a meal that stood out to me in Lisbon!
   
   
4. 275 Miradouro da Senhora do Monte: Watching the sunsets was a priority I made for myself for this trip and one of the best views to do this is at Miradouro Senhora do Monte. There is also a musician playing live music, which made the experience that much better. It’s so fulfilling to watch as the sky turns colors and as the sun makes its way to set.
   
5. LXFactory: If you appreciate art and food, then you would love LxFactory because it’s a cool and trendy spot that has lots of cafes, restaurants and vendors. There are many shops to explore for gifts and souvenirs and cafes and restaurants to relax and dine in. I would highly recommend checking out Wish Slow Coffee and The Therapist because both cafes have delicious and healthy food and such a great vibe. A great photo opportunity is also at Ler Devagar because there are many colorful books and you can take a great picture from the second floor as you can see from my photos above.

I originally had Sintra on my itinerary as a pit stop before making my way to Lagos. However, as it turned out, Sintra has a lot to offer so we actually changed our plans last minute and booked a hotel there and added another full day.

1. Pena Palace: Hands down, this is the main reason why I decided to change my plans. The Pena Palace is truly a magical sight that you have to witness in person! Please be aware that the last time to enter the Pena Parque is at 6 pm because it’s a 15 minute walk to the palace, which stops entry ay 6:30 pm. It is important to note that it doesn’t close until 8 pm and my main goal was to visit during sunset. I have seen several castles and important landmarks through my previous travel experiences, but the Pena Palace definitely ranks as one of the top three. The colors are absolutely gorgeous, the views are incredible and the architectural design is mesmerizing. You can get a glimpse of the beauty through my photo but as always, pictures never do it justice so take my word and visit it yourself!
   
2. Quinta da Regaleira: If you’ve ever seen that spiral well in Portugal, then most likely you were referring to The Initiation Well in Quinta da Regaleira. To be completely honest, I found it extremely difficult to take photos here because not only were there a lot of people, but it was also dark. The well and park in general is beautiful, but I felt like I didn’t have the time to appreciate the beauty because I was rushing to get to the Pena Palace (we obviously didn’t make it which is why we decided to stay one more night in Sintra). You can spend a day here so I would advise to not rush like I did and fully enjoy everything this historic sight has to offer.
   
   
3. Boca do Inferno: This is a a beautiful cliff formation that is great for taking photos. You can truly appreciate the beauty of Portugal when you are overlooking the water. This was the first sight that introduced me to all the beauty that Portugal had to offer.

4. Praia Grande: This was the first beach we came across in our trip and we stumbled across it accidentally so I have a special memory of it. I came here during the late evening so my experience is much different from how it would’ve been like during the day, but the view and atmosphere was magical. This beach screams serenity and definitely made me realize that the world is bigger than you think and the world has more to offer than what it leads on.

When I was planning my Portugal trip, I knew there would be tons of beaches at Lagos and I was right! It might be a bit difficult to explain what makes each beach special since they end up looking similar to one another, but I would recommend visiting the below and the photos can be evidence of what to expect.

1. Ponta da Piedade: This was one of the top recommendations when I researched Lagos. Ponta da Piedade is in the Portuguese region of the Algarve and has many rock formations that surround the beautiful waters. I can’t describe how lovely the view is from above so this is definitely a must visit in Lagos!
   
2. Praia do Porto de Mos: Praia do Porto de Mos is the second largest beach in the Lagos region and actually consists of two beaches that is separated by a small cliff. It does get pretty crowded during the day but it’s not impossible to find a spot to lay out. The view is amazing and you can tell that a lot of locals come here to enjoy their day.
   
3. Casinha do Petisco: This is an extremely popular restaurant and if you love seafood, then you must visit Casinha do Petisco. However, the wait is incredibly long and for full disclosure, we waited 3 hours. I would highly recommend making a reservation (we did not know this was possible previously and it was our last night here). This restaurant tis pretty small as I believe there were only 10 tables or so but the food is out of the world. Chef Louis is the only chef here and makes every dish with love and passion. You can watch him as he prepares each meal and he also checks in with his customers to make sure they are enjoying their food. Watching him doing what he loves brought me joy and I totally forgot about my three hour wait.
   

4. Praia do Carvoeiro: This was another beach we visited and probably one of my favorite beaches because there wasn’t a lot of people and the view of the sunset was gorgeous. This was also where we spent our last night so it was a great way to wrap up my Portugal trip.  I absolutely loved the area because there are many restaurants and there is live music where locals come out and dance after sunset. It was such a great way to soak in the Portugal vibe and reflect on my amazing week.
   
5. Goji Lounge Café: If you saw my beautiful breakfast spread in the picture above from Instagram, then you should know that it was taken at Goji Lounge Café. I wanted to eat healthy during my trip and this was a great cafe that had all my cravings. It’s super cute and there’s outdoor seating so if you’re ever in Lagos, this is a cafe you should add to your list.
   
6. Earth Shop & Cafe: I was so happy to end my Lagos stop at Earth Shop & Cafe because this cafe is absolutely amazing! Not only is the food delicious, but there are so many great souvenirs and gifts to choose from. I loved the quaint atmosphere and the cute decor. I also don’t think you can leave this cafe without buying something from the shop!

As you can see, I can go on and on about my love for Portugal! It’s truly an amazing and beautiful country and I highly recommend visiting if you get a chance. Let me know if you’ve ever been or if you have a trip coming up!