My Favorite Things in Portugal

Portugal is an incredible country that truly has it all: stunning nature, delicious foods + drinks, culture, fairy tale castles, unique architecture and art. My favorite things in Portugal include all of these things and then some! We explored Sintra, Lisbon, Porto, Lagos and Faro while in Portugal, and every single place had something spectacular to fall in love with.

FAIRY TALE CASTLES

I don’t think it’s possible to visit Europe without wishing to see fairy tale castles, especially if you’re from the US where those kinds of things don’t exist. Our first full day in Portugal was spent in Sintra where we explored 4 castles + palaces. The amazing thing is that each of the four castles were very unique, which made it seem even more like a fairy tale. Quinta da Regaleria was my favorite because of all the mystery attached to it. That said, all four were spectacular. Plus, it’s an easy day trip from Lisbon. You could do it yourself, or take a day tour!

WANTING TO DIY IT? READ: Getting to Sintra from Lisbon

TILES ON TILES ON TILES

One of the things I saw all over Instagram and blog posts about Lisbon, was that the tiles in this city are stunning and everywhere. That was absolutely correct. However, what I didn’t know is that many of other the cities in Portugal also have loads of tiles. They’re mesmerizing, captivating and impossible not to photograph.

PORT TASTINGS

I had tried port a few times before visiting Portugal, but nothing like the port Matt and I sampled at Croft Port Cellar and Cockburn’s Port Lodge. I learned so much about this craft while taking tours in two these port cellars. Now I can say that I’m a huge fan of tawny port and Matt’s a fan of ruby port. I now I have go-to wines for the big events and celebrations in our lives, thanks to one of my favorite things in Portugal.

STUNNING STREET ART

I love street art. When I walk through cities, I love collecting photos street art. City streets can hold art work that is museum or gallery worthy, but it’s completely free to view and enjoy! The street art is so amazing in Lisbon that there are even street art tours!

HIKING TO THE DIFFERENT BEACHES IN LAGOS

I’m not typically a beach-lover, but the beaches in Lagos are a whole different story. We were there in mid to late March, so it was still a bit chilly for beach lounging. Luckily, there is so much more to these beaches than lounging (which I don’t like at all). We hiked to eight different beaches connected by a walking path for part of it, and along a road for the other path. We spent an entire day doing this: stopping to photograph different beaches, finding sea arches and collecting seashells. In addition to these activities you can also learn to surf and even kayak the sea caves for a bit more adventure!

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COLORFUL FACADES

I’m a door/facade lover, like many other travelers, I find them simply charming. Portugal had some stunning ones. Because many facades are covered in tile, they instantly pop, but the ones that aren’t tile-covered, are often still painted a bright color! Then add a contrasting door and it’s just simply magical!

FRANCESINHA

Although, I’m not one to eat loads and loads of red meat, I found a soft spot for this super rich sandwich that Porto is famous for. Francesinhas are sandwiches made on white bread with loads of meat stacked in them: ham, a Portuguese smoked sausage, a fresh sausage and steak. Seriously, so much meat. Then you take the sandwich, cover it with melted cheese and smother it in Francesinha sauce. Cafe Santiago was repeatedly where locals recommended we try one. So we did… twice. I recommend getting your fries on the side, just so they don’t get soggy while eating. Also, one Francesinha was plenty for Matt and me to split. They’re huge and filling and one of my favorite things in Portugal!

LIVARIA LELLO

The minute I found out there was a Harry Potter related site in Porto, Portugal, this Gryffindor made her way down to it. One of my favorite things in Portugal is Livaria Lello. It’s a darling bookstore that is said to have inspired JK Rowling’s vision of the Hogwarts Library. It’s easy to see once you step inside. You must now purchase tickets to enter this bookstore and I highly recommend visiting early in the morning. If you’re a Harry Potter lover, you can take a Harry Potter Tour of Porto!

PASTEL DE NATA

This custard-filled Portuguese tart became an instant favorite after a food tour we took in Lisbon. These tasty treats were created in Jeronimos Monastery in the Lisbon neighborhood of Belem and they’ve stuck around for centuries. They’re rich, sweet and the perfect bite size. I highly recommend ordering them at a shop that makes them fresh so you can try one warm. I had them both warm and cool, and warm is the way to go. Read more about our experience with Secret Food Tours here.

RIDING TRAMS IN LISBON

The trams in Lisbon are beyond iconic. They’re taken by locals + tourists alike and easy to navigate. They’re exceptionally affordable and take you all around old town and even to some surrounding areas. Our guesthouse sat right on the tracks of one, which made it exceptionally easy to get in and around old town. We were only four stops down from our guesthouse to one of the main squares in Old Town. The only warning I have for the trams is watch your belongings. Pickpockets are known to ride the trams, especially the ones around the touristy areas.

TIME OUT MARKET LISBON

Matt and I stumbled upon Time Out Market Lisbon and we’re so glad that we did! It’s housed inside Mercado da Ribeira and when you step inside, you’ll find an amazing market. The center has plants, handmade goods and more for purchase, the right has a food market filled with beautiful produce and to the left, you’ll find Time Out Market Lisbon. This section is filled with almost 3 dozen different food stalls and kiosks where you can find local specialties, international favorites, coffee, juice and more! The only thing you might have trouble finding is a seat as it gets packed around lunch time.

REASONABLE PRICES

One of the things that truly sets Portugal apart from its neighbors in Western Europe is its affordability. That makes Portugal an even more appealing place to visit. Matt and I spent an average of about $102/day total during our 15 days there. That’s including everything! We did stay in several guest houses with shared bathrooms, but that became no big deal after a couple of days.

COLLECTING SEASHELLS IN LAGOS

There was one beach in particular, Praia dos Estudantes, that was just covered in seashells. If you walk further from the oceanfront, you’re literally walking on seashells. While Matt was caught up in taking photos, I hunted for some beauties and definitely found some.

ESTÚDIO VEGETARIANO (OPEN SEASONALLY)

This restaurant is a seasonal one in Lagos. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and many are vegan. I chose to have my belated birthday dinner here and it was so amazing we went back the next day as well! I highly recommend the spaghetti with vegetarian bolognese sauce and the potato wedge appetizer. So yummy! Check their Facebook page before you go to see when they open. They typically close sometime in December until sometime in March.

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