Portugal Highlights

Trip to Portugal: Porto, Lisbon, and Surrounding Towns

In March and April 2025, we embarked on an adventure through Portugal, a country that captured our hearts with its rich history, vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality. From the cobbled streets of Porto to the City of Seven Hills of Lisbon, every stop along the way offered something unforgettable.

In our travels, we took time to explore Portugal's historically significant sights, churches, and museums. Each place revealed layers of the country's past—from the ornament of Baroque churches in Porto, to Lisbon's grand plazas and monuments. The museums we visited gave us a deeper appreciation of Portugal's history, especially the maritime heritage, from which the explorers set out. These visits reminded us how deeply history is woven into the everyday life of the Portuguese.

Porto: City of Charm and Port Wine

Our journey began in Porto, a city that screams old-world charm. While Porto itself doesn't produce wine, it is famous for port, which comes from the Douro Valley region. The city is known instead for its stunning architecture and the historic Ribeira district, a maze of narrow streets and riverside cafés and restaurants.

Our apartment in Porto couldn't have been better located—just 200 meters from Ponte Luís I, making most sights easily walkable. Staying in an apartment rather than a hotel gave us the comforts of home, especially the washer and dryer, which we found invaluable during our extended travels.

Across the River: Vila Nova de Gaia

Crossing the Ponte Luís I brought us to Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto's sister city on the opposite bank of the Douro River. Gaia is a lively hub filled with shops, restaurants, and—most famously—the historic port wine warehouses.

Many of the world's best-known port houses have their cellars here, where visitors can tour, taste, and learn about the centuries-old traditions of port wine making.

Strolling along the riverfront in Gaia gave us some of the most stunning views back toward Porto's colorful skyline. We enjoy the afternoon sitting on the riverbank, watching the flat-bottomed Rabelo boats floating towards the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine. This sight and feel are unforgettable.

A Taste of the Douro Valley

Lisbon: A Blend of Old and New

From Porto, we took a side trip into the Douro Valley, where we cruised along the river and admired the terraced vineyards climbing up the steep banks. The region is known for its granite-rich soil, which produces tiny grapes about the size of blueberries. Though small, these grapes yield powerful, flavorful wines that Portugal is rightly proud of. Wine tasting here was an absolute highlight—an education in both the craft and the culture of Portuguese winemaking.

A well-prepared lunch for us at the winery consisted of the local flavor, Vinha d'alhos, which is pork marinated in wine and garlic, paired with the red wine and finished with a 10-year-old Tawny, which was delicious.

A stop at Pinhão Station was unforgettable—the railway station is decorated with beautiful blue-and-white azulejo tiles that illustrate the history of the Douro wine region. Another memorable visit was to Amarante, a charming riverside town with a medieval bridge, a stunning church, and a reputation for pastries that we couldn’t resist sampling.

From Porto, we traveled south to Lisbon, a city full of contrasts: steep hills, iconic trams, colorful tiled buildings, white stone sidewalks, and neighborhoods that vibrate with both history and modern life. Lisbon has the look of the old world, but with a contemporary flair.

Our apartment in Lisbon was in the Chiado district, just a block from the Rossio Train Station, the Santa Justa Lift, and a local Fado theater. This location made it easy to explore the city, and the proximity to the Fado theater was unforgettable. Experiencing this traditional Portuguese music live was beautiful. To my understanding, its melodies carry a deep sense of longing and nostalgia, which is bittersweet for something or someone lost but forever remembered. We certainly can see all of it through the singer's movement, tone, and expression.

On our journey, we went beyond the big cities. We explored Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare

Fátima: A place of deep spirituality and reflection, famous as the site of the 1917 Marian apparitions. Today, it remains one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.

Óbidos: A picture-perfect medieval town, complete with fortified walls, a castle, and charming streets. We couldn't resist trying the local cherry liqueur, Ginjinha, served in chocolate cups.

Nazaré: Known worldwide for its colossal waves, Nazaré is a surfing paradise. But we also loved its traditional fishing village atmosphere, where they still dry the fish under the sun, and on the beach, and women still wear distinctive multi-layered skirts.

Taking day trip to Sintra, Belem, and Cascais

Sintra: A magical town nestled in the mountains, where the famous "Moorish Castle" refers to the Castelo dos Mouros, an ancient fortification in the Sintra Hills of Portugal, which the Moors built in the 10th century. Also, a fairy-tale castle, the colorful Pena Palace looked straight out of a storybook.

Belém: A short train ride from Lisbon to Belém, where we visited the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and iconic symbols of the Age of Discoveries. Also, the MAAT Museum of Art, where you can walk on a roof like modern structures with a stunning view of the 25th of April Bridge and the "Christ the King" Monument.

Cascais: Just a short trip from Lisbon, Cascais offered us beautiful beaches, coastal walks, historic charm, and great food. We even went hiking in the countryside, where we chatted with a local shepherd despite the language barrier—a humbling and authentic travel moment.

Food, Wine, and Warm Hospitality

One of the highlights of our trip was the food. Portugal is a paradise for seafood lovers. We still dream about the grilled octopus and fried sardines, both simply prepared, but full of flavor. Every meal was paired with outstanding wines—delicious and surprisingly affordable.

We were equally impressed with the service everywhere we went. The Portuguese people we met were friendly, kind, and eager to share their culture with us. It made every interaction memorable.

Our Travel Style

For stays of more than three nights, we preferred apartments over hotels, booking through Booking.com, a platform we've trusted for over 10 years. Even though we rarely used the kitchens, having access to amenities like a washer/dryer and space to prepare fresh fruit for breakfast made our travel feel more relaxed and sustainable.

Final Reflections

Portugal exceeded our expectations—its history, vibrant culture, incredible food and wine, and equally, its people. We enjoyed every moment and would like to return. If you're someone who appreciates adventure, culture, and a warm welcome, Portugal should be at the top of your list.

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