Portugal is brimming with traditions and charming customs that you will love during your visit here. Portuguese are typically gentle, friendly and modest. Visitors who make the effort to learn even a few simple words or phrases such as hello (bom dia), thank you (obrigada) and goodbye (tchau) will be appreciated.
Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, is one of Europe’s genuinely undiscovered, and unspoilt, gems. The Castelo de São Jorge sits at the top of the historic Alfama district, looking down across the River Tagus, and the stunning Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. At the waterside, the historic Belém district is a tourist’s delight, and is home to the historic monastery, the Contemporary Arts Museum and the Torre de Belém, not to mention the Pasteis de Belém, the original pasteis de nata pastry that is beloved by the Portuguese and visitors alike.
Another popular destination in portugal, is Porto. Porto is historic, charming and a foodie lovers dream. The riverside town is surrounded by its captivating miradouros (lookouts) and on-trend roof terrace bars. Port wine and specifically Tawny Port wine rules the region in which it’s famous for. But, here’s what you’ll remember most: the sound of the Douro River against the docks; the snap of laundry drying in river winds; the sound of port glasses clinking; the sight of young lovers discreetly tangled under a landmark bridge, on the rim of a park fountain, in the crumbling notch of a graffiti-blasted wall…
I haven’t even mentioned places like Braga, Lagos, Faro, Coimbra and everything in between yet. There is so much to see within Europe’s most underrated gem!
Lisbon
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Saint George’s Castle
Explore Saint George’s Castle with entry and a self-guided audio tour on your phone in Lisbon. Discover the monumental treasures within the castle walls as you listen to powerful storytelling.
Visit one of Lisbon’s most iconic monuments with an entry ticket to the Belém Tower. Learn more about the UNESCO-listed fortress, built at the mouth of the River Tagus to defend the city from attack.
Porto
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Live “Fado” Show
Sit back and relax with a glass of port as you enjoy an intimate live music show. Discover traditional Portuguese Fado music. Choose between three historic Casa do Fado venues in central Porto.
Take in the landscapes of the Douro Valley on this full-day trip from Porto. Taste port wine and olive oil, enjoy a traditional lunch, and relax with a cruise along the Douro River.
Lagos
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Benagil Caves
Discover the beauty of the Benagil Caves from the water on this guided kayaking tour. Paddle along wild beaches and admire fantastical limestone formations that have been sculpted by the sea.
Picturesque, stone arch between two sandstone promontories…so we visited this incredibly beautiful shoreline of south Portugal and discovered several amazing historical structures. The ruins here are from a Phoenician fort and a later Roman one connected to shore by a bridge.
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