We started off our Portugal trip in beautiful, colorful Porto. Porto is an awesome city, it’s located near the coast and on the Douro River. It is also where Port wine is made, which is a sweet dessert wine. It’s the first time I’ve ever had port wine, and I loved it. I normally don’t like sweet wine, but port is a little different because it’s heavier and has more alcohol content. Quick facts about port wine: It’s made in Douro Valley (beautiful wine country that we didn’t have time to visit), stored in port houses in Gaia, which you can visit and do tastings, and called Port because, well, it’s near Porto. Another fun fact: Did you know that Portugal is the world’s leading cork producer? Basically every where you look, stores are selling products made of cork; hats, purses, shoes, home decor, etc. Anyways, enough about the facts, we had a fantastic time walking the streets of Porto, drinking lots of port wine, eating delicious food, and hitting up the beaches for some relaxation. Also, restaurant tip: eat dinner at Cantinho Do Avillez.
A lot of the buildings in Portugal have tile work on the outside and they’re absolutely stunning.
View from the Crystal PalacePeacocks roaming the Garden of Crystal Palace
…and chickens roaming the Garden of Crystal PalaceStreets of Porto
Palm trees get me every time….especially in the middle of the city.Across the river is Vila Nova de Gaia, this is where all the Port Wine houses are. We did wine tastings at three of the port houses.Sitting along Cais da Ribeira on the Douro RiverPortoCais da RibeiraDouro River and the Pont Luis I Bridge
Colorful PortoThe bridge that connects Porto and GaiaIn Gaia, looking across the Douro River at Porto
Waiting for our wine tour to begin. We booked a Port wine tour through Porto Walkers. The tour took us through three port houses. We had tastings at each one and learned about the wineries. We highly recommend doing this tour!Ramos Pinto port winePort Wine tasting at Porto CruzRooftop of Porto Cruz, the last port house on our tourOnce again, this tile work….We went to this amazing restaurant for brunch, Majestic Cafe. It’s the most historic and popular cafe in Portugal. It’s an icon of Porto.Majestic Cafe
French toast at Majestic CafePorto Cathedral
One of the best views of Porto was on top of the Porto Cathedral
The beach at Praia do MolheWe had so much fun climbing these huge rocks and staring at the waves crashing against them
Drinks at Praia da Luz
Felgueiras Lighthouse
Lisbon, Portugal
After Porto, we flew to Lisbon, and were only able to spend one full day there. We wished we could have stayed longer, because there is so much to see in Lisbon and surrounding areas. However, we made the most of our day! We walked around some of the top neighborhoods of Lisbon: Alfama, Chiado, Rossio Square, Baixa, and Bairo Alto.
When we first arrived, we walked to the big square in Lisbon called Praca do Comercio which sits on the Tagus River. From there, we decided to get a tram pass to tour the city because it was raining all day.The trams are an icon of Lisbon. They’ve been operating since 1873. You have to ride in one when you visit Lisbon.Inside the tramOne of the must sees in Lisbon is the Sao Jorge Castle
Even though it was a rainy, foggy day, it was beautiful overlooking the city.Couldn’t get enough of the orange rooftops.
Looking for a place to eat after visiting the castleWe stumbled upon 28 Cafe which is named after the famous Tram 28. The restaurant looks like you’re actually in a tram, cute little spot to grab a bite.This sandwich may look gross, but it was actually delicious. It’s called a Francesinha. It’s a popular Portuguese sandwich. It’s originally from Porto, but we didn’t realize that until we got to Lisbon, so we made sure we ordered one before we left.
ChiadoPink StreetRossio Square
We stopped at the Time Out Market for a bite. It’s a large food hall lined with 30 different restaurants and bars in the middle. It’s a great way to try out different Portuguese dishesTime Out Market
That’s a wrap on Portugal! These cities were so bright, colorful, and cheerful. I loved the vibe and energy! I would definitely recommend going and spending a little bit more time than we did in each of these cities! 🙂
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