8 Days in Portugal in june
Before this trip, I knew almost nothing about Portugal except for Lisbon, Porto, Ronaldo, Magellan, Vasco De Gama, and Port wine. During these 8 days, we discovered a beautiful country, with a rich culture and history, a welcoming and friendly people, without any aggression or interethnic tensions. In all the cities and villages we managed to visit, there was an atmosphere of celebration and relaxation. The country is quite affordable and very convenient for traveling by car. Moving from one place to another, we spent 1-2 nights in five different locations. Nevertheless, during these 8 days, we certainly didn’t have time to see the southern and eastern parts of the country, as well as the islands. Next time, I’m sure it won’t be our last time here.
Brief route:
Here you can see all the waypoints on the Google Maps and also use Google navigation to the place:
Day 1: Lisbon airport 3 nights in Lisbon. Lisbon quarters- Alfama, Baxia.
Day 2: Lisbon quarters – Belem, Bairo Alto, Chiado.
Day 3: Sintra
Day 4: We rented a car. Obidos, Batalha, Roman Aqueduct, one night in Tomar
Day 5: Coimbra, Bucaco Forest, Porto, one night in Porto
Day 6: Porto, 2 nights in Peneda Geres National Park
Day 7: Peneda Geres National Park
Day 8: Amarante, Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead (Espiunca), one night at Lagar do Sapateiro
Day 9: Lisbon airport
The first day in Portugal. We flew to Lisbon with TAP, which is excellent in all respects. From the field we took a metro to the perfect Dalma Old Town Hotel in the old and beautiful Alfama neighborhood. The room was in a colonial style. We enjoyed staying in this small hotel with delicious breakfast. I would recommend taking a Bolt taxi instead because it is very cheap. It is better to buy a local sim not in the field but in the metro or in the city, twice cheaper. We walked around the alleys of the Alfama neighborhood, we didn’t enter the Sao Jorge Castle because there was a long line, but we still saw it from all the viewpoints in the city. I recommend for all attractions to buy tickets online and skip the line option. We took the old tram 28 to the Baxia neighborhood and walked there. Gloria elevator and its rise to viewpoint of the city called Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, there are a lot of balconies with parks overlooking the city from different viewpoints. It is not an easy city to find your way around, because it is located on heights and between them, but very beautiful with a special atmosphere. In early June they have holidays here and festivals throughout the city with local music stages and street food stalls. In the evening we went to one of these in the Graca neighborhood within walking distance from our hotel.
The second day in Portugal. We started the day from the Belem tower. We didn’t visit the Jeronimos Monastery since the queue started almost from the Belem tower, so we wivw you a tip to book tickets online and preferably the Skip Line option. Of course, we advise you to visit Pastéis de Belem, they really make the best pastels here. For lunch, we took a tram to the Mercado de Campo de Ourique market, where we tried 3 types of oysters and sushi. What’s crazy about Lisbon is the nightlife. This city at night gets a special atmosphere. Bars, music of all kinds, wine houses, tapas and thousands of other types of entertainment. Everyone can find something to their taste. We started a route tonight at a completely crazy place Pavilhao Chines It is a cafe located in a museum with an endless collection of historical items from all countries, there are several rooms including a billiards room. We continued to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara where there was a street party with a DJ. After that we continued to the Bairro Alto neighborhood and from there we went down to Pink Street, a street that used to be the red light district of Lisbon, today the road is painted pink, it is full of pubs and tapas bars. A place with an amazing atmosphere. Getting around in Bolt taxis is very cheap and fast here. 4 euros for a 15 minute city ride and it arrives in a minute.
The third day in Portugal. Today we went to Sintra but unfortunately the workers of the national parks announced a two-day strike and everything except the Quinta da Regaleira park was closed. Now we have a reason to return to Portugal because Pena Palace and Gardens is the country’s must see place and we didn’t see it. The whole day is in the magical park as if it came out of a fairy tale and we did a two-hour route in the forest from the Pena palace around the Mouros fortress to Villa Sassetti. In the evening we went to a Fado music show right next to the hotel.
The fourth day in Portugal. Today we rented a car and left Lisbon driving north. First stop a fortress in the medieval town of Obidos, after that we visited the Batalha Cathedral, a huge Roman aqueduct and a hydroelectric power station on the Rio Zezere River. In the evening we arrived to our cosy hotel Casa dos Ofícios Hotel in the town of Tomar.
The fifth day in Portugal. We started the day in the town of Tomar where we spent the night. From there we went to the university city of Coimbra where we visited the ancient library. Then we went to Bossacu Forest, which has a luxury hotel housed in a castle. In the evening we finally arrived at our apartment Duque de Loulé in Porto. The apartment in the central location has a private parking. Porto is so beautiful at night, it is different from Lisbon but no less interesting, Imho is more impressive. You see that this is the cultural capital of the maritime empire that Portugal once was. Tomorrow we will see how it looks in daylight.
The sixth day in Portugal. We spent the whole day in Porto. A city from legends. Colorful houses each different from each other. Amazing atmosphere. 16 million tourists come to Porto every year.
The seventh day in Portugal. We arrived in the north of the country on the border with Spain in the Peneda Geres National Park. We sleep two nights in a special place Secret do Geres in a cabin that sits on the trees. The place has a outdoor pool in the forest. The host was very friendly and helpful. We started the day at the Ponte da Misarela waterfall, then a one-hour route with a swim at the Cascata de Pincães waterfall, then we stopped for lunch at the excellent Restaurante Retiro do Gerês in the wolf village of Fafiao, then just down the road the natural pools of the Cascata de Fecha de Barjas (or Cascata do Tahiti). The most beautiful viewpoint in this area is Miradouro da Pedra Bela. Right on the border with Spain is the Cascata da Portela do Homem waterfall. And at the end of the day swimming in Lake Homem. On the way back we passed through the Covide village, the pandemic destroyed all their life. It’s a pity that we only stay a day and a half in this area, we could definitely spend a whole week here.
The eighth and last day in Portugal, it’s time to fly home. On the way from our B&B Lagar do Sapateiro in the north closer to Lisbon, we stopped for ice cream in the small riverside town of Amarante and did an amazing route on wooden bridges along the Paiba River. We started at the Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead (Espiunca) and at the end we returned to the same place and swam at the Fluvial Espiunca beach, a very tidy beach with clean changing rooms and a restaurant by the stream. Portugal is amazing, and we must come back here to visit the Pena Palace, the Azores and Madeira.
