A week in Portugal: Porto, Ericeira, Sintra & Lisbon.
First Stop: Porto
Our time in Portugal started in the Northern part of the country, in the city of Porto. This city grabbed us immediately with its Romantic charm, the colourful azulejos (beautiful ceramic walls), narrow streets and its grand architectural flare. It’s interesting that Porto’s tourism numbers have risen significantly over the past couple of years and we understand why! It is spectacular!
The city is also known as Invicta (meaning unconquered), which was given as a sign of respect due to city withstanding a siege in the 1800’s during the Portuguese civil war which lasted more than a year. Dotted throughout the historic city, are stunning shops, iconic libraries, museums, traditional churches, and of course delicious coffee shops of which So Coffee Roasters was our personal favorite.
Our accommodation Maison Cabral was perfectly located just on the edge of town, meaning we weren’t overwhelmed with foot traffic yet walking distance to the attractions. We were struck with how many hills there were, however the moment you get to the top you are rewarded with the most incredible views of this historic city. Do what you can to ensure Porto is on your list, you do not want to miss it.
Next Stop: Ericeira
Ericeira was our next stop and it captivated us. This PICTURE PERFECT destination is a functioning fishing town and renowned for its world class surfing. If you aren’t in the waves or on the beach, you’re likely be roaming the pristine cobble streets where surf schools, yoga studios, artisanal shops and restaurants are in abundance. Ericeira is the kind of town you could easily settle into and never want to leave.
In fact, many people have made Ericeira their home, as it’s known to be a town for remote workers seeking sun and the perfect surf. We fully embraced what Ericeira had to offer, from its beaches and refreshing Atlantic ocean, to delectable ice-cream, drinks bars and the magical coastal walks - it’s a worth while place to visit. Allow the pictures below to do the selling.
You can thank us later :)
We haven’t got an accommodation link for this town as we have friends who live in Ericeira and so stayed with them. We did do some research online and there is a number of options depending on your budget. We would be happy to help if you need guidance.
Lisbon
Marking the final destination of this trip, we were embraced by the hustle and bustle of Lisbon. This is the capital city of Portugal and home to historical landmarks, diverse restaurants, historical castles, iconic streets, the Tagus River and of course the iconic Pastel de Nata, an egg custard pastry dusted with cinnamon.
After checking into our hotel, we spent the next two (full days) exploring the cobble streets seeking adventure and new sites. What struck us, was the abundance of artists, yet more colourful azulejos, diverse restaurants, staggering city views and of course the famous tram system.
We couldn’t possibly describe all we did in Lisbon, but here are a couple stand out moments that we would like to share with you.
The Praça do Comércio (one of the largest Plaza’s in Portugal), on the bands of the Tagus River and is known as the Gateway to Lisbon.
The Carmo Convent remains - located in the civil parish of Santa Maria Maior, this fascinating tour will leave you well informed and in awe that it’s still standing.
LX Factory - creative art retailers & restaurants. A hub for anyone who has appreciation for creativity.
A day trip to Sintra
We would recommend committing a day to Sintra and get going early to beat the queues. It’s a really easy day trip from Rossio station in Lisbon. Purchase a return ticket at the station (€3.20pp) which will get you to and from Sintra.
There is a lot to choose from in Sintra, so we chose to focus our time appreciating Pena Palace & Pena Park. You are inundated with options of how to get all the way up to the Palace, and we chose to jump into a private Tuk-Tuk and contrary to what we thought, it was great experience. Our driver was so informed, great fun and made the experience getting to the top so enjoyable. Far better than a LONG uphill walk or ride in a crammed tourist bus.
Pena Palace was simply magical. We experienced it in the howling wind but it didn’t stop us from exploring what it has to offer. Before getting into the detail, we would recommend skipping the inevitable queue and by not purchasing a ticket to go into the Palace. You can explore the our quarters and walk around it for free and in our opinion this is far more relaxing and enjoyable.
If it’s not yet clear to you, this very colourful Palace stands out so beautifully amongst the magnificent trees of Pena Park that surrounds it and it’s said that it can be seen from Lisbon on a clear day. Originally it was built as a home for the King of Portugal, and then used as a monastery for a period of time which had influence upon its making unique architecture. In 1755 Portugal was hit by a fatal earthquake that severely damaged Pena Palace, which lead to it being abandoned before being repaired to how we see it today. Pena Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we would highly recommend making the effort to go and see it.
Once you are done at the Palace we recommend taking a slow walk back down to Sintra through the trees of Pena Park. This 85 hectare park is filled with feature ponds, statues, walking trails and many exotic plants. It is peaceful and very beautiful. Definitely one for the memory books.
Highlights from Portugal
- Porto -
Port wine tasting
Crossing the the magnificent Douro River on the famous Dom Luís I Bridge, we managed to book a tour of the renowned Burmester port wine producers, on the banks of the river This is very easy to book and something we would recommend doing. First you’re taken on a very informative tour which is concluded with an awesome tasting, where you can choose what you would like to taste.
Couples Massage at Falua
This was a the greatest start to our holiday in Portugal. Completely private and we left feeling so relaxed.
Wine & tapas at the Yeatman Hotel
Incredible views of the city from the De Gaia side of the river in a sophisticated but relaxed environment.
- Ericeira -
Sunset drinks & dinner at Mar Das Latas
This tiny restaurant was a spur of the moment decision, as the sun was setting and probably one of the happiest moments during our time in Portugal. Situated on the Largo Das Ribas walkway/road - this is a the perfect spot for a sunset drink and bite to eat.
Nutwood Ice cream
This was just the thing we needed on a hot, sunny day. A short walk from the beach, this honestly is an ice cream you won’t forget.
Lunch at Green is Good
We ordered a Happy Cup &.. Not only was the food incredible and well priced, we were very impressed by the friendliness and efficiency of the team running it.
- Lisbon -
Lunch at Prado wine bar
This was a very special lunch which was a complete fluke, as we were looking for a drink on a hot day,
and it ended up being the most relaxing enjoyable experience. We shared a cured meat and cheese platter with a crisp glass of wine and refreshing locally brewed IPA beer.
Take note, they also have Prado restaurant which is around the corner, but we went to the wine bar situated on R. Pedras Negras road.
Castelo de S. Jorge – Lisbon’s best Sunset Spot
Castelo de S. Jorge is a castle on the city’s highest hill, situated in the Alfama district. This is definitely one of the best spots in Lisbon, offering 360 degree unspoilt views.
