An underrated travel destination in Europe, Portugal often finds itself overlooked compared to countries like France and England. In February, I had the opportunity to visit and experience the utmost beauty of Portugal and I have quite a few pieces of advice and additions to your bucket list or itinerary if you decide to visit.
- Visit other cities besides Lisbon.
As the most popular and visited spot in Portugal, I expected a lot more from the city of Lisbon. We spent around 5 days in Lisbon and 3 in Porto, I definitely feel like I had a lot more fun in Porto and just anywhere other than the main city. As the capital of Portugal, Lisbon definitely captivates the most tourists, leading to a significant spike in congestion in transit and tourist attractions. Additionally, because of the way Lisbon is designed, you have to rely mostly on Uber to get around the city, which may seem scary and expensive in a foreign country. Overall, I feel like part of traveling to another country is walking around to fully experience everything around you and Lisbon does not allow you to do that.
- Bring good walking shoes and stay aware.
Covered in charming cobblestones, the streets have an immensely aesthetic look to them which contribute to the allure of the cities. However, when it rains the cobblestones do get very slippery, so if you plan to visit during the rainy season, it remains vital that you bring shoes that have good traction on the slippery surfaces. Additionally, when walking you need to stay vigilant. Too many times I’ve tripped on a loose stone while exploring only to basically eat it in front of a bunch of locals who judged me immediately. If you don’t have good shoes, the trip will be miserable, especially if you do decide to explore the cities on foot. I brought my Nike AirForces which remained comfortable throughout the entire trip.
- Visit Porto!
My favorite part of the trip was Porto. A smaller city, it isn’t as highly populated with people as Lisbon is, which contributes to the overall charm of the city. As the Paris of Portugal, Porto enchants visitors because of the small shops that line the streets along with the beautiful river in the middle of the city. As a result of the city feeling smaller than Lisbon because of the compact architecture, it allows tourists to really immerse themselves in Portugal and the overall travel experience. It was really fun to explore the different mom and pop restaurants the city had to offer and walk from place to place seeing all the beautiful sights as we went. Additionally, the sunsets in the city are unmatched. In the evening, most find the hill near the bridge at the river which allows for a full view of the city, river, and unforgettable sunset.
- Find fun activities unique to you.
The most enjoyable activities we participated in were off the guidebooks. For example, my favorite experience was the biking tour that we took throughout the city. Led by our fearless tour guide, Francisco, who was immensely hilarious and knowledgeable, we sped through the steep hills of the city on e-bikes which motored us to different destinations such as murals, historical sites, and viewpoints. At times we even got to use the special button on the bike, coined “turbo mode” by our guide, allowing us to speed off at 25 km/h (or a swift 15 mph in American units), whooping with joy and feeling like we were on top of the world. Another activity we did was go to the Arsenal vs FC Porto game. Although the home team, the night before, Arsenal fans invaded the city, hilariously and drunkenly singing chants for the team– almost suffocating everyone in the metro station to the game. The game was scoreless until the 95th minute, but it felt enjoyable to live in the moment with the locals who supported the team in their entirety. These unique experiences were definitely different from what the internet suggested, but it felt immensely more fun and meaningful to experience different things from what every generic guidebook thinks you should do. If you have certain passions or things you enjoy, look for opportunities to incorporate them into your trip!
- Eat
Especially in the smaller more walkable cities, hidden gems lie within the cobblestone streets and between buildings. With the help of Google Maps and Yelp, our family was able to search up prime spots around the cities and eat some delicious meals. Personally, the best and most yummy food appears where and when you would least expect it. For me, my favorite food throughout the trip was my 1 Euro pizza spot that I went back to several times because of the unique, homey taste as well as the affordable price. I encourage you to explore the cities and let the good food find you. Overall, Portugal contains a treasure chest of hidden delights and restaurants that taste amazing!
In closing, Portugal was a magical place to visit. The views and experiences feel like no other and immersing yourself in the culture allows you to remember your memories forever. If you have a chance, make sure to visit Portugal with your friends or family!