Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula, next to the Atlantic Ocean. The main attractions can be found next to the sea while discovering the Portuguese soul and Portugal’s beautiful nature is what awaits inland. Portugal is a country with magnificent past and a passionate present. Read the article to discover travel tips and learn which places you simply have to visit. Below, I present some of the best travel tips. You also get 10% off for most of the suggested trips at GetYourGuide if you’re a HI member.
Lisbon is the magical capital of Portugal, built on seven hills. This is where Portuguese sailors set sail into the world. Two UNESCO attractions are linked to that: The Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery, which holds the tombs of the sailors.
Take a guided tour of Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood. You’ll learn about its sights and culture. The exploration begins in Rossio Square and then continues along Rua Augusta, all the way to the famous arch of triumph and São Domingos Church. The tour will take you to the Santa Justa Lift, which connects the lower neighbourhoods with the ones above. The São Jorge Castle is also wonderful and it offers a view of the river. You can take a walk in the Jewish Quarter and visit the museum of sensual music, known as fado. Visit one of the largest aquariums in Europe – Oceanário de Lisboa. You’ll be able to admire a 5,000 cubic metre aquarium and thousands of aquatic creatures from all over the world. Our HI members get 7% off at Tiqets.
Not far from the city lies Sintra with its colourful castle, palaces and villas, which were built in the Romanesque style. The most famous is the Pena Palace. Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost cape and a place where cliffs steeply descend down into the Atlantic, is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places to visit. You can experience almost all of the above in a guided tour that will also take you to the elegant Cascais where you can relax by the sea.
An interesting activity for travellers is a visit to Fatima, where you can just feel the pulse of the pilgrimage site. Coimbra with its old university, numerous attractions and the slow Mondego River is another interesting place to visit. You also mustn’t miss out on the village of Óbidos, where you can quickly get lost in the artistic little streets. These streets are where you can find small white houses, cafés and artisan shops, all of which are protected by a mighty medieval wall. Batalha is another charming village where you can visit the 14th-century Batalha monastery, built by João I as a token of gratitude to Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Spanish. The fishing village of Nazaré offers a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean and waves reaching metres high. Of course, there’s also a guided tour you can join.
Don’t miss out on the Portuguese Venice that is the city of Aveiro. Take a ride through the numerous canals in a moliceiro, a traditional colourful boat, and discover all the attractions, from the salt pans to the Beira-Mar neighbourhood. Explore the beautiful coastline of Algarve and the famous Benagil caves by joining the speed boat tour that will take more than two hours. Swim with dolphins in crystal-clear water. The São Rafael and Marinha beaches are one of the most famous in Portugal, known for their cliffs and fine golden sand.
Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, is located in the north. The port city is situated where the Douro enters the Atlantic Ocean. You can best explore Porto by purchasing a combo ticket that gives you access to two guided bus tours in two days, a river boat tour and the Cálem wine cellars. The ticket is an easy way to visit numerous attractions, such as Avenida dos Aliados and the Batalha neighbourhood. In the lively and colourful neighbourhood of Ribeira, you can try the traditional Portuguese lunch. The ticket gives you access to the Cálem Caves, a wine cellar where excellent port wine has been in production since 1859. Don’t forget to take a boat ride that will take you under the numerous bridges that cross the Douro. You’ll be captivated by narrow cobbled streets and colourful buildings.
It’s time to travel inland, to the Douro Valley. You’ll undoubtedly be fascinated by the scenic ride through vineyards and hills. Once there, you simply have to visit one of the port wine estates. The best views of the region can be experienced in the village of Pinhão. A special experience is exploring the granite Serra da Estrela. You can follow the road and drive all the way to Torre, Portugal’s highest peak. This is where numerous glacier valleys and, most of all, granite in all shapes and sizes, are located. On the other side of the mountain chain, right next to the border, is a land of countless medieval castles. Sortelha and Monsanto are two of the most beautiful villages, both having magnificent castles and charming stone houses. You can find the fertile Alentejo plains with thick cork oak forests not far from the mountains.
The Azores are comprised of nine volcanic islands and present a real journey for the body and soul. They offer everything a traveller needs for his or her ideal exploration. With their nature, green colour and volcanoes, they’re truly fascinating. Most importantly, they’re located far out in the Atlantic Ocean. Faial Island will charm you with its numerous hydrangeas and volcanic craters. This is where sailors prepare to cross the Atlantic. Pico Island is home to Portugal’s eponymous highest peak, Pico, the slopes of which are adorned with volcanic lakes and green pastures. The most beautiful treks with views of the ocean, cliffs and lagoons await on São Jorge Island. The main attractions on São Miguel Island are the numerous volcanic lakes and Europe’s only tea plantation. Here you can find villages with black and white basalt houses and black basalt beaches. To top it all off, you can take a bath in the natural hot springs in the Lombadas nature reserve. The capital is the bustling and colourful Ponta Delgada, a place where you can go whale, dolphin and sea turtle watching, since these animals can be found in abundance there. I recommend an eco-certified tour where you can learn from marine biologists and other experts. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the Azores, I recommend Hostel Azores Ponta Delgada in São Miguel. The hostel is located just a few hundred metres from the city centre. It has a wonderful garden and offers excellent breakfast. HI members get 10% off.
Madeira is an island with rugged terrain, which means it’s a perfect island for active holidays. Exploring the island includes walks in the terraces of flowers and botanical gardens. Dramatic cliffs rise from the rough waters around the island. Exotic plants dot the island with their unusual colours and special blossom shapes that are truly a sight to behold. The island’s capital is Funchal, which can serve as the starting point for your daily trips to other parts of the island. One such trip is a drive by 4WD vehicle in the rough roads of north-eastern Madeira where green plains await. Encumenada is one of the famous volcanic roads that leads to the islands highest peak. The drive will take you through laurel forests to a natural swimming pool in Porto do Moniz. No visit to Madeira is complete without a hike. One such example is the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike. Enjoy the wonderful views of almost the entire island while exploring the volcanic rocks and steep mountains dotted with colourful blooms.
With the help of a 20% discount, all HI members can buy their own Portugal Lonely Planet guide. You can choose the guide covering the whole country or opt for the map and language guide or phrasebook. Lonely Planet also has pocket guides covering Lisbon, Porto, Algarve and Madeira.
Enjoy while exploring Portugal and don’t forget to send postcards with MyPostcard. All HI members get 25% off. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile. You can read more about it here.
Wherever you go, your trip can be safe, with simple and customisable international travel insurance for solo travellers and families. Get travel insurance through World Nomads and get a policy with 24-hour assistance and transport for medical emergencies, as well as cover for more than 220 sports and leisure activities on snow, water, air and land. The insurance policy may include, among other things, coverage for experiential activities, such as au pairs – part-time or voluntary work with children, working in a bar, fruit picking, office work, teaching and some other work abroad. Protect yourself or your family with World Nomads travel insurance.
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