Six Days in Portugal

We spent the first full day with a private driver taking us to the quaint fairytale town of Sintra. We toured the town square, walked the narrow and hilly cobblestone streets past shops while the misty fog enveloped the hilltop. We visited the National Palace of Sintra, the Quinta Da Regaleira.

After a fantastic lunch on the water at Restaurante Nortada, a Michelin restaurant, we made our way to Pena Palace. Famous for its eclectic mix of Moorish style, colorful exterior, and spectacular views, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site from the 19th century.

We took a three-hour train ride from Lisbon to Porto in the morning. After checking into The Editory Artist hotel, we started with lunch at Casa Guedes. Northern Portugal is known for pork, so we had the tasty Sandes de Pernil, a slow-roasted pork sandwich.

After, we wandered the city, visiting the Porto Cathedral and took what felt like 5,000 steps (ok, only 262) down to the riverfront. That’s when we realized there was a funicular! We were in awe of the architecture and the Portuguese azulejos tiles on many buildings. These are often hand-painted tiles used to tell a story or just to create a distinctive facade. Of course, we enjoyed a pastel de nata or two! It’s a must-have if you visit Portugal. They are famous for this delicious custard tart.

The next day, we took a fantastic Tuk-Tuk tour around the city. Not only was this great to get a lay of the land, it was helpful with all the hills! The driver brought us to great viewpoints and gave historical knowledge as well. We stopped at the MUST-see Porto Sao Bento train station... absolutely stunning!

We went across the river to Villa Nova de Gaia for the perfect view of downtown Porto and the Dom Luis I Bridge. After, we strolled to the Mercado do Bolhao, where we strolled the aisles drinking Vino Verde. We finished the day with a sunset cruise on the waterfront.

We experienced a day tour to Douro River Valley, a 1.5 hour drive inland from Porto. We started with a one-hour cruise down the Douro River past all the Port wineries, where we learned the history and ogled at the stunning views of the terraced vineyards. The terraced vineyards are unique to the area and don’t allow much room for machine harvesting, so it’s all done by hand!

We stopped at Quinta do Lodeiro winery for a 4-course lunch and tasting, where we learned about the history of Port wine. Before leaving the valley, we stopped at Quinta do Peto for another tasting and even got to pick the grapes from the vine!

We had a free day to walk around the medieval riverfront, which dates back to the 13th century! Restaurants and shops line the port, so of course we had to stop for some more vino verde—a wine known in Portugal. It comes from a youthful, or unripe, grape and it’s delish!

We finished the day with a wonderful Portuguese cooking class with Jorge and the Cook In Ribeiro class where we made a chicken stew, Portuguese chorizo, prawns, and a buttery almond tart.

We spent the last two days in Lisbon strolling the streets of Chiado, Biaxa, Alfama, and more. We visited the must-see sites of Castelo de Sao Jorge, Santa Justa Lift, Rossio Square, and of course, Praca do Comercio, where we stopped for another vino verde or two.

We also visited the old convent partially destroyed by the 18th century earthquake—Carmo Convent. Then we toured the Lisbon Cathedral. The ticket not only included the main church (built in 1147) but also included a tour upstairs to discover the Treasury of the Cathedral, which included religious relics from the 16th-19th centuries—a unique experience! Lisbon is truly a stunning international city that captured my heart.