First time visit to Portugal. Lisbon and Portugal. Any must do things?
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Going to Portugal. Lisbon & Porto. Must do things? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Joe Bryant
- Start date
General Malaise
Footballguy
My son was in Porto recently. I'll check with him and get back to you.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Excellent. This is our next trip as well. 
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Oh man - I'm your guy Joe. Did a phenomenal 2 week trip. Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, Seville, Granada, Barcelona. Loved Portugal. I can send you our itin and highlights
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Here is just the Portugal portion. Met Giancarlo and his lovely wife in Lisbon as well. He’ll have good input
Judge Smails Portugal and Spain Vacation 2019
Saturday, September 28th
United Airlines departing LAX 12:35pm arrive Newark EWR at 8:35pm
United Airlines departing Newark EWR at 9:45pm arrive Porto OPO at 9:50am on Sunday, September 29th
Sunday, September 29th
Private airport transfer
Check-in Airbnb Deco Gem Aliados – Downtown Luxury Apartment
Porto Cathedral
Lunch – Mercado Do Balhou – Roasted pork sandwich, charcuterie, tapas, sangria
Wine Quay Bar
Dinner – Tapabento – Bruschetta, Sauteed organic mushrooms, Mixed salad, Wild shrimp risotto, Garlic prawns, Seafood curry, peanut foam dessert
Porto sign
Monday, September 30th
Espresso and Natas
Douro River Bridges River Cruise
Lunch – Mercado Do Balhou
Ferreira Cellars Tour Port Wine Tasting
Dinner - MUU steakhouse –Johnny’s Scotch egg, Burrata salad, Ribeyes, Rosti potatoes, Spinach with parmesan cheese, Chocolate hazelnut cake, wine
Wine overlooking Porto – Yeatman Hotel balcony
Tuesday, October 1st
Check out Airbnb
AP120 High Speed train departing Porto Campanha at 9:40am arrive Lisboa Santa Apolonia at 12:30pm
Check in Hotel Britania – Lisbon Heritage Collection
Lunch – Gutsy - Hamburgers and SuperBock
São Jorge Castle
Drinks with Gian and his wife - Terraço Chill-Out Limão - H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel lobby
Dinner – Mar au Carmo – Tiger shrimp, Whole grilled sea bass, wine
Pink Street bar hopping
Wednesday, October 2nd
Sintra day trip via train
Pena Palace
Moor castle
Lunch – Churrascaria Somos Um Regalo – Grilled chicken, fries, tomato salad, beer, sangria
Shopping in town
Dinner – Sr. Lisboa – Bread with various butters (red pepper, etc) and garlic oil, cod croquettes, octopus with chimichurrisauce, crispy shrimp with wasabi aioli, suckling pig, beef tenderloin, wine, chocolate lava cake
Thursday, October 3rd
Belem Berardo Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Tagus River walk
Padrao dos Descobrimentos Monument
Belem Tower
Jerónimos Monastery
World famous custard tarts at Pasteis de Belem
Cervejaria Ramiro – Iberico ham, Giant tiger prawns, lobster, edible crab, steamed clams in garlic, bread, wine
Drinks – JNcQUOI Wine Bar
Friday, October 4th
Check out Hotel Britania
High Speed train leaving Lisboa Oriente connecting in Tune andarrive in Lagos
Check in to Cascade Wellness & Lifestyle Resort
Lunch overlooking pool - Club sandwiches, shrimp salad
Pool time
Dinner – Senses – Scallops with Iberian pork bacon, Suckling pig bean stew, Roasted seabass with razor clam polenta, ribeyesteaks, chimichurri, roasted vegetables, Carm Douro wine
Saturday, October 5th
Guys golf at Onyrias Palmares golf – Robert Trent Jones course
Girls massage at Spa
Lunch at Mar Restaurante and Bar – Tiger prawns, chicken burger with pineapple
Pictures on the beach and walked through downtown Lagos
Shopping – Pure Spirit
Flamenco guitar in the square
Guinness at Only Fools and Horses British Pub - watched Euro Cup
Drinks - SkyBar
Dinner at Real Portuguese Cuisine – Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Cataplana, wine, key lime mousse
Judge Smails Portugal and Spain Vacation 2019
Saturday, September 28th
United Airlines departing LAX 12:35pm arrive Newark EWR at 8:35pm
United Airlines departing Newark EWR at 9:45pm arrive Porto OPO at 9:50am on Sunday, September 29th
Sunday, September 29th
Private airport transfer
Check-in Airbnb Deco Gem Aliados – Downtown Luxury Apartment
Porto Cathedral
Lunch – Mercado Do Balhou – Roasted pork sandwich, charcuterie, tapas, sangria
Wine Quay Bar
Dinner – Tapabento – Bruschetta, Sauteed organic mushrooms, Mixed salad, Wild shrimp risotto, Garlic prawns, Seafood curry, peanut foam dessert
Porto sign
Monday, September 30th
Espresso and Natas
Douro River Bridges River Cruise
Lunch – Mercado Do Balhou
Ferreira Cellars Tour Port Wine Tasting
Dinner - MUU steakhouse –Johnny’s Scotch egg, Burrata salad, Ribeyes, Rosti potatoes, Spinach with parmesan cheese, Chocolate hazelnut cake, wine
Wine overlooking Porto – Yeatman Hotel balcony
Tuesday, October 1st
Check out Airbnb
AP120 High Speed train departing Porto Campanha at 9:40am arrive Lisboa Santa Apolonia at 12:30pm
Check in Hotel Britania – Lisbon Heritage Collection
Lunch – Gutsy - Hamburgers and SuperBock
São Jorge Castle
Drinks with Gian and his wife - Terraço Chill-Out Limão - H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel lobby
Dinner – Mar au Carmo – Tiger shrimp, Whole grilled sea bass, wine
Pink Street bar hopping
Wednesday, October 2nd
Sintra day trip via train
Pena Palace
Moor castle
Lunch – Churrascaria Somos Um Regalo – Grilled chicken, fries, tomato salad, beer, sangria
Shopping in town
Dinner – Sr. Lisboa – Bread with various butters (red pepper, etc) and garlic oil, cod croquettes, octopus with chimichurrisauce, crispy shrimp with wasabi aioli, suckling pig, beef tenderloin, wine, chocolate lava cake
Thursday, October 3rd
Belem Berardo Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Tagus River walk
Padrao dos Descobrimentos Monument
Belem Tower
Jerónimos Monastery
World famous custard tarts at Pasteis de Belem
Cervejaria Ramiro – Iberico ham, Giant tiger prawns, lobster, edible crab, steamed clams in garlic, bread, wine
Drinks – JNcQUOI Wine Bar
Friday, October 4th
Check out Hotel Britania
High Speed train leaving Lisboa Oriente connecting in Tune andarrive in Lagos
Check in to Cascade Wellness & Lifestyle Resort
Lunch overlooking pool - Club sandwiches, shrimp salad
Pool time
Dinner – Senses – Scallops with Iberian pork bacon, Suckling pig bean stew, Roasted seabass with razor clam polenta, ribeyesteaks, chimichurri, roasted vegetables, Carm Douro wine
Saturday, October 5th
Guys golf at Onyrias Palmares golf – Robert Trent Jones course
Girls massage at Spa
Lunch at Mar Restaurante and Bar – Tiger prawns, chicken burger with pineapple
Pictures on the beach and walked through downtown Lagos
Shopping – Pure Spirit
Flamenco guitar in the square
Guinness at Only Fools and Horses British Pub - watched Euro Cup
Drinks - SkyBar
Dinner at Real Portuguese Cuisine – Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Cataplana, wine, key lime mousse
Last edited:
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Highlights
Loved having drinks on the balcony of the Yeatman Hotel overlooking Porto at night. Beautiful. Some very cool wine bars just walking down by the river. All the restaurants were checked out and I recommend them. Do not, and I mean do not, miss Cervejaria Ramiro in Lisbon. Get the jumbo prawns. Seafood everywhere is first rate but had great steak and other dishes as well. Sintra day trip in Lisbon is a must. I guess you have to do one of the Port tours in Porto but I’m not a big fan of it. If you get a chance to get down to Lagos/Algarve it’s great. We did castle and museums. Enjoyed their Pasteis de Nata custard tarts
Loved having drinks on the balcony of the Yeatman Hotel overlooking Porto at night. Beautiful. Some very cool wine bars just walking down by the river. All the restaurants were checked out and I recommend them. Do not, and I mean do not, miss Cervejaria Ramiro in Lisbon. Get the jumbo prawns. Seafood everywhere is first rate but had great steak and other dishes as well. Sintra day trip in Lisbon is a must. I guess you have to do one of the Port tours in Porto but I’m not a big fan of it. If you get a chance to get down to Lagos/Algarve it’s great. We did castle and museums. Enjoyed their Pasteis de Nata custard tarts
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Saving for the future.
NutterButter
Footballguy
If this is anything like what this guy delivers for an Oregon itinerary, you're in for a treat Joe
gianmarco
Footballguy
She is a lively one.
⚡DEADHEAD⚡
Footballguy
Ummm, can I have you Barcelona notes? If they're as good as your other notes, I don't need to do any planning. Going next month.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I had a great time in the Algarve many moons ago. Great beaches and the best paella I've ever had. I know its not on your itinerary so won't say more. I was planning to spend time in Lisbon and then hit Porto but met a girl on the train from Madrid and she was heading south so I changed plans.
General Malaise
Footballguy
I think our legendary chili chef has Joe covered!
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
My father is from Portugal and spent a fair bit of time in Lisbon. I went there a few years ago and loved it. I must have seen a dozen churches and castles while in Portugal but the Castle of Sao Jorge is at the top of the list. It is near a cool part of the city called the Alfama and a great view of the city.
I was in the country for a month and think I ate seafood every day but one … don’t miss out, octopus, sardines, you name it … try it!
I would also recommend a day trip to Belem and Caiscais. Both were incredible! Have a great time Joe!!
I was in the country for a month and think I ate seafood every day but one … don’t miss out, octopus, sardines, you name it … try it!
I would also recommend a day trip to Belem and Caiscais. Both were incredible! Have a great time Joe!!
Great. Thanks a ton - super helpful.
Eephus
Footballguy
Any hour of day is ginjinha time but avoid the chocolate cup.
This may not be your thing but we enjoyed the National Coach Museum just outside of Lisbon. It's a collection of coaches and carriages used by the Portuguese royal family. That's a pretty narrow scope but the beauty and craftsmanship of each item made it fascinating. It was better and less crowded than the monastery but both are pretty close to the big, popular pastels place in Belem.
This may not be your thing but we enjoyed the National Coach Museum just outside of Lisbon. It's a collection of coaches and carriages used by the Portuguese royal family. That's a pretty narrow scope but the beauty and craftsmanship of each item made it fascinating. It was better and less crowded than the monastery but both are pretty close to the big, popular pastels place in Belem.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Sure - been there twice. Absolutely loved it. Will dig em upUmmm, can I have you Barcelona notes? If they're as good as your other notes, I don't need to do any planning. Going next month.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Here was our first trip (London/Amsterdam/Barcelona) - just the Barcelona notes. Thought the groupings worked really well.Ummm, can I have you Barcelona notes? If they're as good as your other notes, I don't need to do any planning. Going next month.
Friday, July 15th
Amsterdam to Barcelona
Arc de Triumpf
Parc de la Ciutadella Fountain
Lunch – Taco Alto
Gothic District
El Born
Dinner – Paella – Bar Rodrigo
Saturday, July 16th
Mercado de La Boqueria
Breakfast – Juice + Creps Barcelona
La Rambla
Dinner – Rotisserie chicken from Boqueria + wine
Sunday, July 17th
Coffee
Lunch – Flax and Kale
Port Vell Aerial Tram – Montjuic
Parc de Montjuic
Montjuic Castle
Sangria – L’Eixample
Dinner – Tapas – Ciudad Condal (excellent)
Monday, July 18th
Breakfast – Brunch and Cake
Sagrada Familia
Casa Mila (La Pedrera) – Gaudi
Casa Battlo – Gaudi
Passeig de Gràcia
Sangria/Beer
Dinner – Chivito/Burgers - Foc I Oli (awesome)
Razzmatazz
Tuesday, July 19th
Breakfast - Firebug
Barceloneta beach
Dinner – Flax and Kale
Plaza Catalunya
Wednesday, July 20th
Shopping – Gothic District
Picasso Museum
Lunch – Tapas – El Xampanyet (Loved it, locals flock here)
Sagrada Familia
Dinner – Taco Alto
Thursday, July 21st
Check out
Flight - Barcelona to Washington Dulles
Judge Smails
Footballguy
2nd trip
Wednesday, October 9th
Check out of Hospes Palacio de Los Patos Hotel
Iberia Airlines flight to Barcelona
Check in H10 Casa Mimosa Hotel
Walk Passeig de Gracia
Dinner – Cera 23 – Pork carpaccio, tomato tartare, shrimp tempura, Galecian pork in garlic sauce, mushroom and truffle risotto, seabass, raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin/orange spice with crème and chocolate (excellent, excellent restaurant - but cab there)
Drinks – Plaza Real
Thursday, October 10th
Coffee and croissants Baluard Barceloneta bakery
Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with towers access
Lunch – Foc I Oli – Burgers, El Chivito, fries, SuperBock
Park Guell
Dinner – Cervesaria Catalana – tapas, Iberian ham, salmon, filet with foie gras, patatas bravas with egg
Flamenco show at the Palau de la Musica Catalan
Drinks - Rooftop Bar – Chill Out
Friday, October 11th
Gaudi walk
La Padrera
Casa Batllo
Lunch – El Xampanyet – Chorizo omelet, patatas bravas, crispy garbanzo beans with pancetta, octopus, tomato bread, charcuterie
Picasso Museum
Guinness at Lennox The Pub
Walk through El Born and Gotic Quarter, shopping
Anniversary dinner – Arcano – peasant sausage on mashed beans with truffles, melted goat cheese with mixed nuts and quince jam, Ribeye, rack of lamb with sweet potatoes, chocolate mousse, lemon tart, Barolo
Saturday, October 12th
Mercado Boqueria lunch and shopping
Montserrat day trip with Castlexperience Wine Tours – mass led by Benedictine Monks, touched the Black Madonna, lunch, Oller del Mas winery tour
Dinner – Osteria da Rudy – Caesar salad, pizza diavola, gnocchi, pasta carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, Barolo
Sunday, October 13th
Check out H10 Casa Mimosa Hotel and depart to airport for flight home
Wednesday, October 9th
Check out of Hospes Palacio de Los Patos Hotel
Iberia Airlines flight to Barcelona
Check in H10 Casa Mimosa Hotel
Walk Passeig de Gracia
Dinner – Cera 23 – Pork carpaccio, tomato tartare, shrimp tempura, Galecian pork in garlic sauce, mushroom and truffle risotto, seabass, raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin/orange spice with crème and chocolate (excellent, excellent restaurant - but cab there)
Drinks – Plaza Real
Thursday, October 10th
Coffee and croissants Baluard Barceloneta bakery
Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with towers access
Lunch – Foc I Oli – Burgers, El Chivito, fries, SuperBock
Park Guell
Dinner – Cervesaria Catalana – tapas, Iberian ham, salmon, filet with foie gras, patatas bravas with egg
Flamenco show at the Palau de la Musica Catalan
Drinks - Rooftop Bar – Chill Out
Friday, October 11th
Gaudi walk
La Padrera
Casa Batllo
Lunch – El Xampanyet – Chorizo omelet, patatas bravas, crispy garbanzo beans with pancetta, octopus, tomato bread, charcuterie
Picasso Museum
Guinness at Lennox The Pub
Walk through El Born and Gotic Quarter, shopping
Anniversary dinner – Arcano – peasant sausage on mashed beans with truffles, melted goat cheese with mixed nuts and quince jam, Ribeye, rack of lamb with sweet potatoes, chocolate mousse, lemon tart, Barolo
Saturday, October 12th
Mercado Boqueria lunch and shopping
Montserrat day trip with Castlexperience Wine Tours – mass led by Benedictine Monks, touched the Black Madonna, lunch, Oller del Mas winery tour
Dinner – Osteria da Rudy – Caesar salad, pizza diavola, gnocchi, pasta carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, Barolo
Sunday, October 13th
Check out H10 Casa Mimosa Hotel and depart to airport for flight home
General Malaise
Footballguy
Okay, unlike his dad, my son is succinct and to the point.
- "I don't know too much about Portugal beyond Porto (he's studying in Spain) but I can't recommend it enough, it was such a fun city. One of the best things we did was visit Jardins do Palacia de Cristal, which is a huge garden with a ton of peacocks and it was gorgeous. Food was fantastic everywhere we went, but I highly suggest a place called Wine Lovers, which was right on the river and has amazing views. Haven't hit the southern coast of Portugal, but really want to explore that area next as I've heard it's amazing".
Good thing Smails is here.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Arcano is so great. We went twice on our last trip as we were staying right around the corner.
I really like the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya at the base of Monjuic. Thought it was much more interesting than their Picasso museum. Didn't see it on your list, check it out next time you're there.
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
If you hit the Algarve area at all, I highly recommend the town of Lagos. It had an awesome laid back vibe and great beaches surrounding it.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Loved loved loved Lagos. Great call
zamboni
Footballguy
Bumping this as my wife and I will be vacationing in Portugal in July for about a week. Some really good info here.
Starting in Lisbon, where I have business, then plan on heading south to Algarve/Faro, back up north through Evora and then end in Porto.
A few questions:
1) how many days would you recommend in Algarve/Faro, Evora and Porto?
2) did you rent a car when in Portugal? Would like to do so in Lisbon and then drop it off at the end in Porto, but not sure how easy/affordable to rent a car there. Never rented a car in Europe before.
Thanks in advance...
Starting in Lisbon, where I have business, then plan on heading south to Algarve/Faro, back up north through Evora and then end in Porto.
A few questions:
1) how many days would you recommend in Algarve/Faro, Evora and Porto?
2) did you rent a car when in Portugal? Would like to do so in Lisbon and then drop it off at the end in Porto, but not sure how easy/affordable to rent a car there. Never rented a car in Europe before.
Thanks in advance...
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
We rented a car and drove the whole country. Started in the north and meandered our way through to Lisbon and ended in the Algarve. This highways were incredible. Just don’t pay attention to the speed limits and go with the flow. If you weren’t going at least 20-40 kms over the limit, you were obviously a tourist and need to just sit tight in the right hand lane. I was doing over 150 kms on one stretch and had multiple cars flying by me like I was barely moving.
This was in 2012, so I cannot comment on recent affordability.
I’d recommend at least a couple days in Porto and as many days as you can afford in the Algarve, especially if you like checking out gorgeous beaches and eating seafood. Don’t just stick to one beach town. Hop in the car and go for a drive. There are some small but absolutely gorgeous small beaches all along the coast.
Have fun!
This was in 2012, so I cannot comment on recent affordability.
I’d recommend at least a couple days in Porto and as many days as you can afford in the Algarve, especially if you like checking out gorgeous beaches and eating seafood. Don’t just stick to one beach town. Hop in the car and go for a drive. There are some small but absolutely gorgeous small beaches all along the coast.
Have fun!
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Flying to Azores next weekend (have to rebook Saturday flight to Sunday flight because my basketball team will be unexpectedly playing for promotion)
Instinctive
Footballguy
We honeymooned in Porto and Lisbon (after a week in Greece).
LOOOOOOVE Porto. Highly recommend something like what we did, which was a walking food tour - basically got to see a ton of the city our first afternoon, try little shops, all sorts of foods, and meet locals who could give us some recs.
Also depends on if you like or want to try Port, their fortified wine. We went to, I think, 18 port lodges for tastings and the like. Over 4 days (we walked everywhere). Ate lunch on the water every day. Beautiful place.
In Lisbon, my only two recs that matter are:
1. Get those egg custard tart things fresh. Take your time, watch them get made in a bakery off one of the main squares, it's super cool. And DELICIOUS.
2. There's a restaurant called Alma. AMAZING restaurant. Michelin stars (or it was at least). The shark move, though, is to do lunch there. Suddenly much more affordable, and the service is amazing and the atmosphere a little more laid back. One of our favorite meals ever.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
My SIL, BIL and their 3 kids are getting ready to sort of unfortunately move to Lisbon, likely at the end of this summer. I do look forward to visiting them but it will be an interesting adjustment for the family after they have been so close (we are in Detroit, they are in Chicago)
Big Blue Wrecking Crew
downsized
My wife, two kids (19 and 15 at the time) and I went to Azores, Porto and Lisbon last July. We spent 4 nights in Azores (Ponta Delgada), three in Porto and five in Lisbon. We rented a car in Porto at the airport, then drove it to Lisbon and returned it at the airport there. (Rented through Avis. We also went to France in 2023 and rented a car through Avis while there. It was no different from renting a car in US.)
I went back and forth over whether to rent a car, but we planned to do day trips in both Porto and Lisbon, and while I am not averse to public transportation, renting a car just seemed easier for the four of us. The major drawback: We did Airbnb in both cities, and the provided parking spaces were too small for the car we rented, so we had to park in nearby parking garages, which was an added expense and not as convenient. I never learned to drive manual, so that also limited our options.
Oh, also, my wife and I get along very well, but we got into some huge fights on the trip, and most of them were while I was driving and she was navigating. Google Maps frequently gave us screwy directions, and then when we made a wrong turn, it was very slow to update. Waze was better. A lot of the highways have tolls, and there were a few times when I went in the wrong lane (one time I went in the lane that requires their version of fastpass, which I didn't have, so when I exited the toll portion, I didn't have the entry ticket and had to pay the full 20 euros).
If it's just you and your wife, I'd still recommend getting a car, just get a small one.
The custard tarts are called pasteis de nata, and they're excellent. Porto has francesinha, which is their version of croque monsieur, also worth having.
My wife and I ditched the kids one night and went to Alma for dinner. It was very good, and had some memorable dishes I've never tasted anywhere before, but be prepared to spend at least $600 (or more if you get wine pairings).
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Pigmeu in Lisbon.
Outstanding.
We just asked the chef to bring us what he thought and it was fantastic.
guide.michelin.com
Outstanding.
We just asked the chef to bring us what he thought and it was fantastic.
Pigmeu – Lisbon - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Pigmeu – a Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking restaurant in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Portugal. The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide's official website
guide.michelin.com
Judge Smails
Footballguy
The only thing about Porto, and it may be sacrilegious, but I didn't enjoy the port. At all.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
This looks amazing.
Instinctive
Footballguy
You either like port or you don't. It's a fortified, sweet wine. Good ones are thicker than your average table wine.
Some people HATE that. It's my favorite thing ever. I rarely find anyone who's like "yeah port is fine."
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
Blackdot for a trip in June
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
Are you folks going to double the population of Portugal?
jhib
Footballguy
Wife and I were there a couple of weeks ago. A few nights in Lisbon, a couple in Sintra, and then a few in Porto. Aside from / in spite of the weather the first half of the trip (storm parked right on the coast for days) we really loved it there. We thought about renting a car for part of the trip, but then decided to just take in those three main places and walk a ton and Uber when needed, and that worked for us.
Quick rant... Our dumbest decision was to try FlixBus to get from Sintra to Porto (it sounded like the relatively cheapest and most convenient option for us at the time). It was a 1:30 bus and we were at the stop way early, and it was a wet chilly day and not much of a shelter at the terminal. At 1:15 we got an alert that the bus was 60 minutes delayed and the departure time switched to an hour later, 2:30. They sent a link to keep an eye out for any changes, so rather than waiting the whole extra hour there, we walked a few minutes away to a quick restaurant to use the bathroom and get a bite to eat. I was checking for updates all along, but the only thing that came in was another text 20 minutes later that it was still 60 minutes delayed. They said it could change any time, so keep an eye out on the link and be sure to get to the stop 15 minutes ahead of the new forecasted time. We started wallking back at 1:50, and it was only then that the link updated, showing a departure time of... 1:45. Ran only to find that it came and left without any updates or notifications until it was already gone.
And of course, their crappy customer service refused to take any accountability and wouldn't consider any kind of refund. We had to grab an uber back to Lisbon to get there in time to catch a train to Porto instead. In hindsight, we should have used the train from the start, as it was actually pretty nice.
Lisbon was nice, Sintra was beautiful (even when rainy and half the things we were planning on doing there were closed due to stormy weather), and Porto was awesome.
Quick rant... Our dumbest decision was to try FlixBus to get from Sintra to Porto (it sounded like the relatively cheapest and most convenient option for us at the time). It was a 1:30 bus and we were at the stop way early, and it was a wet chilly day and not much of a shelter at the terminal. At 1:15 we got an alert that the bus was 60 minutes delayed and the departure time switched to an hour later, 2:30. They sent a link to keep an eye out for any changes, so rather than waiting the whole extra hour there, we walked a few minutes away to a quick restaurant to use the bathroom and get a bite to eat. I was checking for updates all along, but the only thing that came in was another text 20 minutes later that it was still 60 minutes delayed. They said it could change any time, so keep an eye out on the link and be sure to get to the stop 15 minutes ahead of the new forecasted time. We started wallking back at 1:50, and it was only then that the link updated, showing a departure time of... 1:45. Ran only to find that it came and left without any updates or notifications until it was already gone.
And of course, their crappy customer service refused to take any accountability and wouldn't consider any kind of refund. We had to grab an uber back to Lisbon to get there in time to catch a train to Porto instead. In hindsight, we should have used the train from the start, as it was actually pretty nice.Lisbon was nice, Sintra was beautiful (even when rainy and half the things we were planning on doing there were closed due to stormy weather), and Porto was awesome.
PlayaHata
Footballguy
My wife and I ate at Alma in Lisbon 2 years ago for an anniversary dinner and it was incredible. Definitely pricey, but worth it if you're a foodie and into that sort of thing.
When you go to Sete Didades (which is absolute must do) make sure you don’t just go to the first main viewpoint. The view from ‘Boca do inferno’ is way better - just a bit further along driving and then maybe 1/2 mile walk. If you’re up for a substantial hike you can also hike all along the ridge of the crater and down into the town at the bottom. We didn’t, because my wife was sick when we went, but it must be amazing.
If you ignore my advice and just go to the first main viewpoint, expect to be slightly underwhelmed.
We drove up to the lookout at Sete Cidades where there was an old hotel, the Monte Palace, that was built in the 1990s and then abandoned because it was too far away from everything and no one wanted to stay there. There are a bunch of signs that say no entry, but you can go in. It looks like something out of "The Last of Us" or any post-apocalyptic show/movie. The views inside the hotel are pretty cool, and you can go all the way up the roof.
I think we tried to go to Boca da Inferno but we took the wrong path and did a 2-hour hike that took us past some lagoons and through forests. It was still pretty nice.
Other highlights: We went to the east end to Furnas (we rented a car), where there are natural hot springs. We ate at Restaurante Tonys, which is known for cozido, a stew that's made underground in the heat of the hot springs. Back in the main town, Ponta Delgada, we did a tour of the underground lava tube caves, gruta de corvao, which was about an hour. You can book it online.
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
I should have connected you with my Tia Rosa. She doesn’t speak much English but she is an amazing cook. She makes the best calde verde and pasteis de bacalhau (cod fish cakes) ! You would have saved a bundle!Pigmeu in Lisbon.
Outstanding.
We just asked the chef to bring us what he thought and it was fantastic.
Pigmeu – Lisbon - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Pigmeu – a Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking restaurant in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Portugal. The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide's official website
