Portugal

Dec. 7 - 16, 2013 (10D9N):  This was the last country on our journey to visit all GIIPS countries. We flew RT into Lisbon and rented a car for a week where we drove up the western coast of the country and visited few major towns along the way. We spent 2 nights in Porto and drove through the Douro Valley and returned to Lisbon for 3 nights. Given that we went there in the winter, we did not visit any beach destinations in the southern part of the country. Portugal is full of lots of wonderful food and amazing sights!!

*Highly Recommended 

Day 1 (Sintra)

• Arrive in Lisbon from NYC

• Pick up rental car from Hertz

• Drive to Sintra (30 mins)

• Check-in @ OH Casa Sintra*

• Brunch @ Saudade*

• Walk to Quinta da Regaleira

• Walk through town of Sintra

• Drive to see sunset @ Cabo da Roca (westernmost point of Portugal mainland)

• Dinner @ Restaurante Dom Pipas* (Get the sea bass & pork steak)

• Dessert @ Piriquita*

Other points of interest & food:

• Castelos dos Mouros (Moor’s Castle)

• National Palace of Pena

• A Raposa

• Restaurante Regional de Sintra (go for the Monk fish stew)

Day 2 (Obidos)

• Drive to Obidos (1 hr)

• Check-in @ Casa d'Obidos* (Casa Teresinha)

• Drive to Obidos Village and park car at the lot outside of main gate

• Obidos Village (walled city):

  • Igreja de Santa Maria

  • Town Square

  • Have a shot of ginja (with chocolate cup) at the street vendor

  • Pousada do Castelo de Obidos for a nice view

  • Lunch @ O Lidador (closed)

• Dinner @ Vila INfanta* (duck rice & pork):

Other restaurant recommendations:

• tasca torta

• O Alcaide

• Restaurante O Caldeirao

Day 3 (Coimbra)

• Drive to Coimbra (40 mins)

• Check-in @ Hotel Victoria*

• Largo da Portagem

  • Coffee @ Pastelaria Briosa*

• Parca do Comercio

• Church of Santa Cruz

• Mercado Municipal (closed at 2pm)

• Climb uphill for good view

• Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se velha)

• University of Coimbra

• Torre de Almedina

• King John’s Library

• Coffee @ Cafe Santa Cruz

• Dinner @ Rio Mondego* (set menu: pork)

Day 4 (Aveiro/Porto)

• Drive to Aveiro (1.5 hrs):

  • Viva a Ria (City Canals/moliceiro) @ Largo do Rossio

  • Sweets made in a little barrel or shell shape @ Café Gato

  • Drive to beach Barra

• Drive to Porto (1 hr)

• Check-in @ Moov Hotel Porto Centro*

• City Center walking tour:

  • Praca da Batalha (Battle Square)

  • Sao Bento railway station

  • Praca da Liberdad

  • Igreja dos Clerigos:

    • Torre dos Clerigos

  • Livraria Lello (most incredible bookshop)

  • Igreja das Carmelitas & Igreja do Carmo (2 churches built as one)

  • Porto Cathedral

• Dinner @ A Grade*(octopus leg & veal)

• Walk to the waterfront (Cais da Ribeira)

Day 5 (Porto)

• Walk along Rua Santa Catarina

  • Mercado do Bolhao (8:30~5pm)

  • Coffee @ Café Majestic

• Walk to Porto Cathedral and through Se & Ribeira neighborhoods

• Douro River Cruise (~1 hr)

• Picture @ Igreja de Sao Francisco (admission needed to see catacombs)

• Check-in @ Intercontinental*

• Taxi to Gaia:

  • Graham's Porto

  • Churchill

• Walk across Ponte Dom Luis I Bridge

• Tour at Stock Exchange Palace (Palacio da Bolsa)

• Dinner @ O Marinheiro

• Grab coffee @ McDonald’s* (most beautiful McDonald’s in the world)

Other points of interest & food:

• Croft Port Wine Lodges (free)

• Take tram no. 1 from Ribeira to Foz do Douro for an unforgettable journey beside the Atlantic coast in a beautiful reconditioned old tram:

  • Jardim do Passeio Alegre (mini golf, fancy old WC, café)

  • Lighthouse

  • Ponder the sea

• Papavinhos

Day 6 (Douro Valley/Tomar)

• Amazing breakfast buffet at the Intercontinental!!

• One hour drive to Mesao Frio & Regua (pictures along the way)

• Drive to Tomar

• Check-in @ Hotel Dos Templarios

• Walk around town

• Dinner @ Casas Das Ratas

Other restaurant recommendation:

• O Tabuleiro

Day 7 (Tomar/Lisbon)

• Convent of the Order of Christ/Castelo de Tomar

• Drive to Cascais (1.5 hrs):

  • Walk to the beach

• Drive to Lisbon (45 mins)

• Check-in @ Heritage Avenida Liberdade*

• Return car @ Hertz (Rua Castilho 72)

• Follow Rick Steve’s Bairro Alto/Chiado stroll:

  • Sao Pedro Park (nice city view)

  • Cod fish snack at some small snack shop

  • Sao Roque Church

  • Café A Brazileira

  • Armazens do Chiado Mall

• Dinner @ Cervejaria Ramiro* (shrimp, clams, edible crab)

Day 8 (Lisbon):

• Follow Rick Steve’s walking tour (Alfama):

  • Praça da Figueira

  • São Cristóvão

  • Sao Jorge Castle (pic)

  • Largo das Portas do Sol for coffee & nice view

  • Sé Cathedral

  • Praça do Comércio (Trade Square)

• Shop at Zara

• Take the Gloria funicular to Bairro Alto

• Lisbon chill-out free walking tour @ Praça Luís de Camões (4 hrs)

  • Chiado/Largo do Carmo

  • Santa Justa Elevator

  • Bairro Alto (secret water fountain)

  • Baixa

  • Alfama (São Miguel, ginjinha tasting)

• Dinner @ Alma-Henrique Sa Pessoa*

Day 9 (Belem/Lisbon)

• Taxi to Belem (€8)

• Tower of Belem (free Sunday till 2pm, don’t go in if the line is long)

• Padrao dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries)

• Cloister @ Monastery of Jeronimos

• Coach Museum

• Pastel de belem & coffee @ Casa Pasteis De Belem*

• Monastery of Jeronimos (free)

• Maritime Museum

• Walk around flea market

• Taxi back to hotel (€9)

• Dinner @ Sacramento*

Day 10 (Lisbon/home)

• Taxi to Airport

• Flight to JFK

Other points of interest & food

• Pancho Free Walking Tour (Alfama 2.5hr)

• Fado bar @ A Tasca do Chico

• Cantinho do Avillez (need reservation)

Tips

• Check with your hotel in Porto for free tour to visit wineries in Gaia. For example, Intercontinental offered free tours to Graham and Churchill.

• Taxi in Lisbon is reasonably priced

• Look up various walking tours offered by the historians or volunteers to explore the city like a local!

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Cabo da Roca

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Canals @ Aveiro

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Lisbon