Portugal — Ashley Silva

Portugal is one of my favorite countries in the world. I just got back from another trip there and wanted to share my recommendations!

Lisbon

Where to Stay

The Alfama district is my favorite area of town to stay in because it’s so historic
- I’ve stayed here
Barrio Alto is also a really centrally located place to stay

Where to Eat

Prado :(make a reservation), cute as shit and so good
Time Out Lisbon: food and beverage stalls, super casual and so much fun and it seems touristy but locals definitely go
Graça 77 (tiny restaurant super casual and delish food)
Sky Bar (we got drinks there. It’s sort of touristy but the views are insane so I was sold)
Mercado de Campo de Ourique (smaller version of Time Out Lisbon but equally delicious and a great place to try lots of things. Tram 28 can take you there and I LOVED the tram)
A cevicheria: We stumbled upon this little restaurant not knowing it was such a highly rated spot. It had super fresh seafood and was so cute.
Pateo - Bairro do Avillez: We found this before we went and thought it was super cute and it had thousands of ratings. Well worth it. Loved the vibe and the food was really fresh. We made reservations because it's very popular
Dallas Burgers : When you just need a burger, these are SO good!

What to See + Do

Sintra Day Trip (take the train first thing in the morning so you’re the first ones there, much more enjoyable)
St. George’s castle was super cool and had incredible views
Walk along the waterline by the bridge (lots of good people watching. Don’t eat at any restaurants in the plaza because obviously they’re for tourists and stupid expensive
Carmo Convent - really cool ruins, they also do random light shows on the old buildings which is rad
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal: These were such pretty gardens and fun to stroll. Lots of history and some super gorgeous views of the river.
Belem District: Visit the ornate Jerónimos Monastery, the Torre de Belém fortress, and the Monument to the Discoveries.
Santa Justa Lift: Ride this neo-Gothic elevator for panoramic views, especially at sunset.
Oceanario de Lisboa: One of the largest aquariums in Europe!

Where to Shop

Where to Stay

Choose an AirBnB in the center of the old town. Cascais is so walkable and staying in the heart of old town is a must

Where to Eat

Almina: Really cute spot with amazing Mediterranean food and the freshest ingredients
Corleone: Fancier but incredible food + service
Hifen: Super fresh and creative menu with water views
Mana: Another cool vibe with delicious pizza
Burga Ramen: The coolest anime themed ramen restaurant with delicious ramens
Malicopa Taco Bar: Absolutely incredible street tacos and guac

What to See + Do

Walk everywhere! Cascais is so walkable and it’s so much fun to explore the cobblestone streets. Impossible to get lost, just walk!
The Marina: Head down to the Marina and grab some coffee and a treat at one of the coffee shops.
Boca Del Inferno: We walked along the coast over here to see the awesome rock formations and check out the waves crashing. Well worth the walk.
Beach: There’s some awesome beaches to lounge at and enjoy
Mercado Da Villa: The farmers market is open Wednesday and Saturday and has some amazing stalls. Grab yourself some fresh food and enjoy the people watching

Where to Shop

Mercado Da Villa: There’s a ton of handmade crafts and thrift finds Wednesday and Saturday at the market stalls
Track and Field: Europe’s version of Lululemom IMO and as a former track athlete, I’m obsessed. I spent way too much here
Casa de Peles: Incredibly good quality leather goods without the name brands so they’re all reasonably priced
Old Town Shops: Just walk around old town, you’ll run into so many little local shops with art, jewelry, clothing, etc

Where to Stay

Anywhere in the city center is perfect. It’s an extremely walkable easy to figure out city.
- I love a Marriott and this one is supposed to be super chic and new

Where to Eat

17 degrees bar for a drink (the restaurant is a little more fancy but delicious). The views here were just insane

Base is this super cute bar across from the bookstore that JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter in and is on top of a building and just gorgeous on sunny days

Down by the river there's a ton of cute little restaurants and small bars. We would walk around at night and find a place along the water to grab a drink. I don't even remember the names of places we would just stop if we saw somewhere cute or with live music

What to See + Do

River Cruise (we did a 45 minute river cruise under the bridge. It was cool history and a unique way to see the city and was maybe $20)
Walk everywhere (this city is so easy to navigate. We walked everywhere and just stopped at random bars and shops and markets).
If it's still soccer season, Porto has a rad soccer team with a cool stadium. We got to go the last game of the season and it was amazing
Dom Luis Bridge: Walk across this iconic double-decked bridge for panoramic views of Porto and Gaia.
Torre dos Clérigos: Climb 200+ steps for 360-degree city views
Porto Cathedral: Explore this 850-year-old fortress-like cathedral for historic architecture and city views.

Where to Shop

Almada 13 (coolest store with lots of local handmade things. From house stuff to clothes to art, seriously could spend hours here)

Where to Stay

The Algarve Region is super diverse. You can’t go wrong with Lagos, Faro or Tavira. Depends on what you’re looking for! My favorite is Tavira for more of a true beach vacation vibe.

Where to Eat

What to See + Do

Go to the beach! Seriously, grab a book, some beverages and snacks and lounge. For me the Algarve is for beach time
Explore the cliffs: Check out the views from all the gorgeous cliffs overlooking the beach
Boat Tour: Take a boat tour and check out the dolphins and other wildlife
Kayak: Kyak to the Benagil cave
Hiking: 7 Hanging Valleys trail is the popular spot

Where to Shop

I don’t have any specific shops to recommend but when you’re in the little towns, stroll the local shops!

Enjoy, Portugal is such a dream!