After visiting, Portugal became one of my favorite European destinations. The Portuguese are a bit more low-key and laid back with much lower prices than found in Spain, France or Italy. I have found myself suggesting to all ages a stop in Lisbon and with some more time, an extra stop on the Algarve.
LISBON:
In Lisbon, I discovered a cute little city on the water, not as wealthy as its neighboring Spanish capital, but with as much charm and quaintness as any another European capital. We didn't visit any museums, but enjoyed just strolling the cobblestone streets and people watching from the numerous benches scattered around the city.
Nightlife: Head to Barrio Alto quarter for the hip, young night life. The neighborhoor is also filled with good restaurants to eat at. After dinner stop at a one of the kiosks serving cocktails and make new friends while enjoying your drink on the street. You can get the drinks in plastic to-go cups and headed to find the crowds. In Barrio Alto, the streets are lined with bars with people drinking not just in the bars but also out on the streets, creating a vibrant party. You'll soon realize why Lisbon is known as the trendiest and one of the best European cities for nightlife
LISBON:
In Lisbon, I discovered a cute little city on the water, not as wealthy as its neighboring Spanish capital, but with as much charm and quaintness as any another European capital. We didn't visit any museums, but enjoyed just strolling the cobblestone streets and people watching from the numerous benches scattered around the city.
Nightlife: Head to Barrio Alto quarter for the hip, young night life. The neighborhoor is also filled with good restaurants to eat at. After dinner stop at a one of the kiosks serving cocktails and make new friends while enjoying your drink on the street. You can get the drinks in plastic to-go cups and headed to find the crowds. In Barrio Alto, the streets are lined with bars with people drinking not just in the bars but also out on the streets, creating a vibrant party. You'll soon realize why Lisbon is known as the trendiest and one of the best European cities for nightlife
SINTRA: take a day trip out to the colorful palaces making sure to stop visit Pena Palace, which looks more like Bowser’s Castle in Super Mario Bros. than a typical European castle. Around the palaces, Sintra has lush vegetation that makes a jungle appearance. Sintra is easily accessible by train from Lisbon.
BELEM: If there is one thing you must do before leaving Lisbon, is try an egg tart pastry from the famous Pastéis de Belém. The pastry can be found in other locations around the city. However, the ones in Belem are by far the best and worth any wait in line. We made the mistake of only getting one each and devoured it so quickly we returned to the long line and made sure to get a whole box filled with fresh pasteis sprinkled with powdered sugar. My mouth still waters thinking about those small pastries.
BELEM: If there is one thing you must do before leaving Lisbon, is try an egg tart pastry from the famous Pastéis de Belém. The pastry can be found in other locations around the city. However, the ones in Belem are by far the best and worth any wait in line. We made the mistake of only getting one each and devoured it so quickly we returned to the long line and made sure to get a whole box filled with fresh pasteis sprinkled with powdered sugar. My mouth still waters thinking about those small pastries.
LAGOS: After a couple of days in Lisbon, we headed down to the southern coast of Portugal to see one of its many beautiful beaches along the Algarve Coast. The town attracts many Brits, Australians, and Americans making it less of a Portuguese beach town than an extension of the UK. For those looking for more of an authentic Portuguese coastal town should head to one of the other smaller towns along the Algarve.
Accomodation: Someone recommended that we stay at the Rising Cock Hostel, so we quickly booked a room for three beds. We arrived to find a cult-like community where everyone called the owner of the hostel “Mama” not in an endearing and cute way, but a I’ll-follow-you-to-mass-suicide way. The strange loyalties to this woman made my friend ask with some panic, “We don’t have to call her Mama, do we?!” Beyond the obsession for the owner and the crazy frat like partying, the Rising Cock was perfectly located in town, close to the center and within steps to the beautiful beaches and cliffs that overlooked teal and green waters.
Activities: Obviously, beaches are the número um thing to do in Lagos. From town, you can walk along the cliffs to quieter more secluded beaches.
Take a short private boat tour of the nearby grottos and caves. The tour is relaxing and the tour guide gives a local history of Lagos. You can find any of the boats by just walking up to the docks and seeing which ones do tours.
Accomodation: Someone recommended that we stay at the Rising Cock Hostel, so we quickly booked a room for three beds. We arrived to find a cult-like community where everyone called the owner of the hostel “Mama” not in an endearing and cute way, but a I’ll-follow-you-to-mass-suicide way. The strange loyalties to this woman made my friend ask with some panic, “We don’t have to call her Mama, do we?!” Beyond the obsession for the owner and the crazy frat like partying, the Rising Cock was perfectly located in town, close to the center and within steps to the beautiful beaches and cliffs that overlooked teal and green waters.
Activities: Obviously, beaches are the número um thing to do in Lagos. From town, you can walk along the cliffs to quieter more secluded beaches.
Take a short private boat tour of the nearby grottos and caves. The tour is relaxing and the tour guide gives a local history of Lagos. You can find any of the boats by just walking up to the docks and seeing which ones do tours.
Take a short private boat tour of the nearby grottos and caves. The tour is relaxing and the tour guide gives a local history of Lagos. You can find any of the boats by just walking up to the docks and seeing which ones do tours.
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WHAT THE TRAVEL EXPERTS RECOMMEND: LISBON: Eat: Kaffeehaus: the place for brunch. Pharmacia: new restaurant in the Museum of Pharmacy has inventive dishes and drinks. Stay: Chiado16: guesthouse perched on a hill in the Chiado district. Altis Belém Hotel & Spa: this design hotel fits its location on the Tagus River, near the Monument to the Discoveries. |