Things To Do
Lisbon!
We could talk about Lisbon for days - seriously so much to do, so much to see, & so much to eat! It would be impossible to fit it all in under 1000 characters (come on Zola)! If you click to view the link below, it will bring you to our thoughtfully curated list of where to hang, eat & drink in Lisbon!
Ericeira!
The dreamiest fishing/surfing village 40 mins outside of Lisbon. Incredible views, seafood and you can lay on the beach here too. One of our favorite places in the world. Only a 20 min drive or uber from our venu if anybody wants to hang in a quiet beach town. Below are some of our recommendations below for Ericeira! -Mars Das Latas Wine & Food - One of the best meals we had in Portugal. It’s right on the Atlantic Ocean with superb food and drink. Very inexpensive for the quality of the meal. We will be eating here Monday! -Hemingways - Late night bar where all the locals and surfers go. Lauren’s brother Matt loves this place. -Ourico Terrace - Sip a Caipirinha next to the beach while watching the surfers get destroyed by monster waves. -Loja De Amelia - Cute little market that has fresh produce, beer, wine and all sorts of meats and cheeses.
Sintra!
Sintra is beautiful village in the mountains filled with palaces, extravagant villas, and castle ruins. Sintra is about 30 mins outside of Lisbon and very accessible by train from the center of the city. There is so much to see in Sintra and you can definitely make a full day out of it. Peña Palace and the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) are must-sees! Hot Tip!! You can choose to take a bus or a rickshaw from the town up to Peña Palace or walk but do note the walk is a more like strenuous, rustic hike (dress appropriately if you plan to do this- Lauren learned the hard way).
Cascais!
Another beautiful seaside town which is just 25 mins from Lisbon by train. Lots of fantastic restaurants and some cute shops. We love to have drinks by the pool at the Farol Hotel (absolutely breathtaking view). The sushi restaurant at the Farol Hotel is a next level experience as well.
Albufeira!
Europe's very own Nashville but with beautiful beaches! The downtown area in this city is pure chaos in the evenings with hen and stag parties as well as soccer hooligans running amok but it does have something special. This city is in the Algarve (the southernmost tip of the country right between the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean). You also have the option of going to Lagos in the West or Faro in the East for more peaceful beach towns (we plan to honeymoon in Lagos). The Algarve region is about a 2.5 hour train ride from Lisbon. It's very worth spending a few days here! Windmill Restaurant - Just a short walk out of the craziness but you get to have dinner in a Windmill!! A three course meal that’s very inexpensive for the high quality as well as a fantastic wine pairing option.
Porto & The Douro River Valley!
You must see this city! It’s a 4 hour train ride from Lisbon. When you arrive in Porto you are greeted by a historical station covered in white and blue porcelain tiles. - Obica Mozzarella Bar - Fantastic Italian restaurant with handmade pasta for when you are needing a break from traditional Portuguese fare. - Livaria Lello - The bookstore that inspired JK Rowling to begin the HP series! The staircase in the store is the motivation behind the moving staircases in the books & movies. You have to get tickets beforehand to skip the line but it’s definitely worth it. - Oporto Sensations Tour - These guys picked us up from our Airbnb and took us and a small group (7) of eclectic individuals from all over the world to the Douro River Valley. It is about a 2 hour drive East of the city. It looked like a green & living grand canyon with endless grapes. We had multiple tastings of the local wine, port and moonshine.