Melanie & Aaron
Things To Do
Lisbon
Top Sights: 1. Belém Tower 2. Castelo de S Jorge 3. Jerónimos Monastery Can't Miss: A Ginjinha shot, You'll find hole-in-the-wall bars that sell them along the street. It's a sweet Portuguese liqueur made with sour cherries (ginja berries). They can even be found sold in chocolate shot glasses you eat after drinking!
Porto
Top Sights: 1. Douro River Cruise 2. Cais da Ribeira (the riverfront) 3. São Francisco Church Can't Miss: Sample the what the City is famous for, Port Wine. (Be very careful, it is very strong and can give you a terrible hangover!)
Algarve Region
Top Sights: 1. The Benagil Cave 2. Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail 3. Ponta da Piedade Can't Miss: A round of golf at Vale do Lobo Algarve. They actually have two courses, the Ocean and the Royal Course.
Azores
Top Sights: 1. Caldeiras das Furnas 2. Go Whale Watching 3. Lagoa do Fogo (Lake of Fire) Can't Miss: The hot springs and thermal pools heated by the islands volcanos!
Madeira Islands
Also known as Europe's Hawaii, this island is about 500 miles southeast of Lisbon. Top Sights: 1. Porto Moniz Lava Pools 2. Jardim Botanico, Botanical Gardens in Funchal 3. Cabo Girao Can't Miss: Hiking one of the levadas (irrigation channels now used as walking trails). There are 200 of them!
Cascais
Top Sights: 1. Watch the sunset at Boca Do Inferno 2. Casino Estoril 3. Praia da Ribeira Beach Can't Miss: Cabo da Roca, a lighthouse atop a 106m cliff that also happens to be the most western point in Europe.
Sintra
Top Sights: 1. Pena Palace and Park 2. Castelo dos Mouros 3. Monserrate Palace Can't Miss: Castelo dos Mouros, a moorish castle built on top of a hill in the 8th and 9th century