Humberto Delgado Airpot to Lisbon
Taxi
Taxis in Portugal are very affordable; however, most of them only accept cash. At the airport, you can find a well organized cue for catching a Taxi. The app Free Now allows you to use your credit card. Through Free Now you can request a Taxi or Ride Share (like Uber). Uber and Bolt are also currently used in Portugal for Ride Share services, but we had the most success with Free Now.
Metro
The Metro system in Lisbon is very well organized. You can purchase a single ride Carris/Metro Ticket (~1.50 euro) or a 24 hour Carris/Metro Ticket (~6.30 euro). The Carris/Metro Ticket gives you access to the Metro and Buses. Use this link to see How to Use the Ticket Machine for purchasing a ticket. In the city of Lisbon, all Metro stations (but not bus stations) have a ticket machine. Ticket machines except cash and credit card.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lodging
In Lisbon, we stayed at this charming AirBnB. The view was A+, the kitchen had everything we needed, there was a full size bathroom (which we learned later in a trip is not standard for all residences), comfortable bed, and plenty of space to spread out. However, like many residences in Europe, there is no elevator. So we walked many flights of stairs, with heavy luggage, for the great view. We were physical able to do this, but please be mindful of your physical needs when booking accommodations.
Where To Go and What To Do
Castelo de Sao Jorge
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Fantastic location to go for sunset! A panoramic view of Lisbon! This site holds a lot of history, which can be read about at the on site museum, but do know that majority of the building is not original.
Carmo Convent
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Of all the historical sites we saw, this was our favorite! Breathtaking architecture (with the original build!) with a small but informative museum inside. Be sure to say hello to the resident black and white cat that roams the grounds!
Manteigaria
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The country’s most famous dessert, Pastel de Nata. We ate so many of these, and the ones from Manteigaria were our favorite. The original, Pasteis de Belém, were a little too “eggy” for us, but still worth trying! When in Porto, we had the opportunity to take this really fun and wholesome Pastel de Nata cooking class, where we learned the host’s grandmother’s receipe, delicious!
Time Out Market
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You may be tempted to dine at Henrique Sa Pessoa’s two Michelin starred restaurant, Alma, but be aware you must make a reservation months in advance. But don’t freight! Instead, go to the Time Out Market. Famous Portuguese chefs such as Henrique Sa Pessoa’, Miguel Castro e Silva, and Marlene Vieira have take-away restaurants here! Along with dozen of other yummy eateries, this is a fantastic spot to go for an excellent bite to eat. We loved it so much, we went twice!
Sintra
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All of Sintra cannot not be seen in one day! If you would like to explore the whole town, we would recommend three days. However, we only took a day trip Sintra (by train). The most popular attraction is The Pena Palace. Locals recommended to go there 1pm or later, and they were right! We stopped by the entrance in the morning and the line was atrocious. Instead, we spent our day at The Quinta da Regaleira and do not have any regrets! Absolutely beautiful grounds to stroll through, a small cafe to have a snack and some wine, its exactly what we wanted!
And before you leave Sintra, be sure to stop by Casa Piriquita and try one of their famous Travesseiro. It is a delightful puff pastry with almond cream filling that is worth the extra calories!
Other Options in Lisbon Area We Didn’t Have A Chance to Do
- Shopping
- Flea Market at Feira da Ladra (Th and Sat 9-6)
- Flea Market near Campo de Santa Clara (T and Sun)
- Cortico & Netos (azulejos)
- A Vida Portuguesa
- Museums
- Oceanarium (everyday 10-8)
- Pavilhao do Conhecimento (T-F 10-6, S-Sun 11-7)
- Museu Nacional do Azulejo
- LX Factory
- Ler Devagar
- Avenida da Liberdade
- Embaixada Concept Store
Lisbon to Porto
Train
We took the train from Lisbon to Porto, you can purchase tickets here. Depending on which train you pick, the journey can be as short as three hours. When you are looking at options, you will notice different types of trains; Alfa Pendular (AP), Intercidades (IC), and Regional (R). We strongly recommend taking an AP train. We had the opportunity to try both IC and AP. IC carriages are good enough and will get you to where you are going, but AP carriages are more comfortable.
Porto, Portugal
Lodging
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Where To Go and What To Do
Douro Valley Wine Tour
Do not leave Porto without doing this experience! Cancel plans if you must! I am not exaggerating! I cannot explain how magical, unique, and fun of an experience this was! The incredibly accommodating hosts take you on a day long journey through Douro valley where you see jaw-dropping scenery of wineries. You visit a couple of the smaller wineries, where you can have an intimate experience learning about the history of the region while tasting their delicious wines. Midday we took a boat tour down the Douro River to be able to see the valley from a different perspective. But our favorite part was when we went to this small, enchanting winery where they made us homemade, Portuguese dishes for lunch! A five course meal with all the wine we could drink! I cannot find the right words to express how special of an experience this is.