10 tips for visiting Portugal
The secret to a memorable trip to Portugal remains trying to escape the crowds and seek out the secluded spots. Many tourists still see Portugal as synonymous with Lisbon and the Algarve. However, there is so much more to see that you will lose half of the charm and mystery of the country if you stick to the crowded places.
Here are top 10 tips on how to make the most of your trip to Portugal:
1. Rent a car and drive across the country. It is possible to travel all over the country by motorway (“A” roads), which is a great advantage for drivers. Highways are not free and you will have to pay a toll. Also, be careful not to enter the “Via Verde” lane when merging onto the highway, as these are for “subscribed” drivers only. The advantage is that you will be able to discover the country at your own pace and get away from the crowds.
2. Avoid weekends and holidays when you visit the main tourist spots, such as Sintra, Óbidos and others. They are likely to be crowded and you will have little chance of knowing the “real” place. Remember that many Portuguese take advantage of weekends and holidays to visit the country themselves.
3. While in Portugal, avoid all companies that advertise tours at bargain prices or extremely attractive. You will likely spend an entire day stuck in a coach, stopping for 5 minutes to take a quick photo and traveling miles and miles. Many of these companies will try to impress you by how many places you visit in a single day. The typical tour of Lisbon – Óbidos – Alcobaça – Batalha – Nazaré – Leiria – Lisbon is simply too much and will wear you out! Also, there is often no accurate information about the size of the bus/number of seats/number of languages spoken on the tour. Get advice from Tourist Offices or other reliable sources.
4. Stay away from deja vu, cliché views. Although some of the most famous and historic sights are unavoidable, you can find hidden treasures. Some tips on places to discover:
o Historical Towns of Portugal – These are towns built in stone (essentially granite and sometimes shale), generally located on the tops of high mountains where the Portuguese could defend themselves against the Moorish, Spanish and even French invaders. They are located in the Serra da Estrela area and near the border with Spain. Many are within the castle walls and retain traces of medieval times. They are towns where time stopped, places that transport us to a distant past: Piódão, Belmonte, Castelo Novo, Idanha-a-Velha, Monsanto, Almeida, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo, Linhares da Beira, Marialva, Sortelha and Trancoso.
o Portuguese Natural Parks – Although little known, these Parks are protected areas where human presence is not very common and the attraction of Nature can be appreciated in all its magnitude. Go to Parque Natural da Arrábida (40km from Lisbon) for hikes or jeep tours; Go to Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (in the north) where you will find a wild and impressive landscape; Go to the Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado (near Setúbal) if you are particularly interested in watching dolphins or birds; Go to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, a region of wild beauty that is very popular for water sports, particularly surfing and body boarding.
5. Take the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience. Take part in the harvest in the Alto Douro wine region in September at one of the many wine estates or have a culinary experience in the Alentejo region where you will taste your own recipes. These are just two of the things you can try while in Portugal.
6. Rent a bike and discover the country while keeping fit: Tour the streets of Aveiro with a BUGA, a bike that can be rented for 1EUR; Biking along the Guincho bike path, a 5 km path that runs from Casa da Guia, in the city of Cascais, to Guincho beach; The Ramal de Mora lane in Évora, Alentejo, is a 20 km track available for hikers or cyclists, starting from Chafariz d’El Rei in Évora. Well, you will have to go to Portugal to discover all the bike lanes available to sports lovers.
7. Go for a coffee at one of the historic and charming cafes in Portugal:
o In Brasileira, in Braga.
or Café Majestic in Porto, with an Art Nouveau façade, a luxurious tea room and huge Art Nouveau mirrors.
or Café Santa Cruz in Coimbra, a beautiful building with a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows.
o Lisbon’s renowned cafés: Café Nicola, in Rossio, with its Art Nouveau façade; Café Benárd, with a more classic decoration and homemade pastry specialties; A Brasileira, where you can sit next to the great poet Fernando Pessoa, sculpted in bronze as a worldly man having a cup of coffee.
8. Find a terrace that will literally take your breath away: The Casal de Loivos terrace, in the Alto Douro wine region. When you arrive at the terrace of Casal de Loivos (“miradouro” in Portuguese), sit back and relax. Breathe the silence and enjoy the tranquility of the place. Look at the river flowing slowly below. An absolutely magnificent place.
9. Visiting Lisbon in May, when the city is covered in violets… The Jacaranda tree, an ornamental tree from the Middle East, blooms profusely and colorfully throughout Lisbon, painting it with endless violet flowers. This magnificent show lasts for two to three weeks.
10. Visit the Alentejo region during the spring. The fields will be densely covered with beautiful, brightly colored flowers and the plains, dotted with cork oaks and olive trees, will create a wonderful opportunity for rest and relaxation.