Portugal Highlights
Want some quick tips of things to do in Lisbon, Sintra, or Porto? Here are our favorites.
ACCOMODATION
In Lisbon, we stayed in Alfama which was great for seeing old town Lisboa. We recommend the neighborhood, but if we were to go back, we would probably stay closer to Bairro Alto. Many of the bars and restaurants we went to were in or near that neighborhood and its somewhat more central.
As for Porto, its smaller and very walkable so we recommend staying right in the heart of town. This is the AirBnB we stayed in, which was perfectly located and spacious.
FOOD - Lisbon
Good Boy Bagels - New bagel shop with fresh baked bagels, delicious sandwiches, and brews in a hip bike shop!
Faz Frio - Very inventive cocktails, which you can enjoy while you wait for a table (if needed) and cute setting with intimate booths in the back for groups of 4-6.
Tapa Bucho - This place was popular, luckily we came on the later side of the evening and sat down with no wait at all. Everything was good, but we were especially excited for the meal when they brought out our first dish - the Portuguese sausage board.
Damas - This funky spot also has concerts in the back some nights. The menu is written on a wall and entirely in Portuguese so be prepared to ask for help!
Sr Lisboa - Traditional Portuguese food, family style. Try to bring some friends so you can order more and try more things! The pork belly was *chef’s kiss*
Dear Breakfast - The servers here were so cheery and the food was great, too! We sat here for hours using their fast wifi, starting with coffee and then juice and eventually beers. Grab an Aperol Spritz here and sit outside.
Cafe Janis - Lovely little spot for dine-in or takeaway at their window. A great place for vegans, many options!
Copenhagen Coffee Lab - A European chain, with 7 locations in Lisbon. We went there to use wifi, which wasn’t great, but our breakfast was.
Time Out Market - This is great if you only have a short time in Lisbon; try as many things as you can!
FOOD - Sintra
Piriquita - When you get off the train in Sintra, walk into town for a Travesseiro and a coffee at Piriquita to fuel your Pena Palace adventure.
Romario do Baco - Authentic Portuguese food in a classic setting.
FOOD - Porto
A Sanderia - Inventive sandwiches in a cute tiny shop in the center of town, you can’t go wrong here.
Mercador Cafe - An unfussy brunch spot, get the waffle benny.
Pregar - This is where we got our “when in Rome” Francesinha sandwich, it was good!
DRINKS - Lisbon
For craft beers: 21 Gallas, Cerveteca, Outro Lado
For fancy cocktails: Foxtrot, Red Frog
For wine: Literally anywhere! You can get a decent bottle at the market for 5 Euro; wine is everywhere and it is cheap!
EXPERIENCE - Lisbon
Casa Independente - Apartment building converted into a multi-area club/bar, there is something for everyone here and it was super fun!
Castle de Sao Jorge - A must-see in Lisbon, for the history and the views.
LX Factory - There are so many shops, restaurants, and more in this hip area, and its a cool way to see the April 25 Bridge.
Take a Day Trip! Sintra, Cascais, and more are just a train ride away! If you’re not feeling confident about the trains, you can rent a car for some destinations or just book a tour via AirBnB Experiences or similar.
EXPERIENCE - Porto
You GOTTA go on a day trip (at least) to the Douro Valley, it’s truly breathtaking. The terraced hillsides, the river, and the port wine are completely unique to this place and you won’t have this experience anywhere else. This was ours - Douro Valley via AirBnB experiences
Casa da Marquinhas - This is the place to go for an authentic Fado show with three-course dinner. Make reservations in advance!
