One Month Until Portugal

In one month I will be heading to Portugal with my Mom (eek) with plans to visit Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto but always, as I am starting to book all of our adventures I love asking you all your tips for any of these cities to make sure I don’t overlook a hidden gem.   We have a few days earmarked for each city so it will definitely be a highlights tour but with how small each of them are I think we will definitely be able to pack a ton in with maybe even a photo shoot or two!  🙂 So with no further ado here is what we have tentatively on the list of each of these three cities: 

View from the Number 28 Tram in Lisbon (source) 

Lisbon: If you are going to Portugal I think Lisbon is a given if for no other reason than that is where all of the international flights fly into.  It is crazy to me that a capital city can have only half a million people but I am excited that this is our first stop and to check out some of the top sights including: 

• Castelo de São Jorge (St George’s Castle)
• Chapel of St. John
• Elevador de Santa Justa
• Walk along the Pink Street
• Ride the Number 28 Tram 
• Sip a Morangoska (a cocktail made with vodka and fresh strawberries)
• Take a Sunset Sail
• Taking a walking tour / wine tour
• Torre de Belém (Belem Tower)

The Pena Palace in Sintra (source) 

Sintra:   This beautiful coastal town was not even on my list until a few weeks ago when I learned about the gorgeous royal palaces and it’s close proximity to Lisbon.  And while I had seen photos of the beautiful palace above I was totally unaware that was in Portugal and heck yes, I want to see it in real life! On our Sintra list:

• Castle of the Moors
• Monserrate Palace
• Park and National Palace of Pena
• Praia da Ursa
• Quinta da Regaleira
• Sintra National Palace

The São Bento Train Station in Porto (source)

Porto:  If you have seen any of the family photos I have posted in the last five plus years you may have noticed my parent’s house has a lot of blue and white so when I saw the gorgeous tiles in my Mom’s favorite color pattern I knew a trip to Porto needed to be in the cards but it turns out there is a lot more than gorgeous tile.  Here is what we have planned: 

• Cais da Ribeira (the waterfront)
• Carmo Church
• Church of St Francis
• Clérigos Tower
• The Crystal Palace
• Dom Luis I Bridge
• Eat a Francesinha (a Portuguese sandwich originally from Porto)
• Funicular dos Guindais
• Palácio da Bolsa (the former Stock Exchange)
• Porto Cathedral
• São Bento Train Station
• Serralves Museum

So if you have been, please let me know what your favorite aspects are so I make sure not to miss them on our trip or even if they are recommendations from friend or family, I will take them!