Portugal is located at the very edge of Europe and due to its location not so often visited by tourists. For example, here comes less tourists than to Hungary, Czech Republic or Sweden. Although such location did a beneficial impact on the tourism opportunities of the country.
Why Portugal?
By the mid 18th century Portugal has become a superpowerful country and Lisbon was one of the biggest cities in Europe. Then, in 1755, happened one of the most devastating earthquakes in history, which is not only completely destroyed the capital, but also marked the beginning of the decline of the empire.
The city has been completely rebuilt and remains in that conditions nowadays, while almost all the major European cities have been rebuilt starting from mid-19th century. In addition, Portugal has been avoiding wars in the last centuries.
But the country was poor. At a time when other European countries were rebuilt and developed, Portugal remained a reserve of a luxury life of the 18th century.
When to go to Portugal
Best months - May, June, July. But the temperature does not fall below 7-8 degrees during the day, even in winter.
Transport
Due to the small size, Portugal is ideal for car rental. Also all kinds of public transport are well developed. We used trains and buses.
Mobile Internet
Upon arrival buy a sim card MEO with a prepaid internet. In 2015 they had following prices: 2 Gb for 13 euros or 6 Gb for 30 euros.
Prices
The overall impression - Portugal is slightly cheaper than Italy, Spain or France, although the prices in the tourist areas are almost the same. But hotels are much cheaper. For example, a good apartment in the center of Lisbon or Porto cost about 80 euros. And the best hotels only 180-250 euros.
Our route
We decided not to visit islands during our first trip. Also we saved a lot of time due to good location of the hotels.
Day 1 - Nations park in Lisbon
Day 2 - Queluz Palace, Lisbon
Day 3 - Nations park in Lisbon, Lisbon, Cape Roca
Day 4 - Sintra, Convent of the capuchos in Sintra, Monserrate Park, Seteais Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Lisbon
Day 5 - Sintra, Pena Palace, Lisbon
Day 6 - Lisbon
Day 7 - Belem, Obidos
Day 8 - Obidos, Coimbra
Day 9 - Porto
Day 10 - Guimaraes, Porto
Day 11 - Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga, Porto, Porto Bike Path
Day 12 - Porto
Day 13 - Algarve Coast
Day 14 - Algarve Coast and beach Benagil Cave
Day 15 - Algarve Coast
Day 1 - Nations park in Lisbon
The first two nights we stayed in the Nations park. Although it is only a few metro stops from the airport, but it is better to take a taxi.
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| Lisbon - World Expo Area ©Yuriy Buriak |
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In the evening were strolling on the promenade
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| Lisbon - MYRIAD by SANA Hotels ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 2 - Queluz Palace, Lisbon
In the morning we went to the Queluz palace from the Oriente station.
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| Queluz Palace ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Returned by train to Sete Rios and then reached São Sebastião by metro. From there went to the center.
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| Lisbon, Edward VII park ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Lisbon, Avenida da Liberdade ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Lisbon, Gloria Funicular ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 3 - Nations park in Lisbon, Lisbon, Cape Roca
In the morning went for a run on the promenade
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| Lisbon - Nations park ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Lisbon - Vasco da Gama Bridge ©Yuriy Buriak |
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At noon moved to the apartment at the Rossio Square by taxi and then went to Cape Roca.
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| Cape Roca ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 4 - Sintra, Convent of the capuchos in Sintra, Monserrate Park, Seteais Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Lisbon
Early in the morning tried to met the sunrise at the Commerce square. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy.
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| Lisbon, Commerce square ©Yuriy Buriak |
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From Rossio Station went to Sintra. Then take a taxi to the monastery of the Capuchins.
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| Capuchin monastery in Sintra ©Yuriy Buriak |
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From the monastery walked through the forest to the park of Montserrat.
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| Park Montserrat ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Next took a tourist bus to the Seteais palace
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| Seteais Palace ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Continued on foot to Quinta da Regaleira
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| Quinta da Regaleira ©Yuriy Buriak |
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After having a luch in Sintra went back to Lisbon.
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| Sintra ©Yuriy Buriak |
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In the evening climbed an observation deck at the Santa Justa elevator.
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| Lisbon, view from the observation deck of Elevador de Santa Justa ©Yuriy Buriak |
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And met sunset at São Pedro de Alcântara.
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| Lisbon, Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 5 - Sintra, Pena Palace, Lisbon
In the morning we went to the Pena palace, as one day for Sintra was not enough.
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| View of the Pena Palace from Cruz Alta ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Returned to Lisbon and went to the Caxias beach to have some rest.
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| Caxias beach ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Met sunset at Senhora do Monte
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| Lisbon, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 6 - Lisbon
In the morning climbed to the Lisbon Castle on a tuk-tuk.
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| Lisbon, Castle of St. George ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Lisbon ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Went down to the tram 28E, got to Rua Vítor Cordon stop and on foot reached Cais do Sodre. From there by ferry crossed the river to Cacilhas and took a bus to the statue of Christ.
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| Statue of Christ in Lisbon ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Lisbon, 25th of April Bridge ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Returned to Lisbon and visited few viepoints.
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| Lisbon, Miradouro das Portas do Sol ©Yuriy Buriak |
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In the evening strolled around the Commerce Square
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| Lisbon, Commerce square ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 7 - Belem, Obidos
Early in the morning took the tram 15E from Commerce Square to Belém and met there a sunrise. This time we were lucky.
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| Sunrise in Belem ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Belém tower ©Yuriy Buriak |
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After few hours of strolling returned to the center, checked out from apartment and on the metro went to Campo Grande where took a bus to Obidos.
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| Obidos, walls of XII-XIV centuries., length - 1565 meters ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 8 - Obidos, Coimbra
In the morning walked a little
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| Obidos ©Yuriy Buriak |
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By taxi got to Caldas da Rainha and continued by train to Coimbra.
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| Coimbra ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 9 - Porto
In the morning the weather was not very good, so we had a rest and took the train to Porto.
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 10 - Guimaraes, Porto
In the first half of the day visited Guimaraes
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| Guimaraes ©Yuriy Buriak |
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And then strolled in Porto
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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In the evening visited viewpoint Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 11 - Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga, Porto, Porto Bike Path
On this day we visited Bom Jesus do Monte and Braga.
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| Bom Jesus do Monte ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Braga ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Returned to Porto, rented biked and went to the ocean.
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| Bike Path in Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 12 - Porto
On this day, we strolled around Porto center.
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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| Porto ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 13 - Algarve Coast
In the morning we took the train to the south coast. You can fly to Faro with Ryan Air, but we chose the train. Got off at Tunes and went to our hotel by taxi.
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| Hotel Suites Alba Resort & Spa ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Swim and went for a walk along the coast to Benagil.
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| Algarve coast ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 14 - Algarve Coast and beach Benagil Cave
In the morning took free bikes at the hotel and in 20 minutes were at Benagil where visited famous cave.
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| Benagil cave ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Day 15 - Algarve Coast
In the morning met sunrise, took a taxi to Tunes and went to Lisbon airport.
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| ©Yuriy Buriak |
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Useful Links
Tourism
https://www.visitportugal.com - Portugal tourism
http://www.visitporto.travel - Porto tourism
http://www.gooporto.com - Porto tourism
http://www.visitlisboa.com - Lisbon tourism
http://www.golisbon.com - Lisbon tourism
http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/ - Sintra National Park, all the sights
Transport
http://cp.pt - trains
http://www.rede-expressos.pt - buses
http://www.rodotejo.pt - buses
http://www.renex.pt - buses
http://www.scotturb.com/carreiras/horarios/inverno - buses in Sintra and Cascais
Some of the movies in which you can see Portugal
The Ninth Gate (1999) - a great movie with Johnny Depp. One of the scenes was filmed on the central area of Sintra and Chalet Biester (video).
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - the first scene of this movie with James Bond was filmed on the beach Praia do Guincho (video). By the way, Ian Fleming wrote his first story about the famous spy, when he lived at the Hotel Palacio in Estoril. A Casino of Estoril became the prototype of "Royale" Casino.
House of the Spirits (1994) - a movie with Meryl Streep and Antonio Banderas. Beautiful Mexican landscapes were shot in Alentejo region, in the south of Portugal (video)
Night Train to Lisbon (2014) - drama with Jeremy Irons (video)
The other half (2006) - unpretentious comedy, the action took place at the time of the football European Championship in 2004. |
