Before planning our first visit to Porto, I only knew a few things about the city. First, Porto is located in northern Portugal. Second, its architecture features traditional Portuguese azulejos (ceramic tiles). And third, Porto gave its name to the acclaimed Port wine. Throughout our two-day trip to Porto, I…
When I started planning our trip to Portugal, I thought we would be able to see most of the country in an eight-day tour. After searching for places to visit near Lisbon, I realized that although Portugal may be small (about the size of Maine), there is so much to…
During our 3-day trip to Lisbon, I felt at home like no other place I have ever visited. History explains my level of comfort. I am a Brazilian who was born and raised in Bahia, a state in the Northeast of Brazil. When the Portuguese explorers arrived on the Bahian…
Cascais was a fishing village that was forever changed when the Portuguese royal family established it as their favorite location for a summer retreat. This heritage is apparent in its elegant 19th-century architecture of palaces and elegant mansions. Nowadays, Cascais is a charming and affluent community that attracts locals and…
Sintra is no ordinary town. This wonderful destination has attractions that you can’t possibly see it all in one day. That said, don’t only take a day trip to Sintra while you are in Lisbon. Instead, stay there for one night or two if you can. We stayed for two nights…
