Going to Portugal - any tips?

[StringFellow]

I’m going to Portugal for a week at the end of the month, just me and DP, no car, and staying in Porto, Sintra and Lisbon.

Any tips from those who have visited these places, restaurants or any other good recommendations of things to do? Really excited, haven’t been before! Thank you!

Oops that was meant to be a obviously!

Bump!

Anyone?

I'm afraid I've only ever been to the Algarve (and love it!) so can't give you any tips but bumping for you. Have a wonderful time!

@MermaidEyes

I'm afraid I've only ever been to the Algarve (and love it!) so can't give you any tips but bumping for you. Have a wonderful time!

Thanks anyway! It looks beautiful there, I thought I’d go there when it’s a bit warmer so can properly enjoy it

And thanks for bumping too!

We went on food tours in both Porto and Lisbon and they were brilliant. Porto one was with Taste Porto, can't remember the Lisbon one. Both with lovely guides, took about 3 hours eating and drinking around great little spots, history and sightseeing thrown in.

Bar Guindalense in Porto overlooks the main bridge and has a great terrace and is cheap and friendly. A tour of one of the port cellars is great as well.

Porto has the famous book shop used in Harry Potter or something like that - very beautiful but busy

@MsRinky

We went on food tours in both Porto and Lisbon and they were brilliant. Porto one was with Taste Porto, can't remember the Lisbon one. Both with lovely guides, took about 3 hours eating and drinking around great little spots, history and sightseeing thrown in.

Bar Guindalense in Porto overlooks the main bridge and has a great terrace and is cheap and friendly. A tour of one of the port cellars is great as well.

Those are good ideas thank you! Was the port cellar tour just in Porto? Not sure if worth going to Douro valley

Thanks anyway! It looks beautiful there, I thought I’d go there when it’s a bit warmer so can properly enjoy it

It is beautiful, one of my favourite summer destinations, so chilled and friendly!

In Lisbon just walk lots, meander everywhere. Don't fill your calender. It's a very pretty and safe city and you can stumble across some amazing view points just by chance. It's touristy but going to Belem the original Pastel del Natas place is quite a nice thing to do if you have time.

Can you get public transport between Porto and Sinatra or are you on a package. Always curious about how easy travel is in Portugal.

@QuizzicalEyebrows

Porto has the famous book shop used in Harry Potter or something like that - very beautiful but busy

It does. You need to book a tickets and queue usually.

@floofycroissant

In Lisbon just walk lots, meander everywhere. Don't fill your calender. It's a very pretty and safe city and you can stumble across some amazing view points just by chance. It's touristy but going to Belem the original Pastel del Natas place is quite a nice thing to do if you have time.

Can you get public transport between Porto and Sinatra or are you on a package. Always curious about how easy travel is in Portugal.

Great, thanks! Yes we've booked a train, they are fairly straightforward forward, regular and far cheaper than here! I'm not sure about the rest of the country

Hi - in Lisbon, this is a must-visit for us www.cervejariaramiro.com/

Incredible seafood restaurant - you should definitely book as it gets incredibly busy - or visit outside of standard lunch/dinner times. It was featured on a Rick Stein programme and is just incredible.

Also the Time Out market is great
www.timeout.com/lisbon/restaurants/time-out-market-lisbon

And, speaking as someone who is not particularly even fond of pastel de natas, you have to go here for one pasteisdebelem.pt/en/

Cascais is absolutely lovely. You can get the train from Lisbon, or there are buses between Sintra and Cascais (one used to go the scenic route through all the little villages, one the quick way on the main road). The old town and sea front are very pretty. Lots of little restaurants and shops.

@QuizzicalEyebrows

Porto has the famous book shop used in Harry Potter or something like that - very beautiful but busy

Thanks! Will look it up and book, seems weird you have to!

[quote wtaf1980]Hi - in Lisbon, this is a must-visit for us www.cervejariaramiro.com/

Incredible seafood restaurant - you should definitely book as it gets incredibly busy - or visit outside of standard lunch/dinner times. It was featured on a Rick Stein programme and is just incredible.

Also the Time Out market is great
www.timeout.com/lisbon/restaurants/time-out-market-lisbon

And, speaking as someone who is not particularly even fond of pastel de natas, you have to go here for one pasteisdebelem.pt/en/[/quote]
We used to live in Portugal and enjoyed going to Lisbon. I just looked at your link and am now salivating. Prawns, clams and percebes (miss being able to get those in the UK!)

OP it's been a while since we lived there but I remember going to Sintra and having a lovely meal at Lawrences Hotel. This was over 14 years ago so things may well have changed by now.

If you are a seafood fan then we used to love the Ribadouro restaurant in the Avenida Liberdade. Again it's been some time since we've been there but it used to be lovely.

Enjoy your trip OP, I'm really jealous!

According to my 20yo son, the McDonalds in Porto is well worth a visit. Not for the food (although he probably had that too!) but apparently the building is very beautiful inside, and worth a look as you are passing

in Sintra definitely go to Quinta da Regaleira!!!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinta_da_Regaleira

And also Palacio da Pena and Castelo dos Mouros

Two recent threads on Portugal.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/holidays/4492061-Where-to-go-in-Northern-Portugal

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4492353-Anyone-been-to-Portugal

Definitely do a food tour - can't remember who we did one with but loved it.

Also, a bar (not flash) with a good view is at Monte Belvedere hotel (open to non-residents)

We also ate at Royale Cafe which has a nice courtyard bit out the back and found the food was very nice!

Doing a trip into the Douro Valley is worthwhile if you have the time. We did a private tour with a driver, Custer a couple of port Quinta, had a nice lunch and admired the scenery - which is pretty spectacular.

It is a long day in a car, but worth it if you appreciate wine and enjoy landscapes. Also worth visiting one of the port lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia (just across the bridge from Porto itself).

In fact, we went pre-kids and this thread is making me want to go back!!!

Possibly a bit niche, but I loved the Tile Museum in Lisbon.
And there's a food and drink kiosk at a scenic point overlooking the river, across the road from a museum (can't remember what the museum is, sorry!) where we stopped for a drink. I was starving so ordered a cheese toastie, with a certain amount of dread, assuming it'd be a really dismal fast-food effort. It was DELICIOUS! Lovely bread, seasoned with tasty herbs... I was well and truly wrong.

But otherwise I agree with a pp it's a lovely city to just walk around; you'll discover things as you go.

@gracedentssketty

Definitely do a food tour - can't remember who we did one with but loved it.

Also, a bar (not flash) with a good view is at Monte Belvedere hotel (open to non-residents)

We also ate at Royale Cafe which has a nice courtyard bit out the back and found the food was very nice!

Oo thank you I think these are on my list too