Portugal Tour Guide
We know that there are many people coming to Portugal for our wedding and we would like to share some advice on what to do in the country, in case you want to spend a few more days around!
Lisbon
Where to stay
Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and there is plenty to do. The ideal places to stay would be close to Rossio, Avenida da Liberdade or, if you want a more traditional experience, Alfama or Baixa-Chiado.
If you want to be closer to the venue (roughly 30 minutes by taxi or Uber from Lisbon), then the best options would be to stay in Sintra for a more cultural trip or Cascais if you prefer to be closer to the beach. Both places are only 10/15 minutes away from the venue.
Where to eat
There is a wide selection of places with great Portuguese cuisine, such as Taberna Bairro do Avillez Solar dos Presuntos and Pap'açorda. One of the most traditional experiences in Lisbon is coupling a nice dinner with some Fado music and for that, we recommend Mesa de Frades, Tasca do Chico and Tasca Bela. The crown jewel of Lisbon is considered by many to be Carvejaria Ramiro, one of the best seafood restaurants in the city - however, they don't take bookings so you might have to queue for a while. For all the other places, don't forget to book!
Where to go
Please make sure you visit Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém (and make the short trip to Pastéis de Belém if you have a sweet tooth).
If you are looking for a bit of sunbathing, you can also make a trip to Cascais and go to our many beaches in São Pedro, Guincho, Conceição and many others.
There are some museums worth mentioning, such as Calouste Gulbenkian, Museu dos Coches and MAAT. And obviously, anyone going to Lisbon should make the trip to Sintra and luckily, you'll be nearby in our venue!
Algarve
Where to stay
There are three main areas to stay in the south of Portugal, if you're looking to relax. Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are part of the same area and have plenty of beaches around, with Vilamoura being the more touristic area. Lagos can be a nice option if you want a less crowded area, but the water can be a bit colder. There is always Albufeira, but we don't talk about that...
Where to eat
In Algarve you will need to rent a car to move around, as places tend to be far from each other. If you managed to get one, then we suggest a trip to Casa do Lago, Henrique Leis, São Gabriel for dinner and 2 Passos or Gigi's for lunch.
Where to go
During this time of the year, Algarve is mostly a touristic location and beach-related activities are your best choice. We suggest any boat trip setting sail from either Vilamoura or Portimão.
What we really advise you to do is to book a nice place close to a beach and just take the time to relax. As for activities in the evening, your best bet is probably going somewhere for dinner and have a nice cocktail either in the Vilamoura Marina or Quinta do Lago/ Vale do Lobo.
Porto
Where to stay
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and a well-kept secret from tourists (for now). Getting there by train takes less than 3 hours and it is well worth the journey. There are amazing areas in which you can stay, such as Boavista if you want to be in the more modern part of the city or Sé, which is closer to the river and the more traditional area.
Where to eat
While we cannot claim to be as savvy as the locals, there are a few places that we recommend, such as Casa Brasão, Pedro Lemos and Casa de Chá da Boa Nova. However, one of the things you must try in Porto is the famous 'francesinha' and there are many debates on which place makes the best one. It is simply one of the best delicacies in Portugal (Sera disagrees) with every kind of meat possible, coated in cheese and an incredible beer&tomato sauce. Again, while we can't recommend a place without offending a whole city, Bufete Fase has won multiple awards and it is the only dish they make.
Where to go
The city is famous for Port wine and therefore, there are multiple cellars that can offer tours, alongside very nice meals. We would advise Sandeman or Caves Calém, but there the options are unlimited. Additionally, we suggest exploring the city on foot, to go see the Torre dos Clérigos, Mercado do Bolhão, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, or Livraria Lello, where apparently J.K. Rowling wrote part of Harry Potter (don't tell Portuguese people this is not true).
Porto also offers cruises on the Douro river, which go into the countryside, with amazing landscapes, vineyards and, obviously, more Port cellars.