Capital: Lisbon ♦ Population: 10.3 million ♦ Currency: Euro (€) ♦ Language: PortugUese

Blog posts

• Lagos
• Food in Lagos
• Video: Lagos
• Lisbon highlights
• Food in Lisbon
• Porto
• 2 days in Coimbra
• The Recollection Diaries 2019
• Porto → Peniche → Lisbon (2014)

Highlights

Lisbon: yummy food (be sure to try the custard tarts), nightlife and culture. It is a very hilly city – unless you are in the dead centre of the city, it is basically up and down all the time. The architecture is some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Keep an eye out for the golden trams!

Porto: port… need I say more? Probably, because I am not a HUGE port lover. The charming city is nestled riverside, expanding over the bridges and forming a wonderful panorama from anywhere on the water’s edge. It has a very chilled out feel, probably something to do with the river flowing right through the middle.

Sintra: mountain town, home to Pena National Palace

Algarve: beaches galore. Lots of travellers, so nightlife is abundant. There is a huge expat community (predominantly English and Australian) which has resulted in a huge Western food scene (and good coffee!).

Coimbra: university town – founded in 1290, it is one of the oldest universities in Europe. A very quaint town built near a river, with the university towering over it on a rather steep hill.

Did you know?

• • Portugal is the oldest country in Europe
  • Portugese is the official language of 9 countries (Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Principe, Sao Tome and Equatorial Guinea)
  • The Vasco de Gama bridge in Lisbon is 17km long.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo is from Portugal.

Useful tips:

• • Lots of main dishes in Portugal won’t necessarily come with vegetables; they usually need to be ordered as a side.
  • The waiters will expect you to order your food before drinks, so you’ll have to tell them if you want to do it the other way around.
  • Eat big at lunch and smaller at dinner to save money.
  • The starters that are brought out at the beginning of your meal are not free, so if you don’t want them, say so.
  • For a non-food related tip… Portugal is slowly becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination, so if possible, get in soon or visit somewhere off the beaten track.