Uncover The Best Of Europe With This Portugal Vacation

Day 1: Madeira

Start your Portugal vacation right by stepping in Madeira. One of the trendiest destinations in the country, spend warm days by the seaside here as a retreat from winter sun, go hiking, try exotic dishes and enjoy one of the world’s best New Year Eve’s parties. In case you cannot make it possible to visit for a New Year’s party, making your way to the main island as well as the smaller ones adjacent to it is always going to be a great plan. For all the beach enthusiasts, Porto Santo is where you’ll find all the wonderful stretches of sand in the country. Other major highlights in Madeira include the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum known as Museu CR7, the house of Christopher Columbus, and the Madeira Wine Museum. 

Day 2: Coimbra

A mesmerizing city in Central Portugal, Coimbra is located by the Mondego River and is home to beautiful gardens, historic sites, a dynamic culture centered around one of the oldest universities in Europe, and Portugal’s second style of fado music. One can simply get lost in Coimbra and uncover the many historic highlights from the splendid Old Cathedral to the Gothic Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, containing the tomb of Queen Isabel. Do visit the University of Coimbra and admire one of the most charming libraries in the world, the Joanina Library. 

Day 3: Porto

During your Portugal vacation, make sure not to miss visiting the country’s second largest city, Porto. Both the capital city of Portugal and Porto may seem similar as both are characterized by old, vibrant buildings stretched across hilly streets and are situated beside major rivers. However, Lisbon is precisely bright and sunny, whereas Porto glows with culture. Those who love the country’s azulejos tiles, should definitely visit the Sao Bento railway station which provides a splendid mosaic of tiles, converting the walls into beautiful works of art. There are numerous medieval palaces, gardens, and cathedrals here, and the cuisine is known as the best in Portugal. Famous for its Port wine, the stretches of vineyards in the city make up majority of nearby Douro Valley. 

Day 4: Nazare

Nazre is known for its tremendous wintertime waves, i.e. November-January, which can reach as high as 30m and grabs the attention of daredevil surfers. Other than extreme surfing, the city has much more to offer and is one of the best beach resort towns in Portugal. The city boasts a charming town, a wide sand beach and an opulent fishing heritage. Sitio headland which is situated above Nazare has a pleasant historic centre and lighthouse. This is the place where the waves and currents merge creating the highest surfing waves in the world, which crash onto the Praia do Norte beach. 

The city has a dynamic as well as social atmosphere during the summer, but always maintains its welcoming Portuguese atmosphere. You can also opt for day trips to the Gothic monastery in Alcobaca during your Nazare stay or the historically significant town of Batalha. 

Day 5: Azores

The city of Azores is situated approximately between mainland Portugal and Massachusetts. It is made of 9 volcanic islands which are dispersed over hundreds of nautical miles and is famous for its hot mineral springs, charming seaside towns and spectacular whale watching. Each of these islands are characterized by their own unique identity but they all possess gorgeous beaches and green landscapes. The Green Island, i.e. Sao Miguel is the largest out of the 9 while Pico has the tallest mountain in the country. This destination is paradise for adventure enthusiasts. One can find all water sports here with horseback riding and cycling, majorly in Vila Franca do Campo, which happens to be the largest town in the city.

Day 6: Lisbon

The capital city of Portugal, Lisbon tops the list of travel itineraries. Try out the authentic pasteis de nata here, explore the Portuguese calcadas and also try one of the many bacalhau dishes. In Spite of the booming tourism, Lisbon remains a city that can be explored well on a budget and is one of the most affordable and peaceful capitals in Europe. Expect winding, narrow roads, and exceptional lookout points here. Even strolling around at night here is no less than treat. Nostalgic melodies and tempting aromas in Alfama wander from cozy restaurants that dot the narrow, cobblestone streets. Make sure to visit Chiado, the fashionable district having the world’s oldest bookstore, or boho-chic Bairro Alto, which becomes lively at night. Plenty of sunlight and amazing weather means that visiting Lisbon in any season is worthwhile. 

Day 7: Sintra

Amidst the pine-enveloped hills of the Serra de Sintra, lies the town of Sintra and its faintly cooler climate caused the Portuguese nobility to build their summer refuge within Sintra. The nobility created luxurious palaces, while the aristocracy of Portugal who followed them built equally lavish residences.   

These palaces as well as the stately homes in today’s time are open to the general public. The town of Sintra can be explored as the day trip from Lisbon. Majority of travelers go for a set route here and visit the ruins of the Moors castle, the gothic National Palace and the gorgeous Pena Palace. However there are enough sights for a second entire day of sightseeing. The town of Sintra is connected to Lisbon via a direct railway and is quite easily accessible for all. 

Day 8: Algarve

Wish to enjoy warm weather, stylish beaches, trendy social scene, and hiking expeditions? Well, Algarve is your place to go. Each of the main including Lagos, Albufeira, Portimao and Vilamoura is worth visiting. Small treasure of sparkling waters and charming cliffs such as Camilo Beach in Lagos are spattered across the area. In case you need directions, do not worry about not being able to speak Portuguese. Many neighbourhoods in Algarve are mostly English-speaking, especially around Vilamoura and Albufeira. For anyone who wishes to take a break from the Portuguese crowd, there are a number of places to visit. Tavira, Aljezur and Sagres are a few of the most peaceful towns to visit.