7 Things You Should Know About Traveling To Portugal
Have you ever wondered what a little slice of heaven looks like? Look no further than Portugal. This beautiful country may be tucked away in a corner of Europe, but it is easily accessible from the US and offers some of the very best gastronomy, activities, and romantic hideaways on the continent.
Earlier this month we caught up with our travel partner Danilo Cerqueira from Tempo VIP to talk all things Portugal. Tempo VIP is a boutique luxury destination management company, organizing unique itineraries in Portugal since 2004. We asked Danilo what his recommendations would be for travelers coming from the United States and the perfect itinerary for first-time visitors. He shared with us how long you should visit and why seven days should be the starting point for your first trip. We even get into staying 10 + days.
Lastly, we know everyone isn’t blessed with time so if you are on a tight schedule, we discuss fun things to do over a 4 day break or layover in this beautiful country, This is easily doable if you’re flying from New York or Miami on one of the direct flights and spending the majority of your time in Lisbon and its surrounding.
How easy is it to travel to Portugal?
There are great flight connections from most major cities and hubs across the country on TAP airlines. Once you arrive in Lisbon, it’s easy to get around the country. You could head south and be dipping your toes in the ocean in Algarve in two hours. Or head north to Porto by train and in less than three hours you could be sipping on some of the finest Ports in the world.
We’d recommend spending a few days in Lisbon, getting over jet lag and enjoying this stunning cosmopolitan and eclectic city. Though it’s a major capital, it does have a small-town feel with great transportation, amazing food and incredible wine. Unlike cities like Paris, Lisbon is dotted with lots of “wow” moments that will leave you wanting more at the end of the day.
When should you visit Portugal?
Believe it or not, Portugal is a year-round destination. Rumour has it, it only gets 3 days of rain per year and it’s usually in April (which is considered the rainy season). So if you’re going to plan a trip, just make sure to skip that month.
Lisbon is great during any season, including winter! To avoid crowds, we’d recommend visiting in March, May, September, and October. You’ll have great weather and better availability in restaurants and hotels. But if you’re thinking about hitting Algarve, then you probably want to go between May and October to get the summer atmosphere.
How do I get around Portugal?
The beauty of Portugal is that they have great roads and highways – but also a great train system. You could take the fast train and be in Porto in 2 ½ hours from Lisbon if you wanted to take the scenic route. But for the most part, it’s easy to rent a car and drive from one destination to another. Remember, it’s a small country!
Where should you visit?
That’s all going to depend on how much time you’ve got. Let’s say you base yourself out of Lisbon.
7-10 day trip: Spend two nights in Lisbon and then head out to the Duoro Valley. Spend one or two nights there and then head on to Porto as your final destination with an extra night in Lisbon before you head back home. Or go to Alentejo instead of the Duoro Valley and then continue to Porto.
10+ days: If you’re able to squeeze in a couple more vacation days then you could hit all four. Start in Lisbon, head up to Alentejo, followed by the Duoro Valley and end in Porto. This will cover city, countryside, wine, and river. Giving you a great taste of what Portugal is about and the desire to come back and continue exploring and enjoy a little bit more.
Though you’ll find most major hotel chains, we love that there are so many independent boutique hotels as well as family-owned properties. It’s in these places that you will get to experience the welcoming and friendly hospitality of the locals.
Portuguese are very proud of their country and traditions and want to share this with visitors. Wherever you go, they will make sure you feel at home.
What activities do you recommend?
If you want more than sightseeing, wine tastings and relaxing on the beach then listen up. Portugal is an incredible surfing destination with one of surfing’s Mecca just one hour outside of Lisbon. Nazaré is one of the most challenging surfing spots in the world, known for its uniquely large waves. This is absolutely not for a beginner.
But if you’re not into surfing, and like adventure you’ll have tons of opportunities to go hiking, biking, and kayaking off the coast of Portugal in the islands of Madeira and the Azores. These two places are all about reconnecting with nature, adventure, paragliding, and scuba diving. You can even swim with dolphins out in the open ocean.
The Azores islands have been very well preserved and limited construction has been permitted. You won’t find any big resorts here and will need to book well in advance (especially in summer) to ensure you get accommodations and transportation. You’re also unlikely to come across big crowds, given the nature of the islands.
If a spa day is more your cup of tea, you’ll want to head out to one of the two hubs – The Algarve or the Duoro Valley. You’ll find some of the best spas in the country within the luxury resorts in Algarve. You’ll also be able to take part in sunrise and sunset yoga sessions and exercise in great fitness centers.
Then you have the Duoro Valley, where a huge component of the wellness element is related to wine. There are spas where your treatments are made using grapes, grape seeds and grapeseed oil. There is also a big emphasis on enjoying and connecting with the outdoors and nature
Ok, let’s talk wine for a minute 🍷
Even if wine isn’t your go-to drink, you have to try it out during your visit. Portuguese wine is one of the best in the world – and it’s incredible value for money! To give you an idea you can get an amazing bottle of wine for the same price as a glass of wine in an average restaurant in New York.
Now that you’ve picked up your jaw from the floor, you’re probably wondering where you can get your hands on this amazing wine. Well, there are two regions we would highly recommend:
Alentejo: situated between Lisbon and Algarve, is the largest wine-producing region in Portugal. The wines from this region are generally full-bodied and include well-known grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
The Douro Valley: located in the northern part of Portugal, its most famous for its production of fortified wine, Port. This is probably one of the best-known wine regions in Portugal. You’ll be surrounded by boutique vineyards and wineries as well as incredible boutique properties.
FUN FACT: The town of Porto isn’t in the Douro Valley, it’s near it, and is where the commercialization and transportation of the wine originally took place, hence justifying the name.
Is there anything special to do while visiting Portugal?
Our friends at Tempo VIP can arrange unique and special activities for you. But one of Danilo’s favorite activities revolves around the theme of sustainability – oyster tasting at a local oyster farm on a small island in the South of Portugal in Algarve.
The island’s main source of income is farming oysters and there are a lot of them. One of the oyster farms is owned by the mayor (a woman!) who is an advocate for gender equality in the community. During your visit, you’ll learn about how this whole community relies on the oysters. You’ll then indulge in an oyster tasting which has just been selected and opened just for you. Each one of these tastings goes to benefit the community directly.
You could also go visit a pottery workshop in Alentejo run by a family that goes back 3 generations of potters. You will spend time with the family not only working on your pottery skills but getting to know them.
It might sound simple, but sometimes these human connections are what create the fondest and most special memories of a trip. We could help you organize an after-hours visit to the main monuments or get a spot at the chef’s table at one of the top Michelin-starred restaurants. But what could be more luxurious than to be invited into someone’s life and home? Not something you could do easily unless you had someone with the right connections – which now you do!
What about getting married in Portugal?
Portugal as a whole is a great place to get married. In particular for those looking for a more intimate occasion.
Just imagine a fairy-tale wedding in the charming town of Sintra, just outside Lisbon. You’ll find dozens of palaces in this mountain town, where the Portuguese aristocracy used to go for summer holidays. At the top of the hill, you’ll find the King’s Palace known as Palacio Da Pena, a World Heritage by UNESCO, which makes a perfect venue for your wedding as you and your guests will have unobstructed views of the palaces, the woods surrounding it and the ocean.
Another romantic venue is the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais with an incredibly gorgeous garden – perfect for an outdoor ceremony followed by the reception inside the palace. You could easily have exclusive use of the venue as it only has 30 bedrooms, but there are plenty of hotels close by for additional guests.
If you wanted to travel a little further away from Sintra, there are incredible wedding venues in the Duoro Valley and Algarve, just remember to avoid the summer month to avoid the crowds in Algarve. You’d be better off considering a date in October or November when you’ll still have a beautiful blue sky and a beach setting.
The truth is 10 days just wouldn’t be enough to experience all the wonders Portugal has to offer. So, combining a destination wedding with your honeymoon would create the perfect opportunity for you to extend your trip.
If you’re ready to discover and connect with Portuguese culture, history, gastronomy and Portuguese life in general for a special occasion or celebration hit the Inquire button below and let’s get planning.
Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.
