Visiting Portugal

Richy

I'm visiting Portugal with my brother. It's our first time in that country ever. We have two weeks, from June 21st to July 5th. So, obviously, I'm here looking for suggestions of things to see and do.

Likes: Visiting new and exotic places. Off-the-beaten-trail stuff. Local food. Ancient history (like, real ancient). Gorgeous scenery. Amazing architecture.

Dislikes: Museums (we actually both love museums, but we're not going to spend our first trip to Portugal inside a museum when we could be outside seeing Portugal, unless it's a Louvre-level museum). Beach (my brother doesn't like it, I could take one beach day if it's a great beach but anything more would feel like I'm wasting an opportunity to do more).

Neutral: Attending festivals and shows (depends on what they are, I guess).

We will spent the first week based in Aveiro (I need to be there for business) and the second week based in Lisbon (although nothing is anchoring us there, we can relocate elsewhere if need be). So far, the ideas we have around our locations are:

Around Aveiro:
* Porto
* Either Monsanto or Linhares & Folgosinho (all small mountainside villages, great for hiking and walking around)
* Coimbra

Around Lisbon:
* Estremoz, Borba, Vila Viçosa (marble towns)
* Évora (prehistoric megaliths)
* Porto Côvo (I hear they have great beaches and hiking trails for my brother)

We're open to all suggestions!

Niceguy Myeye

I see Evora is already on the list. But, while you're there make sure you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_dos_Ossos

You can check out the Unfinished Cathedral as well.
http://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2010/01/unfinished-cathedral-at-batalha.html

There's also an old Knights Templar Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Almourol

Maybe, check out the head of the Spanish Inquisition in Portugal:
http://www.portugal.bz/towns/index.php?city=18

In Oporto, you can take a tour of port wineries. I think Sandeman gives tours.

There's a unique architecture in Portugal that's a combination of gothic and age of sail influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manueline

Can see an example of it at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convent_of_Christ_(Tomar)

Edit: It's been a while since I've been there, so I don't remember where these places are geographically.

Can always cross reference anything with UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pt

Iceman.USAF

If you get the opportunity, you can take a flight to one of the Azores islands on the way back to the US. Sao Miguel is the largest, and has direct flights to Boston Logan. Terceira has a large American (military) population (around 650 uniforms, + their families for around 2k Americans) and is AMAZING but not super tourist accessible. You'd need a rental car for sure.

Anyway the Azores are awesome. I can't recommend it enough if you can swing it. Lots of natural beauty, amazing nightlife, great people.

Also, get some pastel (a pastry) and cafe from a proper bakery in Lisbon. There's a place right off the old royal castle that's basically the world capital of pastel. It's unbelievable. I can't remember it's name but I'll look through my pictures and see fi I can figure it out.

poaform

say hi to Ronaldo for me!

Richy

Niceguy Myeye wrote: »

I see Evora is already on the list. But, while you're there make sure you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_dos_Ossos

This is amazing and has definitely been added to my list. Thanks for pointing it out! I have no idea why it wasn't in my travel guide.

geez

I see Sintra is not on your list, I lived there for a while and it's the best place i went to. Cascais isn't bad either. There is also a lovely small turn on the way to Evora called Santa Maria I think which is also amazing.