Ok, let’s try a new format. Instead of detailing every single day of my trip (because we’ve done that before, and you all love it, but I’ve got to stir the water, right?) this time I’ll just make a summary on what to do in Portugal for 6 days, at least if you’re a low-fomo traveler like us and like to just chill out and really soak in the vibes and culture of a city/cities.

We did Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and Lisbon again. Before I proceed, I must let you know that everything I learnt about Lisbon before getting there was through EatGoSee and Fatima Juvale. They’re the ones who told me where to stay, how to get around and what to eat, so huge shout out and thanks to these true friends of mine!

 

Fun Facts:

About the Food:

• The bread basket, charcuterie, or olives that waiters voluntarily bring to and leave at your table as soon as you place an order are actually NOT complimentary and you’re charged for every refill. If you don’t want it, you have to actually decline it
• Halal food is a REAL struggle in Portugal. M and I aren’t very picky and can happily get by on seafood alone but what we noticed was that everything was often being prepared on the same grill, side by side, whether it was fish, beef or pork. Cross-contamination is common, and quite dangerous for people with food allergies actually
• If you’re not halal conscious, food options are inexpensive and aplenty
• If you are halal conscious and can manage to find a place that’s not grilling pork on the same grill Portugal has on offer some of the best seafood you’ll ever have
• Our best meal was at Matushinos in Porto, ride by the sea where the catch was alive minutes before it lands on your plate
• Time Out Market Lisbon was a complete joke of a tourist trap. We had some of the worst food of our lives here
• The best breakfast you can have is of Bica (espresso) and Pasteis De Nata. Our favorite place was Confeitaria Nacional, which has been around since 1829
• Not all Pasteis De Nata are created equal. We had the best ones at Manteigaria and at Alcoa, both of which have branches in Chiada
• The gelato (or gelado) shops in Portugal actually have quite a bit to boast. We had some of the most unique flavors of gelato in Lisbon, ranging from bitter almond, basil, ricotta with fig and caramelized pecans, and many more. Our favorite gelato spots in Lisbon were Nanarella, Santini’s and Daverro!

About getting around:

• Uber is very convenient and quite reasonable in Portugal
• I’d highly recommend exploring on foot whenever possible, as Portugal (especially Lisbon) has so many hidden gems and surprising vantage points that you’ll stumble upon on foot
• The train system is not easy to navigate. We took the train to Sintra once, which was petty simple but the door kept closing on people getting in and we saw at least 5 people fall. Must be a one-off thing but was quite shocking nonetheless. The Alpha Pendular (bullet train) that we took from Lisbon to Porto and back was a whole other story. The tickets are unclear and state the final destination of the train you’re meant to take rather than your actual destination. At the train station, we were misguided on the track number, nearly missed our train (both times) as it stops for only 5 minutes, and the carriages aren’t numbered on the outside so getting to the right carriage of a moving train with big luggage in tow wasn’t easy or fun. It’s still much cheaper than inter-city Uber, and saves you the time wasted at airports, so it still is the best way to move between cities
• The ‘tourist’ tram that will take you through all the main Lisbon attractions is Tram #28. The one you want to be on in Porto is Tram # 1

About Accommodation:

• For 4* accommodation, expect to pay anywhere between 100-200 euros a night
• AirBnB and serviced apartments in Lisbon and Porto are incredibly nice and often much better than hotels of the same room rate
• We stayed at a serviced apartment booked through Booking.com for our first two nights in Lisbon called The Visionaire Apartments. The location was smack in the middle of the city center (Rossio Square) and very ideal for first timers. It was like an AirBnB but with a reception and common area- something I find great comfort in. This was about 100 euros a night
• In Porto, we booked the loveliest AirBnB for about 100 euros a night again. It was very ideally located, within walking distance from most of the attractions and a supermarket. This is the one we booked.
• For our final 2 nights in Lisbon, we stayed at O Artista Boutique Suites, also very centrally located but at 200 euros a night.
• All the places we stayed at were extremely clean and came with very well-equipped kitchens, especially O Aristo Boutique suites
• Stay in or around Chiado when in Lisbon. It’s the heart and soul of Lisbon and it’s laid-back, fun-loving vibe and where all the action is

About the Attractions/what to do/see:

• We made a day trip to Sintra which was nice and all, but honestly, a bit hectic to just go see a castle and some masonic stuff. M and I are the sort who would’ve enjoyed lazing by the riverbank instead, but that’s just us, you do you.
• Porto was absolutely lovely. It has a very different vibe to Lisbon, and the entire two days we were there, it rained non-stop. Indoor activities in Porto mostly revolve around wine cellars, which were of no interest to us so we just braved the rain, went back to the AirBnB to blow-dry our shoes once they got too drenched, and braved it again.
• The best vantage point for breathtaking views of Porto is the Dom Luiz bridge that spans the River Douros and connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. The cafes and restaurants at the riverbanks of each city are great to dine at and the walk along each riverbank is lovely and relaxing. If you take Tram 1 in Porto, it will take you up and down the entire bank
• Sao Bento Train Station
• Livraria Lello
• Santa Justa Lift
• Castle Sao George (or right next to it)
• Chiado
• The live street performances

About the Souvenirs:

Standard souvenirs from Portugal are (but of course) canned sardines, an oversupply of ‘Portugal branded’ souvenir shop randomness, and Port wine, but here’s what we got/found unique instead:

• Sant’Anna: for actual, traditional handmade Portuguese ceramics. Fair warning: this place is expensive, but hey- quality over quantity am I right? I got my mom the loveliest butter dish from here. You can find the Chinese Chinoiserie inspired blue and white designs as well as the Arab inspired terra-cotta-like designs here.
• Ceramics Na Linhas: for more modern Portuguese ceramics and stoneware
• A Vida Portugesa: a trendy, modern souvenir shop owned by a famous Portuguese journalist, celebrating Portugese heritage and selling some very attractive and unusual choices of souvenirs. We got some nicely packaged (but reasonable) canned salmon pâté, and a handmade rug from here
• Olive Oil: Portugal produces some really good olive oil, and is a staple condiment found alongside salt & pepper (and Red Wine Vinegar) on every tabletop, as it is key for enjoying the national dish of Balcalhau.  The best place to buy your olive oil is at the supermarket. We went to the biggest one in the basement of Vasco De Gama Mall. Word of advice: when picking olive oil, go for the latest harvest date.
• Vinegar: Another table-top staple, to cut through the rich saltiness of Bacalhau, we ended up bringing back a variety of vinegars ranging from Maca, Pear, Fig and my favorite: tomato. Interestingly enough, they all had an acidity level of 5%, so it was easy to compare them
• Luxury Goods: were a challenge to find! I was looking forward to buying a brunch bag that could fit my camera, but Portugal has nearly no luxury stores!

That’s all I can think of for now, folks, but I’ll come back and edit this later if something else comes to mind! Thanks for reading, and please do drop your tips in the comments below too!