Portugal, often overshadowed by its Spanish neighbor, became one of our favorite travel destinations – so much so that we quickly revisited the small country as soon as we could. This seaside country has much to offer and is unbeatable in terms of affordability, cultural traditions and warm, sunny weather.
Lisbon, one of Europe’s smaller capitals, is easy to fall in love with – it is walkable (despite the steep hills!), lively (there’s always a loud and rowdy crowd spilling out into the street), and overflowing with cultural highlights (the Alfama neighborhood is home to many small restaurants and bars with live Fado music, the famous folk music of Portugal).
Don’t miss a day trip to Sintra, home of the Palácio da Pena, one of my favorite palaces in the world:
Then, there’s Porto. Yes, there’s plenty of wineries where you can taste (and taste and taste) Portugal’s famous fortified wine, but the waterfront town is beautiful and dramatic offering stunning views around every corner (or, maybe more accurate: at the top of every hill).