Portugal: Updates & Travel

Travel in Portugal
Updates Portugal

Travel in Portugal

Portugal's popularity as a holiday destination is growing every year. And rightly so, because there is plenty to see in Portugal: the fairytale palaces of Sintra, the dizzying ravines in the Serra da Estrela, Lisbon with its romantic neighbourhoods and the snow-white villages in the Alentejo. You can eat delicious food while listening to the melancholic fado music.
Visit the castles near Sintra. This place (which actually consists of three villages) near Lisbon is world famous for its palaces that are a mixture of different styles (real architecture purists shudder at this). The forest is also fairytale-like with mist (which often occurs).
Listen to the famous Portuguese Fado music in a café.
Spot dolphins near the pleasant seaside resort of Lagos in the Algarve.
Eat the delicious bacalhau (cod) on one of the many terraces.
Visit one of the famous Port houses in Porto and enjoy this typical Portuguese drink. JoHotspots in Portugal
Lisbon: The capital of Portugal combines history, coziness and beautiful sights such as the ‘Tower of Bélem’. Take the old-fashioned Tram 28 for an atmospheric tour through the city and visit the cozy bars and cafés in Barrio Alto.
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, but almost equal in atmosphere, coziness and sights. Porto is built on both sides of the Douro River and a boat trip on this river is the best way to admire the city. You can easily walk to Santiago de Compostela from Porto.
Viana do Castello is the best kept secret of Portugal. This small town in the north is the epitome of peace and tranquility with beautiful white houses and stunning nature. The name ‘Jewel of the Costa Verde’ is certainly not an exaggeration.
Coimbra and Braga are the two largest student cities in the country. During the semesters they are lively and cozy cities, especially during the summer holidays it can be quite deserted. The university library is worth a look inside. The Algarve is famous for its beautiful beaches and charming fishing villages. There are many nice villages and beaches, but Lagos and Tavira are among the most beautiful. In the summer, some places can be touristy and crowded, but there are always small, quiet and typical Portuguese villages nearby.
Fatima, is a difficult to reach place of pilgrimage where Mary is said to have appeared several times.
Don't be surprised if you see people crawling on their (bare) knees across the church square and lighting candles while crying to thank God or to do penance. Especially because the square and the gigantic church are literally blindingly white in the summer, it all seems quite unreal.
Be aware that forest fires occur every year in Portugal. Especially in the summer months, forest fires can cause a lot of damage. Avoid areas with forest fires as much as possible.