Last summer we braved a family trip to Portugal. We made plans to meet up with family friends and so some of our itinerary was influenced by this. With two kids under 12, our visits focused on visiting landmarks, trying good food, and had daily built-in rest and restore time.
9 day visit to Portugal: |
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Round trip from Boston, MA to Lisbon, Portugal via
Start in Lisbon - day 1, 2
Day trip to Sintra via train - day 3
Algarves via train - day 4, 5, 6
Porto via train - day 6, 7, 8
Lisbon via train - day 8, 9
return to Boston - day 9
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This article will focus on the first two days of our time in Portugal, specifically the first two days in Lisbon. We did a day trip to Sintra on day three and that visit requires its own article.
There are many tips out there on overnight travel, travel tips to Europe, and must haves. I will highlight a few of my personal must dos and a few must haves in the table below.
Travel Tips |
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Pack as light as possible with a carry on using packing cubes and rolling your clothes within these packing cubes. Pack smart - watch the weather the week before so you are not bringing unnecessary items. Pack in a manner that requires no laundry, as the last thing you want to do is laundry on your vacation. Light items like underwear can be hand-washed in the sink and dry overnight. |
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Shoes - A pair of solid walking shoes are a must. A pair of very functional sandals are also a must - these should have good grip and provide good support. The cobblestone streets throughout Portugal are deceivingly beautiful. They are slick in dry weather and dangerous with rain, for those with undeveloped cobblestone-core muscles. |
| The pharmacies and grocery stores in Portugal are great resources for any toiletries you may have forgotten. These include items like sunscreen and OTC medications like topical cortisone. |
| Getting around We had a good experience taking Uber around Lisbon, Algarves region and Porto. Researching how you will get from the train station to your destination is important. You may be able to take the metro or walk. Just know that maps do not show elevation so a 20 minute walk may be all uphill. |
| Staying hydrated - If you visit during hot weather, it is important to stay hydrated. Bringing a refillable water bottle that will fit in your day pack is a great move. |
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Our first day in Lisbon was a travel day. We landed late-morning after an overnight flight from Boston, during which we attempted to sleep on the flight. When we arrived to our hotel, we spent time unpacking, and the kids hit the pool for a refresh. We then walked our way over to Eduardo VII Park, as the plaza at the top offers a picturesque view of the Lisbon. Unfortunately, we did not check the calendar of events and missed that it would be World Youth Day in Lisbon, starting August 1, 2023. The Eduardo VII Park was one of several locations that would host large gatherings and specifically a large, blue stage was a setting for choirs to sing during Pope Francis' visit. We heard several choirs rehearse on that afternoon, and the voices were beautiful.
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The next day, we took a two-hour tuk tuk tour of Lisbon, which I recommend as a good way to see the city, whether your tour group has multiple generations or not. The ability to stop at key spots is useful and resting one's feet is also helpful during hot weather. Our drivers were very courteous and knowledgable in the local highlights. We saw many churches and stopped at many viewpoints. Below are images of the Lisbon Cathedral, also known as the Sé, or Sé de Lisboa, churches around it and finally the National Pantheon or Church of Saint Engratia in Lisbon, Portugal, in gleaming white marble.
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| Streets around Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) | Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) |
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There are many lookouts or miradouros throughout Lisbon, especially in The Alfama region of Lisbon. The Alfama is the oldest in Lisbon, a surviving neighborhood of the 1755 earthquake, which is said to have lasted minutes and destroyed much of Lisbon. The terra cotta rooftops, tiled homes and narrow streets of this region make a great subject for photographs. This miradouro lookout is quite popular, filled with tourists admiring the view. I took a particular interest in the red door and pink bougainvillea, with tile accents.
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Red carnations are symbolic in Portugal. On April 25, 1975, the Carnation Revolution took place, when soldiers placed red carnations in the muzzles of their rifles as a sign of peace during this mostly non-violent coup. In the snapshot photograph below you can see the painted mural displaying the carnation, pointed out by our tuk tuk driver.
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At the end of our tuk tuk tour, we tried the famous ginjinha, which is a liquor with a cherry and I opted for the added dark chocolate. I recommend it if you like cherries and dark chocolate. Sorry, no photo. I was enjoying my ginjinha shot!
After the tour ended, we made our way towards the Belém Tower, which is definitely a must see. Built in the 16th century on the banks of the River Tagus, it was located there to protect Lisbon from foreigners. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky and it was quite hot.
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We then made our way to Pastéis de Belém, a famous pastry shop, to try the Pastel de Nata, which is a custard tart. Once again, no pictures of the pastry, but plenty of pictures of the beautiful tiles in the shop.
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We had a big group dinner at our hotel. I had the octopus, which was amazing. We turned in on the early side, recovering from the heat, lots of walking, and in preparation of a full day in Sintra.
See you in part 2 where I will share our exploration of Sintra & the Algarves!
Until then,
