Portugal remains a very popular travel destination, receiving 39 awards at this year’s World Travel Awards for Europe.
If you are thinking of visiting Portugal soon, here’s a short list of sights to get you started:
Historical sites
University of Coimbra
Not only is this university one of the top higher education facilities in the country, it’s also been registered as an official UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated on top of a hill, the University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in the world and has been in operation since 1290. The campus itself looks almost like an estate, and is indeed a far cry from the more modern university campuses that are being built today. Visiting the university will take you on a trip back in time.
Yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, Pena Palace is on top of a hill along the Sintra Mountains and is easily visible from Lisbon. The palace’s facade is a dazzling mix of bright yellows and reds. It is classified as an important monument of Romanticism and is today one the country’s best museums. However, be warned as it can get very busy during the peak season.
Sport
Estado Municipal de Braga
Football is extremely popular in Portugal, with the national team recently being successful in two international tournaments. If you want to get to the heart of Portuguese culture then you should try and watch a live football match. While Lisbon and Porto are home to the country’s biggest teams, the city of Braga is home to one of the most spectacular and unusual stadiums you will ever see. The Estadio Municipal de Braga is one of the must see stadiums from around the world due to its unique location in a quarry. The stadium only has two stands with one end of the pitch facing the quarry and other end offering stunning views of the city. If you are football fan, you owe it to yourself to watch a match in this beautiful location.
Beaches
Praia do Amado
Come for the beach and stay for the surf. Surfers from all across the world visit Praia do Amado to catch the waves, and classes are offered for all levels in case you want to pick up a new sport. It’s easy to get to the beach, as it is close to the city of Carrapateira. Nature lovers should also make the trip here as the beach is surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape.
Benagil sea cave
This particular sea cave is one of the many located along the western Algarve. What makes it unique is that it’s shaped like a pantheon, complete with a hole in its ceiling where the sunlight streams through. The best way to visit this cave is on a boat trip, which you should book well in advance. More adventurous travellers can opt to kayak to the cave.
Eating & drinking
Zé da Mouraria
This tiny restaurant is hidden in the Moorish quarter of Lisbon and is only open for lunch. You’ll have to book early to get a seat here, but the wait is well worth it. Zé da Mouraria is the place to go for quality Portuguese food, with locals calling their bacalhau (codfish) the best in town. That’s high praise, considering bacalhau is one of the country’s signature dishes.
Casa de Torre
Good food goes with good wine, and thankfully in Portugal there’s plenty of both. Located in Louro, the Casa de Torre winery is a beautiful rustic complex that’s said to be at the forefront of Portugal’s wine tourism industry. The wines, however, are the true stars of the show. From intense reds to sweet dessert wines, Casa de Torres will give you a newfound appreciation for one of the lesser internationally known wine industries.
