Traveling around Portugal. Independent travel to Portugal Traveling around Portugal by car

Portugal is a popular tourist country with stunning natural landscapes. However, tourists who come on package tours are not always able to appreciate the natural beauty of this country. Therefore, traveling around the country in your own or rented car is becoming increasingly popular. Portugal by car is perceived in a completely different way, opening up as if from the inside, and besides, traveling by car along your own route is much more convenient.

Visa application

If you are traveling to Portugal as a tourist, you should apply for a Schengen visa category C. This visa can be single, double or multiple entry. The validity period of this visa category can be 1 month, 6 months, 12 months or 5 years. In each of these cases, the period of stay in the country should not exceed 90 days from the date of first entry. Most often, travelers are issued visas for a period of 1 month or 6 months.

What are the rules at customs?

According to the rules for entry into Portugal, travelers aged 17 years and older are allowed to import duty-free into the country:

  • cigarettes – 200 pieces, or cigars – 50 pieces, or tobacco – 250 g;
  • strong alcoholic drinks (with an alcohol content of more than 22%) – 1 l;
  • wine (with alcohol content less than 22%) – 2 l;
  • coffee – 500 g;
  • tea – 200 g;
  • perfume – 50 ml;
  • eau de toilette – 250 ml.

Goods for personal use brought into Portugal must not exceed €175 ($185) per person.

Traffic Features

The first thing a foreign traveler needs to know is that travel on most Portuguese roads, as well as some bridges, requires a toll. However, the average speed on highways is 100 kilometers per hour, while free roads passing through populated areas limit the speed to 50 kilometers per hour. Tolls are traditionally calculated based on the distance between highway entry and exit points. In order to pay for travel, at toll highway terminals there are special stripes of the corresponding color: green - only for users of the Portuguese ViaVerde payment system, orange - for payment through an operator in cash or by card, red - for payment in cash or by card through a machine. In the latter case, you need to be careful, since when paying in cash, the machine does not give out change.

Parking in Portugal is also paid, the average cost for 1 hour of use is 1 euro (1.05 US dollars).

In addition, travelers by car should be aware that if they stay in the country for more than 90 days, they must obtain a local license.

Features of tourist routes in Portugal

When creating your own travel route around Portugal, we recommend using the advice of experienced motor tourists:

  • Find out in advance about the features and cost of renting a car and the nuances of payment, take into account the cost of gasoline and road tolls;
  • don’t try to see all the sights in one day - it’s better to plan to visit 3-4 points and take your time walking around the city;
  • during your trip, spend more time contemplating picturesque landscapes and visiting palaces and castles;
  • when traveling to Portugal by car, make sure to book a hotel or hostel with parking;
  • drive no more than 150-200 km per day;
  • don’t forget to set aside time for lunch - to do this, you can pre-select interesting places to visit on the Internet or stop at any local colorful restaurant you like;
    • And finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is the status of the debtor that is easiest to “forget” when getting ready for your next vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid housing and communal services receipts, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018; we recommend finding out information about the presence of debt using the proven service nevylet.rf
  • if you choose hotels on the highway for an overnight stay, instead of hotels in populated areas, you can save a lot;
  • For travelers who want to come to Portugal by car on their own, there is the opportunity to stay in one of the campsites instead of a hotel.

    • By car to Porto

    Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after the capital. You won’t find picturesque landscapes in the city, but you can fully enjoy the city’s architecture and museums. A unique landmark of the city is the Porto Cathedral, built in the 12th century. The cathedral has retained its original appearance, as it was never rebuilt. You should definitely visit the Ribeira quarter, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - many residential buildings there were built 300 years ago. Travelers by car should definitely take a ride along the Ponti di Don Luis bridge, built according to the design of Théophile Seyrig, who was a student of the famous Gustave Eiffel. It is no coincidence that the elements of the bridge are very reminiscent of the world-famous creation of his teacher - the Eiffel Tower. By the way, in Porto there is a bridge that was built according to the design of Eiffel himself - the Ponti Di Dona Maria Pia bridge.

    By car to Faro

    The city of Faro is worthy of attention primarily due to the Ria Formosa natural landscape park located here. The park is a 60-kilometer lagoon along the sea coast. The total city lagoon area is 18,400 hectares. As a tourist center, Faro is not the most popular city in Portugal, however, it is home to one of the best beaches in the country, Praia da Faro. The beach is quite large, but it gets crowded only at the height of the summer season.

    Connoisseurs of architectural monuments can visit various castles, cathedrals, churches and monasteries in this city. To do this, you should go to the old central quarter. Not far from the city there is another attraction - the Estoi Palace, built in the Rococo style.

    By car to Portimao

    The most beautiful place in Portimao is its coastline. Head to Praia de Rocha beach - there is an observation deck with stunning views of the city and seascape. Architecture lovers can stroll through the city center and visit the Church of Our Lady of the Virgin Mary, the Chapel of St. Joseph, Alvor Castle or the Jesuit Monastery.

    By car to Sagres

    The small town of Sagres is famous for the fact that it was here in the 15th century that Prince Henry the Navigator founded a school of navigation. There is every reason to believe that it was in this school that the world-famous navigators Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama studied. In addition, in this city it is worth visiting Cape San Vicente, which in the past was considered the edge of the world. On the cape there is one of the largest lighthouses in the world, the illumination range of which reaches 90 km.

    By car to Lagos

    5 km from Portimão and 45 km from the city of Faro is the small town of Lagos. This resort town is great for a family holiday. The main thing to see here is the ocean, beaches and cliffs. At Ponta da Piedade there is an observation deck and a lighthouse. By the way, free parking is provided for car travelers near the lighthouse. Leaving your car in the parking lot, you can take a boat trip through the grottoes and water caves. There are several beaches in this city, but the most impressive of them, which motor tourists should definitely visit, is Marinha Beach.

    By car to Madeira

    Madeira Island can only be reached by car by ferry from Porto Santo Island (operating once a day). The cost of ferry tickets depends on the month, class, and whether you are a resident of the island. By purchasing tickets in a group of two to four people, you can get significant discounts. The average cost of tickets per person with a car is shown in the table:

    There are no ferry connections between the Portuguese mainland and Madeira Island, but you can transport your car by cargo ship or fly. In addition, you can rent a car directly on the island.

    When traveling by car around the island of Madeira, the main thing you can see is nature. The island is dominated by mountainous terrain, so the roads here are quite winding. Go by car to the observation decks. For example, Eira do Serrado is at an altitude of 1,053 meters, Pico dos Barcelos is at an altitude of 355 meters. From the first platform there is a view of the Valley of the Nuns (Curral das Freiras) - this name appeared in the 16th century, when the nearby monastery of St. Clare was attacked by pirates, and the nuns were forced to hide in this valley. The second site is closer to the ocean, and sea vessels are better visible from here.

    By car to Lisbon

    Perhaps the most important attraction to see in the Lisbon area is the statue of Jesus Christ. To get here, you need to cross the Tagus River on the 25th of April Bridge. Moreover, the bridge itself is also worth seeing. It is absolutely identical to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, as they were built by the same American construction company. So, on the other side of the Tagus River, at its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean, is the town of Almada. Here, at an altitude of 113 above sea level, stands a monument that was built in 1959 as a sign of gratitude for Portugal's non-participation in World War II. The statue of Christ can be seen from anywhere in Lisbon.

    While walking around the city center, you should definitely look at Commerce Square. What immediately catches your eye here is the Arc de Triomphe of Rue Augusta, which can be climbed for 2.5 euros (2.65 US dollars). The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the bay, colorful streets, castles and monasteries, which you can spend the rest of your time visiting and exploring.

    Traveling by car to Sintra

    Sintra is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal. They say that this city surpasses even Lisbon in beauty. On your first day in the town, you can leisurely visit two places: Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. Near the palace there is a large park, the entrance ticket to which can be purchased separately without buying a ticket to the palace. Another attraction is the Castle of the Moors. This fortress was built back in the 9th-10th centuries. You can get to the castle via a long staircase going through the forest.

    An equally interesting object worthy of the attention of travelers is the Montserrati Palace, located 4 km from the city. The palace has a botanical garden with 2 thousand species of plants from all over the world.

    Another monument is Quinta de Regaleira, an architectural structure in the neo-Gothic style. On the territory of this palace and park complex you can find various mysterious signs and symbols of the Templars and Masons everywhere.

    If you like to study history not only through visiting castles and palaces, you can visit the News Museum. Here you will learn about the history of Portugal through media coverage.

    And finally, while in Sintra, you can’t help but stop by one of the most significant places not only in Portugal, but also in the entire continent – ​​Cape Roca. This is the most extreme point of Eurasia in the West, where a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean opens.

    How to rent a house in Portugal

    When traveling around Portugal you need to stop somewhere. If you are not satisfied with the option of parking lots and hotels, you can rent housing. When traveling, it is better to consider options for daily rental housing. Advertisements can be found on the Internet on forums, on popular sites for daily real estate rentals, or by asking local residents.

    By car to Portugal: Video

Portugal is a country for free travelers. Traveling around Portugal by car– this is the best way to get to know this country as closely as possible and admire its beauty. During this time, it is better to refuse standard excursions and take a ride in your own car along your pre-planned individual route. Of course, I would like to start getting acquainted with Portugal with the main city of this country - Lisbon. When you find yourself in Lisbon, the first thing you notice is the air - fresh sea air that refreshes and fills you with energy. Lisbon is one of the few cities in which so many ancient buildings have been preserved. Walking through the narrow streets of this city will bring you a lot of pleasure.

Traveling around Portugal on your own, it is advisable to plan your route so as to see as many sights as possible. One of the must-visit places is the Lisbon Aquarium. Excursions to this place are very popular among tourists. The Portuguese Aquarium is the second largest in the world. There is a permanent exhibition there, represented by a huge central aquarium, which creates the illusion of being under water. The aquarium itself is located in a famous place called the Park of Nations. In addition to the aquarium, this park also houses the Museum of Science and Technology, a cable car, and from here you can admire one of the largest structures in Europe - the Vasco da Gamma Bridge. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants and shops around the park. And due to the fact that, in addition to tourists, this place is also loved by Lisbon residents, you will be pleasantly surprised by the fairly low prices for food and souvenirs.

Continuing my traveling around Portugal by car, you can take a ride and explore the following attractions, such as the modern Museum of Design and Fashion, Belem Monastery, St. George's Castle.

Further traveling alone in Portugal, you can visit the small ancient Portuguese town of Sintra, which also houses a large number of attractions such as castles, palaces, monasteries and, of course, the fabulous landscapes of this town and the magical coastline with golden sands cannot but please you. Sintra is also a favorite place for surfers and fishermen. Not far from this town is the palace and park complex Quinta da Regaleira, which contains a romantic palace, a chapel, parks with lakes, grottoes and fountains. This place fascinates with its beauty.

Cascais is a town that you should definitely visit during traveling around Portugal by car. This place is a favorite place for young people, as this seaside town, located along the coast, is simply dotted with many bars, restaurants and various nightclubs. Cascais is also home to the Nautical Club, which offers marine entertainment for every taste. Lovers of natural beauty have plenty to admire in the large arboretum park.

Évora is a place in Portugal that is called an open-air museum. In Évora there are such attractions as: Se Cathedral, King Manuel's Palace, Church of St. Francis, Monsaraz Fortress, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, as well as the “Chapel of Bones” Osos is a chapel that is built from human bones and skulls that belonged to 5,000 monks. But these are not all the attractions of this city. It is also famous for the best wine and food.

Traveling independently in Portugal, you will understand that museums, churches, temples and chapels are not all that you can get acquainted with in this country. For those who love beach holidays, there are many hotels and various campsites, which makes your stay especially comfortable. traveling by car to Portugal. The length of the beach line in Portugal is 1800 km, which allows all campsites to be comfortably located along the coast, and allows tourists who travel to Portugal by car or motorhome to choose exactly the one that suits them. But for those who love privacy, Portugal has a great variety of wild beaches.

The cuisine of Portugal is rich mainly in dishes from fresh fish and seafood, which the Portuguese prepare according to special recipes.

In travel time in Portugal You should definitely try the wines of this country. The red and white wines of Portugal are mostly dry, but the most famous wine of this country is, of course, port. This dessert wine with a strength of 20% received its name due to the fact that it is produced in the Portuguese city of Porto. Port wine is also produced in the northern part of the country, but only in those places where it is stipulated by law. “Green” wines – “Vina Verde” – are very popular in Portugal. These wines got their name not because of their color, but because they age very little. Verde wines come in white, rosé and red. You will not find such wines anywhere else in the world, so during solo travel to Portugal you should definitely try them.

Portugal is a country that offers much more than just a beach holiday, or just excursions to local attractions. This is a country that will be of interest to everyone when traveling through it. Independent travel to Portugal by car– this is a vacation for those who love to travel around Europe and expect new discoveries from these trips.



Portugal has a wonderful climate and wonderful nature, swimming in the ocean, walking through the medieval quarters of modern cities, delicious food and quality wine.

To get to know this country, there are several travel options: a beach holiday in the Algarve, a trip to cities and fortresses in a group or on your own by car, and a vacation trip to the island of Madeira. These notes will tell a story about traveling through the cities of Portugal as part of a group.

A group trip has its pros and cons compared to an individual tour by car. The main advantages are: lower costs compared to individual ones, the opportunity to receive from a good guide, a huge amount of high-quality and interesting information, and knowledge of the language is not required. And the main disadvantage is the inability to be in the place you like for as long as you want. The main requirement for those who choose a group tour is discipline and tolerance. For those who choose a car, it is best to use the stories of Igor Pitovsky on www.ayda.ru. You can also recommend the reports of Yulia Ilyina and Anna Kozenkova on www.ayda.ru.

Information

It seems to me that the best months for traveling around Portugal are May–June and September–October. Then this beautiful country can be seen in all its splendor. Moreover, it is not too hot at this time. Flight time on the Moscow – Lisbon route is 3.5 hours.

When arriving in Portugal, you must set your watch back 3 hours.

Passport control takes quite a long time, at least an hour, or even an hour and a half. Portuguese border guards are polite, but very leisurely. After the flight, this is a little annoying, but, perhaps, this is the last thing that can cause unpleasant emotions.

The airport is 10-15 minutes drive from Lisbon. You can get there by taxi for 5 – 6 euros. But a bus is waiting for us and delivers us in 25 minutes to the city of Estoril, where we are staying at the Saboia - 3* hotel.

The cities of Estoril and Cascais are located along the coast and are resorts where wealthy people head on the eve of the hot summer. You can get there from Lisbon in 30 minutes by comfortable train, reaching the Cais de Choudre station.

Estoril and Cascais have sandy beaches. So, if you come to Lisbon in the summer, then after exploring the city in Estoril, you can come for a swim and have dinner in Cascais overlooking the ocean.

In any case, I swam on April 29th. The water temperature feels like in the Baltics at the end of June.

In Estoril, surrounded by a beautiful park, the largest Casino in the country is located. But the most wonderful thing is the walk along the sea along the promenade towards the city of Cascais.

Cascais is one of the most popular resort towns near Lisbon with several good beaches, a large marina and a promenade for walking.

Our first excursion took place to the city of Evora, which is located 120 km away. from Lisbon. The roads are beautiful, the guide tells a lot of interesting things, time flies. Évora is a small, pretty city, the streets of which are pleasant to wander around, going back to the past and then to the present. 2 – 2 and a half hours is enough to see the sights of the city. The most interesting objects to see: the remains of the Roman Temple of Diana, a park with a monument to Vasco de Gama, in which peacocks walk, a Cathedral built in the early Gothic style and, of course, the Chapel of Relics, the internal walls of which are lined with several thousand skulls.

I will talk more about Portuguese cuisine later, but I will note that in Évora we ate a local dish - black pig meat.

Having visited Estoril and Cascais, we moved along the Atlantic coast and after a while we stopped at an observation deck overlooking the ocean. But this was just a prelude. Then we climbed along the serpentine road to the westernmost point of Europe - Cape Roca. Cabo da Roca is located at an altitude of 140 meters above sea level. Below, waves crash against the rocky shore and America is located 5,000 km away. Crowds of tourists wander along the rocks, who, like me, strive to capture themselves against the backdrop of magnificent views. Near the lighthouse there are at least a hundred rockers, for whom Cape Roca is a favorite hangout.

The next city to explore is Sintra - the residence of the Portuguese kings. The city is located 40 km from Lisbon. You can get there either by car or by train. To explore Sintra, you really need a whole day. Unfortunately, we were not able to see everything, partly due to the huge number of tourists and, of course, lack of time.

The city of Sintra consists of a lower and an upper part. In the lower part there are gardens where you can find plants of the rarest species, a state palace, narrow streets with 2-3 storey houses and souvenir shops, as well as small cozy cafes. And in the upper part of the city are the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. From there you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of Sintra and its surroundings. The upper part can be reached by taxi or on foot for about an hour, making for an excellent walk.

For vacationers in Sintra, a special park de Marandes has been created where, while enjoying a walk, you can have a snack under the arches of trees at special rest stops. If you are in Portugal for more than two days, be sure to visit Sintra.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal is the city of Lisbon. It takes three full days to examine it.

Story

Lisbon was known to the Phoenicians, who called it Alis-Ubbo, which means “magic harbour”. In the Middle Ages, the city was a powerful fortress; the Arabs tried to take it over. In 1147, the city was recaptured from the Arabs by Afonso Henriques I.

After 100 years, the city becomes the capital of Portugal. At the time of the great discoveries, Lisbon was considered the richest city in Europe; he amazed his contemporaries with his luxury and splendor.

However, in 1775, an earthquake unprecedented in Europe occurred here. It destroyed most of the city and claimed about 40 thousand lives. It seemed that the beauty and glory of Lisbon had faded forever. But there was a man of amazing abilities and energy - the Marquis of Pombal, who managed to rebuild Lisbon and largely restore its former glory.

Lisbon is a very beautiful city! Ancient houses, narrow streets, black and white pavements. Black and white stones are laid by hand in a specific pattern, the whole city is paved with them, and the patterns are different everywhere. In the light of the sun, Lisbon changes, it is very difficult to perceive it holistically, it simply amazes with its diversity and contradiction, dazzles with the matte pastel of houses and bright red tiled roofs. The web of steep and narrow medieval streets can lead you to a dead end, or it can lead you to quiet, idyllic corners where canaries sing and water gurgles, where you simply forget about the noisy bustle of a large port city.

Conventionally, several particularly attractive areas can be distinguished in Lisbon:
Castle of St. George and Alfama quarters;
pl. Commerce, pl. Rossio et al.
Belen district
Park of Nations (aka EXPO-98).

The Castle of St. George, a fortress conquered by King Afonso Henriques from the Moors, rises with its mighty walls above the city. The fortress is located on a hill in the east of the city and is especially clearly visible from the central part of the city from Praça de Figueira, where a monument to King Joan 1 is erected.

You can get to the fortress on foot through the old, Moorish district of Lisbon Alfama, all the time climbing up steep picturesque streets that take us to a completely different era.

You can make a stop at the medieval Cathedral, which was built on the site of a former mosque as a symbol of the victory of Christianity over the Moors.

There are antique trams in the Alfama area, used by both locals and tourists. Particularly popular is route 28, which climbs the streets of Alfama, between numerous churches and beautiful old houses, entire facades of which are lined with colored azulejo tiles. The observation deck of the São Jorge Fortress offers one of the best views of Lisbon.

Commercio Square (Praça do Comércio) is the triumphal entrance to Lisbon. It was here that the very first harbor of Lisbon was located. In the center of the square there is a monument to King Jose and a triumphal arch. The central pedestrian street Rua Augusta begins from here.

Passing the triumphal arch and walking along the central pedestrian street of Augusta, we find ourselves in Rossio Square, where heretics were once burned and bullfights were held (before the fire, the Palace of the Inquisition was on the site of today's National Drama Theater). Augusta Street is lined with boutiques, shops and cafes.

We move up and on the left as we move we turn towards the openwork metal tower of the Santa Justa ski lift, which offers a magnificent view of the city. The Santa Justa elevator takes you up to the Bairro Alto area. After walking just a few meters, we find ourselves at one of the government buildings, which is guarded by guards with sabers. At 18 o'clock there is a ceremony of changing the guard with lowering of the flag, a trumpeter, etc. A curious sight.

Beleni District

The main objects of inspection include: the Jironimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, the Monument to the Discoverers. Ideally, you could add the Presidential Palace, the Maritime Museum and the Carriage Museum.

The Gironimos Monastery, the most impressive architectural structure in Lisbon, was built at the beginning of the 16th century, in honor of Vasco da Gama's discovery of the route to India. It is made in all the splendor of the Manueline style. The spacious courtyard of the monastery, bathed in sunshine, is decorated with beautiful fountains and exquisite stone carvings - all pillars, balconies and walls are covered with fragments from the Bible or statues of saints. In one of the rooms there is a historical kaleidoscope illustrating the history of the monastery from its founding in 1500, in parallel with the history of Portugal and world history. In the marble pantheon of the monastery you can see the sarcophagi of Vasco da Gama and Manuel I.

The Jeronimos Monastery is included in the UNESCO list of monuments. In front of the monastery there are gardens leading to the Monument to the Discoverers. This monument was built in our days and is a tribute of contemporaries to their great past. In front of the monument is a square where a map of the world is engraved directly on the stones, indicating the places and dates that were discovered by the Portuguese, mainly in the 15th – 16th centuries. Not far from the monastery, on the banks of the Tagus River, is the Belem Tower, built in 1515 to guard the harbor of Lisbon. Once upon a time, caravels left here on long voyages. In honor of this event, sea regattas are organized on the Tagus River.

The tower is another masterpiece in the "Manueline" style. It’s hard to imagine that this lacy white castle on the water served simultaneously as a guard fortress, a customs house and a prison.

You can climb the tower - it offers wonderful views, especially of the 25th of April Bridge and the entire Belen district.

Along Belem Street you can walk to the Presidential Palace, the residence of the President of the Republic and enter the former royal riding school, which houses the collection of the Carriage Museum.

The 15th tram runs from the Belem area to the center. At each stop there is a stand indicating where the transport should go. The most famous museum in Lisbon is the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. The collection covers artifacts ranging from Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. This is followed by a magnificent exhibition of Islamic art; Chinese and Japanese halls and, finally, European art.

The 25 April Bridge, 2,300 meters long and an outstanding achievement of modern engineering, was built in 1966. It connects Lisbon with the opposite bank of the Tagus River. On the high bank of the river, on a massive pedestal, there is a statue of Christ the King with outstretched arms. It’s as if he hugs and blesses the residents of the city. Exactly the same statue exists in Rio de Janeiro. In 1988, another bridge was built for the world exhibition Expo 98 - the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which is considered the longest in Europe. Its length is 17 kilometers. The end of this bridge is not visible. The bridge surrealistically goes beyond the horizon, merging with the silver-gray surface of the water. Parc des Nations (Expo 98) is the youngest area of ​​Lisbon.

Shopping can be enjoyed in the center of Vasco da Gama. There are shops here for all tastes, from inexpensive C&A to boutiques. But mostly, people come here to take a walk among the spacious alleys, fountains, and most importantly, to visit the Oceanarium, which is home to 450 species of flora and fauna from different seas. The park also serves as a venue for cultural events. Modern pavilions host various exhibitions and concerts and, finally, the park is simply conducive to a pleasant pastime in restaurants and in the commercial area.

A funicular runs over the entire Expo area. It offers a stunning view of the entire Expo Center, especially the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

One evening in Lisbon we attended a folkloric evening with fado. Fado is traditional Portuguese music. The word itself means "fate". Lyrical, slightly sad songs are performed to the accompaniment of a 12-string guitar. The main thing in fado is not the voice, but the spiritual inspiration, so familiar to the Russian heart.

From Lisbon we headed north towards the city of Quimbra.

For some reason we didn’t stop by the town of Mafra, which is located 20 km from Sintra. The guidebook notes that the city lies in a crevice between the hills and its main dominant feature is the majestic monastery with an area of ​​40,000 m2. But having traveled further north, we visited the city of Obidos. Óbidos is a medieval fortified city built in the 12th century. It is a picturesque complex of whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and narrow medieval streets surrounded by fortress walls. You can walk around the city along the walls. Souvenirs are sold on the streets. Particularly interesting is the cherry liqueur, which can be purchased after the tasting. It takes one and a half to two hours to explore Obidushch.

Next, our path lay to Alcobaça, where you can explore the 12th century monastery. We didn’t get inside because it was May 1st and it turns out that not all state museums were open. We managed to see a very interesting design museum with wax figures and modern clothing collections. In principle, Alcobasa is an alternative object for inspection.

Batalha

In Batalha is the Monastery of Santa Maria da Victoria, a masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic architecture, built by King Joan 1 in memory of the victory over the Spaniards in 1385. This monastery is a striking example of Portuguese Gothic architecture with Manueline elements. On the occasion of May 1, we also were not able to examine the courtyard. But the monastery is also majestic from the outside. An hour to an hour and a half is enough to examine it.

At dawn

It is declared in guidebooks as a fishing village. Nazaré is a strategic place. Surely, if you vacation in the Algarve province located in the south, you most likely will not be able to see Portugal. And in Nazar you can swim and sunbathe on the sandy beach, and if you rent a car, you can go around many beautiful and interesting places. You can live in apartments in Nazaré and eat seafood in numerous beach cafes and restaurants.

We climbed to the upper part, onto the rock, and examined the chapel in honor of the Holy Virgin, who, according to legend, saved a horseman who almost fell off the cliff while chasing a deer. An interesting part is the altar part, where you can go (!) and examine the figurine of the Holy Virgin Mary, carved according to legend by Joseph.

On the square, colorful old fisherwomen in colorful clothes sell dried fruits. From the top of the mountain there is a view of the sandy beach and the ocean.

Fatima

A small town is located east of Batalha. It is a world-famous center of Catholic pilgrimage, where, according to legend, three local children witnessed the apparition of the Holy Virgin Mary. In the center of the city there is the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, a chapel and a tree under which the Holy Virgin Mary appeared to the children, as well as a huge square, much larger than the square of St. Peter's in the Vatican. The church service and organ music are broadcast throughout the square. True believers on their knees make their way to the Temple along a special marble path. Tens of thousands of pilgrims come to Fatima with requests and gratitude. Numerous processions are held here. Even if you are not religious, this place is worth visiting, you will not find it boring. For those who like pilgrimage tourism, go to www.Fatima.org.

Quimbra

Since we arrived in the evening, we spent the night in a decent hotel Almedina 3*.

The main attractions of the city: the University, the Santa Cruz Monastery and “Portugal in Miniature”. One day is enough to explore Quimbra.

The university in Quimbra is one of the oldest in Europe. Its history begins in the 12th century. The university was moved to Lisbon, returned back, and in 1537 it finally settled in Quimbra. There are several museums inside the building, and from the terrace there is a beautiful panorama of the city and the river. The library is especially amazing. Lectures are held in a building with a centuries-old history.

The whole life of Quimbra is centered around the university, and students still determine its appearance. Many of them wear traditional black suits and black cloaks with colored ribbons. It is very similar to the fact that J. Rawlings, when writing Harry Potter, used the image of Quimbra and her students.

“Portugal in Miniature” is a small park in which all the main styles of Portuguese architecture are collected in a reduced form. You can climb into the toy houses or take pictures next to them. It is believed that this is mainly entertainment for children, but adults will also enjoy the walk.

From Quimbra we headed towards the city of Porto, but on the way we stopped at several other places.

At the beginning there is the Portuguese "calvary". Similar things can be found in Spain and Italy. A picturesque place where you have to climb the steps all the time. You can stop at “stations” with images of the Calvary sufferings of Christ. When the stations end, the hardest climb begins, but it runs next to the fountains, and the path is crowned by a church, where believers rest a little and pray. For us, everything was according to a simplified program. Instead of going up, we went down.

30 km from Quimbra is the thermal resort of Luso with a spring. And a little higher is the magical park and Busaco estate. This seems to be a place marked by special grace. The palace is currently a 5* hotel. This is where you need to go for at least 2-3 days, if you don’t waste money.

These places are also famous for the fact that local restaurants (nowhere else in the country) serve leitau da barada (suckling pig) for lunch or dinner. We were served it with Spumante. The taste is "spicy". You can swallow your tongue.

Porto

This is the second largest city in Portugal, the birthplace of the famous Henry the Navigator. It takes at least 2 days to examine it. The city was not destroyed by the earthquake, and houses not only from the 18th, but also from the 17th and 16th centuries have been preserved there. Surprisingly, people still live in most of them. The historical center with the embankment is a real medieval city. To understand the city, you must walk around it on foot.

The Clerigos Tower offers panoramic views of the city. Once you climb on it you can see how to build the route correctly. The Cathedral is reminiscent of a fortress, the Episcopal Palace, the pompous building of the stock exchange, the private Franciscan church amazes with its inner wealth, you can walk along the charming embankment. It offers a view of boats loaded with port wine and the picturesque facades of medieval houses with linen fluttering in the wind.

During our excursion, a historical film was being filmed on the embankment. Full immersion in the 18th century. No decorations needed. If you are in Porto and happen to walk along the embankment, then moving towards the funicular, look into the establishment furthest along the direction of travel (located closest to the funicular). In the cellar you will be offered a wonderful sausage, which, judging by the advertising, has been produced for 500 years and you will wash it all down with port and wonderful Portuguese wine. And then, when the devil himself is no longer your brother, you can take a boat trip along the Douro River. The route will lie under 7 bridges connecting Porto and the Gaia region, where the famous port wine storage and wine tasting cellars are located.

Personally, it seems to me that Porto is somewhat similar to the capital of Amber ("Chronicles of Amber" by R. Zelazny).

Portugal – Porto – Port wine. Consonant, cognate words. In our country, port wine has a bad reputation. Many remember "Agdam", "Three Sevens", a drink affectionately called "portveshok", bought as an alternative to vodka mainly for women during the Soviet period. Connoisseurs will remember Crimean port, which has a good taste, but still is not actually a noble port, since the grapes for its production must grow in a strictly controlled area.

Vinio de porto (port wine) is consumed as an aperitif or with a good conversation. Despite the fact that fortified port wine is easy to drink, your head does not hurt after it.

Actually, we started getting acquainted with port wine back in Domodedovo, purchasing a bottle for 19 euros. Everything I then tried along the route was worse for my taste. And only the tasting in Gaia’s cellars partially restored the “status quo.” In a nutshell, you either need to buy a drink with long aging years: 10, 20, 30, 50 years, or “vintage” when there is a good year for the harvest and the port ages right in the bottle. Port wine can cost from 15 to 100 euros and more. From Porto we went to Guimaraes and Braga.

Guimaraes

It is located 50 km north of Porto and is considered the “cradle of Portugal”. The first king, Afonso Henriques I, was born in this city. The city has picturesque streets and a medieval castle - a fortress. On Oliver Square there is a museum of private collections. What I found most interesting was the exhibit depicting the Holy Trinity. God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit were depicted not on canvas (which is quite common), but in sculpture.

Braga

It seemed to us that the best thing about Braga is the Santa Barbara Garden. Beginning of May. The grass just started growing here. There are still few flowers, even wild ones. And in Santa Barbara the rose garden is in peak bloom...

We were supposed to fly to Moscow from Lisbon. Porto, Braga and Guimaraes are the northernmost points of our journey. Returning to Lisbon, we stopped in the city of Tomar.

Tomar

I would have been ready to sacrifice Guimaraes and Braga for Tomar, but fortunately I didn’t have to do this. Tomar was the residence of the Templars. The Templars, expelled from France, settled in Portugal. We were only a couple of hours, we need at least four, or even better, spend the night down in the old part of the city, and in the morning go up to the fortress of the Knights of the Cross. The order was one of the richest in Europe and rivaled monarchs in wealth. You understand this when you get to the fortress. It is elegant, beautiful, huge and inside it there are monuments of world significance: a window in the Manueline style and the central hall - a temple into which knights entered through the gate directly on horseback.

We traveled 1400 km by bus, along roads with lush forest vegetation, very picturesque places in Portugal. We did not see landfills, construction sites, along the entire route we did not encounter smoking chimneys or a single industrial enterprise. But, of course, this was not all that the beautiful country of Portugal has to offer.

We did not attend the Portuguese bullfight, which is different from the Spanish one and which, according to other travelers, is held near Lisbon in the village of Alcocete on the opposite bank of the Tagus River on Saturdays. We weren't on safari. 120 km from Lisbon, in the western part of Alentejo, is Badoca Park, where you can admire the life of wild animals: giraffes, crocodiles, tigers, just like in Africa. And 15 km from Fatima are the caves of St. Antonio. The guidebook says that each cave is a palace created by nature and hidden deep in the earth.

There are other wonderful places, reviews of which can be found on www.ayda.ru. And there is a reason to return to Portugal again.

Information

The Portuguese are hospitable and approachable people. You only need to learn a few phrases to show at least minimal politeness.

Bon Dia (bon dia) - good morning (until 12.00)
Bon Tarde (bon tarde) - good afternoon (after 12.00)
Obrigado (obrigado) - thank you, thank you (if a man speaks)
Obrigada - thank you (if a woman speaks)
Fasch favor a conto (favor a conto) - check, please.
Suko del orange naturale – natural orange juice.

The Portuguese are great food specialists. Portuguese cuisine is a combination of meat and fish.

On the route we were fed mainly with dishes from the provinces where we were. Sometimes it was an “unforgettable culinary experience.” Sometimes it was simply tasty, and sometimes (much less often) it was just filling. But the principle was always followed: eat and (surprisingly) drink as much as you can. Red and white wine for lunch (dinner), as well as the food itself, were always offered in unlimited quantities. A typical Portuguese lunch includes: cold appetizers (sausage, olives with soft bread), first course (usually cream soup), main course, dessert, coffee (sometimes also fruit)

And it’s best to try dishes on your own, for example, seafood in establishments marked “Marisqueira”. (“Gumbosh” means king prawns.)

Portuguese wine is light and rich. All wines are very high quality. Even among inexpensive table wines there are no sour ones. But if you are afraid of making a mistake, then buy wines from the Alentejo province.

Everyone writes about baking and pastry shops. It really is some kind of fantastic delicacy. Moreover, you could try the freshest baked goods in any place along the entire route. When you see a pastry shop, go in and try the Portuguese pie. This is a puff pastry basket sprinkled with powdered sugar and ground cinnamon. In Portugal, oranges are very tasty and juicy (a kg costs 1 euro). Moroccan oranges are no match for them. Good cheeses and very tasty bread.

Souvenirs: port wine, Portuguese wine, cork products, ceramics with a Portuguese rooster.

Privalov Andrey Vladimirovich
17/05/2006 19:43



The opinions of tourists may not coincide with the opinions of the editors.

From personal experience, I was convinced of what has always been obvious to me: if you want to see the real Portugal, you need to see the country not on your own on public transport and not as part of a tourist group, but individually and with a car. Below I will talk about our 20-day car trip around Portugal, as well as the features of a car holiday in this country.

Route: as much as possible in 20 days

Having decided to see Portugal by car, we immediately abandoned the idea of ​​spending a lot of time in large cities. The emphasis was placed on those places and attractions that are difficult to reach by public transport. However, if a large interesting city came across on the way, then we also stopped by it - for a quick acquaintance.

Part of the route was planned in advance, part was improvised on the fly. As a result, he turned out like this.

1 day. Early in the morning we arrive in Lisbon with TAP Portugal. Acquaintance with Lisbon, overnight at the Pensao Londres hotel.

Day 2. Walk around Lisbon, trip to Cascais, overnight in the same hotel.

Day 3. We take a car from Avis, we get a manual Volkswagen Golf 1.6, a diesel one - a car with special features, but it didn’t let us down, and by the end of the trip we really liked it. We go south: see Sesimbra, Palmela, Cromlechs (Cromeleque dos Almendres). By nightfall we arrive in Evora and spend the night at the Evora Inn Chiado Design hotel.

Day 4 We walk around Evora, then go to see the mountain fortresses of Moran (Mourao) and. We stop at Vila Vicosa. We arrive in Estremoz and spend the night at the Imperador Hotel.

Day 5 We spend half a day visiting Estremoz, then we go to the fortified towns of Portalegre, Marvao and Castelo de Vide. Next, the path goes through Castelo Branco to an overnight stay at the Orbitur Idanha-a-Nova campsite.

Day 6 We swim in the reservoir next to the campsite and go to see the towns of Idanha-a-Velha, Monsanto, Penamacor, Sortelha, Belmonte. We are trying to find a campsite in the Serra da Estrela National Park, but maps and GPS show different things, in the end we decide to go to Viseu, where, on the advice of random people we meet, we check into the Durao hotel.

Day 7 We spend half a day looking at Viseu, then we go towards Aveiro, by ferry we get to the spit north of the city and begin to move along the ocean. We stay for the night in a room with an excellent view of the bay at the O Veleiro restaurant in the village of Torreira.

Day 8 We go to Porto and check into the Residencial Triunfo hotel. We walk around the city in the rain.

Day 9 The morning begins with a port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia, then we walk around Porto until dark. In the evening we leave for Braga, where we check into the Estacao hotel.

Day 10 We walk around Braga, then go to Guimaraes, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, and for show we stop in Tui in Spain. By nightfall we find ourselves at the Orbitur Caminha camp.

Day 11 We spend half a day relaxing on the ocean shore, then we walk around Caminha, and then we leave for Viana do Castelo, where we check into the Orbitur Viana do Castelo campsite. Relaxing on the beach.

Day 12 Until noon we are back on the beach, and then we go very south - to Coimbra. We walk around the city and spend the night at a municipal campsite near the city.

Day 13 We go to Tomar, where we walk for a long time and with ecstasy. Then for some reason we go to Fatima - if you are not a Catholic pilgrim, then do not repeat our mistake. Then we go to Batalha, but the monastery-museum is already closed. We stop in Leiria, but the city center is full of renovations and the castle is closed. We leave for the night in Nazare, where we settle in the private sector.

Day 14 We spend half a day watching Nazare, then we leave for Alcobaca, and then to Obidos. By nightfall we arrive in Peniche, where we spend the night at the PinhalMar hotel (perhaps the only one that I would not recommend - the hotel itself is normal, but located in a very stupid way).

Day 15 An ocean trip to Berlenga Island was planned, but the weather did not allow it. After a walk along the shore of the Peniche peninsula and in the port of the city of the same name, we leave for the south. We arrive in Sintra in the evening and only make it to the Moorish castle before closing time. We leave to watch an unforgettable sunset on Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of Europe. We spend a long time looking for the nearest campsites or rooms in the private sector, and in the end, closer to midnight, we check into Pensao Real in the resort of Praia dos Macas.

Day 16 In the morning we return to Sintra, see the Capuchin Monastery (Convento dos Capuchos) and the Pena Palace, after which we head very south towards the Algarve. We stop at Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur. Before sunset we arrive in Sagrish and check into a private accommodation.

Day 17 We see Sagrish and Cape Sao Vicente, then go east. We look at Praia da Rocha, Silves and Ferraguda. We stay overnight in a private accommodation in the resort of Carvoeiro.

Day 18 We continue east, see Albufeira, Almancil, Olhao, Tavira, Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Antonio. . In the latter we check into the Residencial Baixa Mar hotel.

Day 19 We relax in Vila Real and at the nearby beach resort of Monte Gordo, overnight in the same hotel.

Day 20 We move towards Lisbon, on the way we stop at Alcacer do Sal and the fishing village of Carrasqueira. In the afternoon we walk around the Parque das Nacoes area in Lisbon - closest to the airport. We drop off the car at the Avis airport office and fly to Moscow on a convenient evening TAP Portugal flight.

Saturated? Very! But we accomplished our goal of seeing Portugal to the maximum.

A few subjective conclusions from our trip:

  • I would like to look at the small mountain towns a little more calmly;
  • several cities turned out to be a real waste of time (for example, Fatima, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur);
  • you could drive around Portugal and look, look, look endlessly and want more and more, until you suddenly accidentally find yourself on the ocean - you’re immediately hooked and don’t want to go anywhere else;
  • if you want to see the sights, then there is nothing to do in the Algarve (those attractions that are there are completely designed for the beach tourist vacationing in this region and for some reason leaving his beautiful beach to get acquainted with the historical heritage of the surrounding lands - that is, roads and however, they are not of particular interest). If you are going to Portugal to swim, then the Algarve is what you need;
  • without a car we wouldn’t have seen even half of it;
  • Lisbon and Porto are worth returning to without a car and seeing them for at least three or four days each, and considering the nearby attractions, you can budget for a week.

Comfortable driving

Foreign guidebooks always warn that the Portuguese drive like crazy. One of them colorfully describes the Portuguese driving style: “the locals drive as if they have just stolen a car and are rushing away from the scene of a crime.” I don’t know what other foreigners really think, but for a Russian person, the Portuguese drive quite sanely. At least we never had a single unpleasant situation on the road. We also didn’t see anyone else’s accidents.

Perhaps the only thing that cannot be taken away and that could confuse the authors of European and American guidebooks is that few people follow the speed limit in Portugal. Having merged with the crowd, we didn’t follow it either :)

The main thing that is unusual and almost shocking for us is the narrow, uneven streets of old cities. Often - with blind turns and intersections. Often such a width that from the side mirrors to the walls of houses is no more than a meter. Often with strong slopes, since most cities are located on hills or mountains. It’s good that the vast majority of narrow streets are one-way. Driving through historical towns can only be mastered by people with good driving experience and nerves of steel. In general, before traveling to Portugal, remember how to drive off with the handbrake and all that.

The ability to masterfully park in narrow places will also be useful to you. But this is easier: if you can’t park in the place you like, you’ll find another one. Once, in an underground garage of several square meters with three cars and two columns inside, a local resident helped us to sort things out - without his advice we would not have left, and for him the solution to the problem was completely obvious. In general, experience and more experience!

Toll and free roads

The roads in Portugal are excellent. Every time we moved from one mountain village to another, we never tired of being amazed at how high-quality roads were built where only a couple of dozen cars actually pass a day - and this is at the height of the tourist season! Or - we are driving along another ideal road somewhere in the Algarve, suddenly concrete-colored roughness appears against the background of beautiful, smooth asphalt. Precisely roughness. But the exclamation mark warned that these rough spots existed on the road! The quality of the surface on highways and highways is also not discussed.

In general, if you want to travel around villages, then drive calmly. But if you need to get from one remote point to another, then spare no expense and take the highway. I have no experience driving in other countries, but the prices on toll roads in Portugal seemed ridiculous. Usually we paid something like 4-5 euros for an hour and a half of travel. At most we paid about 13 euros, driving through about a third of Portugal. Considering that everyone is traveling at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, the toll road guarantees you a fast and comfortable ride.

Please note that some motorways in Portugal use the Via Verde system. Payment for travel on such roads is not made directly when leaving the highway, but after a couple of days - when the security cameras process the information received on the highway.

If your car is equipped with a special device, which you can rent if you wish, then on roads with barriers you drive past the barrier under the letter V, and on roads without barriers you drive as you please.

If your car is not equipped with a special device, it’s okay. On roads with booths and barriers, you act in the standard way: when entering the highway, take a ticket, when leaving the highway, pay (to a person or a machine, in cash or by card). But if you find yourself on the Via Verde highway, then a couple of days after the trip (but no later than 5 days), you need to find any post office and ask there to make payment for Via Verde, dictating the number of your car. The operator will print out your trips and accept payment.

Paid and free parking

We also did not experience any problems with parking. We were often able to find official free parking or park somewhere on the side of the road (we focused on locals). However, in large cities we used paid parking (both on the streets and in specially designated areas), and they did not seem expensive to us. The most we paid was 4 euros.

For overnight stays, of course, it is more convenient to select hotels with parking in advance. But even if the hotel does not have parking, the reception will definitely tell you where to park the car for the night.

If you park your car in a private paid parking lot, then the system is the same as with toll roads: at the entrance you take a ticket, at the exit you pay (to a person or a machine).

If you park your car in paid street parking, try to understand its rules. Many indicate the period during which parking must be paid. For example, if it says 9.00-19.00, then this means that if your car is parked here from 9 am to 7 pm, then there is a simple fee. And if you arrived at this place late in the evening and are going to leave early in the morning, then parking will be free for you. Usually such parking is free on weekends. The times of the paid and free periods are indicated for each parking lot and may differ from each other.

Street parking must be paid in advance. Having parked the car, you need to find a booth, decide how long you are going to walk without a car (the cost of the period - usually from 15 minutes to 4 hours - is indicated in the price list). You throw in coins for the required amount, press the green button - and the machine issues a ticket on which is written the time until which you have paid for the parking space. Place the ticket under the windshield and go about your business.

Important: for paid parking you need to have a lot of different coins with you, since the machines do not accept banktons and bank cards.

Car rental from Avis

We rented a car from Avis because it was our first experience of traveling abroad by car and we wanted to entrust this part of the program to an experienced company, which would be guaranteed (we wanted to think so) to come to the rescue in case of problems. Fortunately, we didn’t have any problems – neither with the car nor on the roads. So we were unable to assess the quality of Avis’s anti-crisis behavior.

All required procedures were completed comfortably. When we arrived at the rental center, the car was already waiting for us. We were immediately given all the documents. For peace of mind, we examined the car for existing damage, but then it turned out that they were all schematically marked in advance on the documents that were given to us.

The standard scheme for a car of our class is as follows. The payment includes a car with a full tank, the possibility of unlimited mileage, and insurance against theft and damage. Franchise – 1500 euros. If we damaged the car, then if the amount of assessed damage was up to 1,500 euros, we would pay for the breakdown. If the amount is higher or if the car were suddenly stolen, then 1,500 euros are written off from us, and the rest is paid by the insurance company. If you wish, you can take out more expensive insurance, which lowers the amount of the deductible and even reduces it to zero, but for our 20 days, paying for super-insurance significantly exceeded the amount of the deductible, so we refused additional insurance.

Remembering the need to return the car with a full tank all the way, at the very last moment we still forgot to refuel. A fine of 30 euros, as well as the cost of a full tank (about 50 euros, which is approximately true) were charged to us on the spot.

Upon return, an Avis employee inspected the car, filled out all the paperwork and immediately gave us a receipt, which indicated the cost of the rental, a fine for an unfilled tank, the cost of gasoline and VAT. All that remains is to sign on the check - and you are free, if you want the payment to be debited from the card that you presented when registering the car. If you want to pay with another card or cash, you need to go to the office to the cashier and pay in the way that is convenient for you.

If you drop off your car at Lisbon Airport, there are carts right in the garage where you can load your luggage. A few meters down the corridor and you find yourself in the airport building.

July 13th, 2015

Of course, I never cease to admire Portugal: this country will appeal to both those who adore Europe and those who love Asia. But at the same time, this is an absolutely unique place, unlike anything else. There is a lot of history here, castles, palaces, medieval cathedrals, it has its own unique architectural style (called neo-Manueline), so for history lovers this is truly a paradise. Although even if you are not a fan of ancient buildings (like me), you will still be delighted. For example, the park and palace of Quinta da Regaleira made a strong impression on me (I wrote about it), much stronger than the castles of the French Loire Valley, and not with its majesty and pomp (since they are rather very modest) , but just an unusual architectural style, soul, play with light and some kind of sophistication, endless attention to detail.


To be honest, it is very difficult to recommend a universal route around Portugal: some people prefer natural beauty and views of the ocean, while others are just fans of old castles. Therefore, first of all, universal means balanced, but if someone likes one thing more, then he will be able to adjust the route, because Below I will describe which place is attractive. And the second balance is in the ratio of provinces and large cities. What appeals to me most now is the authentic outback: castles and restaurants in the central square that are not teeming with tourists, well-kept houses, calm people, genuine local flavor - this is what really impresses and leaves a true impression of the country. But when you go for the first time, it’s better to start with large cities, and go deeper the next time. Therefore, at the end I will write which cities to visit first and which ones next time.

So, the route at first approach: Lagos (6 nights for a beach holiday) - Lisbon (7 nights for exploring the surrounding area) - Batalha - Bussaco (night) - Porto (6 nights for exploring the surrounding area).

As you can see, there are no long distances in Portugal; the entire route between the main points takes 6 hours 41 minutes on toll highways. On average, a little over 2 hours between overnight stops. It can start from the south (beach holiday) and end in the north (sightseeing, walking around the big city), or vice versa. But I started from south to north, because in the south the car will be useful every day, and when you get to Porto, you can return the car almost immediately. Where and how to book a car and what you need to pay attention to when traveling by car I described in the previous one. This route is designed for three weeks: a week to the south, a week to the central part, a week to the north. This is quite enough to relax and get a full impression of the country. But if your time frame is shorter, and your interests are more towards historical and architectural attractions (or vice versa, towards natural beach places), then my description below will help you adjust your route.

As I already wrote, the route is conditionally divided into three parts: the north, the central part and the south of Portugal. In a general sense: the north is more interesting in terms of history, when in the south there is practically nothing to see except the ocean. And the center is somewhere in the middle, here you can find unsurpassed palaces with parks and stunning capes and beaches.

1. South.

In terms of getting to know the country, the south is boring, but a resort is just that: a resort. Therefore, the only thing it is good for is a beach holiday. So, if you are not interested in this, feel free to skip this part of the route: you can see the ocean, beaches, capes in the central part. Yes, the water here is warmer, but not much.

All palaces, museums, monasteries, castles are usually open from 10 am to 17:30\18:00, but before visiting, it is better to check the opening hours via the Internet.

By the way, if you travel from Sintra to Cape Roca or vice versa, take the N247. In my opinion, this is a very beautiful road along the river and railway tracks, especially at sunset.

There is another family restaurant with a grill not far from Sintra; it can only be reached by car, because... It works from 7 pm, so it’s better to go there immediately after Sintra, and then return to Lisbon. It's called Moinho Iberico and is located at: Avenida Moinhos Arneiro, 110/112 | Magoito, Sintra. Don’t be scared by the sparse crowds and the almost empty road leading up to it, the restaurant will always have a lot of cars and a lot of people inside, it’s easy to recognize by its mill (Moinho from Portuguese - mill), it’s open like everyone else from 19 to 23, except Tuesday. You can reserve a table by phone +351 916 343 970 or by mail [email protected], the owner there is already a man with his sister, always communicates with guests, and there is no such type of establishment in Russia yet.

If after all this you want even more museums, then the route can be adjusted:
1) Take a one-day trip to Tomar, returning back to Lisbon: see the castle and the Convent of Christ, which includes examples of a wide variety of architectural styles, including Manueline.
2) Spend not a day, but two, between Lisbon and Porto (taking away this day from either Porto or Lisbon), visiting Batalha (Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria), Alcobaça (Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça), Leiria (a castle-fortress on a hill) and Coimbra (the Universidade de Coimbra and the Little Portugal park, which by the way is really very interesting). Additionally, you can stay in one of these cities, for example, in Leiria. And although the monastery in Batalha leaves one of the strongest architectural impressions along with the palaces of Sintra, I had the feeling that I had already seen it all, which is why I excluded this city from the main list.
3) The same as 2 - only capture Tomar as well, in two days you will get a very intense journey. You can spend the night in Leiria.

A place to stay overnight before heading to Porto is Bussaco, a castle hotel with a stunning garden. And also, when you choose hotels in other places, remember that there are a lot of different castle hotels, quintes, estates (wineries) where you can stay. All this immerses you much more into the world of Portugal and gives you more flavor than modern hotels.

3. North

First of all, this is of course a city Porto(Porto), there is a lot of things here, just a concentrate of Portugal: a city in which in a small space you can see much of what is inherent in this wonderful country: churches, towers, palaces, fortress walls and medieval cathedrals, openwork bridges and then the poor abandoned sloping houses with boarded up windows. Like all of Portugal, Porto seems to be very picturesque at a superficial glance, frightening with its untidiness and poverty when approaching, and ultimately an amazing and captivating city. In Porto, it’s a pleasure to go to the Ribeiro embankment, walk along the Luis Bridge, and look into the wine cellars. It’s worth saying right away that in summer, unlike the central part, the weather here may not be sunny at all. There are many good local restaurants here, just open TripAdvisor, but I want to recommend one quite interesting restaurant, Palco, at the Teatro Hotel (which, by the way, is also quite interesting and conveniently located). Address: Rua de Sa da Bandeira 84, Porto 4000 -427. Book a table: +351 220 409 620 or mail [email protected]. This restaurant, unlike all the others that I recommended, is in a completely different category, marked with Michelin stars, and has a sophisticated atmosphere inside. Here I advise you not to order a separate dish, but to take a “tour”, i.e. They will bring you 4-5 dishes (small portions, but in total it will be very satisfying) and, accordingly, 5 wines to go with it. It’s very inexpensive, but it turns out to be a kind of gastronomic journey through the dishes of Portugal in an elegant form.

Even for those who are not very fond of architecture, I recommend taking the one-day route Guimaraes-Bom Jesus-Braga.

There is also a funny Flintstones house not far from Braga and next to Fafe, its coordinates: 41.488202°, ​​−8.067809° (reminiscent of the village of Monsanto, which I did not include in the route, because it is located near the eastern Spanish border, I’m talking about it I’ll tell you at the very end, and if you manage to include this place in your route, be sure to do it, because this is one of the most interesting places in the Portuguese outback) and the road there is impressive.

And for those who didn’t have enough of the ocean in Lisbon or in the south, I advise you to go to one of these cities: Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, Costa Nova do Prado. In the first, the beaches are the widest and sandiest, stretching for several kilometers - one of the most famous in northern Portugal. And you can take a walk there too. Viana do Castelo has more of a historical center and you can take the funicular up to the basilica, which offers stunning views of the Lima River, the city and the ocean. In Costa Nova, besides the ocean, there may be interesting striped houses, which used to be painted so that fishermen could see their house from afar and land with their catch closer to home.

Now the list of places in Portugal is sorted by tourist significance (* - must see, ** - you can look at it on your second visit or if you have time, *** - if you want to go deeper)