Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula, though its territory extends into the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations, due mainly to the country’s beautiful weather and its abundance of historical sites. If you are visiting Portugal, then there’s lots for you to see.
In order to make your trip unforgettable, you need to carefully work out a travel itinerary. You should do this a few weeks or months in advance so that you can carefully think everything through and don’t have to rush.
This article will tell you about a few places that you should consider visiting:
Golden Visa
If you have visited Portugal in the past and are considering returning, why not try for residency? You can access the Golden Visa Portugal 2022 scheme, which grants residency to investors. The scheme allows you to live, work, or study in Portugal, and grants you full access to all public services, including education and healthcare. To qualify you must either purchase a property worth at least €500,000; purchase property in a low-density area that costs €400,000 or more; invest €350,000 in a property in one of the country’s regeneration areas. You can eventually apply for full citizenship with a golden visa.
Lisbon
Moving away from residency and to the article’s purpose, let’s discuss Lisbon. Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city and is rich in culture and history. If you’re visiting the country, then Lisbon’s a great place to start. In addition to making a great city break, there are lots of hiking trails surrounding the city. Lisbon is most famous for its cobbled streets and beautiful churches. It also has a fantastic museum, the Museu Colecao Berardo which houses work by Hockney and Warhol. There are also lots of castles for you to visit.
Sintra
Sintra is located under an hour away from Lisbon. It is a small town set within the Serra de Sintra hills. The town abounds with cobbled lanes, stone taverns, and palaces. In addition to palaces, there are also monasteries, castles, and botanical gardens. At night, fog engulfs the entire town. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway or just want to visit one of Portugal’s most beautiful towns, then Sintra’s somewhere to consider. There are lots of reasonably priced bed and breakfasts, hotels, and Airbnb rooms available there. You can get a bus directly from Lisbon to Sintra.
Porto
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, famous for its baroque churches, theatres, and shopping centres. In addition, the city’s Ribeira district is a Unesco World Heritage Site. If you are a fan of wine, then you could visit one of the city’s many vineyards for which it is famous. Tours around these vineyards are very affordable and are open to everybody. These vineyards are open all year round and feature some of the world’s best wines. There is also lots of five-star restaurants, as well as small family-run bistros located in the city.
The Algarve
If you want a more relaxing trip and would like a beach to lounge around on, then Portugal’s southern coast, the Algarve, has just what you’re looking for. The Algarve’s coastline is unpredictable, with sandy islands, rugged cliffsides, and isolated beaches. The Algarve’s beaches are some of Europe’s best. There are also lots of bars and clubs to be found along the coastline, with some pretty lively parties taking place during the tourist season. If you visit during the offseason, prices are low and there aren’t many other people around, which is great if you’re looking for an affordable and quiet break.
Obidos
Obidos, like the other towns and cities mentioned so far, has beautiful, cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and lots for travellers to see. One of the town’s main attractions is the jousting matches that take place in the city’s medieval fair. It also hosts the Festival de Opera, featuring award-winning and world-class performers. Obidos is also home to Folio, Portugal’s international literature festival. Visiting any of these destinations or attractions is sure to make your trip unforgettable. Obidos also has award-winning restaurants, bars, and eateries, which are a great way to top off a long day wandering the town’s streets and visiting its attractions.
Braga
Finally, we arrive at Braga, Portugal’s third-largest city. Braga’s nightlife is one of a kind, due mostly to the fact that it is a university city. As well as vibrant nightlife, Braga has a 12th-century cathedral, a 14th-century church, Roman ruins, 17th-century plazas, and an 18th-century palace.
It should come as no surprise that Portugal is one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations considering everything that there is to do. There’s so much more beyond this article, from mountain hikes to fishing off of Portugal’s coast. The only way to see it all is to go there yourself.
