Portugal has it all; beautiful weather, traditional architecture, rich culture, stunning nature and a wealth of diverse places to visit! I’ve broken down the Top 7 places to visit in Portugal post-lockdown.
Lisbon
Let’s start with Portugals most famous city by the sea. Lisbon continues to be ones of Europes best cities to explore on a budget. It maintains its traditional feel with its narrows roads, beautiful lookout points and cozy restaurants. I’d recommend visiting Chiado, a ‘cool’ suburb with the oldest bookshop in the world!
On top of this, Bairro Alto is a fantastic area to visit at night, with some cool bars with live singers and restaurants.
You won’t regret taking a trip to Lisbon.
Algarve
Sintra
Just a short train ride out of Lisbon, lies Sintra. It is the perfect day-trip to escape the hustle and bustle of Lisbon and transform you into a real-life fairytale.
Hans Christian Andersen, the famous children’s fairytale author, once lived in a house in Sintra’s woods, which you can still stumble across to this day.
Sintras most famous attractions include the romantic, colourful 19th-century Pena Palace and the exquisite Monserrate Palace.
Serra da Estrela
If post-lockdown you’re looking for a little more adventure, then Serra da Estrela is for you. It is a little more difficult to reach than other parts of Portugal, but worth the extra effort.
Serra da Estrela is home to Torre, the highest mountain peak in mainland Portugal (the highest in all of Portugal being in Pico Island, Azores). Hikers and nature-lovers should definitely take a trip to this region of Portugal which is truly a hikers dream. In the wintertime, it is the only area of Portugal which you can Ski.
Want to know more about Torre? Read my Mountain Page about hiking Torre.
Porto
Second only to Lisbon, Porto is Portugals second largest city. Whilst both cities have a lot of similarities; their beautiful, colourful architecture and narrow streets, the cities also have a lot of differences.
Porto is brimming with stunning gardens, medieval palaces and cathedrals, and the cuisine is often referred to as the best in the whole of Portugal (if thats not a reason to visit, I don’t know what is?)
It is also infamous world-wide for its famous Port Wine.
Madeira
Madeira has become one of Portugals most popular areas for its nature, winter-sun and hiking opportunities.
Spend your days in Madeira basking in the sun, hiking along one of its beautiful coastal paths or enjoying some delicious Portugese food. One of its most infamous beaches lies in Porto Santo for any sun worshippers out there.
If you choose to visit during the New Year period, you will get chance to visit Funchal which hosts one of the worlds best New Years Eve parties!
Other popular attraction in Madeira include visiting the home of Christopher Columbus, the Museum CR7, otherwise known as the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum and also the Madeira Wine Museum.
São Miguel
Last but not least we have São Miguel, a Portuguese island that lies within the Azorean archipelago, halfway between the American and Portuguese coastlines.
Each island within the Azores is worth a visit for its outstanding nature, but we’ve chosen to give a special mention to the largest, São Miguel.
It is the easiest Island to reach by plane and has so so much incredible beauty to take in. Whether its hiking trails, Dolphin and Whale watching, spectacular waterfalls, hot springs or its beautiful twin lakes Lagoa das Sete Cidades you wont regret visiting this magical place.
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