For years, Portugal has been flying under the radar as a top tourist destination. It doesn't pack the name power of some of Europe's top destinations and with its tiny size it can be largely overlooked. Based on my experience over the past 3 days, the secret is out of the bag and tourists are discovering Portugal in a big way - and it's easy to see why.
Portugal's capital, Lisbon, lies a few miles east of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Tagus River. The capital city is very old and evidence of its age is aplenty. Lisbon is a zigzagged maze of streets, especially in the Alfama neighborhood with buildings covered in different pastel colors or intricately designed tiles. Peppered in the middle of these streets are elaborate churches and palaces, many from the 1400-1500s. It's almost like the city hasn't changed very much since Portugal sat atop the "world's throne of power" 500 years ago (huge shoutout to the 2 people who might understand that reference) during the Magellan and da Gama era. What's left is a unique fusion of modern and history that leaves you in awe and frequently lost in a maze.
My favorite tourist attraction is Lisbon is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoverers). This is a 10 story monument that juts into the water featuring all of Portugal's top explorers setting sail on a voyage into the Atlantic. It elicits feelings of awe when thinking about what these men discovered and the risks they took to reach these goals. Today we have Google Maps, GPS systems, and road signs everywhere you look and we still manage to get lost. These guys thought the world was flat and found lands completely unknown to most Europeans for thousands of years. If you choose, the monument allows you to take an elevator to the roof for only €4 providing incredible views of all of Lisbon. Padrão dos Descobrimentos sits in the middle of the historic Belem District which also features the Torre Belem (Belem Tower) and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jeronimo's Monastery). The Torre Belem is by far the most popular tourist spot in the city. There was a 45 minute line, a huge crowd of people, and not nearly enough space. We skipped it and don't have any regrets about the decision.
Our last day in Portugal we took a train out to Sintra, about 15 miles northwest of Lisbon which borders the Atlantic Ocean. The entire city is a UNESCO Historical Site and has some incredible attractions including a Moorish castle, caverns, and a 90 foot well that you can walk through, but the Palacio Peña is the unquestioned jewel of the city. This palace that used to serve as the summer home for Portugal's royal family sits atop a humongous hill that allows for breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the hills of Sintra, and basically the entire greater Lisbon area. The palace's exterior design has Portuguese and Moorish elements and varies between yellow, blue, and red colors depending on the wing of the castle. If the views from the top of Sintra didn't top the views of Interlaken in Switzerland, they certainly came pretty damn close.
Some of the other highlights of Portugal:
- The prices are incredibly reasonable. Even without the favorable exchange rate with the Euro right now, you can do Portugal on a budget.
- The people are all extremely friendly and laid back (possibly still aglow from their Euro title). As an added bonus, everyone speaks English - and not just broken English like in Switzerland. The Portuguese people have been the most fluent we've encountered thus far.
- The weather. Low 80s and not a cloud in the sky the entire time we were there.
- The music. The Portuguese are famous for their fado music which can be heard throughout the city. It's fun and chill and instantly puts you in a good mood.
- If you like carbs, Portugal is the place for you. The people love their pastries, especially the pasteis de nata (which is a custard filled pastry that has the consistency of a croissant) and the toast is over an inch thick. I would give my opinion on these pastries, but don't want to be banned from the country as they are a source of national pride.
- The sangria was fantastic. Best enjoyed with a view of the water.
If you're visiting Western Europe and want to escape the craziness of some of the most popular tourist cities, I would highly recommend Portugal. Get there before everyone else figures out how beautiful this country is.
Jeff
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