Travel Series: Visiting Portugal

Travel Series: Visiting Portugal

There is no better destination than Portugal if you’re looking for an affordable trip, excellent food and beautiful views. Portugal is a beautiful place to visit with exquisite cuisine; you won’t regret a minute of it.

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As someone who has visited the capital city, Lisbon consistently as a young child, I know exactly what spot tourists should hit and how to make the most of your time. While the national language is Portuguese, English speakers won’t find it hard to communicate here as many people have a good understanding of the English language.

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The beaches in the surrounding areas of Lisbon have beautiful blue ocean waters and once Covid-19 is under control in the world they are definitely worth visiting.

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Once you book your flight to Portugal, make sure to take a look at this list so you can plan out the perfect itinerary when you arrive in the south western European country.

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Places to Visit:

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- Boca do Inferno (Portuguese for Hell’s Mouth): this is a cliff formation in the city of Cascais, not too far from Lisbon, that is a huge tourist attraction. You’ll find powerful waves here and a beautiful view of the water. This is not a place to go swimming however, as it’s very dangerous.

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- Cascais:Β When visiting Boca do Inferno, make a whole day out of it and see what it’s city Cascais has to offer. It’s a beautiful beach town where you can go shopping, lay out on the sand at the beaches or dine at beautiful restaurants. The vibe in Cascais is to die for and it’s a nice break from the downtown city vibes of Lisbon.

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- Belém: If you love museums, Belém is the place to go. The Museu Coleção Bernardo has beautiful modern art and a rooftop area you can visit. There is also the Jerónimos Monastery that is in the center of Belém and definitely worth visiting as well. Of course when you go to Belém you cannot miss out on the famous Pastéis de Belém. This is where you can get some of the best Portuguese custard desserts and although there is typically a line, it does move fast.

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- Praça do Comércio: This square is pretty much in the center of Lisbon and is always bustling with movement — at least before the pandemic. This is a place where you can get your money exchanged, go shopping and find cheap yet filling places to get food. Additionally, events can often be held here. When I was in Lisbon during the World Cup, they would play some of the games on a huge screen in the square. It was a great moment and nice to see the entire community a part of it.