PORTUGAL

The country where high heels are frowned upon, cork is used beyond the bottle and is transformed into accessories like satchels and hats, and pigeons are outnumbered by peacocks—oh, we are so not in New York anymore, Toto.

Also, if you're super into the drone photos and footage below, check out the new Instagram account my hubby and I started called @OutsiderSkies!

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

TIME OUT MARKET

Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal

What better way is there to quickly immerse yourself in a country than stomach first. Try a little bit of everything all under one delicious roof. 

(Update: Permanently Closed)

ENOTECA DE BELÉM

Tv. Marta Pinto 10, 1300-083 Lisboa, Portugal

Wine bar meets high quality restaurant meets unmissable experience. Wine lovers, discover your favorite Portuguese wines that you never knew existed as curated by award winning Head Sommelier Nelson Guerreiro who will know your palette better than you do. Have them paired with dishes inspired by Portugal and elevated by Chef Ricardo Gonçalves. You absolutely cannot miss this hole-in-the-wall experience. 

For sure make a reservation! 

PASTEIS DE BELÉM

R. Belém 84-92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal

Breakfast, midday treat, dessert, this massive bakery is a must for Portuguese pastries. 

RESTAURANTE DA ADRAGA

Almoçageme, R. da Praia da Adraga, 2705-065 Colares, Portugal

Taking a day trip to Sintra? Make sure to eat seafood beachside at sunset. 

RESTAURANTE MAR DO INFERNO

Avenida Rei Humberto II De Itália, Lisboa, Boca Do Inferno, 2750-800 Cascais, Portugal

Order a bottle of wine and demolish one of their three special seafood platters with a view overlooking ships crossing the horizon. It's the perfect afternoon.  

TAYLOR'S

Rua do Choupelo 250, 4400-088 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

There is no way you've traveled all of the way to Portugal and didn't take the trip to Porto the home to Port. I want to say I saw a lot of Porto but after spending four hours touring and drinking my weight in Taylor's Port, I barely made it over the bridge. It was 100% worth it. 

WHERE TO GO BETWEEN MEALS

WANDER AROUND THE STREETS OF LISBON

But do it in a super comfy pair of sneaks. I'm serious. Ladies, don't even pack a pair of heels. I promise you, every street is cobblestone plus there are lots of steep hills, so unless you like looking like a baby dear taking it's first steps, leave the heels at home and save the room in your suitcase for souvenirs like vino verde and port. 

Stroll around, take in some views, pop into some local shops, and grab a glass of wine.

TORRE DE BELÉM

Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal || 6€ Entry Fee

I can't put my finger on why we spent so much time at this tower or why we were so excited to get to it but we spent two full hours taking photos of it. By the time we were ready to go inside, they closed the bridge. Can you believe it? We never actually went inside. If you stay as long as we did, stroll to the left of this incredible fortress/watchtower and fingers crossed that Wine With A view truck-lette will be there. Indulge in a glass and take in the sunset. It's so lovely. Stroll down the road and see a bridge that looks nearly identical to San Fransisco's Golden Gate. The biggest difference is the towering sculpture of Jesus on the far side and the boat bow sculpture on the near side.  

EXPLORE THE CASTLES IN SINTRA (A DAY TRIP)

Palace of Pena (Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal) || 11,50€ Entry Fee

Castelo dos Mouros (2710 Sintra, Portugal) || 7,50€ Entry Fee

I'm convinced castle shopping is the new house hunting. If you've ever been to New Port Rhode Island and explored the beautiful mansions out there, this is just like that, only here, sneakers are the only option and mansions are too tiny, we're exploring castles! We spent the day being king and queen of the castles finding our favorite window seats and vantage points for potential attackers.

We spent most of our time in Sintra in the Palace of Pena and Castelo dos Mouros. It is amazing how different they are. The Castelo dos Mouros is a military fort. There are no flourishes but lots of amazing views—now, super pretty, it is incredible to stand there and imagine how important those vantage points were when the fortress was in use. Walk the walls, duck into an underground water room, and explore where bodies were discovered.

In direct eyesight from the towering walls of Castelo dos Mouros is King Ferdinand II’s Palace of Pena. Colorful and bright on the outside with lavish interiors, this palace is the perfect expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal. Not to mention, it for sure has my copper-clad naturally lit massive dream kitchen inside (do I need to remodel?). Explore room by room and discover which one suits you best.

CABO DA ROCA

Estrada do Cabo da Roca s/n, 2705-001 Colares, Portugal

Fun fact, Cabo da Roca is considered the westernmost point of mainland Europe which will account for its beautiful views. Historically, it is known for being the point that guarded the Lisbon Harbor. If you're headed back to Lisbon from a day trip to Sintra, this is a great vista stop for watching sunset en route home. Follow it all up with dinner at Restaurante Da Adraga (noted above) and you'll have lived the wonderful day I had in full. 

SÃO JORGE CASTLE

R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal || 8,5 € Entry Fee

If you don't have enough time to take a day trip to Sintra to explore the castles, there is a Moorish castle inside of Lisbon you can check out! The views overlook Lisbon and make for some really killer photos. I seriously can't wait to find an awesome frame, print that photo of the city and hang it on my wall. 

If you're, like me, a sucker for awesome graffiti art, there are some really fun murals en route to the castle that make for really fun photoshoots. Don't be shy, get into it!

CARMO CONVENT

Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal || 4€ Entry Fee

These ruins, bright and well maintained throughout the years, are architecturally stunning! Head inside if you dare and see the tombs that have been curated and a couple extremely in tact kinda frightening mummified corpses. 

BOCA DO INFERNO

Av. Rei Humberto II de Itália 642, 2750 Cascais, Portugal

A breathtakingly beautiful vista that is the all too perfect spot to camp out and watch the sunset cast its orange glow onto the rock's face.