If you didn’t fall in love with Portugal with lastminute lovely Gen’s first post, part two is sure to have you head over heels.
If my first two stops in Portugal didn’t make it clear, I have a bit of an obsession with this destination. And as you’ll see below, my passion doesn’t lessen the longer I’m there!
Destination 3 – Peniche
Next up it is time to see the more laidback side of Portugal. Peniche is the area to be if you enjoy surfing or if you enjoy checking out the bonito surfer eye candy. There isn’t much you need to know about enjoying Peniche, you simply take your time and lounge around. If you can’t surf, try out a surfing lesson. If you like walking, take stroll from Peniche centre to Baleal or vice versa. If the weather is really clear get on board a 30 minute boat ride over to the Berlengas Islands, a marine reserve and archipelago of islands with idyllic swimming.
If you have time before arriving in Peniche, contemplate visiting Ericeira, the ambient home to the RipCurl Pro (pro surfers… give me some of that!) and some scrumptious seafood restaurants.
Strangely enough pork also seems to fare well in these parts. Although I am not a fan of pig, my friends all squirmed with joy around me whilst chowing down on local pork and begged me to reconsider my taste preferences. So I will do them a favour and recommend you try it when in Peniche, however one thing I personally recommend is enjoying a beverage at one of several bars along the beach. Baleal Beach provides some hots spots for enjoying the days end, such as Bar de Praia and Baleal Cocktail, and if you want to continue the merry spirits well into the night then Bar do Bruno is the place for lots of merrymaking.
Destination 4 – Oporto / Porto
No this is not where you buy fresh grilled chicken and burgers, but yes it makes sense you can find some famous Port wine here. Oporto, commonly known as Porto, is where you will find a happy ending to this Portuguese summer affair. This wondrous city, like the rest of Portugal, provides plenty of delight with its own distinct charisma. It offers a smorgasbord of to-do’s and more than satisfies my culture vulture tendencies.
As the second largest city in Portugal and yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Porto is of course going to deliver. A mix of medieval, Romanesque, neo-gothic and baroque, built upon the banks of the Duoro River, Oporto presents a place where architectural extravagance meets modern day activities.
To catch a glimpse of this eccentric cityscape, I climbed Clerigos Tower. I say climb because you literally need to lift your legs up 240 steps over a 76 metre height. Yes it is a little daunting, and yes it requires exertion, but the view from the top is totally worth the huffs and puffs and it means you’ve burnt enough calories to indulge in more Portuguese food.
Once my feet were back on flat ground I wanted to be more productive, so of course shopping is next on my list. Retail therapy in Porto will get any woman on a high, so make sure to give yourself time to scout around streets like Rua de Santa Caterina, Rua de Cedofeita, Rua Miguel Bombarda, Rua Galeria da Paris, Rue da Fabrica and Rua do Almada.
Fancy some of that famous port wine? Stop by Le Maison des Porto which stocks 200 bottles to taste (probably don’t try tasting all 200 or you might end up on the floor) prior to taking home your favoured selection. After my shop-a-thon in this city, I indulged in enough shopping to cover my bedroom floor (woops!).
For anyone partial to Harry Potter (come on, you know you are) or really any book ever, then you must drop into Livraria Lello & Irmão. As one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal and also one of the best bookstores in the world, it is said have inspired J.K. Rowling. For a few moments I transported myself into the world of wizards and I’ll admit I may have tried out a few spells when browsing the bookshelves (wingardium leviosa anyone?).
It’s best to stay in Ribeira district of Porto, so you can have access to all that you would ever need, particularly by foot. The beach is never that far so, if you’re hankering some more beach time, you can take an easy light rail ride out to Matosinhos.
At this beach metropolis I managed to tick off a beach swim, purchase a necklace from a pretty boutique, scoff down a mouth-watering lunch at Picaba Cafe in the Transparent Building, go for stroll in Porto City Park (Parque da Cidade do Porto) and catch a sight of the famous “She Changes” sculpture by Janet Elchelman.
After a big day, partying is usually the last thing on my mind. Here’s where Porto comes to the rescue: clubs don’t usually open until 1:00AM, which leaves plenty of time to have a nanna nap then get ready for a lively night out. Hallelujah!
Porto’s nightlife doesn’t disappoint. Try starting your evening with a drink by the Duoro River or cross over it to Gaia’s esplanade, then follow where the crowd takes you back into the Ribeira district and expect to be out until the sun rises.
Top tips for Portugal
• Accommodation in Portugal is great value. You can book a five star property for next to nothing.
• Hire a car and drive. You will be able to go where you want when you want and can do day trips to nearby towns if necessary.
• Best time to visit is between June and September.
• Always watch your belongings. It’s not fun having your precious goods stolen. If you are only with one other person when you’re at the beach, take turns going for a swim. If you decide to use the Metro, hold you bag tight.
• Be prepared to be complimented. Portuguese are confident… you’ll no doubt be goggled at by the men (or even woman!). With all the beautiful people hanging around Portugal, you also probably won’t be having a summer fling with Portugal (wink wink).
Matchmaker yourself with Portugal
Portugal marries fantastic value, endless entertainment, simple ways to get around, delectable food and an all-round pleasurable experience so is the perfect destination for an unforgettable holiday. So it’s come time that you do me a favour and rekindle the love I felt with Portugal and make your way to a Portugal summer rendezvous.