Sagres, once thought to be the end of the world (at least until the 15th century), is on Portugal’s southwestern-most tip. The views from its rugged cliffs are stellar, making it, at a minimum, a perfect day trip from Lagos. Or stay a few days to learn to surf, relax, and see the sites. This post covers the top things to do in Sagres. Sagres, Portugal Sagres is the perfect escape from Lagos when you need a break from the tourists. Because the area is more remote, it’s quieter and less expensive. It’s also significantly cooler in temperature, due to wind and elevation. The landscape is breathtaking. The waves are wilder and…

I was blown away by the gorgeous beaches of Lagos, Portugal. Not only are they beautiful, their many sun-drenched, golden limestone cliffs turned them into an adventure! Wanting some downtime, I headed south to Lagos (pronounced Lagosh) from Lisbon. I needed time to re-energize after a month volunteering as the yoga/fitness instructor at a refugee camp. Even though I was exhausted, I surprised myself by immediately wanting to explore this stunning area. And I enjoyed it so much, I extended my stay…twice! Cliff-Lined Beaches of Lagos Portugal I love the ocean, but typical beaches often bore me fairly quickly. The coast of Lagos, however, is different, lined with stacks of…

A day trip to the Douro Valley is a perfect way to spend an afternoon from Porto. This is where the grapes for Portugal’s famous port wine, one of their most famous exports, are grown and Port is produced. It’s an UNESCO World Heritage site in the beautiful, mountainous northeast. And did you know that this region is reportedly even older than the Bordeaux wine region, with evidence of production thousands of years before 1st century AD? Day Trip To Douro Valley The Douro Valley is beautiful to visit. It’s so charming to see the grapes growing along the mountain hillsides, as well as fascinating to learn about the history and…

If you want to explore some of the smaller cities around Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, there are several great choices. This post covers some of the top places for day trips from Lisbon and Porto. I met up with friends here and we visited Avieros, Belem, Caiscais, the Douro Valley, and Obidos, in additional to Lisbon and Porto. Each providing a different perspective on Portugal, with interesting things to see and do. After this, I went on to explore Lagos and Sagres, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal on my own, and was blown away by their beauty and the friendliness of the people. Who knew Portugal had…

Lisbon, with its charming colorful trams, clanking up and down its narrow, hilly streets, stunning sunset vistas set on the Iberian Peninsula, colorful Azulejos tile, an art perfected here in the 16th century, history of maritime discovery, and laid-back atmosphere, is a top travel destination. To help you quickly see its heart and soul, I’ve complied this list of the best things to see and do in Lisbon. About Lisbon Lisbon, founded by the Phoenicians in 1200 BC is the second-oldest European capital city after Athens. It even predates Rome and London by hundreds of years. In the 15-17th century, Portugal was at the forefront of naval exploration, called the…

Porto, Portugal’s 2nd largest city, is less touristy than Lisbon, so full of authentic, local charm. From visiting the lively Ribeira district, to admiring the beautiful architecture, with Portugal’s lovely, azulejos tiles, getting a better perspective on the Douro River, by walking it’s many bridges, and tasting the local port, there are many things to do in Porto. This post covers the top spots. About Porto The Celtic-Latin name for this city, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire, was Porto Cale. Called Condado Portucalense, or Country of Portucale, in medieval times, this eventually wove its way into the name of the country, Portugal. Porto also has an interesting nickname, Invicta,…