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23 of the best towns and cities to visit in Portugal

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Here are some of the best cities to visit in Portugal (and some towns too), from the big hitters to the relatively unknown. Having spent 3 months travelling around the country recently, I wanted to share my love for some of the many gems I’ve discovered. Portugal will always be one of my favourite European countries. It has excellent food and drink, varied landscapes from dramatic mountains to breathtaking coastlines, and some of the friendliest locals you could wish for. It’s also much more affordable to visit than some European cities, which is a bonus.

In order to make this a more comprehensive guide to Portuguese towns and cities, I wanted to include places I’ve not yet been to or that I’ve been to too briefly to be knowledgeable about. So to help me out, I roped in some other travel bloggers to give me their recommendations for their favourite towns and cities in Portugal. A big ‘thank you’ to these other bloggers because I now have this absolutely huge guide! Of course, I now need to go back to Portugal and visit all the towns/cities I’ve not yet done…

Anyway, whether you’re on the hunt for a bustling city break or a seaside town escape, I reckon you’ll find a town or city in Portugal that takes your fancy out of these. Let’s get planning…

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40 lovely things to do in Tavira, Portugal: the jewel of the Algarve

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Things to do in Tavira, Algarve, Portugal | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here are some of the best things to do in Tavira, Portugal, that I personally recommend after spending a month there recently. Tavira is one of the most beautiful and interesting towns in the Algarve. It’s totally unlike some of the tourist-orientated and tacky areas that you might think of in the Algarve. I feel like I know Tavira really well now, so wanted to share some ideas for my readers who may be planning a trip here. This guide should give you a good flavour of the place and help you cobble together a bit of an itinerary. 

Tavira is set on the banks of the Gilão River, with classic Portuguese whitewashed buildings and those iconic terracotta-tiled rooftops. The town overall is incredibly clean and pretty, perfect for mooching around and relaxing but also packed with stuff to see and do, including museums, galleries and quaint independent shops to browse. It has a plethora of cafés and restaurants where you can find the best Algarvian food (including plenty of pescetarian and vegan options) and drinks. It’s nicely bustling with good bars and an atmosphere at night, too. And of course, the sea is close at hand wherever you are in the town. Bliss.

If this all sounds up your street, pour yourself a vinho and read on for 40 of the best things to do in Tavira…

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Where to eat in Tavira, Algarve: the best restaurants, cafés and more

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If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Tavira and where to eat in around the town more generally, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve sampled so many of Tavira’s eateries recently that I feel a) chunky and b) ready to recommend my favourites. 

I love Tavira and I love eating so this is my guide to combining the two. I’ve listed some of the best restaurants in Tavira, because that’s probably what most people will be looking for in their holiday research, but I’ve also covered some of the best cafés/snack bars/bakeries/food stalls too. I should also add that finding any veggie or vegan-friendly restaurants here (or indeed in any Portuguese town) generally requires some effort. Like most of Portugal, the Algarve is both fish- and meat-heavy. But there are restaurants that do cater to vegetarians and vegans really well. As I eat a mostly plant-based diet, I’ve made sure to include them here.

Anyway, dig out all your clothes with elasticated waistbands. Let’s get onto some of the best cafés, bakeries and restaurants in Tavira…

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The perfect itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal’s magical capital

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Here’s my suggested itinerary for spending 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal. I know Lisbon fairly well now after recently staying there for just over a month, so hopefully I can recommend how to make the best of your time on a long weekend. Lisbon is quite a big capital city, with a lot to see and do, so ideally you need more than 3 days to take it all in and to do some day trips. But most of us are on a time limit so if you’re only there briefly, this guide should hopefully help you with an introduction to Lisbon. And I have a feeling you’ll want to go back for longer, anyway!

Lisbon is a beguiling city. Colourful, tiled streets lead up and down its many (MANY) hills, against a backdrop of the beautiful Tagus River. Tourists from all over the world flock to try the famous pastel de nata and ride the iconic yellow trams by day and to party in the vibrant Bairro Alto district by night. But despite its popularity, there’s always a quiet street or café in Lisbon where you can escape the crowds and just soak up the city’s vibes. Lisbon is also a wonderful gateway to the rest of Portugal. You could even spend 3 days in Lisbon before heading off to explore Porto, Faro, Madeira or countless other magical places that Portugal has to offer.

So settle down with a glass of vinho and see what you like the look of in my 3 days in Lisbon itinerary…

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10 beautiful day trips from Porto, Portugal, by train or bus

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Day trips from Porto | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here are my picks of the best day trips from Porto by train and bus. I firmly believe in always doing travel – especially abroad – without a car. Porto is ideal for this as it’s so well connected with public transport, so there’s no need to put yourself through the stress of hiring a car and driving abroad.

There’s so much to do in Porto itself (have a look at my main blogpost on Porto for lots of ideas) that you can easily just visit the city and stay there. But Porto is also a perfect base for getting out and about on day trips to see even more of the surrounding area, away from the tourists. And there are some beautiful hidden gems in northern Portugal that you can easily reach in a day.

So I wanted to share with you some of my favourite day trips from Porto by train (and a few by bus) that I’ve enjoyed. To make this a more comprehensive list of possible day trips, I roped in some other travel bloggers to give me their ideas too. A big ‘thank you’ to the other bloggers who kindly sent me their excellent tips. Of course, I now want to go back to Porto and do all the places I’ve not yet done…

If you’re planning on a few day trips from Porto by train or bus, I hope this blogpost is useful. Pour yourself a wine and let’s get planning…

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17 lovely things to do in Cascais, Portugal: a seaside town fit for royalty

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Things to do in Cascais, Portugal | PACKTHESUITCASES

Here are a few lovely things to do in Cascais, Portugal, a charming seaside town with a beautiful lighthouse, arty/cultural vibes, flower-lined streets and loads of seafood restaurants. Cascais is one of the most popular day trips from the capital, as it’s only about 40 minutes on the train from Lisbon. But it’s a world away from the busy, bustling city. Cascais is all about a slower pace of life, where you can stroll along the beach and stop for a drink and a people-watch on a quiet tiled street.

The royal family made Cascais their official summer residence in the 1870s, so all the wealthy people soon wanted to flock to this seaside paradise too. It’s retained its affluent nature to this day, being part of what tourist boards call the ‘Portuguese Riviera’. But it’s so much less touristy and in-your-face than the French and Italian versions, which is why I love it. Not to mention that it’s home to one of the prettiest views in the whole of Portugal: a little cove where you can look out to a charming blue stripy lighthouse, turquoise sea and palm trees. 

If this all sounds up your (tiled) street, have a read of my favourite things to do in Cascais…

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