DESTINATIONS

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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DESTINATIONS

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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DESTINATIONS

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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45 things to do in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

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Here are 45 of my favourite things to do in Funchal, Madeira, as well as a few things to do in Madeira more widely. I’m a bit of a Madeira geek (or expert!) and have visited many times over the years. This means I can give plenty of tips on how best to spend your time in this beautiful island city.

I’ve tried to avoid anything too obvious that you’ll see in every guidebook, like the Monte toboggans. And I’ve only focused on the city of Funchal itself and day trips you can easily do from it (without a car) rather than looking at the entire island of Madeira… Otherwise, this will turn into 45 million things to do and no one will have the patience to read it. 

Please note: I update this guide on my regular trips to Madeira, adding new finds and removing outdated stuff as frequently as I can. But if you spot anything listed that may no longer be open/doable/good, please comment to let me know. Feel free to leave your own recommendations too!

Anyway, read on if you want some tips from a self-confessed Funchal/Madeira addict…

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DESTINATIONS

A quick guide to beautiful Porto da Cruz, Madeira

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How to do a day trip to Porto da Cruz, Madeira | PACK THE SUITCASES

The little seaside village of Porto Da Cruz, Madeira, is one of my favourite villages to visit when on the island. It’s on the north-eastern coast, tucked in a cove where rugged cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is so dramatic, with lush green hillsides as a backdrop to quaint winding streets and cosy cafés. There’s a small black-sand beach where the local surf school is located, making it a perfect spot for people-watching as there’s always someone trying to learn to surf (featuring lots of falling off!). And although Porto da Cruz is slightly off the proverbial beaten path, it still has enough going on to keep you entertained for an afternoon.

After first visiting many years ago on a day trip from Funchal, I quickly fell in love with Porto da Cruz and often picture myself sitting there watching the waves crashing when I’m stuck in work. I thought I’d put together this little guide on how to visit it by bus, what restaurants to visit while there, and things to do and see. Pour yourself a drink and get reading…

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DESTINATIONS

25 fabulous things to do in Faro, Portugal: the Algarve’s capital

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Here are some of my favourite things to do in Faro, Portugal, the capital of the Algarve. It’s somewhere I’ve got to know quite well recently as I spent a month living in the Algarve. So now I can give you plenty of tips on how best to spend your time in this underrated and colourful city.

Most visitors to the Algarve will fly into Faro but bypass the city itself, heading to other places. They’re missing out. As lovely as other towns in the area are, Faro definitely has its own charms and shouldn’t be missed. It’s a decent-sized city, packed with brilliant spots to eat, including lots of vegan restaurants and cafés. It has a pretty old town full of cobbled streets and fragrant orange trees. It’s got chic tiled boulevards lined with nice independent shops. And most importantly, Faro is on a coastal train line, which makes it an ideal base for exploring the rest of the Algarve, especially the beautiful Ria Formosa lagoon and nature reserve.

If this all sounds up your street, have a read of these things to do in Faro, Portugal, that I personally recommend…

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