12 days Road Trip in Portugal

About the destination: Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills due to its location, the city spreads across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tajo. Romantic and cosmopolitan, the city presents its typical red roofs to the visitors that want to get to know its every inch. Lisbon surprises with its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. The Portuguese capital offers lots of museums, libraries, a huge port, churches and palaces and stunning views of the Rio Tajo Lisbon was considered a poor and chaotic city. Currently it has experienced a resurgence in the style of the XIV and XV centuries, when it was part of that vast empire stretching from Brazil to India. The reason for this was the World Expo held in 1998, a new bridge over the Tagus was built and the network of underground of the city was remodeled. The resurgence of the city then continued to host several matches during Euro in 2004, also held there the Delivery Music Awards (MTV) in 2005. Many of its most beautiful buildings date from the XIV and XV centuries, especially the ones located in the Belem district. There are also many buildings from the XVIII century, which are located mostly in the Baixa area of central Lisbon and were reconstructed almost completely after a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1755. The historic center of the city, standing on Las Siete Colinas, presents steep streets and picturesque alleys. On the west side of the city, there is Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon’s lung, with an area of 10 km and one of the largest in Europe. The capital’s majestic port has 3 docks commonly used for several cruises and it is, currently, the busiest port in the European Atlantic coast. Lisbon is a city with centuries of history and with an ambitious attitude, marrying the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Strolling through the old quarters one can hear the traditional Fado sung and played in small restaurants in town. In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica filling the air and revelers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions. Lisbon presents itself to the world as a cosmopolitan and lively city, with alternative for every taste, especially in the summer months when its many bars, terraces and restaurants are crammed with people.

About the destination: Estoril Coast is in the Lisbon Region of Portugal, sometimes known as Costa de Lisboa/Lisbon Coast. Estoril is a feast for the senses. The main tourist attractions in this beautiful city are the Tamariz, beach, the Cascais Fortress or the Estoril Circuit for fans of European racings. The oldest in Portugal and one of the largest of its kind in Europe, Casino of Estoril is a multi- entertainment center offering a wide variety of games as well as daily cabaret and music hall shows. Besides gambling, the casino is a regular venue for all types of temporary exhibitions, particularly modern art and sculptures. In a scenic setting overlooking Tamariz Beach, the Casino has attractive gardens with tall palm trees and fountains.

About the destination: Cascais is a small beach town in Portugal next to Estoril coast in the greater Lisbon area. Cascais, former residence of the royal family and pioneer of tourism in Portugal, is a very charming village. Dominated by the bay and the imposing Cidadela fort, the historic centre is brimming with architectural treasures of a religious, military and civil nature. Likewise, the museums of the Sea, Casa das Histórias de Paula Rego, and the Municipal Museum Condes de Castro Guimarães are also must-see attractions. Cascais is surrounded by popular beaches, such as Guincho Beach to the west, and the lush Sintra mountains to the north. Some of its shoreline is cliff-y, attracting tourists for its seascapes and other natural sights such as the Boca do Inferno. It is also becoming a popular golf destination, with over 10 golf courses nearby. Surfing, sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are also popular in the region around Cascais due to favourable weather, wind, and sea conditions. In 2007, Cascais was the official host of the ISAF World Championship in sailing for dinghies and racing yachts.

About the destination: Sintra is a town and a municipality in the Grande Lisboa subregion (Lisbon Region) of Portugal. The municipality contains two cities: Queluz and Agualva-Cacém. Sintra is known for its many 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, which has resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although its heritage in buildings and nature is the most visible face of the historic individuality of Sintra, a whole literary heritage has made the area a legendary reference in Portuguese culture. It has become a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the centre and suburbs of the capital Lisbon. In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted with royal retreats, estates, castles and other buildings, including the mediaeval Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace.

About the destination: Coimbra is a town of steep, tiered streets winding above the River Mondego. No city in Portugal, except Lisbon, can compare with this university town in cultural and historical importance. Founded in 1290, the university has long been Portugal’s foremost centre of learning. If you can, come during the Queima das Fitas in early May, a raucous weeklong celebration featuring live music every night. Climb the stairs under the Moorish Arco de Almedina into the upper district of the city and the Old University, with its museum, chapel and library. A few steps outside the historic centre there is the city’s cosmopolitan side, a modernized waterfront with riverside restaurants, chic terrace bars and trendy shops. This charming town, full of Portuguese culture, is set amid a splendid old town of historic churches and medieval alleyways, with the buzz of student life all around.

About the destination: Aveiro, just an hour north of better-known Porto, is a town of picturesque canals and a prosperous fishing industry. Bar and café crawling in Aveiro is nearly as popular as the beaches at San Jacinto or Barra, and the northern reaches of Aveiro’s lagoon. Aveiro's traditions are closely tied to the sea and to the Ria de Aveiro, a few canals cross the city, and in the neighbourhoods, most of their life is connected to the sea and lagoon. There are also tours of the canals and Ria de Aveiro, it is a very special way to enjoy the city. In much of the older part of town, sidewalks and squares are paved with calçada, traditional Portuguese hand-laid pavement, in intricate nautical patterns. The town's most attractive buildings date from the latter half of the 17th century. Aviero's Cathedral, Sao Domingos Church, was founded in 1423 and is best visited early in the day; it's a major attraction for tourists. Over the last few years, a massive restoration project has transformed the old fishermen's quarter, just off the main canal, into a delightful little area of small bars and restaurants. A central market square hosts live entertainment during the summer months. Aveiro is a surprisingly cosmopolitan fishing town on northern Portugal with a youthful, energetic buzz.

About the destination: Guimarães is a city in Minho, Portugal and is one of the most historical cities in Portugal, said to be where "Portugal was born". It is the first city of Portugal, and have a beautiful Castle, and a Palace to visit, from the beginnings of the country. The Castle has been classified as one of the New Portuguese Seven Wonders. The first King (D. Afonso Henriques aka D. Afonso, I of Portugal). Placed about 50 km from Porto, Guimarães is placed near to a mountain, Penha, with wonderful views to all the city. In Guimarães, there is a bus that lets you travel through the city centre. But there is not a very big city centre so you probably will prefer to walk by foot and enjoy the harmony of this medieval city. If you usually purchase a long time ticket in other cities, to travel, here you may not afford it. to travel by bus, To go to Penha Mountain the best solution is getting the Elevators - Teleférico da Penha - and climb up. If you prefer to have a walk through the mountain it's very safe, and you have nice roads to go up, but it will take about 30 minutes. Renting a car can be a very nice solution, because, in a small city there is not many traffic jams, and if you want to stay in a place "far" from the centre, it can be a wonderful transport. It's not so expensive to rent a car. But, if you want to feel the city, you can make longer trips, because the city centre has a lot of small medieval streets, that you can only enjoy walking. You can see: Guimarães Castle, l Dukes of Braganza Palace (Paço dos Duques de Bragança) Penha Mountain, Largo da Oliveira (Olive Square) Casa de Sezim (Sezim Manor), located in Nespereira (about 5 km away from the city centre),

About the destination: Braga is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. The Portuguese called it Roma because it was a center of ecclesiastical power. Portugal's spiritual heart, is a lively little city with an exquisite assortment of baroque churches, a sprawling cathedral and Roman ruins, including one of the country's best-known sights, the Bom Jesus Sanctuary.It hosts traditional religious festivals throughout the year, including Portugal's most colourful Holy Week. Today it is a modern city with a young population, bustling with commerce and industry surrounding a lively and attractive old center with a number of pedestrian streets with cheerful cafes, elegant shops, exquisite restaurants and cool bars full of university students. Even though it is an old city it has a young spirit, so much so that in 2012 it was pronounced the European Youth Capital.

About the destination: Situated on a dramatic valley cut by River Douro, Porto is known for the beauty of its building and the sweet taste of is wine. The hub of the city is Avenida dos Aliados, a wide avenue encircle by Praça General H. Delgado and Praça da Liberdade. Nonetheless, the most alluring part of the city is Ribeira, the river district and a Unesco World Heritage Site, where three of Europe’s most graceful bridges span the gorge. Busy Praça da Liberdade and the adjoining Avenida dos Aliados make up the centre of town, where statues stand in the centre of busy mosaic walkways. Nearby rises Porto’s great cathedral, a colossal, fortified Romanesque structure whose heavy granite foundations, thick walls and tiny windows enclose a gloomy interior. The Ribeira stretches along the river, skirted by a wonderful quay filled with shops and restaurants. Porto’s most characteristic monument, the ornate Torre dos Clérigos, offers a panorama of the city from atop its 240 steps. No visit to Porto would be complete without a stop at some of the many bodegas, wine lodges, where port is stored and bottled. And a visit to the amazing Lello library with its spiral staircase, is a must see as well, even if you are not a Harry Potter’s fan.