I flew from the US to Lisbon and was supposed to meet up with my friend at the airport in Lisbon – but my flight on Delta was unfortunately delayed by 6 hours in Seattle. So, instead of arriving before noon, I didn’t get to the hotel until after 7 pm. It was a rough start to my trip and a wasted day, but after that, everything was lovely…

After a wonderful dinner at a local restaurant with fantastic food, wine, and complimentary Port, we called it an early night. We spent the next 2 days wandering all over the city via public transportation. We took the historic trams, a bus, a Tuk Tuk, and even a newly opened Funicular. The weather was perfect considering it was mid-March. For about 10 days we enjoyed mostly sunny days with temperatures ranging from 65-80 degrees. We found the food and wine to be good, plentiful, and inexpensive, and everyone we came into contact with was friendly and helpful.

Our hotel was in a great location in the heart of the city and most things we wanted to see, were accessible by walking or public transportation. The Belem area was about a 20-minute taxi ride from our location, where we saw the Torre de Belem (the waterfront tower), museums, beautiful gardens, The Padrao dos Descombrimentos, and the Jeronimos Monastery. Before we left Lisbon the next day, we visited the National Museum where they had amazing tiles on exhibit as well as sweeping views of the city. We found a little outdoor cafe nestled at the base of the Castle and had lunch there.

Our next stop on our trip was to the town of Coimbra. It’s situated halfway between Lisbon and Porto and the train ride was only 2 hours and cost about $17. The train was clean, comfortable, on time, and offered snacks during the trip. While the hotel in Lisbon (Hotel Turim) was very nice and cozy and included a delicious breakfast variety each morning, we opted for something completely different in Coimbra. I found this accommodation online and kept going back to it and I’m so glad I did. We grabbed a cab for only $5 from the train station to our hotel, which was located on the top of a very windy, narrow road. The views of the town were amazing and there was a botanical garden, many museums, and other historic places to see, all within a 10-minute walk from our hotel. We also found a wonderful restaurant just a block away with gorgeous rooftop views located next to the Funicular.

Our accommodation at Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra included 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, and a full kitchen. We were greeted with sparkling wine and cake upon our arrival and were asked what time we would want breakfast delivered for the next few mornings. To say that this hotel was unique would be putting it mildly, and we just loved everything about it.

Coimbra is Portugal’s former capital and home to a medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. The University is famed for its baroque library and the 18th-century bell tower and is available for daily self-guided tours.

We visited the archaeological ruins just outside of Coimbra the following morning. After speaking with someone at the front desk, we found out that these ruins were only a 20-minute drive from our hotel and for only $40, a taxi would drive us there, wait for us, and drive us back – such a deal!! We decided to go in the morning because it was going to be a hot sunny afternoon and then we spent the afternoon in another museum.

After a few days in Coimbra, we took another 2-hour train north to Porto. Our hotel in Porto was the opposite of the previous one – this was new, sleek, and modern. Instead of sparkling wine and cake, we were given a carafe of Port and local chocolates. It was spacious and within walking distance of the main part of the city and the waterfront. Since it was hot and the wharf was downhill, we walked there and took transportation back to the hotel. There were so many beautiful historical sites along the way, that it took us a while to get to our wine-tasting destination.

Santa Catarina is the beautiful blue-tiled church which was just stunning in person. Livraria Lello is the famous bookstore in town with a winding wooden staircase. You do have to pay to enter and there is a line, so go early if you’re interested.

We saw many boats on the water after our wine and Port tasting and found one for only $15 that went out during the sunset for about an hour’s long tour. What a wonderful way to see the city at night. Our time in Porto was too short for me, but after a few days, we hopped on another train, back to Lisbon for the remainder of the trip. We chose to go back to Lisbon because from there, we could take a few day trips with small tour groups and see more that by taking trains.

I visited Sintra, Nazare, and Obidos, along with a few other towns along the way on my day tours. The weather had turned and we hit some high winds and some heavy rains but I saw enough to be enchanted and wanting to see more. The following 6 photos were taken in Sintra.

Nazare is a beach town known for its huge waves and surfing. It was fairly calm when we were there, with just a few surfers on the horizon. Obidos is a medieval village, that was voted one of Portugal’s 7 wonders and in 2015 it was designated as a UNESCO site.

After wandering around the shops and castle area of Obidos, I was told that the castle at the end of the town is now available to stay in – I guess I’ll have to check that out next time…

As my vacation to Portugal was coming to an end, I was already planning where I wanted to spend more time when I return. It’s a small country, with a lot to offer and I’m looking forward to seeing more!