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WHERE TO STAY
Tinhela610 · Vidago
Tinhela 610
A luxury eco-lodge hidden among rivers and streams in Northern Portugal, this wellness retreat blends yoga, farm-to-table dining, and nature. Hundreds of butterflies and dragonflies hover around this true earthly paradise.
Quinta Nova da Nossa Senhora do Carmo · Quinta das Tulhas
Quinta Nova da Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Overlooking the Douro Valley, this Relais & Châteaux estate feels like a private family home, with only 11 rooms. It’s an intimate, elegant escape among the vines.
Torel Palace Porto · Porto
Torel Palace Porto
With just twenty rooms and an ideal location for couples in Porto, this boutique hotel blends old and new. While some of its modern renovations feel slightly off, Torel Palace remains a refined, intimate choice.
Chalet Ficalho · Cascais
Chalet Ficalho
Tucked away with a private garden and pool, this elegant seaside "chalet" remains one of Cascais' best-kept secrets.
DAY 1: Into the North and Douro Valley
Machado · Vidago
Café Machado, Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Start your day with simple perfection for breakfast: fresh orange juice and pastel de nata. For the full experience, come on market days when the village truly comes alive.
MACNA – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Nadir Afonso
Around 40 minutes from Vila Pouca de Aguiar is this unexpected discovery, the Museu de Arte Contemporânea Nadir Afonso. The striking contemporary museum showcases the work of Portuguese painter and architect Nadir Afonso, a pioneer of geometric abstraction and kinetic art who also collaborated with Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer.
Biclaque Trajano · Vidago
Biclaque Trajano, Chaves
For lunch, Biclaque Trajano serves thoughtful, modern dishes in a calm, quietly refined setting in the heart of Chaves. It’s the perfect spot after visiting the Nadir Afonso Museum.
Quevedo - Quinta Senhora do Rosário · Quinta das Tulhas
Quevedo – Quinta Senhora do Rosário
Next, visit this family-owned winery to get a glimpse into the heart of Portuguese winemaking. It’s one of many excellent estates in this wine-rich region.
Lagoa do Alvão (Barragem da Falperra)
Finish your afternoon with a stroll around this northern lake. With its smooth boulders and enchanted forests, the setting feels Scandinavian.
O Forno de Jales · Vidago
O Forno de Jales
For dinner, this family-run spot offers one of the most extraordinary home-cooked meals in the region. João Pires and Rita Gomes trained in Porto, Spain, and Switzerland before returning to their home region to open this spot offering a contemporary take on local cuisine. Everything is made locally here, and the setting is lovely, inside a stone-and-wood grotto with a central fireplace. The menu is built around seasonal, short-supply-chain ingredients and remains quite affordable.
DAY 2: Porto
Majestic Café · Porto
Majestic Café
Have breakfast at this Porto institution, which has been around since 1920 (inside, nothing has changed, with its Belle Époque glamour well preserved). Café Majestic is overpriced, but it’s an unforgettable Porto experience.
A Certain café · Porto
A Certain Café
Another option for breakfast and coffee is A Certain Café, which opened in 2022 in Porto’s Bonfim district and stands out with its playful, minimalist interior and seasonal menu built on fresh ingredients.
Livraria Lello · Porto
Livraria Lello
Next, visit this iconic bookstore. Though Livraria Lello is popular with tourists, its grand wooden staircase and glass ceiling justify the visit. Beyond the spectacle, it remains a fascinating bookstore.
Tapabento · Porto
Tapabento
For lunch, head to this tucked-away spot near São Bento station that blends bistro charm with seasonal cooking. With just a handful of tables and a daily-changing menu, it delivers a warm, intimate take on modern Portuguese dining.
Casa de Serralves · Porto
Casa de Serralves
While in Porto, don’t miss a stop at this impressive contemporary art museum housed in a 1930s mansion with a pink, Art Deco exterior reminiscent of Villa Cavrois. The collection includes Calder, Miró, and rotating exhibitions.
Piscina das Marés · Porto
Piscina das Marés
Next, visit this masterpiece of architecture blending with nature. Built in the 1960s, these tidal pools carved into the Atlantic have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cozinha das Flores · Porto
Cozinha das Flores
Have dinner at this must-go upscale restaurant by famous Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes at the Largo hotel that serves some of the best food in the city. The menu highlights modern takes on Portuguese dishes, including must-try appetizers like the turnip pasteis de nata topped with caviar and the cured red mullet with grilled carrots and shrimp butter.
DAY 3: COASTAL ROAD TRIP
Forno de Orca Cave · Nazaré
Praia da Nazaré & Forno de Orca Cave, Nazaré
The first stop on your road trip is the beach that made Nazaré famous, which is home to Forno de Orca Cave (the dramatic sea cave known for its wild beauty).
Mosteiro da Batalha · Nazaré
Mosteiro da Batalha
Next, stop at one of Portugal’s architectural jewels. Accessed via a short detour from the main roads, the monastery is a Gothic masterpiece.
Taberna D'Adélia · Nazaré
Taberna D’Adélia, Nazaré
Have lunch at this seafood restaurant boasting eight consecutive years of Michelin distinction. Reservations are essential.
Solar dos Amigos, Guisado
Another option for lunch, Solar dos Amigos serves giant portions of excellent Portuguese food in an unassuming countryside setting.
Rua da Falésia · Nazaré
Peniche – Rua da Falésia
After lunch, stroll through Peniche’s old town, ending on the seaside Rua da Falésia, where fishermen line the cliffs for their daily catch.
sol - specialty coffee nanoroaster · Nazaré
Sol, Ferrel
Stop for a caffeine (or wine) fix at this intimate specialty coffee spot with a small selection of local wines. The owners are always up for a chat.
Fortaleza do Guincho · Cascais
Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho
For dinner, this acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant is built atop an ancient fort. Overlooking the surfers’ paradise of Guincho Beach, it’s located within a Relais & Châteaux property (which is a lovely place to stay, as well).
DAY 4: Cascais
Praia da Rainha · Cascais
Praia da Rainha, Cascais
Begin your morning with a stop at this small beach hidden between two rock formations. It remains surprisingly quiet despite its central location.
Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães · Cascais
Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães
In Caiscas, don’t miss a visit to this palace and its museum—afterwards, make sure to swim in the postcard-perfect cove.
Restaurante Monte Mar · Cascais
Restaurante Monte Mar
Have lunch on the terrace at this restaurant perched just above the Atlantic that serves ultra-fresh seafood in a setting that feels timeless. The menu leans simple: clams, fried fish, grilled sea bass.
Galileu · Cascais
Livraria Galileu
Next, pop into the town's first bookshop. Open since 1972 on Avenida Valbom, Livraria Galileu once hosted literary gatherings and Cascais’ earliest book fairs.
Santini · Cascais
Santini
Stop for gelato at Santini, which has been a Cascais institution since 1949. Their gelato was originally sold on the beach in Estoril before the shop settled here.
Scoop n Dough Cascais · Cascais
Scoop n Dough
For another sweet treat, the dark chocolate donut at Scoop n Dough is possibly worth the trip to Cascais alone. They’re famous for their vegan ice cream and outstanding donuts.
Palaphita · Cascais
Palaphita
Finish your day in Cascais with dinner slightly outside of town, near the lighthouse. It’s the perfect sunset spot, with uninterrupted views over the Atlantic cliffs.
DAY 5: Cascais to Lisbon
Versailles · Lisbon
Versailles
After taking the train to Lisbon (Cais do Sodré, 40 minutes), have breakfast at this timeless Lisbon café. The untouched Belle Époque restaurant offers a classic Portuguese breakfast under ornate ceilings.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum · Lisbon
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
Your next stop in Lisbon is this impressive museum with an immense and diverse collection, from Egyptian relics to contemporary art. The modernist architecture and peaceful gardens attract both locals and well-informed visitors.
Deposito da Marinha
Stop for some shopping at this temple of Portuguese glassware, offering everything from wine glasses to carafes, bowls, and plates, all artisan-made.
Casa das Velas Loreto · Lisbon
Caza das Vellas Loreto
Next, browse handmade candles for every occasion at this wood-paneled shop, which has been family-run since 1789. Their scents are sourced from Grasse, France.
Restaurant - Cervejaria Ramiro · Lisbon
Cervejaria Ramiro
For lunch in the city center, head to the place where locals gather for what Lisbon does best: seafood, and nothing but. Piles of clams, prawns, and crab arrive sizzling and simple, and are meant to be shared at loud tables over beer and buttered toast. The restaurant is generous, fast-paced, and full of life.
Galeto · Lisbon
Galeto
Grab a gelato at this local-adored spot. Galeto has been an institution since the 1960s and is open late, always consistent, and deeply comforting.
Church of Our Lady of Grace · Lisbon
Igreja da Graça
Head to the hills of Graça to this church and convent originally built around 1200, with a modern addition from the 15th century. Few know that a ticket gets you access to the rooftop and a drink for a privileged view over Lisbon’s historic skyline, including the Castelo de São Jorge (you’ll also avoid the crowds at Miradouro).
Gambrinus · Lisbon
Gambrinus
For dinner, Gambrinus is the kind of place where time stands still. With impeccably old-school service, heavy carpets, wood panels, and a famous crêpe suzette, it’s an enduring Lisbon classic.
Pavilhão Chinês · Lisbon
Pavilhão Chinês
Enjoy an after-dinner drink at this surreal Lisbon institution hidden behind an unassuming door. Step inside and enter a dimly lit world of thousands of objects, including porcelain soldiers, vintage globes, relics, and oddities arranged in museum-like wonder. Order a cocktail, explore each fantastical room, and head to the back for a game of billiards under velvet and glass.
Cinema São Jorge · Lisbon
Cinema São Jorge
Finish your evening with a trip to the cinema. Designed by Fernando Silva in the 1950s, this almost-untouched cinema hosts films, documentaries, and cultural events within its beautifully preserved modernist space.
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