Our Two Week Itinerary through Portugal
After alot of research and planning online before our time in
Portugal, we came up with our two week itinerary based on what we
wanted to see, what we read online and how long we had in the
country. We found it quite difficult to find specific details
online, eg bus timetables and pricing etc... however when actually
here it is very easy to book tickets and travel throughout the
country.
We wanted a few days to relax and see the Algarve region in Portugal,
so we chose to spend time in Albufeira and Lagos. From there, we
made our way to Lisbon and Porto, stopping at a few other towns along
the way.
We found it very easy to get between cities, and buses were quite
regular. EVA and REDE express were the two companies we used to get
around, and booked the tickets by visiting the offices a day or two
in advance (allow as much time as possible to avoid your specific
journey selling out).
The
accommodation we stayed in were double rooms with our own private
ensuite and we set our budget at $50 per night. We chose highly
rated hostels and also checked the reviews on trip advisor, to ensure
we werent staying in some dodgy bed bug ridden hostel!! Location was
one of the big factors we kept in mind, and all of our hotels were
within easy walking distance to everything we needed and we were able
to make our way via public transport to our hotels or on foot from
the airport or bus stop, in most cases. We were very happy with the
quality of our accommodation throughout Portugal, and we ended up
averaging $40AUD per night in total.
Below is our
detailed itinerary including the hotel, the mode of transport, the
way in which we booked and got to and from the transport method and
what we did while in each place.
Days
1-2: Albufeira
Hotel:
Julietta Apartments
We purchased our bus
tickets from Seville to Albufeira from the Plaza De Las Armas Bus
station the day before our departure, to ensure we didn't miss the
bus, as it departed at 7.30am (the next one was at 4.30pm). We paid
19 Euros ($AUD) per person for the three hour journey. The bus was
comfortable and new, and dropped us off at the main autobus terminal.
The terminal is also a stop for all buses which make their way
around Albufeira town, we managed to get the red line, 1 or 2 which
took us to our hotel which was close to the beach and main area. The
fare was 1.40 Euros ($AUD) per person, one way.
Our hotel was
situated only 400 Metres and a short walk (down some steps) to the
beach, however it was in a quieter section, away from the main strip
and all of the souvenir shops and restaurants, which was quite nice.
As we were in a separate complex to the main units, the pool was a
walk away, however we only went there once so it wasn't an issue. The
room itself was furnished well, had cooking facilities and a nice
balcony which had plenty of room to use the sun loungers. We were
very pleased with our room, especially as we only paid $23AUD per
night for two people.
We found Albufeira
to be very touristy, however very enjoyable for the two days we spent
here. As we had our own kitchen and cooking facilities we did not
eat out here, however there are plenty of options. The beach here
was nice enough, however the sand was quite dark and coarse, and the
water wasn't the clearest.
We thoroughly
enjoyed our time in Albufeira, however found it very touristy and
preferred Lagos, when comparing a relaxing beach city. Albufeira
felt a lot more touristy and the beaches were not as nice. Our two
days here were enough, and we were happy to move onto Lagos.
Albufeira Beach
Days 3-4: Lagos
Hotel:
Iberlagos
We departed
Albufeira by EVA COMES bus, from the same bus station we arrived. We
purchased the tickets on the day (there were plenty departing at
least every hour). We got the 10.00am bus which arrived into Lagos
at 11.15am. The bus ticket cost 5.50 Euros ($AUD) per person and the
bus was new and comfortable, and stopped by Lagoa, Portimao and a few
smaller towns on the way.
We were extremely
impressed with our hotel and the room, we had beautiful views of both
the ocean and the pool area below. The room was well equipped with a
kitchen, slightly out-dated however this did not affect our time here.
The pool was very clean however quite cool, and you needed to pay to
use the pool loungers, however there is grassed areas you can use
instead. Wi-Fi is not throughout the hotel, but we purchased a drink
from the café and they give you the Wi-Fi password there. The beach
was only a couple minutes walk down some stairs from the hotel.
We found Lagos to be
extremely beautiful and slightly less touristy than Albufeira. The
water at the beach was a lot clearer and the sand was also a lot whiter
and finer. The city centre has many shops and restaurants, and the
bus stop is only a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel, however in the
city centre itself.
We were happy with
the two days we had here, especially with our itinerary however if we
lived in the UK or nearby, we would be happy to spend more time here
as it was very relaxing and there are many more beaches that are
rated very highly within walking distance.
Lagos Beach
Days
5-8: Lisbon
Hotel:
Mar Dos Acores
We departed Lagos via Bus (EVA COMES also) at 10.15am, and arrived into Lisbon at 1.30pm (30 minutes ahead of schedule!). The bus was new and comfortable and the journey cost 20 Euros ($30AUD) Per person. We found this very expensive compared to Turkey/Morocco/China etc... however understand different cities have different pricing. We purchased the ticket the day before, as we were leaving on a Saturday and when checking the times online, it stated that some buses do not run on Saturdays or Sundays.
We arrived into the Sete Rios bus station and followed the clearly marked signs to the Metro station. We caught the metro a few stops away on the blue (azule) line to Marques De Pombal station, and our hotel was a ten minute walk away.
Our hotel was a nice refurbished hotel, decorated with traditional Portuguese tiles throughout. Although our room was very humid and mould was visible, the air conditioner and de humidifier worked quite well while we were in the room. This hotel was good value compared to other hotels when we originally booked.
Getting
around in Lisbon
While in Lisbon, we
purchased a rechargeable card each for 50 Euro Cents ($0.75AUD) which
allows you to load cash amounts onto the card, and it also works out
cheaper per trip doing it this way. Trips on the Metro cost 1.40
Euros ($2.15AUD) if purchased singularly, or 1.25 Euros ($1.90AUD) by
using the card with rechargeable amounts.
The 6 Euro
($9.20AUD) all day pass can be handy if you plan to do a lot of
public transport in the one day (bus, tram, elevator and metro)
however we did not do this.
Keep in mind, if you
have already purchased a rechargeable card and have any value left on
this, you cannot add the 6 Euro all day pass onto this card, you must
purchase a new card for another 50 Euro Cents. *This also applies
with purchasing train tickets to Sintra.
Belem Day Trip
We decided to visit
Belem on a Sunday because entrance to the tower of Belem and the
cathedral was free before 2pm. *Keep in mind that this also
applies to many other attractions in Lisbon.
We caught a bus to
Cais De Sodre from our hotel (it took around 10 minutes however the
bus driver told everyone to get off 300-400 metres before Cais De
Sodre for some reason so we walked the remainder). From Cais De
Sodre, we could either get the number 15 Tram, or the number 728 bus
to Belem.
We waited around 20
minutes for the bus and tram, all the while more and more tourists
were arriving at the stop (the stop is the same for both the tram and
bus, opposite the entrance to the train station – look for the
crowds!). Eventually a tram came, however we didn't get on this one
as there were too many people. We didn't manage the next one either,
but we got the 728 bus that came next.
The bus was very
busy and it took around 15 minutes to get to Belem. To get back from
Belem, use the stop opposite starbucks on the main road.
Free
Walking Tour (Chill Out Tours)
We took part in a
free walking tour (chill out tours) while in Lisbon and were
extremely pleased we did.
Luckily – we were
the only two people talking part in the tour so it was like having
our own private tour guide!
The tour took four
hours and we walked around 6 kilometres and covered a lot of the city.
We saw things we wouldn't have looked twice at, and learnt some
really interesting pieces of information from Rita, our lovely guide.
We finished the tour
at a lovely view point and pin pointed all of the places we visited.
We would highly recommend taking part in one of these tours – a
tip at the end of the tour is all you pay and we found it extremely
good value and highly informative. *We found the free walking
tour on trip advisor.
The
number 28 Tourist Tram
The number 28 tram
(Starting at Martim Moniz) is a touristy tram that takes you up and
down windy and narrow streets and is a great experience and relaxing
way to spend an hour or two. Unfortunately everyone has heard about
it so it really is chocablock, however they come regularly.
You are lucky if you
get a seat as there aren't many, and many people are stuck standing.
As we wanted to enjoy the ride, once the seats were taken we allowed
people behind to get on and stand if they wanted to avoid waiting in
line longer and we waited for the next tram. Keep an eye on your
belongings – everyone talks about pickpockets – we didn't have any
issues but you may if you are standing.
The tram costs 2.85
Euros ($4.40AUD) if you purchase the ticket on the tram, or 1.40
Euros ($2.15AUD) if you use your rechargable card (alternatively it
is included on the 6 Euro unlimited day pass).
On the number 28 Tram, Lisbon
Sintra
- day trip from Lisbon
We had read great
reviews about Sintra online and decided it would be a nice day trip
from Lisbon. We read online and were told by our walking tour guide
that the Pena Castle was the main attraction there, and the Moorish
Castle wasn't worth the entry fee.
We made our way to
Rossio Train Station (the beautiful building next to the metro exit
'Restauradores') and purchased our tickets using the self service
machines. Please keep in mind that if you have been using a
rechargeable green card, if you have ANY value on the card, you will
not be able to add the trip to this card, you need to purchase
another 50 Euro Cent card and add the trip to this. The return trip
to Sintra was 4.80 Euros ($7.40AUD) per person.
The trains are very
regular (every 15 minutes) throughout the day, we left at 10am. The
train was a two storey train, very comfortable and only made a few
stops along the way. Sintra was at the end of the line (there is
another Sintra station second to last, but this is about a ten minute
walk away from the main area).
When we arrived, we
avoided the many tourists lining up at the tourist counter and made
our way towards Pena castle by following the crowds walking towards
the historic city centre. (Head left out of the train station and
turn right at the end of the road, then follow the road around.)
You can get a hop on
hop off bus to take you up to Pena castle and back, for 5 Euros
($7.70AUD) return, or 2.50 Euros ($3.85AUD) one way, per person. We
can imagine the trip would be quite quick, however we decided to
walk... The roads are narrow and windy and the hills are steep
however it was beautiful and green, nice and shady and there were
some amazing views the higher you got. We don't regret walking up,
however would avoid it if you are not wearing walking shoes or do
not want to be hot and sweaty by the time you get to the top! It
took about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to the first entrance point.
We purchased the
tickets for the castle and the park for 14 Euros ($21.50AUD) per
person at the first entrance and from there, decided to walk through
the park to get to the castle, instead of walking up the path to get
there. The park was beautiful and had some lovely trees, plants and
lakes and some nice places to rest and have our packed lunch we
brought! The castle was beautiful and well worth the climb up the
hill for! The castle is furnished nicely and you get a real feel for
how King Ferdinand lived. There are some beautiful view points and a
lovely restaurant/café if you don't bring your lunch.
We also decided to
walk back down to the centre as it took a while for the bus to come
and we thought that the climb down couldn't be anywhere near as hard
as the climb up and we were right! We headed back to Lisbon after a
nice cup of coffee and a pastel de nata, once again – the trains
are very regular and you just need to scan your rechargeable card to
get through the gates.
Pena Castle, Sintra
Day
9: Aveiro
Hotel:
Hospidaria Familia
We left Lisbon from
the same bus station we arrived into (Sete Rios) and purchased our
tickets the day before, just in case they sold out. We paid 13 Euros
($20AUD) per person to get to Aveiro through Rede Express bus
company. The bus left at 10.30am and arrived at 2pm. The bus was
comfortable and made a few short stops along the way.
We were dropped off
in the main area of Aveiro, next to the river and were able to reach
our hotel in only five minutes.
Our hotel was
comfortable and clean and the young lady who checked us in was
extremely friendly and helpful.
As we only had a
short time in Aveiro, we decided a boat tour would be a good way to
see some of the main sights and a nice experience. We paid 6 Euros
($9.20AUD) (5 Euros cost + 1 Euro tourist tax) per person for the 45
minute ride. Unfortunately our boat man did not speak English,
however we were on the boat with a couple of people who spoke OK
English and could translate the main sights for us.
We (of course) had
to try the local delicacy in Aveiro – Ovos Moles... We weren't too
sure of what these were before we tried them, but were impressed!! A
firm shell shaped casing is filled with a gorgeous, gooey bright
yellow egg custard filling. We paid 55 Euro Cents ($0.85AUD) per
Ovos Moles, however we are aware the pastaleria's around Aveiro vary
in price.
We found Aveiro to
be a charming little city and really enjoyed our short time here. If
we had one extra day we would have liked to see the beach, as there
are apparently some beautiful striped beach houses. We would
recommend having at least one full day here.
Aveiro Canal
Days
10-14: Porto
Hotel:
Residencia Santa Clara
We got to Porto by
train, leaving from Aveiro's beautifully decorated train station at
11.19am. We paid 3.50 Euros ($5.40AUD) for the 1 hour journey and
found the train to be very comfortable and spacious, however it made
many stops along the way. We understood this would be the case as
this was a longer train – there are shorter 35 minute trains,
however they are 15 Euros per person!
We
arrived into Porto Sao Bento station (however you can get off at
Porto Campanhã if you need to,
this is the second to last station, Sao Bento is the last). The
train station here is beautifully decorated and a nice way to enter
Porto.
We walked for around 15 minutes to get
to our hotel, without too many issues. We could have caught the
metro however it would have only been one stop away and we could not
warrant the cost of the ticket and walking up and down the steps to
get in and out of the metro, VS walking.
Our hotel room was very classy, with
lovely high ceilings, a nice seating area and a large sunny terrace.
It was located in an area with a lot of cafe's and restaurants and
there is a big shopping centre nearby.
Getting Around in Porto
The Metro in Porto
is extensive and can get you anywhere you need to go. We only used
the Metro once as we found Porto was fairly easy to get around on
food. We used the Metro to get us from Bolhao (our closest station
to our hotel) to the Airport – take Line E (Violet) all the way
from Bolhao or many other stations. The trip for us took around 25
minutes and cost
Visiting a Port Cellar
While in Porto, we
had to visit a Port Cellar. We decided on Taylors Port Cellar after
reading some impressive reviews online. We walked from our Hotel
(Bulhao area) across the Ponte Luiz I bridge and then up the hill to
the cellar. The streets behind the main road are beautiful and
filled with character here.
We arrived into
the cellar and paid 5 Euros ($7.70) per person for a tour of the
cellar and a tasting of three ports – a White, Ruby and Tawny port.
The tour was informative and interesting and the ports were nice.
The garden area where we could enjoy the port was nice and peaceful
and it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
We found the staff
here to be quite unwelcoming and slightly pompous unfortunately.
There was no detail into specials for purchasing the products or any
mention of their restaurant and the menu available, which we thought
was interesting as it was a big group (25 people) who took the tour
of the cellar.
Eating Out
We ate at a lot of
cafe's around the city, as we found these were the best value and
most traditional places to eat. Don't be fooled by the cakes in the
windows – they don't just do cake and coffee. Menu's are often
displayed on the front windows and there are usually specials which
include soups, mains, drinks and coffee's.
We tried the
popular Franceschina and paid 5.50 Euros ($8.45AUD) for the sandwich and a
drink. We tried Porto's famous 'Bifana' which was very different to the
Bifana we tried in Lisbon, and more of a pulled pork sandwich, soaked
in beautiful meat juices. We paid only 1 Euro ($1.55AUD) per
sandwich and 1.20 Euros ($1.85AUD) for a bowl of vegetable soup at a
small cafeteria.
Porto
was full of character, extremely picturesque and a great place to
spend a few days. We were happy with the amount of time we had here,
as we also included a day trip to the Duoro Valley. We preferred
Portugal to Lisbon if you are deciding on a city to visit!
The River Duoro, Porto
The Douro Valley - day trip from Porto
We took
the 9.10am train from Porto's Sao Bento train station and purchased
our tickets on the day, at the train station. We paid 19.60 Euros
($30.15AUD) per person for the return trip to Pinhao, which was
approximately 3 hours there and another 3 hours back.
The
train was one of the older trains and unfortunately the majority of
the windows were half covered in graffiti and quite dirty, so we
weren't able to take pictures out of the window. The trains
themselves were quite comfortable and spacious however.
The
journey was very nice, the first hour or so did not have much to see,
but after that the beautiful valley began to fill with bright vines
which seemed to stretch on forever. We were very impressed. *Sit on the right hand side of the train for views on the way there*
We
arrived into the beautiful train station, and wandered around the
city for a few hours. We had the option of leaving Pinhao at 12.15pm
(15 minutes after we arrived) or at 4.15pm. We chose the later one
as we thought that as we paid $30AUD to get there – we may as well
make the most of the beautiful valley.
We took
a packed lunch and enjoyed this at the side of the river in a quiet
section, which was really lovely. We wandered along the river,
crossing a couple of bridges and then enjoyed a beer watching the
beautiful scenery.
We would
definitely recommend a trip to the Douro Valley, even if you aren't
into wine or port – we didn't find there were many wineries within
walking distance to Pinhao and even the bar on the riverfront only
sold house wine! If you aren't on too much of a strict budget, you
can do the train to the Douro and then a boat cruise back, however
the boat apparently takes 7 hours and is around 80 Euros per person.
The Douro Valley, Pinhao
No comments:
Post a Comment