Where in the world?
A little exploration and inspiration for your weekend - Porto, Portugal
I feel like everyone is going to Portugal this summer. I hear it from friends, see it in my Instagram feed, and even overheard two ladies talking about it at the coffee shop the other day. The destination of choice seems to be Lisbon.
I spent a month in Lisbon in July 2019. Portugal in July is pretty fantastic. Grilled sardines, crisp wines, strolling or biking the waterfront. Sigh - take me back.
The weather was just lovely in Lisbon that July, most days being in the low 80’s and the evenings in the 60’s with the brisk ocean breeze weaving through the cobblestoned streets and keeping me cool as I climbed the many hills around the city. However, Lisbon was hectic. So, I spent time in other places. One being Porto. Which I fell in love with.
An easy train ride from Lisbon, Porto is a charming town with much to offer in the way of great food, wine, bookstores, churches, and of course, people. Porto is also very close to Duoro Valley, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the home of Port Wine. I combined all of the above in my 4-night visit. Walking miles, drinking coffee and spritz, queuing in line for the famous Livraria Lello bookshop, and booking an Airbnb experience of port tasting, a river cruise, and a long leisurely lunch in the Duoro Valley. Everything over-delivered.
My apartment was one of my very favorites on all my travels, while in Porto. So DREAMY. You can view the listing on airbnb here. My host, Daniel, was absolutely fantastic, charming, and very helpful, which is how all of my interactions were with every local I met. Delightful.
I will do a post soon on Portugal, because some of my favorite meals were in Lisbon, and I swooned over Sintra and often took an Uber to a hidden beach outside of Cais Cais. Portugal is a special place and one worth exploring.
If you plan to go, make sure not to sleep on Porto in favor of an all-Lisboa trip. There is so much to discover.
Let me know if you’re planning a trip and want recommendations for well, anything! I’m here for you.
Adeus, friends.
Hello Michele! I saw your name while scanning through a Culture Study thread and thought "surely there is only one Michele Boyer." ;) I am totally unsurprised to find you adventuring enthusiastically around the world -- and I am delighting in reading about your adventures.
I'm one of the many (!) heading for Portugal this year (though not until autumn), and I'd be very interested to hear your recommendations, in particular for restaurants you loved, and a day or two in the Douro. My friend and I will be in Porto for several days (without a car;) and Amarante for several days (with a car); the latter is the base from which we're expecting to be able to spend a little time in wine country, but I'm very open to recommendations from the city, too. I