Things To Do
Belém Tower
Must-see if you like European history and architecture. Bonus: make sure to grab a pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tart) at Pastéis de Belém nearby.
Jerónimos Monastery
You just have to. Buy tickets ahead of time online, then line up ~30 minutes before you're scheduled to enter so you're not waiting in line for a long time like a loser.
Pastéis de Belém
If you're already in Belém, might as well try this. Is it the best pastel de nata? We don't want to sway anyone's opinion. We practice the philosophy of eating pasteis wherever it comes from - because pasteis is life.
Manteigaria
More pasteis. They have multiple locations all over Lisbon and Porto, there is even one in Belém if you want to compare it with Pasteis de Belém.
Café Luso
It doesn't have to be at Café Luso - but you NEED to see a live fado performance while you're in Portugal. Paired best with a bottle of wine.
Jesus é Goês
We know it's not Portuguese food but this restaurant is unbelievably good. Fish curry is highly recommended. Reservations required.
Rosamar
Seafood - tapas style. The cocktails are delicious and innovative, the food is exceptional. If it's on the menu, get the seafood roll. You will not be disappointed.
Restaurante Ponto Final
Went here on our first visit to Portugal and had dinner at sunset. Yes, you have to take a ferry to get here. Yes, you might have to walk along some sketchy warehouses. Dino and I still 100% recommend it because the views are unbeatable and it was a fun experience. Highly recommend making a reservation especially if you want to sit by the water. Do yourself a favor and order the monkfish stew.
Dramático
Cute lil' coffee place - and when we say lil', we mean it. Nice treat after walking up and down so many hills.
Park and Palace of Monserrate
You can't go wrong touring any of the castles in Sintra, but our favorite is Monserrate!
Roman Temple of Évora
Our wedding is in Évora! It's part of the Alentejo region - the Portuguese countryside. Enjoy the rolling hills, vineyards, olive and cork trees as far as the eye can see. It's so beautiful and we hope you end up loving it as much as we do. In Évora, make sure to visit the Roman Temple (Dino will tell you all about its history whether you want him to or not), take a stroll through the nearby Jardim Diana, and visit Palacio Cadaval.
Chapel of Bones (Évora)
Small chapel inside the much larger Church of St. Francis with walls covered by bones of ~5000 people. Definitely worth a visit.
Fialho
Restaurant serving up more traditional and upscale Alentejo dishes, with a great wine list. Reservation required.
Piparoza boutique bar
Great spot for small plates and a very long wine list. Love the sangria from here - good thing it's less than a 10 minute walk from the hotel!
O Grão Da Mesma Mó
Came here for the soup and pizza, stayed for the wine. It's also a gluten-free restaurant!
Livraria Lello
Bookstore of everyone's dreams, it was the inspiration for Flourish and Blotts.
Vinum
Can't go to Porto without having port and we highly recommend Vinum - it's a restaurant inside Graham's Port. If you can, reserve a table near the window so you can get the best view of Porto. Also, unless you love walking uphill in the summer, we recommend getting a ride to Vinum then walking back down.
Portimão
Ok, everyone keeps going on about Lagos but Portimão is really where it's at. Nice beach town, if you're into that. The sea caves are really popular and it's easy to get a boat tour or rent kayaks to explore the caves.
Monsaraz Castle
Quiet little medieval town with really neat local shops. If you are looking for great quality souvenirs (liquor, tinned fish, ceramics), Monsaraz is a really great place to shop.
