Below is a list of some of our favorites in Portugal. It is by no means an exhaustive list of where to visit, but we hope it's a helpful starting point :).

Reach out to us if you have any questions: Emily (201 800 1797) or Ben (551 206 7901).

These all make great trips from Braga!

- Guimarães for small city exploring (approx. 40 mins from Braga; can be a day trip): often referred to as the 'birthplace of Portugal'. See more information in this guide.

-Peneda-Geres National Park (approx. an hour from Braga; better if you have a few days to explore!): the best spot for hiking lovers! This guide is a few years old but has some good recommendations. We stayed at the Selina Geres when we went, which was lovely!

-Viana do Castelo (about 50 mins; can be a day trip) is a charming waterfront town. Check out this guide for more information.

While you're in Braga, you won't want to miss visiting the Bom Jesus do Monte, among other beautiful sites.

-Those staying more centrally in Portugal will most likely be spending some time in Porto! This site has some pretty good recommendations for what to do. If you're a Harry Potter fan, be sure to visit Livraria Lello. Also be sure to cross the Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia for gorgeous views of Porto. You can travel to Vila Nova de Gaia by foot, and you'll find tons of Port Wine tasting options here. Finally, if you have time, we highly recommend a trip into the Douro Valley for wine tasting. There are tons of sites (including Airbnb Experiences) with tours you can sign up for that will handle all the logistics for you!

If you're venturing outside of Porto, below are some beautiful places to visit.

- Aveiro (approx. an hour from Porto; can be a day trip): This small city is near Emily's family and is one of the couples favorites with beautiful canals and fun little shops. This guide gives a nice overview of how to spend a day in Aveiro.

-Coimbra (approx. an hour and 15 mins from Porto; can be a day trip): This small city is closer to Emily's mother's side of the family and is home to a beautiful and historic university. Another great place to explore in a day - see some ideas here.

-Nazare (approx. 2 hours from Porto, 1.5 from Lisbon, can be a day trip): Nazare is a small fishing town best known for its huge surfing waves (see Guinness World Record Holder here). The largest waves can be seen from October through March, but it's still a beautiful spot to visit. More ideas for Nazare can be found in this guide.

If you're travelling to southern Portugal, your homebase will most likely be Lisbon. There is so much to do in and around Lisbon. A few recommendations for staying in Lisbon:

-If you don't have a ton of time, we recommend staying near the Praca do Comercio. You'll be centrally located to some of the top places to see in the city. Make sure you look up different "Miradouros" you can visit (aka, beautiful lookout points). You also will want to eat lunch at the Time Out Market, take a walk down Pink Street, and (if you're into a more artsy vibe) check out the LX Factory.

In terms of day trips from the center of Lisbon, some we've explored and loved include Belem (beautiful Monastery and a few other sites, also the home to the original Pastel de Nata recipe), Cascais (coastal town with more fantastic sites like the Boca do Inferno), and Sintra (think unreal palaces in crazy colors, as well as some nature trails and hiking; a must see from Lisbon).

Some other trips a bit further from Lisbon include:

-Obidos (about an hour from Lisbon; can be a day trip): one of Emily's favorites in Portugal, this small city is a complete fairytale. See more info in this guide.

-Lisbon is also near some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Of course, we have to recommend you venture down to the Algarve if you have time. You'll need to see Lagos (which is stunning but more touristy) but we recommend staying in Albufeira or one of the other less well-known spots.