We recommend that you stay between 1-2 weeks in Portugal, if possible, and enjoy vacation time before and/or after the wedding!

Here you will find recommendations on where to go and how you can best spend your time traveling the country!

The second biggest city after Lisbon, Porto is a must see if you are in the north of Portugal!

Stay near the Ribeira (riverside) for the views or Baixa (city center) to get a taste of the more urban lifestyle.

We recommend you buy a ticket for the hop on & off bus tour of Porto that comes with a boat ride and wine tasting! You can either purchase these tickets at kiosk around town or online. There are different lines taking you to different parts of Porto so make sure you decide your preferred locations!

Try the regional specialty, the Francesinha, or go to any of the wine cellars as Porto is known for their Port Wine!

Visit Livraria Lello, the library that inspired the setting, design for Harry Potter! They also offer Harry Potter tours showing the many inspirations in Portugal had on the famous book!

Dont want the city life that Porto provides? Douro Valley has all of the romantic charm, boat rides and wine with more peace and nature!

Visit Quinta do Seixo to get an immersive experience tasting wine and gourmet cheese, jams. Go on a picnic and sit outside nature or tour the grounds to learn about how they create their Port!

Hiking is another popular activity as people come not only for the wine but for the views as BBC declared the viewpoint from Casal de Loivos as one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world!

History fans will enjoy an archaeological site where Paleolithic artifacts can be found and learn about 2,000 years of history in this region.

Turn back time to the start of Portugals history. As the birthplace of the first king of Portugal and the declaration of its nation in 1128, many well preserved medieval sites are worth the visit on top of the charming town.

The Castle of Guimaraes and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza are 10th and 15th century structures that have seen some of the most powerful and influental people in Portuguese history. Architecture, art and history are all highlighted as you walk through these sites!

The historic city center is one of the best preserved medieval cities in all of Europe! Colorful houses, cafes, and shops are among many pieces of history that you can enjoy when on a walk and go out for food and drinks!

Aveiro is known as Portugals Venice for their historic barcos moliceiros (gondolas)! Aveiro for a large part of European history was an important economic powerhouse due to salt and commercial shipping that the Romans themselves cherished! To this day you can still see salt mounds around the district!

If you enjoy art nouveau architecture and shopping, then you need to spend a night or two here! With an abundance of bars and restaurants, you can discover new places to dig into and easily make friends with locals or other tourists!

Forum Aveiro is a large outdoor mall that is next to their ribbon bridge and flea markets that pop up on weekends.

Try the famous ovos moles, egg yolk and surgar treats that come in the shapes of sea shells and barrels or are filled in a variety of types of pastries! Ever tried eel? Aveira is known for their eel dishes in stew, fried, or covered in seaweed and sauce!

Nearby Aveiro, Costa Nova is worth a visit if you enjoy the beach and colorful views! Known for their multicolored striped beach houses and the tallest light house in Portugal, a day trip to this location can be more than enough to enjoy the area!

While you're there, you need to try tripas! They are almost like crepes but much thicker and you can have them savory or sweet (our preference) with different fillings like a variety of chocolates, jams and fruits! Want a lighter sweet? Try the bolacha instead which is a thinner, crunchier option with the same filling concept!

Seafood is a must have if you are here, some restaurants to check out are Marisquiera da Costa Nova, the Dori Restaurant and the Praia do Tubarao!

*Disclaimer* It can get windy here!

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon has many different districts to fit the needs of all travelers! As the second oldest city in Europe, the many charms include colorful housing, castles, old fashion tram, and some of the best food in the world! We recommend using electronic scooters to zoom around this large city!

*Disclaimer* LOTS OF HILLS / INCLINE

Baixa and Belem are the two areas I recommend exploring first! Baixa is the center of commercial of Lisbon, there commercial plaza next to the river and the famous road, Rua de Augusta connect to the giant arc that commemorates the rebuilding of the city after a severe earthquake & tsunami in 1755. Nearby you can find the Maria Pia Bridge built by the same creator of the eiffel tower, Gustave Eiffel, which can take you up to some of the higher points in the town.

Bairro Alto within Baixa, is famous for its clubs, bars, and engaging nightlife! The pink road is a strip of popular different clubs and bars that used to be the destination for gambling dens and brothels! All night long you can explore the streets and mingle with other party goers in a one of the safest party destinations in the world!

Belem has many historical monuments and museums as well as the oldest recipe for Natas, Portugals famous Custard Cup pastry at Pasteis de Belem! Check out the Belem Tower that resembles a sand castle (at least to me!) and the giant monument for the Portuguese explorers. The Jeronimos Monestary is a beautiful piece of archeticture that hold the remains of Portugals most famous poet, Luis de Camoes and one of Portugals explorers Vasco de Gama. Often times, Belem hosts many interactive pop up museums or gallerys so keep an eye out for whats around! (They had a Van Gough interactive Gallery and had brought an exhibition of the traveling Terra Cotta Warriors at different points!)

From Pena Palaces romanticist architecture and endless gardens, to the Moorish Castle that reflects some of Portugals Islamic history and is said to be the burial site of a famous Moorish King, to Quinta da Regaleiras fairy like gardens with secret tunnels and towers to discover with a beautiful villa attached to it, Sintra is a town you can write fairytales about!

Start and end at the historical center of Sintra, next to the National Palace of Sintra to start your adventures. Take the tuk tuks up the mountains to get to some of your destinations! Circle back to the center for shopping and dinner. Make sure to stop by Piriquita to try the famous local pastry, Travesseiros, before they close!

A medieval village within the walls of a castle is a place you must visit if you love medieval vibes or maybe you enjoy Attack on Titan and want to see what life like within the walls! Our main page photo is taken at Obidos!

Obidos is another Moorish site that was taken by the first king of Portugal that lays near roman aqueducts, the many cultures that have come through Portugal is reflected here.

Enjoy the local shops and try the famous Ginja fro Obidos, a cherry liquor in chocolate cups that you can get in every shop you stop by! From the colorful building covered in flowers, to the occasional medieval fairs that take place here, a day visit to Obidos is a picturesque location to add to your list!

Portugals most famous fishing village and where the tallest wave ever recorded being surfed happened! If you enjoy surfing, then Nazares Canyon, the largest underwater canyon in all of Europe, might be the place for you.

Visit the Big Wave Museum or the Sao Miguel Arcanjo Fort to take a look at the waves and learn about the surfing history in this location, or go and enjoy your day at the local beaches! Stop by O Sitio, a small town on top of the cliffs and get a feel for local traditions like nuts and traditional fashion.

If you plan to stay here, make sure to stay near Praia de Nazare where there is better access to parking and more accommodations and restaurants (and easy access to the beach!)

The last constructed Templar town with amazing historical architecture and charm, this is another great destination for history lovers! Become enchanted by the Convent of Christ (Tomar Castle) where part of the movie Damsel was filmed.

Stroll around Praca de Republica and enjoy the medieval life of the towns center which offers plenty of restaurants and cafes, including Taverna Antiqua which is modeled after a medieval tavern (make reservations!). Keep an eye our for community events as they host festivals and will have silent discos or fairs taking place throughout the summer!

Right under the "nose" of Portugal, Setubal has some of the best beaches in Portugal and isn't as far of a drive from Lisbon compared to other sunny destinations! The catch is, a lot of the beautiful beaches there, you might have to hike through Parque Natural da Arrabida (which is so worth it!). There are even some tuk tuks to give you a ride on the way in or out!

I'm sure you can recall the giant statue of Jesus in Rio de Jenario, Setubal also hold a smaller version of the statue that you can visit on your drive to or out of Setubal! There are also plenty of renaissance gardens, Moorish castles, and markets in little old cities that you can visit if you plan to stay here for a few nights!

A medieval town with a 1st century Roman temple (and roman baths!), and a Chapel of Bones, you will find yourself wanting to stay longer beautiful location! Giraldo square will be your main spot for restaurants and local activities that comes to life at night. After some spa time at the Roman Baths, you can take a stroll in the public gardens of Evora!

Try Carne de Porco a Alentejana or enjoy some wine with the views the town has to offer! It does get pretty hot in this location so dont forget to bring water!

Algarve is THE beach destination if chilling under the sun is your ideal vacation! From Portimaos popular party vibes, to Albufeiras beautiful marinas, or Faros historical and sunny setting, there is a variety to do and explore with caves like Benagil which we recommend you save time for a boat trip to see!

Seafood lovers will enjoy the variety of fresh options or if you're a meat fan, Leitao might be for you! Algarve is also famous for their waterpark, Slide & Splash, but with all the beach options available we certainly recommend time in the sand that offers many water sports for great prices like Paragliding, jet skis, or riding a Banana with a speed boat!

Sagres, also known as "End of the World" is where the first of Europes explorers set sail to take on the seas and reach lands others haven't before. Visit the Sagres Fortress that has faced many pirate attacks in its time and has stone formations that formed in the later jurassic period. Cabo de Sao Vicente is "the end of the world" for some breathtaking views. There are also plenty of beaches to get some sun!

Portugal was a part of the Islamic Empire for around 600 years and its influence can be seen not only in its language but in the architecture and practices! The further south in Portugal you go, the more Islamic culture you will see! One of the destinations to learn about this fusion in Portuguese history is Silves.

One of the best preserved castles is located here and if you're lucky, they might be hosting a medieval fair within the castle walls where you can eat kebabs, get henna tattoos and watch historical enactments of the time Portugal was known as As-Andalus.

Make sure to try orange juice here (or any other southern location! But Silves is one of our favorites!) Oranges were introduced by the Moors in to Portugal before they spread to the rest of Europe. In Arabic, "Portugal" translates to Oranges! Portugal was identified to have some of the best conditions to grow the once bitter fruit into some of the sweetest around!