Portugal : Guide book, Blog, Web-site recommendations needed

[walkinwood]

We're just beginning to plan a trip to Portugal for later this year (probably September)

Is there a guide-book, blog or web-site that you would recommend for travel around Portugal?

Thanks.

 

[gerntz]

Even if not doing a tour, I find tour descriptions on companies' web sites good sources of things to see/do.

 

[Nemo2]

https://juliedawnfox.com/tips-first-trip-portugal/

Julie used to have a regular newsletter...perhaps she still does.


Make sure to visit Porto, and perhaps Óbidos on the way.

 

[davebarnes]

You will have a great time

We spent 22 days in Portugal last Fall. Had a wonderful time!
Our itinerary was Lisboa (5), Coimbra (4), Aveiro (3), Porto (5), Lisboa (5).

https://juliedawnfox.com - a great website for research for me
https://portoalities.com/en/ - tons of info on Porto and we enjoyed our tour with Sarah
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/portugal - a good place to ask specific questions
https://www.memrise.com/courses/english/portuguese-portugal-2/ - I spent 170 hours here learning Português only to discover that everyone speaks English
https://www.yelp.com/list/portugal-lisboa-22 - my Yelp list
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Portugal/dp/1631216155 - we bought and read Rick's book
https://www.dk.com/us/portugal/ - more books

Our strategy was:
1. read a lot
2. decide on cities (and choose AirBnB possibilities)
3. buy airplane tickets
4. buy AirBnB lodging (within a a few days of air tix)
5. use https://www.planapple.com/ to add significant items to itinerary
6. buy certain train tickets in advance on https://www.cp.pt as you save a lot if you are a "client" and buy 8+ days in advance
7. get on airplane and relax after exiting the Lisboa airport

 

[COcheesehead]

Portugal is awesome. We spent 14 days there a few years ago. Porto, Douro and Lisbon.

If you get out into the Douro Valley and I recommend you do, this is a great place to stay, eat, tour.

Gallery

 

[Souschef]

Even if not doing a tour, I find tour descriptions on companies' web sites good sources of things to see/do.

Great idea! We toured Switzerland and New Mexico using the itineraries of a number of travel companies. DIY saved 25-50%, and we even stayed in the same hotels the tour did.
My suggestion is to get out of Lisbon and visit the area of Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. It is a beautiful area. While in Lisbon, visit Quelez Palace. It is second only to Versailles.

 

[cathy63]

We use Rick Steves' books and website as a starting point for trips in Europe. He has suggested itineraries, walking tours for major cities, etc. His page on Portugal is here: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

 

[walkinwood]

Thank you! thank you! Please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Souschef]

Thank you! thank you! Please keep the suggestions coming.

Attached is the trip story of our cruise that called at Lisbon and Portmanteau.
I had been to Porto previously, and other than the port lodges, it has little to recommend it.

 

[Nemo2]

I had been to Porto previously, and other than the port lodges, it has little to recommend it.

À chacun son goût, I guess..both of us far prefer Porto to Lisboa....(and we like Lisboa).... but I am not a Souschef....simply a Plongeur, perhaps with lower expectations.

From 2016:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nJfrr5eyTD_gHq-QVvMVhFI_BfrORXuZNVJCkAyoD_s/edit?usp=sharing

(Hit 'Present' and 'follow the arrows')

Slides 46 - 72 inclusive are from Porto - (and #s 85-86)

 

[OldShooter]

Any trip we plan, the first thing we look for is whether there is a "DK Eyewitness" book. These are fantastic trip-planning books with lots of photos and original artwork drawings of, for example, cutaway views of palaces, churches, etc. They are full color on glossy paper so are fairly heavy books to actually carry, so we often leave them at home. Their (huge) strength is the tourist planning information on history, maps, routes, places, sights, etc. Information on hotels, restaurants, etc. is weaker but that is easy to get from any of the usual paperbacks like Lonely Planet, Steves, Frommer, etc. We usually buy one of them too.

Here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/DK-Eyewitness-Travel-Guide-Portugal/dp/1465411534

 

[brett]

We like Portugal and have been a few times.

We spent a week in Porto and driving in the Douro Valley. Lisbon and environs very nice. Lots of places to stop in the Algarve. Great beaches. We think Sept is the ideal time to go.

The Porto/Douro Valley folks have a website. You can google it. There are also cruise from Porto into the Valley.

 

[davebarnes]

Amo Porto

been to Porto previously, and other than the port lodges, it has little to recommend it.

So wrong!
History.
Walking.
Trams.
Eating.

We never even went to a port lodge which, for the most part, are not even in Porto. They are across the river in Nova Gaia. I love port, but visiting tourist traps holds no interest for me.

 

[Human]

We use Rick Steves' books and website as a starting point for trips in Europe. He has suggested itineraries, walking tours for major cities, etc. His page on Portugal is here: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal

+1

 

[savory]

We enjoyed walking in Lisbon and Porto. I still remember our meal at Cervejaria Ramiro in Lisbon.

Our base was Milfontes which was terrific. We went to the market, afternoon coffee, eating at local restaurants. Enjoyed 'living there' the wine and hikes in the area.

 

[Sunset]

I go to the library, and take out all the travel books on a place I'm going to and read/skim them for the area's I know I'll be in.

Plus I search example: tripadvisor Portugal

I have found the internet to be better than books, most of the time.

 

[Just_Steve]

Attached is the trip story of our cruise that called at Lisbon and Portmanteau.
I had been to Porto previously, and other than the port lodges, it has little to recommend it.

Again, another awesome trip write up.

 

[Fishingmn]

We did 2 weeks in Portugal this past September - Lisbon, Nazare, Duoro, Porto

Here are some other websites we used besides the ones already mentioned -

21 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Lisbon | PlanetWare - have lists for other Portugal locations too or the country as a whole
https://gotoportugal.eu/en/things-to-do-in-portugal/ - lots of travel posts
https://www.geekyexplorer.com/lisbon-itinerary-3-days/ - a number of different posts
https://www.globalmary.com/2017/03/21/the-complete-guide-to-visiting-sintra/ - good guide for Sintra

Loved the country and people!

 

[walkinwood]

Any trip we plan, the first thing we look for is whether there is a "DK Eyewitness" book. These are fantastic trip-planning books with lots of photos and original artwork drawings of, for example, cutaway views of palaces, churches, etc. They are full color on glossy paper so are fairly heavy books to actually carry, so we often leave them at home. Their (huge) strength is the tourist planning information on history, maps, routes, places, sights, etc. Information on hotels, restaurants, etc. is weaker but that is easy to get from any of the usual paperbacks like Lonely Planet, Steves, Frommer, etc. We usually buy one of them too.

Here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/DK-Eyewitness-Travel-Guide-Portugal/dp/1465411534

Thanks. The current one is from 2016, but there is a new one planned for an April release, so I'll wait for it.

I've usually bought Rick Steve's books and Lonely Planet. I'll try Eyewitness & Rick Steves this time.

We rely on tripadvisor and sites like yelp or zomato a lot for hotels and restaurants. If we stay anywhere for 3+ nights, we seek out a airbnb.

 

[Chuckanut]

Happy Portugal Day!

Portugal Day, officially Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities (Portuguese: Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas), is Portugal's National Day celebrated annually on June 10th.
Although officially observed only in Portugal, Portuguese citizens and emigrants throughout the world celebrate this holiday. The date commemorates the death of national literary icon Luís de Camões on June 10, 1580.

A few photos from Portugal.