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High above Colares lies the white washed village of Penedo. A pretty village with excellent views to the Atlantic Ocean, the Sintra Mountains and the Pena Palace.
Wander around the cobbled streets, walk into the shaded pine forests, rest for a chilled drink with 'Paulo' at the Cafe - 'Refugio de Cyclista.'
Lunch is served in a hidden restaurant behind the cafe daily 12.00 - 14.00 (not Sundays). Traditional Portuguese dishes served from the BBQ, or try the dish of the day - which could include rabbit, curry or fish pie - to include dessert and drinks only 5 - 7 euros!! (depends what you eat and how much of the local wine you drink!
A taste of real Portugal!
Penedo - Colares - SINTRA
Google map: tinyurl.com/yb5sqo2
I stayed here a few weeks ago and was completely floored by the level of accomodation provided. I stayed here because it was a hostel and I am trying to stretch the pocket book as much as possible theses days, but was blown away by the interior, activities and amazing staff. This is more like a boutique hotel than a hostel, without the sticker shock. Can't recommend enough! Fantastic!
www.oasislisboa.com
Rua Santa Catarina 24
1200-402, Lisboa
Close to Bairro Alto (nightlife neighborhood)
Google map: tinyurl.com/ya6j5vu
Red Tour electric vehicles equiped with a GPS talking guide are perfect to drive around Lisbon and discover some hidden gems. I tried the Alfama Segway Tour and it was so much fun.
Next time i will try Belem tours in one of their silent buggies.
Rua dos Fanqueiros nº18 next to Praça do Comércio.
www.redtourgps.com/
Duas Quintas is a countryside-based bed and breakfast located just outside of the town of Silves in the Algarve. I recommend them for bringing something different to the rest of the Algarve in that you can visit the countryside and see the Algarve for what it is, far away from the noisy high rise apartments.
00351309402079
www.algarveguesthouse.com
There are a number of megalithic sites just outside Evora that make a great day out. At 7000 years the Almendres Cromlech is one of the oldest stone circles in the world (2000 years older than Stonehenge), made up of 95 stones of varying heights arranged in a horseshoe on the side of a hill covered in cork oak forests. Nearby there is a large menhir, the Almendres Menhir, and the largest dolmen (burial site) in the Iberian peninsula with a central chamber over six metres high, the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro. A nearby cave with sketches of bison and horses at Escoural is currently closed.
All sites can be reached by car down dirt tracks, and would make a great day's mountain biking. The Evora Tourist Information have a good booklet in English and Spanish (and presumably Portugese).
It's hard not to feel a connection when you see these sites that our ancestors built thousands of years ago.
10 kms west of Evora near Guadalope & Valverde.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almendres_Cromlech
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anta_Grande_do_Zambujeiro
A beautiful cottage retreat to relax in near the Alentejo coast two hours south of Lisbon. You could spend the whole week reading books in the garden, enjoy the views and the wildlife on nearby walks or horse rides or go to the local beaches- popular with the Portugese over the summer, but otherwise you'll probably have them to yourself.
The Taylors are great hosts and will help introduce you to this beautiful part of Portugal having lived in Cortinhas for over 20 years.
A stylish medieval town with Roman, Moor and Christian heritage. Great place to spend a few days enjoying the historic sites, local food (recommend Time Out for friendly atmosphere) and cafes (recommened Cafe 35- great patron; and Cafe Arcada- great pastries and 1950s atmosphere). Try the gelados at Gelateria Zoka.
Have fun discovering your own favourites: the old town is a rabbit warren of narrow streets that can easily be walked around, but make for some pretty extreme driving that's not for the faint hearted.
The whole place is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
About 1.5 hours east of Lisbon on the way to the Spanish border.
Funchal Market has possibly the best public toilet facilities on the island. This delightful old building is crammed with vibrant colours of the flower, fruit and veg stalls is set on two floors. Visiting the surprisingly modern toilet facilities upstairs gives an opportunity to peer down at the fresh fish market below.
www.pastymuncher.co.uk/top-5-toilets-to-visit-in-funchal-madeira/
Madeira is a really fun destination and not all twin-set and pearls at all. However, it lacks sandy beaches, so if you have little ones who want to paddle and build sand castles, catch the ferry from Funchal to the tiny island of Porto Santo. There's not much to do on the island except swim, eat and watch Christiano Ronaldo's massive hotel being constructed(purchased along with Figo, I believe), but it's a great day trip and the ferries are the old Isle of Man boats.
The 28 tram is THE iconic method of transport in Lisbon and a great way to see some of the major sights of this gorgeous city: the Se, Castelo de Sao Jorge, the Baixa and more.
However, it can get really crowded with tourists during the summer months and around the middle of the day. Many visitors often appear not to realise that this is not a tourist tram specifically for them but an integral part of the city's transport system used by many old grannies and locals with little children etc.
A tip for getting a seat is to take the green metro line (LInha Caravela) from Baixa-Chiado or Rossio to the Martim Moniz stop. From here you can jump on board the 28 tram at the start and be assured of a seat - and a fantastic view, unless there's a giant bottom in your face - all the way through town to the terminus at the other end by the Cemiterio dos Prazeres.
Be sure to give up your seat for a grannie, though!
Martim Moniz metro stop (Green line - Linha Caravela)
Tram No. 28
This bar/restaurant has a fantastic spot on the surf pounded beach of the same name, a short bus ride to the west of Porto city. With a large decked area strewn with sofas, loungers and tables looking out over the Atlantic it’s a really relaxing place for a sundowner. This plus the chilled house background music and churning sea dotted with relentless surfers makes for a hybrid Ibizan/Cornish vibe.
Praia da Luz, Av Brasil, Foz do Douro
Take the No.500 bus towards Matosinhos which starts outside Porto train station and follows a scenic route along the shore. Get off just after the castle.
Livraria Lello is a bookshop-lovers fantasy. Even if you are not a reader, this 19th century shop is worth a visit for its gorgeous interior centred around a curving carved wood and red treaded staircase which could have stepped (ha ha) out of a Dali painting. Oh and there are quite a lot of books too. With a handful of comfy chairs around a coffee bar on the first floor it’s an ideal place to take a breather after climbing the Clerigos Tower opposite.
Livraria Lello, Rua das Carmelitas 144
lelloprologolivreiro.com.sapo.pt/
Great restaurant tucked away behind the Sao Francisco church with what I would term ‘retro-chic’ interior and lovely atmosphere. Friendly and attentive English speaking waiters. Good choice of Portuguese dishes with a modern/global take; the game stuffed sausage was very rich but delicious. Take cash, they do not have credit card facilities.
Cometa Restaurante, Rua Tomaz Gonzaga 87, Tel: (351) 222 008 774, no website
Take time to linger for a meal here if you are visiting the Taylors Port Lodge; it’s also worth the climb up the hillside even if you’re not. We had the terrace area virtually to ourselves on our lunchtime visit and the views over Porto were stunning. There is a fairly extensive and quite pricey menu but the food is of a really high standard and well worth the money. I had the biggest, tastiest piece of cod I’ve ever come across even in other Portuguese restaurants. Be sure to try a ‘Chip Dry’- white port aperitif; it is deliciously crisp and refreshing.
Barao de Fladgate Restaurant at Taylors Port Lodge, Rua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia, Tel: (351) 223 742 800, www.taylors.pt
In a cavernous room on the Vila Nova de Gaia waterfront, with diner’s comments posted all over the stone walls, this restaurant was buzzing on our visit. And no wonder when for €29.50 (€32.50 at weekends) an all you can eat and drink buffet is on offer.
The friendly staff showed us the ropes despite linguistic barriers and proceeded to foist food and alcohol on us all night. Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another morsel from the buffet tables (a huge selection of traditional Portuguese fare) we were given a fruit platter the size of a small bath, and a shopping basket full of nuts was doing the rounds. On top of the beer and wine we had already imbibed, decanters of port, and then brandy, were left on the table and finally an unidentifiable but potent liqueur. Try it if your stomach dares!
Tromba Rija, Av Diogo Leite 102, Vila Nova de Gaia, Tel: (351) 223 743 762, www.trombarija.com/gaia-rg.html
Small, chic hotel in wonderful quayside location in the Unesco World Heritage part of the city. Rooms are compact but finished to a high standard; choose a riverside room for the stunning views. Excellent service and attention to detail from the friendly and attentive owners. Beautifully presented breakfasts with a wealth of fresh fruit and locally baked bread. Ideally placed for city sightseeing and a short walk across the bridge to the port lodges on the other side of the river. Trams and buses to the beaches and other sights to the west of the city depart from a nearby stop. Porto is a charming and affordable destination for a city break and Guest House Douro is a lovely and unique place to stay. Rooms are priced from €110.
guesthousedouro.com/
Guest House Douro, Rua Fonte Taurina, Porto Tel.: (351) 222 015 135
Chicken piri piri is super popular in the Algarve. It's basically a whole grilled chicken cut up into smallish bite size pieces. It's spicy and juicy and really good. Usually comes with fries and a tomato and onion salad.
Well they say the original place that started it all is in Guia Algarve and the restaurant is Ramirez. It's always busy and the food is good and hot, prices are very reasonable. A whole chicken with fries is €13 tomato salad is €2 and the house wine is €5 - not bad. Remember the nice basket of bread, the olives, sardine pate and cheese is not a gift it costs money - they call it a "covert" which usually runs you about €2.5 a person if you eat all of the above.
Guia is located just south of the N125 and is about 6 km north west of Albufeira.
I found this website an excellent source of information for the Algarve and extremely competitive deals on car hire.
Gocar is a whole new way to explore and discover a city. It is a GPS guided tour that once you step on the Gocar will start telling you all about Lisbon but in a funny way. The car tells jokes, teaches you to speak Portuguese and even tells you all about the main sights of Lisbon. As a Portuguese, I tried and had a lot of fun.
Rua dos douradores,16
The western Algarve is probably the top surfing destination in Europe, with warm water, a not-too-touristy vibe, and of course consistent pumping waves. The Algarve Surfcamp is based in Carrapateira, a small village about 30 minutes drive up the the west coast from Sagres. The camp offers lessons and accommodation pretty much right on a spectacular beach. It's perfect for beginners and intermediates, while more advanced surfers are ideally located to explore the endless quality breaks on this stretch of coast.
www.nomadsurfers.com/en/europe/portugal/algarve/surfcamp/27.html
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