When I was in Lisbon, I took a 5-days trip to the North of Portugal. The cities here are very different from the capital but definitely have their own charm. Note, if you are going during winter, this part of Portugal could get very cold so make sure to take a warm jacket.
Day 1 – Porto
To go to our first destination, we took a train from Lisbon.
4 hours later we arrived in beautiful Porto (taking bus is also a great option, it takes more or less the same time, and it is cheaper). From the train station we took a taxi to the hostel (taxi in Portugal is very cheap compared to other countries in Europe).
Since we were quite tired when we arrived, we just walked around the city for a short while and then called it a day.
Day 2 – Porto
We woke up and went out early to take advantage of the full day. Porto is not really big, so in one day you can more or less see the whole city.
The most touristic spot in Porto is definitely Dom Luís I Bridge, which is on the River Douro between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
As you can see in the photo, the view is truly breathtaking! Trams go on the bridge and there’s a sidewalk for walking as well.
Fun fact of Porto wine: did you know it was invented accidently? They added brandy to wine to support a long trip while exportation, and the wine socked up the flavor of the oak. Later on, it evolved as a product by the English people.
After that, we were just roaming around the city. You will find many cute and colorful buildings.
They have a big antique library called Livraria Lello (https://www.livrarialello.pt/en-us/). The entrance is 5 EUR which later you can use as a vouche
To end the trip, we sat in a bar near the river and watched sunset.
Accommodation
I stayed at Best Guest Porto Hostel, which was very welcoming and has a great atmosphere to make friends if you are traveling alone. The location was perfect, just a 5 minutes’ walk to the center. (https://www.hostelworld.com/pwa/hosteldetails.php/Best-Guest-Porto-Hostel/Porto/101290?from=2021-04-07&to=2021-04-10&guests=2)
Restaurants
I ate at burger place called Curb (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189180-d11877915-Reviews-Curb-Porto_Porto_District_Northern_Portugal.html) which was super delicious. Highly recommended!
Day 3 – Guimarães
We took a bus and headed to our next destination, Guimarães. It is small but played a big role in the foundation of Portugal because the first king was born in this place. To tour the city, I just walked around and found many cute buildings. You can feel a lively atmosphere in the central plaza, where they have lots of bars and people gatherings.
Accommodation
I stayed in Guimaraes Living – Hostel & Adventure (http://www.booking.com/Share-i36xCb).
Nice and clean and I loved their breakfast.
Restaurants
Thanks to the kind local people, we found a very nice typical Portuguese restaurant. It was very economical and delicious. If you are looking to have a local experience, you will like it.
It’s called Restaurante A Marisqueira (https://g.co/kgs/PPYzmb).
Day 4 – Braga
From Guimarães we took a taxi to Braga. They are very close; it only takes around 30 minutes and was only 20 euros (price negotiated).
Braga is the third largest urban center in Portugal after Lisbon and Porto, and therefore you can feel more city vibes. Since we went during the Christmas season, they had a wonderful tree set up in the central plaza as well.
Accommodation
I stayed in Braga Bells Guesthouse (http://www.booking.com/Share-hO4LAw). The decoration of this place is really nice, and I enjoyed my stay here.
Restaurants
Right in front of the hostel we found a local restaurant called Dona Pestica (https://g.co/kgs/NLV9if). Cheap, simple and delicious.
Day 5 – Coimbra
We took a bus from Braga to come to our last destination. This was my favorite place after Porto. Coimbra is known for the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, which is the oldest university in Portuguese-speaking countries. For that reason, there are lots of international students and the city definitely has young lively vibes. Apart from the university, there is Mondego River, which is the longest river in Portuguese territory that goes across the city, creating an amazing view!
You also can’t miss the night view of the city!
Accommodation
Baixa Apart is a perfect apartment to stay! They have one bed in a room and a sofa bed in salon. It also has a laundry machine with dryer. Plus, the owner is super kind. (http://www.booking.com/Share-RVzjGb1)
Restaurants
I didn’t really eat in restaurants in this city and ate just sandwiches. Therefore, I cannot recommend any place but please, eat well while you travel, don’t skip meals like I did 🙁
Overall, I enjoyed this little trip a lot, since those cities are not so big, and they are close to each other you really don’t need many days to tour all of them. Therefore, if you are looking to do a little get away to the North of Portugal, I would definitely recommend this route 🙂
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