Amanda's Trip to Portugal

By Amanda Szabo

Amandas Trip To Portugal


In May 2019, I travelled to Portugal for 5 days spending some time in both Lisbon and Porto. Both are fantastic locations either midweek or weekend city breaks. The food, the people and prices are all great.

 

Location

There are several flights a day from Dublin to Lisbon operated By Aer Lingus, Ryanair and TAP Portugal. I travelled with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Lisbon and then travelled with Ryanair from Lisbon to Porto, and similarly with Ryanair from Porto to Dublin. It is extremely quick and easy to get from Lisbon Airport to Lisbon City Centre, and only takes around 30 minutes. Once in both Lisbon and Porto is within walking distance, so I did not need to use public transport much however this is readily available.


What I Loved

I loved the food, especially the fish as it was superb! Pricing for food and drinks is so cheap, and the weather was amazing as it stayed between 25 and 30 degrees in both locations during my stay.


Activities & Places to See

  • Try some amazing pastries called Pastel de Belem in Belem.
  • You can sit and relax at the Ribeira district where you will find many restaurants and bars.
  • See Mercado do Bolhao, a food market in a neoclassical building.


Shopping

In Lisbon, there are a lot of locations for shopping with one of the most interesting being Embaixada – this was originally a Palatial residence hundreds of years ago but has now been converted into a concept store with rooms spreading over two floors. In Porto, there are many small shops and in the town of Vila Nova de Gaia, you will find Arrabida Shopping Mall which is spread over 3 floors including a hypermarket and many shops along with a cinema and food court.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by POP (@pop.porto)


Food and Bars

If you are a fan of seafood, you will not be disappointed when travelling to Lisbon as it is full of seafood restaurants such as Baiza Mar Lisboa and Cais ao Mar. There are a lot of small restaurants and cafes in both locations which offer local delicacies too.

 

Beaches

Beaches are not within walking distance of either city however if you are a lover of sea and sand, the closest beach you can get to using public transport in Lisbon is Praia de Carcavelos, which takes roughly 30 minutes on a train from central Lisbon. Praia do Carneiro, a pebble beach, can be reached by tram in Porto and Praia dos Ingleses can also be reached using a tram. There is a promenade you can walk along during sunset here and plenty of bars and cafes that you can head into after your stroll.


Book your next Portugal break with Budget Travel!

You will find lots of deals to Portugal for couples, families and friends at Budget Travel. Check out our unbeatable Last Minute Holiday Deals or call us now to book on 01 435 0024.