PORTUGAL

Anyone who’s been to Lisbon will tell you—it’s such a vibe. I love cities and countries with a rich history and soul, and Portugal has a bit of both.

It had been on my bucket list for quite some time. Every time I spoke to someone who’d been there, they’d say, “I loved Portugal!” with such enthusiasm that I couldn’t wait to explore it for myself.

During my trip, I visited three places: Lisbon, Sintra, and Ericeira.

Lisbon

There’s never a dull moment in the heart of Lisbon. It’s a vibrant city with plenty to explore and experience. You’re bound to stumble upon an attraction just by strolling around the city, even if you don’t have a specific destination in mind.

I ended up seeing most of the major attractions by wandering and soaking up the atmosphere. LOVE THAT. It’s a dream for a spontaneous girl like me. What I enjoyed most was not having to plan every detail—you can just live in the moment, bask in the sun, and immerse yourself in the city’s energy.

I was honestly stunned by the Jerónimos Monastery that I stumbled upon. I was definitely going to visit it, but I was on my way for breakfast first and it just got me by surprise. It took my breath and any sense of mine, the size of that monastery blew my mind. I also loved the garden outside that had plants growing for each plant that was on the Monastery.

Time Out Market was highly recommended by nearly everyone I spoke to, as well as countless reviews online. Despite the hype, I have to say it didn’t live up to the expectations. I did enjoy the vegetable and fruit market, but the food at the restaurants left much for disappointment. The restaurants are handpicked and approved by Time Out, so they should uphold a certain level of quality, representing the best of Lisbon’s restaurant scene. However, I felt that the food lacked the attention it deserved, and as a result, the work of these prestigious chefs didn’t get the justice they probably deserve. You should still consider paying it a visit and trying something, but keep your expectations realistic. Enjoy a small bite, have some fun, and then continue exploring more of Lisbon.

There are so many places to explore that I absolutely loved, from palaces to restaurants and hidden gems, more details are all in my travel magazine.

While Lisbon is fantastic, I’d say 3 days (4 at most) is enough. I spent 4 days there, and after trying many of the restaurants I'd had my eye on, I started wondering what else I wanted to do. After four days of casually exploring, my restless soul was ready for something new.

But let me tell you, I made sure to eat a lot before moving on! Here are some photos to prove it.

Sintra

Sintra feels like a jungle randomly dotted with castles, like 17 of them, more? Who can keep count! It’s magical however, but you need to get there EARLY, or you’ll find yourself caught in a tourist trap, filled with scammers who can scare you off the area for a lifetime. Arriving early might mean some places are still closed, but you can still soak up the charm and explore at your own pace.

You might be wondering (or maybe not, but I’m going to tell you anyway) why there are so many castles. Since Lisbon is a coastal city, it can get uncomfortably hot and humid in the summer. Sintra, located in the hills, offering cooler temperatures. For health, pollution, and comfort reasons, the wealthy Portuguese would therefore relocate to Sintra during summer, they obviously lavished out to accommodate their luxurious lifestyles, and built castles, palaces, and grand estates in the area.

I’d say it’s totally worth a visit, then wave goodbye to the crowds as you head off to the surf town of Ericeira.

Ericeira

Oh, Ericeira—such a charming, small-town feel. The waves, the scenery, the people. Ericeira has a tight-knit community, which I was lucky enough to experience through a local friend.

If you’re a surfer, you already know that Ericeira is one of the top destinations in the world for surfing. Naturally, I took my first surf lesson while I was there. Let’s just say, picture a tiny dot being tumbled over and over by the waves, trying to stand on the board—that sums it up! Surfing was brutal, but such an experience.

Visit Ericeira if you love the beach, a laid-back vibe, surfing, and relaxing. If you’re a social and curious traveler, make sure to attend one of the many events regularly hosted there.

There’s a large expat community, and you’re guaranteed to have fun meeting new people.

I was lucky enough to be there on a Latin dance night. Let me tell you, we danced the night away and almost closed the place! Fun fact about me: I’m a slave to the dance floor. Play anything with a beat, and I’m there, glued to the floor. You’d have to drag me off—if you can.

You can take the Lebanese out of Lebanon but never Lebanon out of the Lebanese

Although I didn’t fall head over heels for Portugal like many others do, I liked it very much and will definitely return. Next time, I’ll spend just a day in Lisbon to check out some of the restaurants I missed, and I’d love to visit Cascais, Porto, and a vineyard—those are now on the bucket list.

If you’re planning a trip to Portugal soon, don’t forget to grab my travel magazine for more vibes and recommendations!

Have you been to Portugal? Leave a comment to share your experience or your thoughts on this post.

xx, Charlene