Top 4 Destinations for Your Trip to Portugal and Spain

Lauren Eidson

11.28.21

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My favorite parts of Portugal and Spain were filled with cobble stone, salty air, and a beaucoup of sangria. As with any international trip, I had my passport and AMEX tucked away safely and my camera at the ready. This was my first trip flying into one place and flying out of another—not a round trip. Starting on the West coast of Portugal and ending up on the East coast of Spain took a lot of planning. I needed a bus, train, or taxi to get from one place to another, and an Airbnb at each location. I also had to figure out an hourly itinerary that would fit into the preexisting transportation schedule. Whew! That sounds exhausting. Well, good thing I’ve provided a simplified version of my trip below. :)

Before we get into it, there are two interesting things about Portugal and Spain that you MUST know before going:

Portugal is known for cork. Have you ever wondered where cork comes from? A cork tree.

Spain has a tradition of bullfighting. Yes, thousands of bulls die each year because of these fights. Thoughts?

…

Let’s forget about that second interesting thing, shall we?

So, you’re planning a trip to Portugal and Spain, are you?

Here are my top 4 destinations to visit!

1. Lisbon, Portugal.

This city may be a given being that it’s the capital of Portugal. Staying in the highest level of a building in Portugal can provide one of the prettiest views of a city. There are hundreds of terracotta colored roofs stacked on top of each other! My Airbnb was 5 stories high. I slept out on the balcony one of the nights, and the slight breeze and 70 degree weather felt amazing! There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on every corner of Lisbon and I visited the famous Praça do Comércio, Pena Palace, and Belém Tower on the Tagus River in the 3 days I was there. I will say, riding on Tram 28 while eating a Pastel de Nata was one of those “simple pleasures” you shouldn’t miss out on while you’re in Lisbon.

2. The Algarve in Portugal.

A cozy bus ride from Lisbon to the Algarve was the best option here. It took a few hours, but the countryside views were well worth it! It’s not a true trip to Portugal if you don’t experience the unique cliffs and beaches or “praias”. Right when I got there, I boarded a “party” boat right off shore. My friends and I divulged ourselves with the complimentary wine and snacks for a few hours. I jumped in the ocean only for a moment before rushing back onto the boat because the water was freezing and tasted like straight NaCl… but don’t fret, you have to experience it at least once! And if you look really hard, you might even see a nude beach in the distance ;). I then took a ride on a small speed boat through the caves and caverns on the shoreline. This is a MUST—probably my favorite views from the whole trip! Another day, we visited a popular Praia where hundreds of people were sunbathing. I found a few rock formations close to the water with tunnels that led to more private areas. One thing I’d like to share is that our Airbnb did not have AC like most places, but opening the window at night relieved any worries of “sweating” the bed lol!

3. Seville, Spain.

I took a long overnight train ride to this famous city. Even though I was only there for a day and a half, I still had plenty of time to visit the historical area. This included a visit to the Seville Cathedral and its gardens, the Alcázar featured in Game of Thrones, and the Plaza de España featured in Star Wars. And of course, there are plenty of Tapas restaurants and Flamenco shows to go around. The restaurants here tend to close early, so be considerate of the time!

4. Barcelona, Spain.

A short train or bus ride will suffice to make it to beautiful Barcelona! Spain has a champagne equivalent called Cava, and so my friends and I made our way to a vineyard right outside of Barcelona called Can Bas. I’d never been to a winery and vinyard before, but my friends said it topped any other experience they’ve had. Our guides took us on a ride around their luscious property and ended the trip with a plentiful wine tasting and perfect pairings. My friends and I also partook in the bar hopping experience, as Barcelona is a huge party city. If you venture out to the overcrowded beaches of Barcelona, local party animals will approach you with information on the most popular places to be that night! If you’re even more daring, you should catch a boat to Ibiza.

Happy and safe travels! <3