Best Travel Recipe: Portugal City and Coast.

The ideal time to visit Lisbon is either from March to May or September to end of October, the weather is still perfectly warm and there are fewer crowds than in summer. You can even squeeze in a few beach days. We are so ready for travel and site inspections are on our radar. Between the two of us, miles will be covered in an array of delightful destinations including: a splendid Italian Grande Tour and add a few side Journeys to explore areas missed on our global galavanting.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant capital on the Tagus River, offers beautiful cityscapes, rich culture, and splendid food and wine. Experience the city as an insider during private touring with an expert local guide. Spend a few days to properly explore the historic Alfama district, the sophisticated Bairro Alto and Lapa districts and the riverside Belem district.

Wander around St. George’s Castle, the famed Mosteiro dos Jeronimos monastery, Belem Tower and other impressive monuments and understand the periods of Manueline and Moorish architecture.  Peruse chic shops offering authentic Portuguese specialties such as azulejo tiles, embroidered linens, fine handmade leather gloves, Indo-Portuguese furniture, and explore the old shops which sell gold and silver jewelry in traditional patterns.

Nibble local food specialties, including the yummy aspasteis de nata custard tarts, bakeries featuring sweets are on almost every block! Tour all or a select few of the many museums including the National Tile Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Museum of Folk Art.  You might enjoy interesting contemporary architecture at the Portugal Pavilion and MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology).

Site trips are in place for fall excursions! Exploring the cobbled streets, hopefully having gloves made at the teeny Glove shop Luvaria Ulisse on R. do Carmo 87 A, 1200-093 Lisboa. My gloves go with on every winter Journey, a Lisbon memory.

Lisbon Portugal

Divine dining at one of the World’s best 50 restaurants.We’ve booked dinner at Belcanto a legendary Lisbon establishment that opened its doors as a men’s club in 1958, chef José Avillez took Belcanto’s helm in 2012. Occupying a former convent in the Bairro Alto (Chiado), the Belcanto offers one of the country’s best dining experiences. José Avillez conjures up serious yet creative cuisine. Two Michelin Stars.

Aerial view of Lisbon skyline and rooftops on sunny day white houses, apartment buildings with brown roofs, white church
Lisbon Portugal

Hotel Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. This landmark hotel was built in 1959 by the Dictator Salazar to prove that Lisbon could do luxury as well as any other European capital. More than half a century later it is still setting the bar. Located in the heart of Lisbon, the historic Hotel wears the cultural heart and soul of Portugal on its sleeve. Inside, art-deco sensibilities mingle with an updated Louis XVI style, and a collection of important contemporary local artwork fills the halls. Outside, views of the city’s rolling hills and brightly tiled exteriors spread out before you. The best spa in Lisbon with an 18-meter lap pool as its centerpiece.

Four Seasons Ritz, Lisbon

And after the beach escape, return for a night or two at Bario Alto Hotel – the hip fun walk about day and night.  Visitors can wander the steep cobbled streets of bohemian Bairro Alto to ride the Bica Funicular, visit lavish São Roque Church and take in the views from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Many of the centuries-old houses in the neighborhood are decorated with vivid street art. After sundown, a diverse crowd fill the hip, quirky bars, while the evocative sound of Fado music is heard from traditional restaurants, it’s a hip scene!

Do include a memorable fado music performance at a local night club.  If you have an interest, we can suggest a visit to the private Ricardo do Spirito Santo Silva Foundation, dedicated to the preservation and reproduction of traditional Portuguese design and decorative art.

Sublime, Comporta

Escape the lively city and transfer to the sunny coast for a leisurely few days, on the way, pass through the wine region of Azeitão, famous for its wine production and some of the best wine taverns in the country. The wine cellar of José Maria de Fonseca is over 200 years old. It is a family business, still run by the same family. The wine cellar is located on a beautiful estate whose centerpiece is the historic house. Once it was inhabited by the Fonseca family, today it is a museum where you can learn more about the history of the estate. Many bodegas line the country roads, pop in for a tasting and fill your bags full of rioja or port.

Just an hour away from Lisbon, arrive at the beach in Comporta. Sublme Hotel is nestled here on the coast. Calling a hotel property sublime sets up certain expectations: Sublime Comporta  doesn’t disappoint, thanks to its sleepy pastoral setting nestled on a stunning 17-hectare estate, surrounded by undulating umbrella pines and cork trees, wild sand dunes, stunning rice fields and over 60km of pristine, white-sand beaches. We carry a big Journal all over the world for jotting down notes: observations after a stay: Like camp for grownups with four star tastes, travelers seeking rejuvenating treatments and private solitude. Sand dunes, quiet roads, coastal pines and a sprinkle of cork trees and rice paddies, the client demographic is a mix of families, singles and romantic couples. Chic and a little shaggy at the same time. Surrounded by natural pines and sand all the structures and grounds remind me of a more modern 70’s central California coastal retreat, with abundant natural woods and flora. Enchantment in the air at night, fire pits glowing, twinkle lights peeking from tree branches.

Sublime is a magical, unspoiled place. Décor is understated with a minimalist design – all glittering glass, white wood and modernist va-va-voom – and sublime Portuguese food.

We think these are the must sublime rooms and have confirmed! The Bio-Pool Suites are nine cabanas built overlooking one of Europe’s largest biological pools, inspired by the fishing port of Carrasqueira built by local fishermen. The Bio-Pool Suites include private terraces that allow guests a direct plunge into the freshwater.

With this accommodation, Sublime Comporta’s sustainability stance is deepened, as the water is solely treated with aquatic plants, no chemicals are used whatsoever. It is a true living ecosystem and as such, different species of plants and animals coexist in perfect harmony. During the summer, be prepared to listen to the sounds of nature including the symphony of the frog mating season. This is the perfect summer symphony!

Each suite is built based on the architectural style of the cabanas in the village of Comporta, inhabited by local farmers and fishermen. Sublime Comporta has honored the heritage and craftsmanship in the area by using materials such as wood and straw for the thatched roofs. All nine suites have a deck and star their own unique decoration. Each has a king bed, sitting area with a salamander and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower and a freestanding bathtub.

Bike around on hotel provided bikes. Bring your thirst: Herdade da Comporta is home to some excellent wineries. Enjoy Portugal’s culinary delights at Sem Porta, the main restaurant. For an absolutely unique spring and summer experience, dine in the middle of their organic experience garden at The Food Circle. Yet another option is Tasca da Comporta, a seasonal outdoor restaurant where you can enjoy the classic Portuguese petiscos.

Sublime, Comporta

In the middle of the Organic Garden, you will find the Food Circle – Sublime Comporta’s outdoor “farm-to-table” restaurant, inspired by the principles of permaculture. With a menu based on sustainable production and with fire playing a leading role in the cooking process, people can enjoy an unforgettable experience in direct contact with the chefs and the earth, dining under the stars and surrounded by the aromas of the garden.

Travel Recipe City and Coast or Coast & City- you choose, we advise!  

Portugal Journey

So, Portugal, last fall, my grand tour landed me in Lisbon, Fatima, Tomar, Sintra, Cascais, the Douro Valley and Porto.

After a 13 day Journey, to understand the importance of each area, the best routing and the VV best hotels…I feel I have a grasp on what locations can be enjoyed as a day trip and areas which necessitate longer visits.

Portugal, Lisbon

An over view, you can read more in-depth posts on city life, must see sites and touring the Douro Valley. I discovered that Lisbon and Porto, although some refer to Porto as the second great city in Portugal, are equally charming. Brimming with history, churches, important museums, and miles of narrow, often hilly cobblestone streets.

A Suggestion Excursion – tailor made to include personal preferences.Lisbon, Sintra, Porto & Douro Valley This exclusive private Portugal Journey features in-depth touring of Portugal’s wonderful art and design from the traditional to the innovative in Lisbon, Sintra and Porto and the Douro Valley. We can include private touring of cultural highlights, significant museums and engrossing architecture reflecting the complex history, as well as select visits to crafts workshops, the beautiful azulejo tile factories and chic boutiques offering the finest work by Portuguese craftspeople. The tour also includes the finest Portuguese food and wine, including private wine tasting in the Douro Valley and suites at exceptional hotels.

Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant capital on the Tagus River, offers beautiful cityscapes, rich culture, and splendid food and wine. Experience the city as an insider during private touring with an expert local guide. Spend a few days to properly explore the historic Alfama district, the sophisticated Bairro Alto and Lapa districts and the riverside Belem district.

Wander around St. George’s Castle, the famed Mosteiro dos Jeronimos monastery, Belem Tower and other impressive monuments and understand the periods of Manueline and Moorish architecture.  Peruse chic shops offering authentic Portuguese specialties such as azulejo tiles, embroidered linens, fine handmade leather gloves, Indo-Portuguese furniture, and explore the old shops which sell gold and silver jewelry in traditional patterns.

Portuguese Tiles

Nibble local food specialties, including the yummy aspasteis de nata custard tarts, bakeries featuring sweets are on almost every block! Tour all or a select few of the many museums including the National Tile Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Museum of Folk Art.  You might enjoy interesting contemporary architecture at the Portugal Pavilion and MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology). We will definitely include a memorable fado music performance at a local night club.  If you have an interest, we can suggest a visit to the private Ricardo do Spirito Santo Silva Foundation, dedicated to the preservation and reproduction of traditional Portuguese design and decorative art.

Next, transfer to the sunny coast for a leisurely lunch in the picturesque seaside town of Cascais, a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. Cascais is a delightful Portuguese fishing town, which has a charming center and is located close to some of the finest beaches of the Lisbon region. Within Cascais is a range of interesting tourist attractions, including fascinating museums, historic mansions and pretty parks, along with all the facilities expected for a bustling resort town.

Surrounding Cascais is a varied region of lively resort towns and the beautiful natural scenery of the Serra de Sintra, with its numerous hiking routes and outstanding surfing. This area is perfect for golf, hilly bike riding and hiking. I passed through a beautiful forest outside of Lisbon, the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais, near the unique surroundings of the mystical Serra de Sintra, where the narrow hilly roads were filled with bikers – who eventually disappeared into the forest on scrubby off road steep trails.

The small resort town of Cascais is on the Atlantic coast, where we can also offer a private cooking class with a market tour, learn to prepare traditional Portuguese dishes in a classic home overlooking the ocean. There is a beach hotel near Cascais, a charming Relais & Chateau property, Fortaleza Do Guincho, a seventeenth-century fortress facing the sea. Within the hotel is a one-star Michelin restaurant.

Quinta da Regaleira,

Continue the drive to Sintra, a refined town of fairy-tale palaces and elegant gardens amid pine forested hillsides. Enjoy private touring in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, stop and explore the romantic National Palace of Pena, the remarkable National Palace of Sintra and the winding cobblestone streets in the historic area the town, including the former Jewish quarter. Also visit Quinta da Regaleira, an estate classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”. The grand house is split over five floors and has an ornate gothic façade, but the real attraction is the enchanting gardens. The gardens of the Quinta da Regaleira were styled to represent ancient secret orders, with hidden tunnels and concealed symbolism.

Charming Cafes, Portugal

In the misty mountains here, you should make a stop for to enjoy lunch at Tivoli Palacio De Setais.  An elegant 18th century neo-classical palace with interiors of frescoed walls, tapestries and antique furniture. Savor an elegant and light interpretation of the Portuguese table. After your glass of spirits, stroll through the manicured gardens, before continuing on your Journey.

Livraria Lello, a historic bookstore

Continue to Porto, the capital of Port wine and a city with a captivating mix of architectural styles, including Baroque and contemporary, Roman and medieval. Stay in a luxurious hotel, the Yeartman, on a hillside overlooking ancient wine cellars and the Douro River. During private touring, explore the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights may include palaces and gardens, the Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange), the Se do Porto (Porto Cathedral), many of the local buildings are covered with beautiful tiles, and don’t miss the famed Livraria Lello, a historic bookstore with stunning ornate woodwork, also known for its views in Harry Potter. Also view remarkable contemporary architecture such as the Casa da Musica by Rem Koolhaas, the Serralves Museum by Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza. Of course, we will also arrange a private tour and Port tasting at one of the city’s most celebrated cellars.

Portugese Tiles

Add a few days to take a private excursion to the Douro Valley, a beautiful region along the Douro River. Here besides a decadent and luxurious stay at The Six Senses Douro Valley, you may visit the best local wineries, explore romantic ancient towns along the Douro River, take an exclusive private river cruise in a traditional rabelo boat and enjoy spectacular views of the hills covered with terraced vineyards. This is an area where not a trace of the terraced hillsides are wasted as open space, miles and miles of grapevines line the sloping hills. There are marvelous hiking trails to be explored, many connect through small farmlands where you can indulge in local cheese making.

The Douro River from The Six Senses Douro Valley

Upon request, we can also arrange cooking classes, walks through villages, kayaking, mountain biking and other activities in the region. We have stayed at most of the top hotels and can provide additional details for several options in each city.

This Journey can easily be extended to include time at a luxury beach resort in the Algarve or add on San Sebastian in Spain.

Search Portugal on gwenbooks.com for additional posts on all described areas in Portugal.