Lisbon to Porto: Exploring Portugal's Charm in April 2024

April 2024 - eight unforgettable days in Portugal alongside Kassie’s parents, meticulously orchestrated by our local tour guide Catarina through The Host Portugal and KimKim!

Day One: kicked off as we touched down in Lisbon, greeted by a chauffeur who whisked us to our hotel. A stroke of luck granted us an early check-in at 9am, allowing for a swift freshening up before we hopped a shuttle to a nearby café for lunch, indulged in some wine, strolled and window-shopped, then Ubered back for a brief three-hour nap. Dinner and drinks at Mad Pizza near our hotel, followed by more drinks at the hotel’s rooftop bar, helped us acclimate to the time zone.

Day Two: unfolded with two private tours. First, a guided exploration with Alexandra and driver João, visiting Jerónimos Monastery, Belem Tower, indulging in Pastel de Nata tastings, and more. Then, a tuktuk tour with Hugo, traversing the city's old town, pausing at viewpoints, and sampling more culinary delights. The day concluded with more Pastel de Natas to go and relaxation at Arco da Rua Augusta, followed by a quirky stop at the Beer Museum, and, of course, more rooftop bar drinks.

Day Three: commenced with a hotel breakfast before Vanessa and Samir collected us for a trip to the eclectic Pena Palace, followed by meandering through Sintra’s winding streets for shopping and a surprise birthday treat for Mom. A beach visit and private tour of Quinta De San Michel winery capped off the day, with more drinks and snacks at the hotel rooftop bar.

Day Four: began with breakfast and farewells to Lisbon as Manuel chauffeured us to Porto, with stops at the medieval Óbidos and coastal Nazaré for a phenomenal seafood lunch. Exploring Porto's streets, rooftop drinks, and a delightful courtyard dinner filled the evening.

Day Five: saw us reuniting with Manuel and meeting Tania for a whirlwind drive around Porto's coast and city center, followed by a visit to Ferreira Port Caves and a panoramic view at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. After lunch and a stroll in Ribeira do Porto, we attended a private cooking class before winding down with drinks in the hotel courtyard.

Day Six: started with breakfast before Manuel took us to Douro Valley's Quinta do Val Moreira for a wine tour and tasting, stunning valley views, and a boat tour. Dinner and drinks at the hotel rounded off the day.

Day Seven: commenced with breakfast in Porto, followed by Manuel escorting us to the train station for our return journey to Lisbon. After settling in, we ventured out for coffee and snacks, followed by drinks at a misty V Rooftop bar. Dad secured a reservation at one of the "top 10 pizza restaurants in the world" for dinner, ending the night with Port on our room balcony overlooking the city.

Day Eight: concluded with a quick Uber ride to the airport, bidding farewell to our Portuguese adventure and heading home.

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00:00 Lisbon to Porto: Exploring Portugal's Charm
00:30 Lisbon Portugal
00:34 SMY Lisbon
00:58 Leitaria Baiana
01:18 MadPizza
01:58 Jerónimos Monastary
03:13 Pastéis de Belém
03:23 Belém Tower
03:58 Restaurante O BECO
04:21 TukTuk Tour with Hugo
05:50 Arco da Rua Augusta
06:14 Museu da Cerveja
07:01 Palace of Pena
07:59 Sintra
09:17 Quinta de San Michel Winery
09:59 Óbidos
11:27 Nazaré
12:10 Taberna d’Adelia
12:22 Porto Portugal
12:25 Vila Galé Porto Ribeira
13:51 Hotel das Virtudes
14:31 Porto Tour
14:58 Ferreira Port Cellars
16:39 Pimms Burgers
17:30 Cooking Class - Work Espaço Criativo
18:36 Drive to Douro Valley
18:49 Quinta do Val Moreira Winery
20:19 Douro Valley Boat Ride
21:25 Train from Porto to Lisbon
22:18 Lutecia Smart Design Hotel
22:33 O Melhor Pão de Ló do Universo
22:47 V Rooftop Bar
23:12 Forno d’Oro