Having frequented Portugal several times, I can safely say I’ve fallen in love. Not only is Portugal a bucket list destination, but it has also become one of my all-time favourite countries. Here are 5 of the best reasons why you need to visit Portugal this year.
THE PEOPLE
I’ve been in and around Portugal; Lisbon, Sintra, Lagos, you name it and I’ve been there. One of the things that have always had a lasting impression on me was how kind the Portuguese are to tourists. They go out of their way to make sure you’re happy, the hospitality is phenomenal and they give great local recommendations of the best places to visit and things to see and do if you want to live like a ‘local’ on your trip.
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation in Portugal is to die for. Seriously, I’ve stayed at some of the best hotels and apartments in the world and for some reason, they never match up to Portugal. On my most recent trip to Lagos, I stayed at Baluarte De Vila Apartments, the staff were fabulously accommodating and the location was perfect. It also offers scenic and unrivaled views of the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re traveling to Lagos and wish to explore the area, I would highly recommend booking the Baluarte De Vila Apartments.
A CULINARY ORGASM
When I say the food is legendary, it truly is. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried a fresh Pastéis de Nata. A warm custard tart traditional to Portugal and truly they’re delicious. You can get them almost everywhere but the absolute best are from Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon.
HISTORY YOU SAY? THEY HAVE IT
As the oldest country in Europe, rest assured it has a history in abundance. It’s chalked full of legends, and folklore and even has a world UNESCO site about 45 minutes from the centre of Lisbon, in the town of Sintra. It’s home to the Quinta da Regaleira, a well that the Knights of Templar originally used. Sintra is also home to many palaces including the most Instagrammable one: Pena Palace. I spent 5 days in Sintra, and remains of my favourite towns in the world.
The Adventure
Portugal is a thrill seekers’ dream place, it offers world-class surfing, beautiful waters, legendary hikes, and motorcycle trails that experts fantasise over. There is no shortage of adventures for an adrenaline junky and I’d highly recommend Kiteboarding or surfing. They’re terribly hard to pick up but so fun even just to learn for a day or two. Book a lesson and get on the board, it’s a great workout and an incredible rush to feel the waves on your body!
All in all, if you haven’t been to Portugal yet you need to add it to your bucket list before it becomes the absolute hottest vacation spot in Europe.