Sightseeing and food, giving you the dry run without stepping on any toes!
Having been to many places, I have not written very seriously about Portugal, which I know best. Portugal is located in the western part of Europe, bordered by Spain to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The tourism industry is better developed and still improving greatly. The weather is fantastic, except in winter when it’s rainy!
The red roofs have become our label for Portugal
When we first arrived in Portugal, we had two wanderlust brothers to guide us through the relatively famous cities of Portugal before the school year was out.
Coimbra
When I first started learning Portuguese, the city I heard most often, apart from Lisbon, was Coimbra. Located in central Portugal, Coimbra is famous for its academic culture. The University of Coimbra is probably the most famous attraction in Coimbra. A university takes up most of the city, which is why people call Coimbra a university city.
Pretending to see the sights
The University of Coimbra is the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world. It is one of the four universities named as a World Heritage Site, and we were told about it by our freshman professor with pride on his face. When we entered the University of Coimbra, we couldn’t help but feel that this is what a university is all about! You can buy different sets of tickets to visit the museums, libraries and towers in the university, depending on your needs.
The Bell Tower, which can be climbed to the top
The revolving staircase to the top
Europeans really like to go to the top of all kinds of buildings, probably because they are not very tall and you can get a great view of the whole place once you get to the top. This was our first experience in Europe and it was really amazing. Most of the summits in Europe use these ‘endless spiral staircases’, why do you say that, when you climb the stairs you are constantly spiralling upwards, you can only see the spinning stairs ahead of you and you don’t know when you will reach the top. It is recommended that all those who visit Europe climb to the top to experience it, hehehe.
Library exterior
No photos allowed inside the library, interior photo from the internet
One of the places I was looking forward to when I visited Coimbra was the Coimbra University Library. This library is one of the most beautiful in the world. The exterior is baroque and the interior is luxurious to the extreme. In fact, the library is currently only accessible to visitors and the books inside can only be seen from a distance, as it is so old.
While waiting to enter the library, a couple from Switzerland spoke to us in English. Many people in Portugal are still curious about foreigners like us, and some enthusiastic Europeans always like to have a chat with us.
Speaking of Coimbra’s collegiate culture (I don’t know the exact translation of this word), we were there at the start of the school year and felt a very strong atmosphere. The streets and alleys were filled with students wandering around in their cool black robed and cloaked bachelor’s uniforms, both standing and sitting, in a dominant manner. In Portugal, this dress code is a symbol of seniority and is not available to freshers. The Harry Potter School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s uniform was inspired by this cloaked uniform in Portugal, which originated in Coimbra.
It’s cool. I don’t know if the one I photographed catches my eye, but it’s more common to see an ankle-length black cape, which is much cooler.
Although desserts are famous in France, in fact, all parts of Portugal have their own specialties. Compared to the sophistication of French desserts, Portuguese desserts are more homely in style. After this afternoon tea, all four of us found it ridiculously sweet and not only did we save a dinner, but we vowed not to eat dessert for a month. A teacher later told me that the reason Europeans have such a sweet tooth is because in the old days only the aristocracy could eat sugar.
I’ll tell you, Macau’s Portuguese tarts are good enough!
Holy Cross Convent
Famous attractions.
University of Coimbra
Convent of the Holy Cross
Old Church
Porto
Porto, a tourist city in the north of Portugal, where the majority of Portuguese wine is produced, is also known as the wine capital.
Porto is arguably in my top two favourite cities in Portugal. It is a big city comparable to Lisbon, but with a bit more flair than Lisbon. In recent years, Porto has become a fashion capital in the minds of Europeans and is rated as having the potential to surpass Paris.
São Bento Railway Station
This train station has been described as the most beautiful in Portugal, but I regret that I didn’t know it was a famous attraction so I took a random photo of it. In small places you really have to take in every view you pass.
The roads in Portugal are uphill and steep, so it is said that the quality of the local brand of high heels in Portugal is particularly good.
The double-decker tour bus, with its bright colours, makes you feel brighter.
The Leroy Brothers Bookshop, one of the ten most beautiful bookshops in the world.
Inside the bookshop
This is where jk Rowling got her inspiration for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tickets are €5, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Perhaps because of its reputation as one of the most beautiful bookshops, the tiny bookshop can be described as crowded. People are eager to pose for photos in all the corners and on the stairs, and there is a lot of talking. Sitting down with a cup of coffee and flicking through a book in this luxuriously beautiful bookshop was probably easier to achieve when it wasn’t so named. After being promoted as a tourist attraction, it has somehow lost its meaning as a bookshop.
francesinha
The francesinha is one of Porto’s most famous dishes. It’s not really French, it’s a sandwich made with cheese, ham and red wine steak, a bit mushy, but it’s good for two people.
The lift up and down the hill looks exciting
The Douro in the evening has a different feel to it. The houses on the other side of the river are gradually lit up in warm colours, as if by candlelight swaying
In Portugal there is a wide range of ordinary wines and they are very cheap, and Porto is full of small shops and cellars selling wine, so you must try them here.
The bridge behind this one is actually famous for the Don Luis I Bridge, designed by Eiffel’s protégé, which is very much in the style of the Eiffel Tower. When being taken on a flight of fancy is this bit of bad, do not read the strategy before playing, take pictures also randomly >_<
Steal a picture of the big brother
Famous attractions.
Don Luis I Bridge
San Bento Station
Libera Marina, Plaza
Aveiro
Aveiro, the water town south of Porto
As soon as I left the train station, Aveiro struck me as a little more artistic and modern.
The water is said to be much better than the Venetian canals
Aveiro can be described as a very touristy city and is known as the Venice of Portugal. Colourful boats ply the canals that run through the city, with small houses of various colours standing on either side of the river. From time to time, the people on the boats shout to those on the shore: Olá!
What a beautiful day!
Aveiro is also famous for its beaches, which are full of colourful little houses and have a holiday feel, but we weren’t too keen on the beaches so we didn’t go.
One of our seniors said that Aveiro was the city he would recommend most in Portugal because of its beautiful surroundings, while our brothers found it very boring because there was nothing interesting to see. I guess it’s a case of each to his own, but at least the beauty of Aveiro is undeniable.
Lisbon
Landing
The capital of Portugal, located in the west-central part of the country, is the westernmost city on the European continent.
Unlike other European capitals, Lisbon is less ‘big city’ and more Mediterranean.
Elevador da Glória
The Elevador da Glória ️ is a famous attraction that looks very similar to a ding-dong car, probably because it only goes up and down this big slope. The slope is not very steep, nor is it very long, and the not-so-cheap price of the ticket makes this attraction a bit of a dud for many people, but it’s fun to choose to climb the slope yourself and take photos along the way ~ there’s an observation deck overlooking the whole of Lisbon city centre once you get up the slope.
The observation deck (which was under renovation when we were there)
Cheese cod ball with a glass of Porto green wine
If I remember correctly, the restaurant is called Casa de bacalhau, House of Cod, and is located in the city centre. Deep-fried cod balls with cheese, sounds very appealing, doesn’t it? However, the cheese is not exactly the same as what we normally receive, it’s a bit fermented. But the port green wine is still very good~
Christmas street lights, very similar to the Macau style
The Christmas atmosphere abroad is very strong, with fireworks, and you must see the streets at Christmas.
Superb chocolate cake
Searching for good food is a daily activity in Portugal, after all, there is a shortage of good food for school in a small village! I accidentally came across this highly rated café, and the chocolate cake was a big hit. It’s rare to get a dessert that’s just the right amount of sweetness in Portugal, as they are very sugar-loving. The chocolate is rich without being too sweet and the cake is dense, so all in all it’s really good! The shop is small, but very stylish. Highly recommended!
landeau chocolate, Rua das Flores 70, 1200-195 Lisboa
Then we entered the Belém district.
Monument to the Great Discovery
The whole of the Belém district is well worth a closer look, without the noise of the city centre and with a gradual increase in the weight of history.
Belém Tower
The Tower of Belém, the Monument to the Great Discoveries and the Monastery of Geronimo are the three most famous sights.
Enoteca De Belém, Tv. Marta Pinto 10, 1300-315 Lisboa
This restaurant is a small, high-quality restaurant I searched for, fine but not very high-dollar Portuguese meals that require an email to book in advance (the official website can be accessed after a google maps search). I would personally recommend the fish for main courses in Portugal, after all cod is an ingredient they pride themselves on, and the meat steak type of main course is probably below expectations.
A view from the street
Pastel de Belém
Pastel de Belém is the origin of Portuguese tarts and is the most famous Portuguese tart in Portugal. It has also been selected as one of the top 10 desserts in Europe and almost all tourists have to come here for a taste. There are dine-in and take-away options, so don’t queue up for the wrong one. The dine-in area is large, so you can go straight inside the shop and queue up in the section, while the packed food is queued up outside the shop. A dine-in breakfast with a cup of coffee in the morning is a great way to feel happy! The Portuguese have a habit of sprinkling extra cinnamon and sugar on top of their tarts before eating, so if you want to get the full local flavour, you can try it too.
Sintra
Sintra is located just outside of Lisbon, less than an hour away by train. It’s a place you can’t leave behind on your visit to Lisbon!
Onde a terra acaba e o mar começa. The land ends here, the sea begins here.
Cape Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent. Unfortunately the weather was not clear on the day I was there, the weather is always unpredictable in winter, in summer there is a much better chance of seeing the sea and sky, the sea blue and sky blue here are unbelievably stunning.
Catch a foggy day.
Walking into Pena Palace is like stepping into a fairy tale book, with bright blocks of colour that lift the mood.
The palace may not be opulent, but it is equally interesting to look at and see.
Sintra’s speciality dessert, almond tart, is, sans thunder, delicious!
Many people only have one day for Sintra, including myself, but when it was time to leave I realised that the trip had been rushed and there were too many interesting places to enjoy. The imperfect weather was a major regret and not making it to the highly rated sites such as the Regalera Estate, Montserrat Palace and the Moorish Castle was another big regret for me.
Overall, Portugal is an excellent choice when planning a trip to Europe! Both in terms of safety factor, expectations and friendliness of the locals.
