Travel Around Portugal With Best Experts!

A prominent example of Portuguese architecture, Belém Tower, is located in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It has become a cornerstone of Portuguese identity and the most visited destination. Originally the monument was erected as a symbol of Europe's Age of Discoveries and, in particular, of Vasco da Gama’s worldwide famous expedition aimed at discovering a new trade route to India. Due to its proximity to the ocean the tower served as a lighthouse for seagoing vessels.

Located on top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains near the town of Sintra there is an amazing castle called Pena Palace. Its history dates back to the 12th century when a castle was built over an old non-functioning monastery after an apparition of the Virgin Mary. As time passed by the castle turned abandoned.

The city of Alcobaça is best known for one of the top highlights of Portugal, the Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaça dating back to the 12th century. Nowadays it’s not only a notable historical landmark but the largest Portuguese church as well. The Abbey’s building comprises five monasteries, a library, seven bedrooms and an extra large kitchen.

A real highlight of Portugal and one of the most beautiful Portuguese cities is situated in Alto Alentejo Province. Évora, often called Portugal’s “Museum City” is surrounded by lovely olive groves, richest vineyards and flourishing meadows. Évora’s rich history is reflected in a vast number of historical sights like ancient buildings, temples, palaces and cathedrals.

Porto is a major cultural, industrial and financial center of northern Portugal. Although Porto is the second-largest city in the country it’s the most economically powerful center as many of the largest Portuguese corporations are headquartered here. It’s a mix of a large city's features and the atmosphere of comfort and soulfulness that makes Porto so special.

Gondomar is a municipality located at the right bank of the Duero River just east of Porto. It features rural landscapes and doesn't feel like a big city, so people live a peaceful and quiet life here. Gondomar today is a city full of lush vegetation, river beaches and colorful fields and forests. At the same time it’s a mere 25 minutes bus ride to Porto.

Viseu is a city and municipality located in central Portugal and right in the middle of the well-known Dão wine-producing region. The climate here is characterized by hot and dry summers and cold and wet winters. The charming old city is far from a ghost town, it’s a flourishing cultural center, home to the national universities and developed business connections.

Estoril is noted for its vibrant nightlife and the largest casino. The locals say, the author of the James Bond novels found one of his inspirations when witnessing an episode that happened in the Estoril casino. Traveling to the south towards Algarve you will find yourself in a region filled with sun, water and glorious sandy beaches. If you want more than a large beach, travel towards the center where you can admire flourishing lemon and orange orchards hidden among the scenic hills.

No wonder that the Lisbon Oceanarium is the world’s second-largest and the largest indoor aquarium in Europe since historically Portugal has always been a maritime country. Around one million people visit the Oceanarium every year. Actually it is far more than a mere attraction to entertain the public. Apart from the Oceanarium there is also a research institution of marine biology and oceanography. In addition to that the Oceanarium offers a variety of educational activities for children.

At the wonderful Zoo da Maia located in the city of Maia near Porto visitors can get acquainted with a variety of wild animals, including tigers, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bears and many other representatives of fauna. The zoo is also home to amazing talking parrots. You really can't take your eyes off them when they are talking. Every time they greet you with “Olá!” (meaning “Hello!”) you would fancy that they understand what they are saying.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal is a gorgeous French botanical garden where you can watch free-range peacocks and enjoy spectacular views of Porto. Spend a few hours wandering among the amazing trees and carefully designed flower beds. As for your kids, they will definitely get intrigued by the rumors that the garden served as a source of inspiration for the Forbidden Forest in the Harry Potter saga. Suggest them to explore the place to check whether it’s true or not.

World of Discoveries is an interactive museum and theme park which in a fun and informative way reconstruct the history of the Age of Great Geographical Discoveries when Portuguese great explorers were crossing oceans to discover unknown worlds.

One of the most extraordinary things tourists are impressed by in Portugal is numerous building facades covered with ceramic tiles called azulejo. There is even an art museum in Lisbon exclusively dedicated to the azulejo. While in the museum, don't miss visiting the lovely cafeteria decorated in azulejo tiles that depict gastronomy themed images. You will enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the cafe, a beautiful garden and a lovely fountain where live turtles are kept.

The Pimenta Palace was constructed in the 18th century by order of King John V of Portugal. He presented the Palace to Paula Teresa da Silva e Almeida, a nun of the Monastery of São Dinis in Odivelas who was his mistress. The place is breathtaking in its majestic grandeur and is a must-visit destination.

One of the highlights of Lisbon is the ruins of the Convent do Carmo (Carmelite) on the hill overhanging the Baixa district of Lisbon. The Carmo Convent standing as a reminder of the convent’s history is one of the must-visit attractions of Lisbon. Since the Convent is located on the steepest hill it can be reached only by the Santa Justa Elevator built in the 20th century in order to connect two districts of Lisbon - the lower Baixa and Chiado. The elevator’s terraces offer an amazing view of the Carmo Convent.

The Maritime Museum in Lisbon is located in Western wing of the old Jerónimos Monastery. One of the oldest museums in Portugal was founded in 1863 by order of King Louis who had started collecting the items for the Navy Museum in the 18th century. Today the Museum hosts a huge collection of more than 18 thousand items, and 2,5 thousand of them are on permanent display. The museum’s exposition is dedicated to Portugal's pioneering roles in the exploration of new worlds during the country’s Golden Age of Discovery.