On the edge of Western Europe, Portugal is a tourism hot spot, which usually falls into the two mainstream categories: beach or culture. The Atlantic coast is a prime destination for beach-bound sun-seekers, whereas the monuments of culture of this grand old nation are found inland and in the cities. Portugal was once one of the greatest colonial powers, ruthlessly exploiting countries like Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor or Cape Verde. Hence the country bears traces & monuments that reflect the wealth and influence Portugal once had as it explored and colonized distant lands.

 

Porto

Porto, along the Douro River is a city that resonates with the grandeur of Portugal's historic empire. Long ago, it was a major hub for trading things like goods and stuff from ships. The buildings look pretty cool, especially in the part called Ribeira where you can see colorful houses with fancy designs. Porto has old stuff like a big church called Porto Cathedral and a famous bridge called Dom Luís I Bridge. People also go there to try special wine called Port wine and enjoy sitting in cafes by the river.

 

Sintra

Sintra is a place that's really beautiful and magical. Not too far from Lisbon, Sintra is famous for its stunning palaces, like the colorful Pena Palace sitting high on a hill, and the historic Moorish Castle with its old walls. The town itself is charming, with narrow streets, cute cafes, and shops selling local crafts. Many people visit Sintra because it feels like stepping into a fairy tale.

 

Lisbon

Lisbon is a hilly and historic city with steep and mazy streets of polished cobbles that resound to the clank of antique trams. The trams are a great way of getting around though the city is quite walkable too, though I'd advise some hiking shoes with ankle support to negotiate the cobbled streets. Lisbon was once the nerve centre of an empire spanning as far as South East Asia, Africa and South America. An empire testament of the Portuguese seafaring explorers. Nowadays, Lisbon is skulduggery central. When walking around Avenida da Liberdade, people were selling weed, and when you refuse they'll try to sell you cocaine instead. Watch out for the taxi drivers too, they have plenty of things on their mind but work is not one of them. We gave a taxi driver a 50 euros note, he tried to make us believe we only gave him 5 euros. Meanwhile in Bairro Alto, the nightlife area that gets packed with people after midnight, many pickpockets operate.

 

Portuguese Fado

Portuguese Fado (ie fate in Portuguese) is a music genre that originates in urban Lisbon. It's a type of mournful folk music sung by the common people. The music genre was recently added to the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.