If you’re looking for a getaway and a good starting point to see the Alentejo, then the historic capital of the region is the best place to go! Évora, considered the Portuguese city with the second-best living conditions, is around 1,300 sq km (or about 500 sq mi) and has around 50,000 people.

Competing with Braga in seniority, the city has a history dating back more than five millennia. In Évora, you can travel to the different times that the city has lived through, from the Romans, passing through the times of the Inquisition until the 1900s. It’s generations and generations of different types of people and cultures that have walked that same ground! Many of them, even the same cobbled streets as we are walking!

Its Historical Center was the second one in Portugal to be considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is fairly quick to see, with 1.05 km2 (0.41 sq mi). There you can find amazing buildings like the Roman Temple, the Évora Cathedral, the Bones Chapel, the Aqueduct, and over 400 historical buildings in this incredible walled city.

The typical Portuguese sidewalk (“Calçada Portuguesa”) fills the streets of this time-traveling city. On each side of its narrow streets, you will find houses that tell history in each of their stones.

Once the residence of kings, this museum-city will take you on a journey through space and time, with its historic scenery and its monuments that inspired Brazilian architecture.

Getting to Évora

Lisbon to Évora

You should drive 140 km east out of Lisbon along the A6 highway, in the direction to Évora. This will take you around 1:30h. Or you can hire a Tesla to drive you and give you a tour.

You can also get there by bus, with Rede Expressos having daily buses to Évora from Sete Rios.

As for the trains, there are Lisbon-Évora rides four times a day out of Oriente, Sete Rios, and Entrecampos railway stations. However, Évora’s railway station is 1km south of the city center, about 20 minutes by walking.

Porto to Évora

This will be a loooong drive from Porto…

The quickest route is through the A1 and A6 motorways (around 410 km). This, with good traffic, takes around 4 hours!

As for bus and train, you should first get to Lisbon and then change the bus or train to the ones going to Évora.

How to Plan Your Visit

Day Trip to Évora from Lisbon: You can make this a day trip from Lisbon and explore the city in a day. Most of the interesting places are in the Historic Center and you can get to them pretty fast, but probably you won’t have that much time to explore the surroundings.

Stay in Évora and explore the surroundings: Explore the beautiful city and the rest of Alentejo! Head on to the Great Lake of Alqueva, the wonderful Beja, founded by Emperor Julius Caeser himself, to Elvas, the largest walled city in the world, or to Évoramonte, where you will find an amazing castle with a peculiar architectural feature! You can also visit Vila Viçosa or Viana do Alentejo, two beautiful Alentejan towns, or even go to the Spanish city of Badajoz or Mérida. And if you are a political fun facts aficionado, you can head on to Olivença/Olivenza, a town on the border that is claimed by both Portugal and Spain.

Where to eat in Évora

At Praça do Giraldo you will find lots of restaurants to choose from with regional traditional cuisine! The main dishes you can find in the city are tomato soup, purslane (‘beldroegas’), ‘toucinho’ (a type of bacon), dogfish, ‘açorda’ (a traditional bread soup), and the well-known convent sweets. In many bakeries, you can also find the famous ‘Queijada de Évora’ or the ‘grala bread’, try it out!

If you are looking for more modern and different food from the traditional, then head on to Alcárcova de Baixo Street, one of the ‘trendiest’ streets in the city.

Nightlife in Évora

You will find some cafés and bars open at night, where you can have a coffee or a drink. If you feel like it, you can even find some nightclubs (as a student city too, Évora has to have places to party!).

Besides all of this, you can have a quiet walk around the Historic Center, watching the lights illuminating the historic houses, churches, and the Temple. Alentejo is the hottest part of Portugal, and even though it gets colder at night in the colder months, you can have a comfortable walk if you take a good jacket.

What to do in Evora

It is usually joked that in Évora, every kick on a rock will reveal an archeological treasure, due to its millennia of human history. And you will experience this if you visit it!

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Here are the main attractions that you HAVE to see in Évora:

Praça do Giraldo

This square is the living heart of the city. Under the hot Alentejan sun, you will see the locals resting on a bench there or next to the water fountain. Wonderful archways and the typical Alentjean white walls (to reflect the sunlight and not absorb it) surround this central square, giving it the authentic and traditional look of the region.

You can find a very bustling market there on the weekends, and on the other days, you can shop in the several stores under the archways. In the summertime, the restaurants in the square will have some tables outside and you will see the square filled with life, with families having lunch and people having coffee and chatting. You can also find some music concerts or street theaters happening in the square if you are lucky!

The square is said to have been named after Geraldo Sem-Pavor (Geraldo the Fearless), an outlaw who expelled the Moors from the city. With the passage of time, Geraldo turned to Giraldo and the name stayed, the Square of Giraldo.

Rua Cinco de Outubro

Going through the arches of the square, we reach the 5th October Street, named after the day of the Implementation of the Republic in Portugal.

This street is filled with handicraft shops, from carved cork, by which Portugal and the Alentejo more specifically are very well-known, to copperware. It is very tourist-centered, with lots of souvenir shops, but nonetheless a must-go street! You can even find here the famous Queijadas de Évora that I’ve talked about eating!

You can also see living houses with the neighbors talking to each other in the windows while letting the airflow through the house (the heat is not to joke about here!).

Sé Catedral de Évora

The Cathedral of Évora is one of the most majestic Cathedrals that make up the Portuguese religious patrimony and the largest medieval Cathedral in Portugal.

The building is of Romanesque origin, as it was built in this style in 1204, but through the ages, it faced several changes. Now, it has traces of various other architectural styles, such as Plateresque, Gothic, or Baroque.

On the main door, you can see a wonderful 14th-century sculpture of the Apostles, before walking inside, and seeing it is as wonderful as outside.

You can also visit the sacred art museum inside and its terrace, where you will have a privileged view of the city from its high towers.

Templo Romano de Évora

Also called “Diana’s Temple” (even though this was then found out to be wrong) the Roman Temple is one of the most emblematic monuments in all of Portugal, considered one of the most important legacies left in the two millennia of Roman history in the region.

It is believed to have been built in the 1st century AD, its surviving columns have survived over 2.000 years, being themselves a monument of masonry.

In that same square, you will also find the Jardim Diana (Diana Garden), with its romantic flowers as if they are watching over the Temple, and the Évora Museum, a former 16th-century palace that houses the entirety of the city’s history under its roof. At night, the temple is lightened, filling it with an even bigger sense of grandiosity.

Termas Romanas de Évora

The Roman Baths were the place where people would bathe, hang out, and make business. Now, it is part of the rich legacy of this city, as a former Roman city.

Dating back to the 1st century AD, these Baths were very recently discovered, only in 1987, when some excavations were being made in the old part of the Hall. It is complete with a brick doorway, a sunken room with a circular steam bath, vestiges of a furnace (that was used as a central heating system), and an open-air swimming pool.

Situated inside of what is now the City Hall, the Roman Baths can be visited for free, from Monday to Friday during office hours.

Palácio Cadaval

The Cadaval Palace incorporates parts of the city’s old castle and the Lóios Church or Church of Saint John the Evangelist.

This Church’s modest exterior does not do justice to its inside. Completely filled with 18th-century azulejos depicting the life of Saint Lawrence, this will leave you in constant awe throughout your visit.

The Church also holds a secret. It was built on top of the ruins of a Moorish castle, and here, on the cistern of this castle, a crypt was made to house the bones of the friars of the Lóios Convent. You can access it through a trapdoor among the benches. If it’s locked, just ask the Church’s caretaker to open it up!

Today, besides the Church, it features a patio, where you can enjoy a relaxing coffee, a luxurious Inn and a restaurant, as well as the famous Tower of the Five Corners, said to be haunted. It is still a private residence, where you can see the valuable Cadaval family collection of paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, armor, and weaponry from the 15th until the 18th centuries.

Mercado Municipal de Évora

A symbol of the local economy, the Municipal Market is where life starts in Évora, with the local population rushing to the spot to get the freshest local products.

If you want to get a taste of the normal life in Évora and get traditional local products, like Alentejan cheeses or regional cakes, this is the place! You can also have a relaxed coffee or breakfast in its cafés while talking to the locals, or even an ice cream at the ice cream shop.

It is open between 7h and 18h, every day except Monday.

Igreja de São Francisco e Capela dos Ossos

The Church of St. Francis is, together with the Cathedral, one of the first things you can see when you arrive in Évora, rising out of a hill in the Alentejan plains.

This Church is made in the Gothic-Manueline style, being originally in a Romanesque one, but little is left of it. It was the first convent where the Franciscans installed themselves in Portugal, making it of big religious and historical significance.

At the end of the 15th century, the kings started to give this, at the time, Convent more privileges, being nicknamed “the Convent of Gold”, because of all the richness that decorated it.

But this Church also has a surprise (and yes, it also involves bones). The Capela dos Ossos (Bones Chapel) is made out of the remains of 5.000 monks, much more than the Lóios Church one (that’s why this is the main one and the most known).

This 16th-century chapel also features two dangling corpses, one even being of a child.

To make it even creepier, when you enter the chapel you can find a warning saying: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos” (We bones that are here, await yours). Like, really??

Even though it seems like a really creepy place, it is actually the second most visited tourist attraction in Évora. People come because of the shock that it is to see a whole building made out of what once were humans, but also for the consciousness that it gives of the frailty of life.

Today it is not that much of a creepy place, it is well lit and you have visitors coming and going, so you will be fine! So if you think you only have a stomach for one bone chapel and you’re wondering between this one and the Lóios one, I would recommend this one.

Universidade de Évora

The building of Évora’s old university is amazing. Built with sculpted marble and with walls covered in azulejos, the building itself invites you to come in. When you do that, you will get even more amazed when you see the classroom walls decorated with panels of each of the subjects taught.

You can also find an 18th-century Baroque chapel, known as ‘Sala dos Atos’. You can ask the caretaker for the key if you want to explore it!

The collection of buildings was inaugurated in 1559 and it is still used by students, so you should check with the workers there if you can explore.

Aqueduto da Água de Prata

The Aqueduct of Silver Water is so incredible that it was spoken about by the great Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, who described it in its masterpiece “Os Lusíadas”. The structure can be seen throughout the city, going for 9km and reaching a height of 26 meters.

As it reaches closer and closer to the center of the city, the Aqueduct mixes together with the houses, shops, and warehouses that were built within its arches. You can see the traditional houses of Alentejo, painted white, light blue, or yellow, that use it as a doorway. You can find lots of them around Rua do Cano.

Definitely, a place to check!

Alto de São Bento

Overseeing the whole city, this well-kept secret has the best panoramic view of Évora. Next to the old windmills and the Museological Center, you can sit there and watch a breathtaking sunset over Évora, perhaps accompanied by your loved one, with some friends or enjoying your well-deserved alone time.

Jardim Público

The Public Garden of Évora is a great garden if you are looking for colors and plant diversity. You can enjoy a quiet time there, a wonderful picnic and, as always in this city, a bit of history. Here are the remains of the Medieval Wall, D. Manuel Palace, and the Ruínas Fingidas (or Faked Ruins, named this way because they were built in 1863 by Italian choreographer Giuseppe Cinnatti with ruins of several monuments in the city).

You are guaranteed to enjoy your walk there and, if you’re lucky, you might even find some company in the peacocks that walk around the Gardens.

Megaliths Tour

If you want to adventure a bit outside of the city, you can go on this Megaliths Tour until the Cromeleque dos Almendres (Cromlech of Almendres), an oval-shaped monolith made up of 95 granite stones that date back to the end of the 6th millennia BC.

It is believed to have been a temple dedicated to the sun, with the circle serving as an astronomical observatory. But the mystery stays on what is the Menhir of Almendres, a 2.5 meter stone found 1.5km from the Cromlech.

You can visit the sites through a marked trail and tour them with local archeologists, to get a better understanding of what is known (and unknown) about this structure.

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Final Remarks

Évora is a millennia-old city that still endures in the 21st century. Marked by the passage of the years, with history built upon history (quite literally, in the case of the Lóios Church), a visit to it is a necessary one if you are around.

If you have an interest in understanding the Alentejan way of life, the culture, the architecture, the history, and the mentality, just walk through the streets of Évora and immerse yourself in the city. Talk to the friendly people that will surely approach you, have a coffee around, eat and drink in the local ‘tascas’!

But don’t forget that it still is the capital of the region, and in the capitals, you usually can’t have quite the feeling of the rest of the region (you know, “big city” life), so be sure to see the rest of Alentejo and its beautiful towns and people.

In any way, usually, 2 days is enough to visit the historical city and the surroundings, and if you do want to visit the rest of Alentejo, Évora is a great jumping start to visit the whole region! I hope you have a chance to visit this wonderful place and I hope you enjoy it!

⬇️What are your favorite things to do in Evora? Let us know in the comments below⬇️

The historical importance of Coimbra is massive, it’s one of Portugal’s oldest cities, since Roman times, this city was already an important location.

Coimbra was once the proud capital of the Portuguese nation. It is located in the center of Portugal, Coimbra is often called the City of Knowledge since its home to the oldest University in Portugal, the symbol of excellence, and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage.

The best way to do your journey to Coimbra is on foot because the city has two zones, the upper section (Alta), where you can find the University, Joanina Library, and Sé Velha, and the lower section area (Baixa), the old part of the town which is more commercial with restaurants, and tiny tascas (budget eateries).

What to do in Coimbra

Visiting Coimbra and not visiting the University is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. To get to the university, start from the Almedina Tower, the entrance gate forming part of the wall that surrounded the old city situated in the lower section of the city. Here, you can explore the alleys that date back to the 8th century.

Keep on walking and from here you will have to “climb the mountain” through a staircase from Rua de Quebra Costas (built to get from downtown to uptown) to the Sé Velha square.

Here, you can visit The Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), a church that resembles a fortress financed by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.

If you keep going you will reach the University grounds and access the Patio admire the view over the Mondego River and get a panoramic view over all of town! One of the most popular attractions of this Area is the Joanine Library, a Baroque library situated in the center of the University of Coimbra, by the university tower.

The library was built in the 18^th century and it is considered a national monument with priceless historical value. There are thousands of works that lay upon a lavish space full of beauty and exoticism, where the richness of the painted ceilings is in harmony with the balustrades and shelves made of golden leaves and wood from the tropics.

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Continue your walk through the University buildings, passing by the Faculty of Medicine and others. You can also visit the New Cathedral (Sé Nova), originally a Jesuit church built slowly over a hundred years which stands out against another point of interest, the Machado de Castro National Museum, famous for its collections of paintings, sculptures, goldwork, and tapestries, as well as for the elegance of its panoramic Loggia which rests on an amazing Roman crypt, the precious remains of Civita Aeminium Forum. 

Before returning to the lower part of the city (always on foot, obviously!), you can’t miss the botanical garden, one of the oldest gardens in Portugal!

With 13 hectares of beauty, the garden was established in 1772 by the Marquis de Pombal with the purpose to supplement the study of medicine and natural history at the University of Coimbra as medicinal plants were grown and exotic species, brought back from Portugal’s overseas colonies, were planted.

The garden is situated adjacent to the Aqueduto de São Sebastião (San Sebastian Aqueduct), built over what was once a Roman aqueduct in the 16th century. It is thought the prolific Italian architect Filippo Terzi had a hand in its construction. The graceful arches of the aqueduct carrying water into the city helped to fuel the city’s growth at the time.

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Now you can start your descent from the Alta to the Sofia region, or Coimbra’s Baixa. While there, be sure to visit the Santa Cruz Monastery. This monument gained the status of National Pantheon, as it is where the first two kings of Portugal are buried.

From here you can walk towards the river, through a small square with a lot of small stores and traditional commerce. This small square opens to the river and Santa Clara Bridge (used by pedestrians to get to the southern bank from the old town center).

It was once the gateway to the city and is where you can see some of its most beautiful buildings, like the iconic Astoria Hotel and the local headquarters of the Bank of Portugal. From here you can see Santa Clara’s Bridge that spans the Rio Mondego, one of the oldest of the three bridges crossing the river in the city.

After crossing, you can’t miss the Convent of Santa Clara. This monastery was built in 1314 by Queen Saint Isabel of Aragon and it is a fine example of the architecture of that period, being notable for the size of the church and cloister and the stone vault that covers the three naves of the church.

Because of its location on the banks of the River Mondego, the convent was subjected to frequent floods that led to the building of an upper floor and the abandonment of the almost permanently submerged ground floor.

It is also important to mention that this monument area gives access to City Park, an extensive green area by the Mondego River ideal to take a break, while here enjoying the peace and quiet, don’t miss out on the Pedro e Inês bridge footbridge, a bridge with a cool and clever design that offers an amazing view over the university and the whole town.

Also, if you have children, or even if you don’t! You have to visit Portugal dos Pequenitos, a miniature park with reproductions of national and other countries’ main landmarks.  

Finally for our last attraction, Quinta das Lágrimas. This estate has been the setting for the forbidden romance between King D. Pedro I and Inês de Castro. The gardens have a canal, “Fonte dos Amores”, that according to legend transported love letters between the Estate and the Royal Palace. According to history, the same waters were turned red by the blood of D. Inês who was assassinated here and according to legend, the marks of her blood can still be seen on the rocks. 

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Portugal’s most chic resort, Cascais is known for its three stunning bays and boasts delicious upscale restaurants, luxurious hotels, and non-pareil beaches. But it is the tranquil atmosphere of luxury and ease, along with its stunning seaside esplanade that makes it one of Europe’s most prized seaside destinations.

Things to do in Cascais

There are tons of tours and activities to try and do in Cascais.

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Go to Boca do Inferno

A one-of-its-kind cliff formation with a stunning natural arch, Boca do Inferno, is one of Cascais’ prime touristic landmarks. The site is known for the scenic vistas opening from its observation deck and is a great spot to both take selfies and marvel at the locale’s scenic sunsets.

Keep in mind that it takes just 20 minutes to get to Boca do Inferno from Cascais’ city center.  

Farol Museu de Santa Marta

Make it to Cascais’ magical beacon, housing one of the town’s newest museums. Towering above the estuary of the Tagus River, the red-capped lighthouse serves as the guiding light for the deluxe yachts sailing to Cascais’ scenic marina.

Bear in mind that the quadrangular white-tiled blue-striped tower is one of Cascais’ most prized locales, shining not only to ships returning from a long voyage but also to love-stricken couples who go on their first date.  

Casa das Historias Paula Rego

Have you thought that Cascais is just posh clubs, chic restaurants, and luxurious yachts? It is also a wealth of cultural locales, for you to combine great natural marvels with some of Portugal’s best art venues.

One of such locales is Casa das Historias Paula Rego Museum. Built to the design of Eduardo Souto de Moura, the awe-inspiring edifice houses one of Portugal’s best art collections. Among its exhibits are works by Paula Rego and other renowned artists. Here you can find not only paintings but also, drawings, pastels, and etchings.

Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães

Another Cascais artistic landmark is Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães. Set in a magnificent Revivalist palace, Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães is one of Portugal’s topmost art treasure houses. On display are not just paintings but also ancient artifacts and old books, making it one of the best places to go to in Portugal for a bookworm.  

Bask in the sun on Cascais’ idyllic beaches

Once a fisherman’s village, Cascais owes its meteoric rise to the status of one of the world’s most chic sea resorts to its picture-perfect beaches. For you to uncover its sunlit stretches of sand go to the beaches of Costa da Estoril and their serene pellucid waters, lying between Cascais and Lisbon.

If you wish for something completely different head to Serra de Sintra, the Atlantic-whipped section of Portugal’s coastline with its strong surf, powerful gusts of wind, and rugged nature. Most of the Serra de Sintra is a protected nature reserve so it is just pristine beaches, such as Praia do Guincho, so perfect for kitesurfing, and wild trekking trails.

Keep in mind that Serra de Sintra is believed to have been the refuge of legendary Diana the Huntress so look out for arrows… 

What makes Cascais special

Cascais rose to fame after the king of Portugal, King Luis I went for a swim here in 1870.  Afterward, the Portuguese royal family made it their residence and traveled here every September. Other kings followed suit, with the likes of Umberto II of Italy, Juan Carlos of Spain, and Edward VIII of the UK making it their seaside resort of choice.

This royalty’s fondness for the town made Cascais one of the jet-set Meccas, with its hotels, restaurants, and casinos inspiring works of art. For example, Ian Fleming shot his Casino Royal after a visit to Cascais’ Casino Estoril and its hotel, where he was staying during WW2.

When to visit Cascais?

Cascais is perfect to visit in summer. It is not just a pleasant climate that pulls throngs of sun-worshippers to estivate here, it is also its one-of-its-kind siesta charm and the unique events taking place here. Go here for a sailing regatta or the Cascais Global Meeting, an annual jamboree where politicians, officials, and intellectuals meet up to discuss new ideas.  

Where to stay in Cascais?

Cascais is one of Portugal’s most upscale resorts so prices here can be biting, especially in the high season. Nevertheless, it is not just ritzy hotels but also many private options, hostels, and even campsites. Choose a spot close to picturesque Praia de Rainha, or more spacious Praia de Ribeira da Cascais, for you to be a short walk away from its top sun-bathing spots. Here are our 5 favorite hotels in Cascais.

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What to eat in Cascais?

Cascais is a foodie’s paradise with its restaurants having something to offer to the most jaded of gourmands. But it is for sure the traditional Portuguese cuisine that comes first to mind. Try fresh sea produce at its seaside eateries: fresh Dorada, scallop, sea bass, lobster, and oysters. To help you out, we have selected the 4 best restaurants in Cascais.

1. Mar do Inferno

By far the best seafood restaurant in Cascais is Mar do Inferno. Located in Boca do Inferno, this high-end restaurant offers one of the best views of the Atlantic ocean. Family-run for the last 30 years, this place serves fresh fish and specializes in grilled seabass and seabream, and has an extensive wine list. At Mar do Inferno, you pay for the quality. While you can get great fish and seafood for cheaper, this restaurant’s quality cannot be beaten. A meal here will cost anywhere between €50 and €100+ for two people, depending on the dishes selected.

2. Porto Santa Maria

Porto Santa Maria is a seafood restaurant near the iconic Praia do Guincho that serves fresh fish dishes and regional produce. A Michelin selection, the fish served at Porto Santa Maria is wild-caught and this place provides an excellent dining experience where you will get to try out some Portuguese classics. We recommend the mariscada Porto Santa Maria, a dish with a variety of fish and shellfish, as well as the crab and seabass. A meal here will cost around €120 for two people.

3. Hifen

Providing a stunning view of the Cascais bay, Hifen is a trendy tapas-style restaurant. From Portuguese dishes such as lascas and pica pau, as well as international cuisine such as shrimp tempura and salmon tataki, Hifen offers a diverse gastronomic experience. We recommend their veal pica pau, the burrata cheese, the prawns, and the bitoque, a Portuguese steak. A meal here will cost around €30 to €40 for two people.

4. O Biscoito

If you’re looking for a traditional tasca where you can try out authentic Portuguese dishes at an affordable price, O Biscoito is the best restaurant to go in Cascais. Featuring a relaxed environment, this restaurant is known for its friendly service and welcoming atmosphere. You can also enjoy a meal out on the terrace. We recommend the baked codfish and steak fillets with mushrooms. You can get a meal here for two people for under €25.

Conclusion

Whether you are a backpacker traveling on the shoestring or a jet-setter flying on your private jet, Cascais is what you’ve been searching for. It boasts not only great beaches, food & drink scenery and a lot of great events, it is also located a short drive from Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, making it a great destination to make a day trip from there.

So fetch your sun-cream and Panama-hat, and travel to Portugal’s most chic seaside resort.

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Braga is not usually a city that enters the itinerary of those who travel to Portugal. In fact, the north of Portugal as a whole attracts a relatively small number of visitors, most of them not going beyond Porto. But the Minho region has a lot to offer to visitors, Braga being its largest city and the main destination for tourism.

To begin with, a bit of history couldn’t be missing, as Braga is the oldest city in Portugal. Its original name was Bracara Augusta, having been founded by Romans in the year 16 BC! Even though Braga is not very big, it is known as the “Rome of Portugal” because of its more than 30 churches. The main attraction of this city is without a doubt the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, it’s located on top of a hill and to reach it, you’ll have to climb its staircase of over 600 steps. Although it may seem like a penance to climb the steps that give access to a church of neoclassical style, know that it is no great sacrifice, because the staircase, all in baroque style – is very beautiful and is one of the great reasons why many visitors go there.

The staircase is all worked, separated in levels, and in each one there are different fountains of water, such as those related to the five senses or to the three virtues (faith, hope and charity). Once you reach the top, behind the church you can explore a park with several chapels, flower beds, secluded benches and caves surrounded by vegetation, as well as a lake with rowing boats and a monocle from where you can “see Braga through a straw”, a popular saying in this area.

Although Braga has had a lot of religious importance throughout history, it ended up losing its prestige and importance in the 20th century, along with the Catholic Church, and today it is a welcoming university town with a very charming historic centre. That’s where you should start your journey to explore the interior of this city. The first place to visit is the Republic Square, where a beautiful fountain and a sign with the name of the city welcome visitors. It is the perfect place for a photo! In this same square, begins Rua do Souto, the main street of the historic centre and closed for pedestrians only, you’ll find that Braga’s main points of interest are all within walking distance. Since the northern part of the country tends to be colder, enjoy a coffee in the traditional Café A Brasileira, elegantly decorated in the 19th century style.

At the next corner, on the right, you will find Rua do Castelo, here you can see the Torre de Menagem, the only remaining construction from the medieval fortifications of the city, having been erected in the 14th century. Continuing along Rua do Souto, you will pass through Largo do Paço where you will see, on your right, the Chafariz do Castelo and the Rectory building of the University of Minho.

At this point, you’re near of close to another landmark attraction, the Sé de Braga or Cathedral of Braga. It is the first cathedral in Portugal, so old that it gave rise to the expression: “Older than the Cathedral of Braga”. This cathedral unites several architectural styles. They have been incorporated over the centuries and through the reforms the cathedral has undergone, making it even more incredible. It’s here that the tombs of D. Henrique and Dona Teresa, the parents of the first Portuguese king, can be found.

To complete the Rua do Souto journey, you’ll have to walk to the corner to find Rua Dom Diego de Souza, you will reach the end of the pedestrian walkway, which ends at the Arco da Porta Nova. Another architectural landmark of the city, this stone arch in Baroque and Neoclassical style was built in the 18th century and marked one of the entrances to the city when it was still surrounded by walls. From where, another attraction you can’t miss is the Biscainhos palace, nowadays, a museum operates inside and preserves the history of the place with original pieces and rooms. You can check out the beautiful halls and the baroque decoration that predominated in the past and you can also check the historical garden from the 18th century, one of the most significant examples of the Baroque period in northern Portugal. It is one of the city’s well-kept secrets.

Then you can visit the Town Hall Square to see the beautiful buildings of the Town Hall and the Public Library. Looking at all its beauty, it is hard to believe that bullfights were held there before it existed. From here, if you liked the previous Biscainhos garden, you’ll be amazed by Santa Barbara’s Garden this garden is present in almost all photos of Braga. In the background is the medieval part of the Paço Episcopal Bracarense. In fact, it is beautiful and makes for great photos! It is the best place to sit and recover your energy between one tour and another.

After this beautiful walk, it might be time to take a break for a meal. If you want to try something typical of the region, from here and the northern region in general, you must try the Francesinha, it is delicious, just sit in the restaurant in the city that suits you best, because they all serve the delicacy. Francesinha is a type of sandwich stuffed with sausage, sausage, ham, steak and other meats that is covered with cheese au gratin and served with a tomato-based sauce, beer and chilli pepper.

Believe, you’ll need to walk after your meal, the best option is to do a walk to another near attraction, you are now near the city’s main thoroughfare, Avenida da Liberdade. Here you’ll be able to appreciate the flowerbeds in the part which is closed to pedestrians and admire the shop windows, as this is where Braga’s main commercial shops are concentrated.

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Aveiro is a Portuguese city located on the northern coast in the Central Region of Portugal. This city is often called the “Portuguese Venice” since it is dominated by the Ria de Aveiro and the arms of water that penetrate the urban space and have permanently marked the history, heritage, culture, and local identity.

What to do in Aveiro

That said, and to have an overview of the central part of this city, one of the must-do activities is to take a tour in one of the typical boats called “moliceiros:. These slender, colorful boats were used to collect seaweed and sargassum, now they are used for tourist trips.

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After this, we suggest you explore on foot or by bike, it does not involve too much effort as the city is flat. You can start by the central part of the city, where you’ll find The Lover’s bridge of Aveiro, a bridge that stands over the urban canal where tourists pose for photos, wave to passing boats, and swear oaths of love and friendship by placing colorful ribbons and bows on the bridge railings.

Right by its side, if you’re in the mood for shopping or just passing by, you will find the city’s shopping center, worth checking due beautiful modern architecture, with several open-air shops.

Aveiro is also known as the museum city of Art Nouveau in Portugal. If you’re a fan of architectonic marvels you can’t miss The Art Nouveau Museum, on one of the banks of the Central Canal, which is a fine example of this artistic movement.

Inside, you can learn a little more about the history of this style, as well as appreciate the colorful tiles with floral motifs and walk the route designed to help you explore the buildings and monuments from this seductive period in 20th-century art.

You can also check the Aveiro City Museum, which has content that illustrates the moments, the facts, and the protagonists that have given soul to the history of Aveiro.

After this, you can continue your adventure and explore the historic center of Aveiro. This part of the town has numerous squares, shops, churches and restaurants. Since you’re in this city, during your exploring journey you must take the opportunity to take a break and taste the traditional Aveiro sweet known as “Ovos moles”, a delicious custard of egg yolk, sugar, and water, wrapped in wafer.

To end your trip in beauty, if you like the beach and find it easy to get around by car or even by taxi, we recommend a visit to the beaches near the city.

One of the obligatory stops for those visiting the district of Aveiro is the sub-region of Ílhavo, where you can visit Barra Beach, home to Portugal’s highest lighthouse, and Costa Nova, a picturesque town mostly known for its wooden huts is painted in brightly colored stripes alternating with white built by fishermen, an ideal place for pictures. Prepare to be amazed by the Costa Nova fishing spirit which is still very much present.

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