10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Portugal ASAP

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Portugal has steadily been climbing the charts as a top travel destination over the past few years, and I didn’t fully understand the hype until I spent a couple of weeks there in 2019. It was incredible. In case you have been contemplating whether you should plan a trip to this stunning country, here are 10 reasons why you should visit Portugal ASAP:

1) It hasn’t been diluted with tourism… yet.

I was hesitant to make this post, because Portugal is a gem that a lot of the world hasn’t caught on to yet. This means that the country retains its authenticity, even in more popular cities like Lisbon and Porto. You will easily be able to find authentic cuisine. The prices aren’t inflated. There aren’t hotel chains on every corner. However, as Portugal increases in popularity, it runs the risk of being spoiled by the inundated flood of tourists. So when I say you should visit Portugal ASAP, I mean it quite literally.

2) The food is phenomenal.

Italy who? When people think of foodie countries, they tend to conjure up images of Italy, France, Spain… the romance countries if you will. But folks, PORTUGAL has the best food out of any country I’ve visited. At every meal you can expect fresh, locally sourced food and BIG portions. I’m talking cheese boards, olives, and loaves of bread to start each meal. Mouthwatering cured ham from pigs that were raised on acorns and seafood feasts from Portugal’s shores as your entrees. Just when you think your belly will burst, you’ll be offered a delicious dessert or see a pastel de nata in a bakery window, and you’ll suddenly realize you actually aren’t as full as you thought. This is the place to go if you’re ready for some cuisine that will knock your socks off.

3) It’s one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe.

When looking for a place to stay in Portugal, I was initially a little sketched out by the low prices. Less than $100/night for a nice apartment with views of the Douro River sounded way to good to be true. I was expecting to pay in excess of $300/ night for something so nice! When eating at a nice restaurant, I would be ogling in amazement at how cheap my bill was afterwards. You can get good bottles of wine for $3-5. To access castles, cathedrals, and other top attractions, we typically paid less than $10/person at each site. It was like being in an alternate universe! If you want to go somewhere that won’t break the bank, go to Portugal.

4) The wine.

You might know that Port wine originated in Portugal, but Portugal’s wine making expertise goes far beyond that. The country is home to over 250 types of grapes that make delicious wines unlike what you will find elsewhere. According to Wine Folly, many experts consider Portugal to be the last frontier of wine in Western Europe because there is still so much to be tasted and explored there. For a true Portuguese experience, try some vinho verde (green wine) during your visit!

5) There are castles everywhere.

It’s easy to live out your fairy tale dreams when you’re in Portugal, because there are castles everywhere! From Roman and Moorish castle ruins to the more flamboyant styles of later centuries, Portugal abounds with castles to explore. Throughout history, the fortified structures were critical in helping defend the country from those wishing to conquer it and later on in protecting the monarchy. I especially enjoyed visiting the castles associated with the Templar Knights, a skilled military group of the Catholic faith who played a prominent role during the Crusades.

6) Beautiful churches abound.

If you travel around frequently in Europe, you’ve probably seen your fair share of beautiful churches. Portugal really knocks it out of the park though with stunning architecture, beautiful religious imagery, and unique design. My three favorite churches I visited were The Rotunda (Round Church) at the Convent of Christ in Tomar, the bone chapel in Evora, and the Cathedral of Evora.

7) You can see Paleolithic rock art and megalithic structures.

There are several Prehistoric sites throughout Portugal that are worth visiting. At Escoural Cave (near Evora), you can don hard hats and see engravings and paintings from the Paleolithic era. Just a 30 minute drive from the cave is one of the oldest stone circles in Europe, The Cromlech of Almendres. Near the circle, there is a 5000 year old dolmen that was converted into a chapel and The Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro, considered to be one of the largest dolmens in the Iberian Peninsula. Farther north in Piodao, are Bronze Age cart ruts cut deep into rocks and spiral rock art with animal-like figures.

8) It’s an easy country to navigate on your own.

I think the best way to see Portugal would be to rent a car and take one big road trip. While their rail system is very efficient, some of Portugal’s best cities can only be reached by car. It’s one of the few places I’ve visited that I would feel totally comfortable driving around. The interstate system is organized, roads are generally well maintained, and you can drive from one end of Portugal to the other in under 6 hours. What more could you ask for?

If the thought of renting a car scares you though, the rail system is super easy to navigate. Public transportation is all you will need between the larger cities. But please know that Portugal is so much more than Porto, Lisbon, and the Azores. My favorite memories from my time in Portugal were in small towns like Piodão and Monsanto which are only reachable by car or bus.

9) The literary sites.

You may know about the Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh. But did you know that J.K. Rowling also drew inspiration for her beloved series from her time spent in Portugal? Rowling has admitted to naming Salazar Slytherin after the Portuguese fascist dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. She is said to have written some of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Porto at Majestic Cafe. Porto is also home to one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, Livrario Llelo, which Rowling is known to have regularly visited. Many think that the gorgeous twisting staircase at Livrario Lelo inspired the ever changing staircases at Hogwarts.

An hour south of Porto at the University of Coimbra, students’ uniforms bear a striking resemblance to the robes worn at Hogwarts. I felt like I had been transported to the wizarding world as people walked around me in their long black capes, white collared shirts, and ties. The university of Coimbra also has one of the most gorgeous libraries in the world, Biblioteca Joanina. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the library, but I cried tears of happiness the entire time because it was so extraordinary.

10) The majestic landscape will soothe your soul.

Portugal’s varied landscape will leave you in awe. Each day I was there, I would think Wow. This cannot be topped. I thought that nothing could beat the view of thick forested rolling hills from the castle walls of the Covent of Christ in Tomar. However, then I visited the small village of Piódão, which is built into a terraced mountainside with a stream running at its base. As I wandered aimlessly with my husband through the winding cobbled streets of the ancient town, I didn’t think I could feel more at peace. But then we went to the even more ancient town of Monsanto, where the sun sets over a mountainside of terra-cotta rooftops and you can watch it rise again over the border of Spain from an alcove at the Castle of Monsanto. The majestic landscape of Portugal filled me with a sort of quiet peace that soothed my soul.

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There you have it! 10 reasons why you should visit Portugal ASAP. Have I convinced you to visit Portugal? I know I will definitely be returning!

Tell me in the comments below what intrigues you most about Portugal, and if you’ve been already, I want to hear what you love about Portugal!

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