Portugal
For a small country, Portugal exceeds expectations. It’s got some of the finest things to see and do, with a rich history to match. And the food goes way beyond piri-piri chicken and pastéis de nata. The local tascas (traditional Portuguese eateries) dish up some serious flavours. Being there with my mates was pure good times, super relaxed and easygoing. I found Portugal to be generally affordable and travelling with a group definitely saves you some money, though it does slow things down. Porto and Lisbon have most of the action, but if you're after a more laid-back time Lagos is the place to be. You’ll be saying “Obrigado” (if you’re male) or “Obrigada” (if you’re female) a lot because the people here were legends, always friendly and welcoming.
PORTUGAL FILM BY SHI JIE
Lisboa
Lisbon doesn’t need much of an intro, it’s one of those cities that’s earned its spot on the Europe bucket list. You could do it in two days, but honestly, stay longer. Best part is, you can walk pretty much everywhere without wasting time on public transport. We mostly zipped around on scooters, which made getting lost even more fun. Went thrift shopping with the gals, and Lisbon delivered. The bargains here are a steal, found some cute clothes for about 4 euro each. My favourite spot was Rua Dos Cavaleiros, just around the corner from where we stayed, full of quirky little shops. And if you’re into discovering new hotspots, Rua da Boavista just made Time Out’s top 10 coolest streets in the world (March 2024). It’s packed with fresh eateries, drinking spots, and cool little stores. Speaking of drinks, Carmo Rooftop was a cool spot to kick back one evening. Great atmosphere, cool views, and the pizza and cocktails were smack. As the sun goes down, Lisbon turns it on. There are heaps of clubs, with Lux Frágil being Lisbon's best club. There’s two dance floors (one sweaty, one chill), a rooftop with beach views, and DJs who actually know what they’re doing, all the good stuff. Sadly, we got turned away at the door. No worries. We hit up Ministerium Club instead and danced till sunrise. Ministerium is a trendy nightclub, set in the former Ministry of Finance building, with DJs playing house, techno, and electronic music. My voice was completely gone that night but somehow the club fixed me.
Also took a day trip to check out Pena Palace, interesting place, kinda eerie. To get up there you’ll need to drive or hop on a tuk-tuk unless you’re keen for a steep hike. The best part was wandering through the gardens and strolling around Sintra town. The town had this classic feel, with quirky shops and cozy cafés.
Here's a list of cool things to do in Lisboa:
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Time Out Market: A massive food hall offering all-star cuisine, live music, and DJs. (Just before sunset hang out at the pier).
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Immersivus Gallery: An art gallery installed inside an underground reservoir complex.
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Enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine at Velho Eurico.
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Experience Casa Independente: A hidden bar located in an old apartment, perfect for spending the night or day.
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Visit the MAAT Museum for contemporary art and architecture exhibitions.
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Pensão Amor: Sip cocktails at this sexy late-night cocktail bar.
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Spot an Obey Giant mural: Look out for artwork by Shepard Fairey, one of my favorite artists, known for his project Obey Giant.
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Panoramico de Monsanto: Take in the city views from this cool 360º viewpoint
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Underdogs Street Art Tour and Gallery: Explore artwork by the most publicized artists of this time.
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Feira da Ladra flea market: Mornings are the best time for comfortable strolling.
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Conserveira de Lisboa: Open a traditional can of sardines at this iconic shop.
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Visit the trendy LX Factory for shopping, dining, and street art.
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Stroll through the streets of Bairro Alto, covered in colourful tiles.
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Try the best burgers in Lisbon at Ground Burger
The drinking and dining scene here is amazing, social but never too much. You can explore most of it on foot but do yourself a favour and rent a motorbike. I felt on top of the world. One of the best things to do? Just wander tbh. Explore the cobbled alleyways, stop for a coffee or drink, and check out the small shops. Me and my mates got matching Portugal singlets here. Easily one of my best souvenirs. You could spend hours exploring every corner of the Old Town. Keep an eye out for the famous chihuahua chilling next to a guy playing the accordion. For drinks find a rooftop bar and grab a cocktail. Lagos makes a mean Caipirinha. Now for the food? Portugal does not mess around. Too many restaurants, not enough time. If there’s one place I’d go back to in a heartbeat, it’s Pomo - La Pasta Bio Italiana. I know it's Italian but its the best Italian I’ve ever had. I. Swear. To. God. If you rock up after 6:30 pm, put your name on the door because it will be packed. The pizza is wood-fired, and the pasta is made from scratch. Absolute perfection. But yeah, definitely try the local Portuguese food too, piri-piri chicken, grilled sardines, seafood rice, bifanas, all the good stuff.
We hung out at the two main beaches, Dona Ana and Praia da Batata, both sandy areas surrounded by cliffs. Dona Ana beach was the better and bigger beach, where we spent most of the day chillin and drinking cocktails. Praia da Batata beach wasn't as nice, it felt compact, but we still had a great time there. I wanted to visit the Benagil Caves, but it seems too touristy now. I'm glad we skipped it in the end. Apparently swimming is banned due to overcrowding, and the boat trip is quite long.
NATIONAL PALACE OF PENA, SINTRA
★ MINISTERIUM CLUB ★
Lagos
DONA ANA BEACH
THE GIRLIES ❀