Portugal Trip Winter 2025

This past Christmas Break, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the cities of Porto and Lisbon in Portugal with my family. We left just after Christmas and stayed until early January. Traveling with my family can be notoriously difficult--mostly due to sibling disagreements--but this trip was amazing. We started off in Porto, checking into Hotel Pestana Vintage which is within 20 yards of the Rio Douro and features a very old wall from a Portuguese Fort that happened to be in our room. The hotel is built into a series of 16th-century buildings right on the Ribeira, and watching the traditional rabelo boats drift by from our window was the perfect "we’ve arrived" moment. We enjoyed a great dinner that night at a small restaurant called Taberna Dona Antónia, which felt like stepping into a local's living room. It was small but welcoming and featured a chicken dish that I really enjoyed, as well as a cold Super Bock, the signature beer in Portugal .

On Day 2, we took a day trip north to Braga, a city known for its ancient churches and religious history. However, our trip was of a different kind: we were there for the football. We secured tickets for Braga vs. Benfica, and the atmosphere was electric. There is something uniquely communal about a European match; the chanting, the tension, and the sheer passion of the fans made it easily my favorite part of the trip. From there, we enjoyed a nice Italian dinner in downtown Braga before taking the train back to Hotel Pestana Vintage.

Day 3 was dedicated to the soul of Porto. We joined a combined walking and food/wine tour. It started off on an interesting note, with a man attempting to steal my mother's purse in broad daylight in the middle of a cafe. We then meandered through the narrow alleys of the Miragaia district, stopping for petiscos (Portuguese tapas) and, of course, the city’s namesake Port wine. Personally, I am not a fan of Port wine, but pastel de nata might just be my new favorite pastry. My favorite stop was at a marketplace, where we sampled high quality Spanish olive oil and local seafood. Learning about the different foods and drinks while wandering through the historic city streets was the perfect way to spend the day.

On Day 4, we bid farewell to the Pestana Vintage, grabbed a rental car, and began the drive south toward Lisbon. About halfway through, we detoured to Nazaré. While we weren't there during the winter "big wave" season, the Surfing Museum inside the São Miguel Arcanjo Fort was incredible. Standing on the cliffs where surfers regularly tackle 80-foot walls of water puts the power of the Atlantic into perspective. We took plenty of pictures before packing back into the car and continuing towards Lisbon. By evening, we reached the city and checked into the Hotel Avenida Palace. The hotel is a neo-classical dream located right in the heart of the city. We were instantly greeted by complimentary wine and a beautiful performance on the grand piano in the lobby. Wanting something simple after a long drive, we found a local pizzeria for a low-key dinner. Little did we know, this would be our last "real" meal for a while.

Unfortunately, later that night I awoke to the sounds of my brother vomiting in the bathroom we shared in our hotel room. I was not far behind him. Before we knew it, our whole family had contracted norovirus. What was supposed to be a day trip to Sintra and a traditional cooking class turned into nearly 54 hours bedridden in our hotel. They say travel is about the unexpected, but usually, that refers to a hidden sunset or a chance encounter.

Fortunately, by our final day we were pretty much recovered and were able to make the long journey back to Charleston. All in all, I had an amazing time on this trip and despite the illness, I would definitely go back to Portugal.