Every guide about Day trips for a trip to Portugal, in one place.
A gilded baroque library with a timed ticket, a fado tradition nothing like Lisbon's, and a hilltop campus that is easy to reach on the train between the two big cities.
Two very different northern towns close to Porto: the baroque stairway of Bom Jesus in Braga and the medieval castle of Guimaraes, and how much of both you can realistically fit into one day.
Portugal's old capital and its oldest university, built up a steep hill around a baroque library, a fado tradition all its own, and Roman ruins a short trip away.
A fishing town with an underwater canyon that turns ordinary Atlantic storms into some of the biggest waves anyone has ridden: where to watch safely, and why nobody can promise you a big day.
A coastal train along the water to a seaside town: what to do in Cascais, whether Estoril is worth stopping at, and the cliff walk that most visitors miss.
A Roman temple, a chapel of bones and a walled town on a hill in the middle of cork country: how to reach Évora from Lisbon and why it is better as an overnight.
A complete medieval wall you can walk around, a main street of whitewashed houses, and cherry liqueur in a chocolate cup: how to do Óbidos without the coach crowd.
The places that fill a second trip: canals and painted boats in Aveiro, a university city on a hill, a baroque stairway above Braga, and the towns nobody photographs.
Sintra runs on timed entry now, and the slot you book decides the day: which palaces need booking, how far apart they really are, and the order that avoids the queue.
How to visit the Douro Valley from Porto: wine estates, a river cruise, the scenic train, guided tours vs driving yourself, and the best way to see Portugal's wine country.