Vibrant, historic, and cultural, the Portuguese Capital is worthy of a few days to a week on any Portugal itinerary and it remains one of our favorite cities in the world.

Eat & Drink

Senhor Uva: A cozy spot for plant-forward, wine-focused dining. One of our favorite restaurants in the world.

LX Factory: Vibrant cultural hub with street art, unique shops, and some of the coolest cafes and restaurants in the city.

A Cevicheria: For seafood lovers, the ceviche is a must-try. You can order a Pisco Sour from the drink window while you wait in line (no reservations)!

Seagull Method Café: Great coffee and brunch.

Stay

Check out the Lisbon hotel suggestions from two Portuguese sisters Jo & So, which is our go-to guide for hotels in Lisbon and throughout Portugal. They’ve never steered us wrong! (Eyeing that new Memmo Principe Real)

Things to Do

Lisbon Botanical Garden: A hidden green gem filled with exotic plants, hard to believe it exists in the middle of Lisbon.

Farther Afield:
Add in Randi’s hike

Helpful Guide
Conde Nast’s Guide to the 15 Best Things to Do in Lisbon

Classic, soulful, and elegant, Portugal’s second city rivals Lisbon on many travel lists as one of Europe’s top destinations and if you go, you’ll see why. Walk the historic center and save time to explore the Douro Valley wine region.

Eat & Drink
Combi Coffee: Our favorite coffee shop in Porto.

Café Candelabro: Part café, part bookstore, part wine bar, enjoy vinyl DJs and dig into a book before heading out to dinner.

Gelataria Portuense: Is an explanation really necessary for incredible gelato?

Graham’s Port Lodge: No trip to Porto is complete without a port tasting. Grahams has a great tour and one of the best views looking back at Porto. 

Things to Do

Luís I Bridge: Take a stroll across this iconic double-decker bridge for stunning views of the Douro River and the cityscape

Praia dos Ingleses: If you’re looking to relax by the ocean, head to this beach in Foz do Douro - just 15 minutes from downtown Porto.

Hotel Options
More ideas from Jo&So. The Rebello just opened and is high on our list!

Farther Afield

Take a day or extend your trip to the Douro Valley wine region, it’s beautiful and delicious. There are many tours available and we don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.

Helpful Guide
The Citizenry, one of Emma’s favorite furniture designers, has a great Field Guide to Porto.

Getting there
There is a high speed train between Porto and Lisbon (~2.5-3 hours). If you plan to explore other regions (such as the Douro valley) hiring a car is recommended.

Rugged, tranquil, and  and Located in Central Portugal, the highest mountain range of the country is home to a boutique property we love, Casa de São Lourenço, as well as it’s own dog breed, and miles of trails. If you’re into mountain adventures with a side of pampering, definitely add it to your list. 3.5 hours driving from Lisbon, 2.5 hours driving from Porto.

Rustic, serene, and unspoiled, stretching from plains to the coastline. Alentejo is laid back and a great wine region, while next-door Comporta is Lisbon’s answer to the Hamptons. We loved our stay at Sublime Comporta, an eco-chic resort built into the dunes. Both regions are authentic hidden gems waiting to be explored. 1 hour 20 mins driving from Lisbon, Comporta could also be a day trip.

Sun-drenched, majestic, coastal. An abandoned estate turned boutique hotel, Casa Mae in Lagos, a charming port town, is a great base for your adventures in the south. The restaurant and coffee bar are fantastic and they have a great boutique selling local Portuguese ceramics, clothing and jewelry. About 3 hours driving from Lisbon.

In case you’ve already done Portugal and are venturing further into Europe, we’d like to share some of our favorite hotels throughout Europe that we’ve had the privilege of being able to stay at over the last eight years together:

Spain

Asturias | Solo Palacio - A former 16th century palace in the heart of Northern Spain.

Menorca | Son Blanc - Maybe our all time favorite hotel. Organic Mediterranean elegance.

Mallorca | Hotel Corazón - Vibey, bohemian bolthole in Mallorca’s coastal mountains.

Madrid | Tótem - Design refuge in the Salamanca neighborhood, our favorite in Madrid. 

San Sebastián | Villa Favorita - Center of La Concha Bay, steps from the best food in the world.

France

Bonnieux | Capelongue - Unbelievable view and restaurant in the hills of Provence.

Lourmarin | Le Moulin - Sister property to Capelongue, in Lourmarin’s beautiful market square.

Paris | Hôtel Dame des Arts - Best rooftop views in the City of Light.

Biarritz | Regina Experimental - Art deco in a Basque surfing village on France’s Atlantique.

Italy

Puglia | Masseria Calderisi - Restored farmhouse in Italy’s Achilles, set amongst olive groves.

Dolomites | My Arbor - Wellness and design-forward in our favorite mountain range.

Lago di Garda | Borgo Tre - Lakeside retreat, modern take on La Dolce Vita.

Germany

Berlin | Max Brown Ku’damm - Retro and walkable with the best pancakes in town downstairs.

Switzerland

Zürich | B2 - Thermal baths and hotel in a former brewery.

Verbier | Cordée des Alpes - Swiss contemporary chalet in the middle of ski country. 

UK

London | One Hundred Shoreditch - Bold and edgy as per East London standards.