Portugal Visitor Guide

Restaurante Lacus

Restaurante Lacus, Lagos

Restaurante Lacus is a new restaurant, bar and cafe in Lagos just across from the Slave Museum and Praça do Infante Dom Henrique.

The menu includes bruschetta, kebabs, grilled fish and meats. Lacus also offers a variety of yummy desserts plus draught beer, cider and wine.

Access - Getting There

Restaurante Lacus
Rua Silva Lopes 5
Lagos 8600-315, Portugal
Tel: 282 084 932

The restaurant can also be entered from Rua da Vedoria 4.

© Portugal Visitor

Clube Praia da Oura Albufeira

Clube Praia da Oura Albufeira

Clube Praia da Oura Hotel is a large resort hotel popular with families on package tours located on Oura Beach in Albufeira.

Accommodation is in over apartment style 500 rooms all with ensuite bathroom and a pleasant seating space with sofas and a coffee table.

The spacious landscaped grounds feature two outdoor pools, tropical gardens, as well as al fresco bars and cafes. Evening entertainment includes live music and karaoke. The hotel is a short bus journey back into Albufeira town or is a short walk from the many restaurants and bars on the nearby Strip and Estrada de Santa Eulália.

The sheltered beach at Oura is only a short walk down from the hotel.

Access - Getting There

Clube Praia da Oura Hotel
Rua Oliveira Martins
Praia da Oura
8200-911 Albufeira, Portugal

Oura Beach, Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.

Majestic Cafe Porto

Majestic Cafe Porto

Cafe Majestic is an historic cafe, located on the fashionable shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, in Porto.

Opened in 1921, Cafe Majestic is known for its lavish Art Nouveau architecture including its lovely marble facade and ornate, wood and glass interior.

The Majestic soon became a meeting place for Porto's elite including artists, politicians and writers.

In more modern times, the Majestic is associated with author J.K. Rowling's rather unhappy stay in the city, along with the Livraria Lello bookshop. No doubt some of the inspiration for the Harry Potter series of novels stems from the plaster ceiling, Flemish mirrors, leather upholstery and varnished wood of the interior of the cafe.

Access - Getting There

Majestic Cafe (cafemajestic.com)
Rua Santa Catarina, 112
4000-442 Porto
Tel: 222 003 887
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9.30 am-midnight

The Majestic Cafe is a short walk south from Bolhão Station on the Porto metro.

Book Hotel Accommodation in Porto

Hotels in Porto - Booking.com

Hotels in Porto - Agoda

© Portugal Visitor

714 Lisbon Bus

714 Lisbon Bus

The 714 Lisbon bus runs from Outurela, through Belem, past Belem Station, Alcântara and then on to Pç. Comércio and then Pç. Figueira.

The bus links many metro stations and places of interest in the Portuguese capital including the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (NMAA).

Services from Outurela begin at 5 am with the last buses at 9.40 pm. There are reduced services at weekends and on public holidays.

Other Lisbon Bus Services

Other Lisbon bus routes covered include: 727, 728, 729, 736, and 783.

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Institute of the National Archives Portugal

Institute of the National Archives Portugal

The National Archive of Torre do Tombo (Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo) is Portugal's national archive and dates back to 1378. National Archive of Torre do Tombo was renamed the Instituto dos Arquivos Nacionais (Institute of the National Archives) in 2009. It is located north of central Lisbon and is home to many historic documents.

The name Torre do Tombo comes from the fact that the archive was first kept in a tower of that name at Lisbon Castle (Castelo de São Jorge).

After the devastating 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Manuel da Maia (1677-1768), the guardian of the archive, personally organized the safe transferal of the archive to the the Convent of São Bento, which is where the Portuguese Parliament now stands.

In 1990 the archive moved to its present location, a concrete, modernist building with large, striking gargoyles designed by sculptor José Aurélio. The building is within the University of Lisbon Alameda Campus and close to the National Library.

Carta de Pêro Vaz de Caminha (Letter from Pêro Vaz de Caminha)

Among the thousands of documents stored here are the historically important Corpo Cronológico (Chronological Corpus), a collection of manuscripts on the Portuguese Age of Discoveries and an original copy of the Treaty of Tordesillas, negotiated by King João II of Portugal and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Castile, which divided the newly "discovered" lands outside Europe between the two Catholic powers.

The Carta de Pêro Vaz de Caminha (Letter from Pêro Vaz de Caminha), also in the archive, is the first document describing what was to become Brazil. Both the Carta de Pêro Vaz de Caminha and Corpo Cronológico are inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

Access - Getting There

Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo
Alameda da Universidade
1649-010 Lisbon
Tel: 210 037 100

Cidade Universitária and Campo Grande are the nearest stations on the Lisbon metro.

Hotel Jeronimos 8

Hotel Jeronimos 8, Belem, Lisbon

Hotel Jeronimos 8 (Book this hotel with Booking.com) is a four-star hotel adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Jerónimos Monastery in Belem, western Lisbon.

Bedroom

Belem is busy during the day as tourists visit the Jerónimos Monastery, the Ajuda Palace, MAAT and the Museum of Coaches, but at night the area is quiet and perfect for a good night's sleep and also for exploring the historic streets in relative calm before you turn in. Exit the main entrance and the Jerónimos Monastery is staring you in the face, an unforgettable sight.

Hallway

The hotel itself has friendly, knowledgeable staff and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. The buffet breakfasts are some of the very best we have experienced in Portugal. A variety of bread, hams, cheeses, fruit, vegetables and even champagne and pastries from the nearby Pasteis de Belem.

Bathroom

The bathrooms are large and marbled, all rooms are equipped with Wifi and a well-stocked minibar and some have private terraces.

Toilet & bidet

The nearest bus and tram stop for journeys into the center of Lisbon is virtually outside the hotel. Also just up the road is the football stadium of Os Belenenses.

Breakfast room

Access - Getting There

Jeronimos 8 (Book this hotel with Booking.com)
Rua dos Jerónimos 8
Belem, 1400-211 Lisbon

Other Lisbon Hotels

HF Fenix Garden

© Portugal Visitor

Fortaleza da Arrifana

Fortaleza da Arrifana, Aljezur

The Fortaleza da Arrifana is a ruined fortress on the headland at Praia da Arrifana on the sea west of Aljezur on the Atlantic Coast of the Algarve region.

The Arrifana fortress was first constructed in 1635 during the reign of King Philip IV to protect the fishing industry in the area. By 1754 there was a small garrison here with cannon and 13 soldiers.

The fortress was massively damaged by the 1755 Earthquake which greatly affected Lisbon and the south of Portugal.

Repairs were undertaken in 1762 and 1771 but finally the fort was abandoned in the early 19th century.

In 2011, the structure was secured and excavations undertaken. There are superb views of the coast from its walls.

The beach at Arrifana can be reached by taxi from Aljezur in about 20-25 minutes.

Accommodation in Aljezur

Find a Vacation Home in Aljezur with Booking.com

View from the fortress along the spectacular coastline

Vicentina Hotel Aljezur

Vicentina Hotel Aljezur

The Vicentina Hotel (Book this hotel with Booking.com) in Aljezur in the Algarve is currently the only four-star hotel in town and makes for a relaxing stay in this beautiful place.

The Vicentina is located in Igreja Nova, the more modern quarter of Aljezur. The hotel has clean and spacious rooms with excellent Wifi and the restaurant is definitely worth trying for Portuguese food with a modern twist and fine wines. An added luxury is the small pool open to residents.

Free parking is available at the hotel and some of the rooms have great views of Aljezur Castle and the old town or overlook the pool.

The breakfast buffet is outstanding with a variety of fresh choices and is a great way to start your day. Across the road from the Vicentina is a large pharmacy and the hotel is close to a supermarket and the Igreja Nova church. Recommended.

Access - Getting There

Vicentina Hotel (Book this hotel with Booking.com)
Av General Humberto Delgado
S/N Junto Aos Bombeiros Voluntarios
8670-00 Aljezur, Portugal

Hotels in Portugal

Hotel Estoril

Veneza Hotel Aveiro

Find a Vacation Home in Aljezur with Booking.com

© Portugal Visitor

728 Lisbon Bus

728 Lisbon Bus

The 728 Lisbon bus runs from Avenue Descobertas in Restelo, through Belem, past Belem Station on to Cais do Sodre Station, then Apolónia Station to Gare do Oriente to the Avenue Descobertas in Portela.

The bus links many metro stations and places of interest in the Portuguese capital and runs mostly along the River Tagus.

Services from both ends of the route in Restelo and Portela begin at 5.25 am with the last buses at 11.30 pm. There are reduced services at weekends and on public holidays.

Other Lisbon Buses

729 Bus

Other Lisbon Bus Services

Other Lisbon bus routes covered include: 714, 727, 729, 736, and 783.

728 Bus in Praça do Comércio

Belem Station

Belem Station, Belem, Lisbon

Belem Station is a railway station on the Cascais Line (Linha de Cascais) from Cais do Sodre to Cascais. Belem Station is handy for seeing the sights in Belem and is located close to the Estação Fluvial de Belém, the Museu Nacional dos Coches, MAAT and the Jardim do Ultramar.

Station platforms

A pedestrian bridge connects the two platforms of the station. Don't forget to either purchase a ticket at a machine on the platform or buy a Viva Viagem card to travel on the Cascais Line. You are not supposed to board the train without a ticket and can be fined.

The first train for the eight-minute journey to Cais do Sodre from Belem is at 6.02 am. Trains run until 2.02 am. To Caiscas the first train for the 35-minute journey is at 5.38 am with the last train at 1.38 am.

Access - Getting There

Belem Station
Avenida da Índia
1300-298, Lisbon

A short walk from the station is the pleasant Jardim Afonso Albuquerque.

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga as seen from the train on the Cascais Line from Cais do Sodre to Belem

Other Stations in Lisbon & Portugal

Baixa-Chiado

Parque

Olhão Station

Vila Franca de Xira

© Portugal Visitor

Café A Brasileira Chiado Lisbon

Café A Brasileira, Chiado, Lisbon

The Café A Brasileira in the Chiado district of Lisbon is one of the Portuguese capital's most famous cafes along with the Pasteis de Belem in Belem.

The Café A Brasileira dates from 1905 and was opened to serve Brazilian coffee - hence the name which means "Brazilian lady." It is thought the bica - an expresso-style coffee was first served here.

The cafe became a hang out for artists, intellectuals and writers which helped to spread its popularity. A seated statue of the poet Fernando Pessoa by sculptor Lagoa Henriques sits at a table outside the cafe.

Both the exterior and interior are heavily ornate in the style of the period when the cafe was established. The interior has black and white mosaic floors with brass fixtures, painted ceilings and sculptured wooden walls. The exterior has a relief of a man drinking a coffee below the name of the cafe.

Also inside are two panels by artist Almada Negreiros. They are Banhistas (Bathers) and Auto-Retrato em Grupo (Self-Portrait in a Group).

Café A Brasileira

The businessman behind the Café A Brasileira, the Brazil-based trader Adrian Telles, also opened a branch in Braga. Nowadays, the cafe is popular with locals, tourists, and students from the nearby School of Fine Arts of Lisbon University. Unfortunately, Café A Brasileira's fame and over-popularity has resulted in a recent decline in standards and service. Best to visit in the morning, out of season.

Seated statue of the poet Fernando Pessoa

Posing with Pessoa

Seated statue of the poet Fernando Pessoa and friends

Access - Getting There

The nearest Lisbon metro station is Baixa-Chiado.

A Brasileira
R. Garrett 120, 1200 Lisboa
Tel: 21 346 9541
Hours: 8 am-2 am

The cafe in August

Olhão Station

Olhão Station, Algarve Line

Olhão Station (Estação Ferroviária de Olhão) is a station on the Algarve Line (Linha do Algarve) in Olhão. Olhão Station is usually unmanned and has a slightly run-down feel to it.

Estação Ferroviária de Olhão

Olhão Station is an easy 10-15 minute walk from the centre of Olhão.

There are trains from Olhão to Faro Station for the ten-minute journey at 6.34 am, 7.21 am (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), 7.51 am, 8.12 am, 10.06 am, 12.06 pm, 1.32 pm, 2.32 pm, 4.35 pm, 5.29 pm, 6.34 pm (Sundays, or Monday, if it is a public holidays, from 3 July-4 September), 6.53 pm (Monday to Saturday.

No Monday service if it is a public holiday. In this case there is a Sunday service, between 3 July and 4 September. Daily service after 5 September), 8.04 pm (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) and 9.39 pm.

Train passing the station

There are trains from Olhão to Vila Real de Santo Antonio Station at 7.59 am, 9.08 am (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), 10.06 am, 11.45 am, 1.06 pm (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), 2.06 pm, 3.11 pm, 4.35 pm, 6.02 pm (Monday to Saturday. No Monday service if it is a public holiday. In this case there is a Sunday service, between 3 July and 4 September. Daily service after 5 September), 6.02 (Sundays, or Monday, if it is a public holidays, from 3 July to 4 September), 6.40 pm (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), 7.38 pm, 9.18 pm and 10.03 pm.

Comboios de Portugal timetable on pdf

Platform

Access - Getting There

Olhão Station
Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra
8700-440 Olhão

Other Stations in Portugal

Baixa-Chiado

Belem Station

Parque

Tomar Station

Trofa Station

Pare Escute e Olhe..A Vida e Preciosa; Stop, Listen & Look, Life is Precious (Japanese-style manga warning at the level crossing near the station)

Map

Accommodation - Hotels in Olhão

Hotels in Faro - Booking.com

Book Hotels in Olhão with Booking.com

© Portugal Visitor

Tourist Offices in Albufeira

Tourist Offices in Albufeira

There are two main tourist offices in Albufeira on the Algarve. The main tourist office is near a set of stairs at Rua 5 de Outubro just before the tunnel to the town's beaches, Praia do Peneco and Praia dos Pescadores.

Albufeira Tourist Office, Algarve, Portugal.

The helpful staff speak a number of languages and there are free pamphlets, also in a variety of languages. Bus and train timetables are posted on the walls. The staff can also offer help on finding accommodation or an open pharmacy or clinic, for example.

Albufeira Turismo
Rua 5 de Outubro
8200 Albufeira
Tel: 289 585 279
Hours: Daily 9 am-1 pm; 2 pm-6 pm

There is another tourist office out near the beach at Praia da Oura to the east of the city centre. This modern, tent-like building is on Estr. de Santa Eulália not far from The Strip and close to a number of large resort hotels, bars and restaurants.

Tourist Offices in Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.

Access - Getting There

Posto Municipal de Turismo de Santa Eulália
Estr. de Santa Eulália 3
Areias S. Joã
8200-269 Albufeira
Tel: 289 515 973
Hours: 9 am-6 pm
Closed Saturday, Sunday and public holidays (though times and days may vary)

© Portugal Visitor

Praia da Rocha Hotels

Praia da Rocha Hotels, Algarve

Praia da Rocha, just south of Portimão on the Algarve has a number of fine hotels. These are clustered mainly on the promenade on the bluff above the beach on Avenida Tomás Cabreira that runs east - west from the fort and marina to the junction with Rua do Miradouro at the end of the sands.

At the top end of the scale are such hotels as the five-star Bela Vista, a former mansion renovated in a modern Portuguese style, the excellent four-star Tivoli Marina Portimão with modern facilities including two seawater pools, the Hotel Oriental, also four-star, has a pool and rooms with superb sea views. The five-star Hotel Algarve Casino has lovely gardens and two outdoor pools.

Hotel Jupiter, Praia da Rocha, Algarve, Portugal.

Slightly more budget options include the Hotel da Rocha, the Jupiter Algarve (above) and the three-star Avenida Praia.

Hotel Algarve Casino, Praia da Rocha, Portugal.

Also on Avenida Tomás Cabreira and the streets running north are a number of apartments and villas. These include the Apartmentos Mirante da Rocha, the Apartamentos Algarve Mor and near to the fort and marina the Vila Lido and Tivoli Marina Portimão.

Avenida Tomás Cabreira also has many bars and restaurants and is the main entertainment area in Praia da Rocha along with the marina. Marisqueira Coral (Tel: 282 419 058) makes the guide books and gets excellent reviews for its well-presented seafood dishes. Restaurante F (Tel: 919 115 512) is another top restaurant in Praia da Rocha.

Other recommended hotels in the Algarve region of southern Portugal include the four star Vicentina Hotel in Aljezur and the Casa do Alto in Vilamoura.

© Portugal Visitor

Casa Museu Pintor José Cercas

Casa Museu Pintor José Cercas, Aljezur

The Casa Museu Pintor José Cercas (House of José Cercas) is one of the four museums in Aljezur that can be visited on a combined ticket. The others are: the Aljezur Municipal Museum, The Sacred Art Museum and the Museu Antoniano Aljezur (St. Anthony's Museum).

Casa Museu Pintor José Cercas (House of José Cercas)

The small house is the former residence of the locally born painter José Cercas (1914-1992) during the last days of his life.

The house contains a collection of both Portuguese and foreign ceramics, sacred art, sculptures as well as period furniture. Some of the artist's work and paintings by other Portuguese artists are also on display. The house was left to the municipality of Aljezur and converted into a museum in 1995.