Portugal Visitor Guide

Bust of Arthur Wellesley Porto

Bust of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, Porto

A bust of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, stands outside the Museu Nacional de Soares in Porto.

The building served as the HQ of the French army and later the Duke of Wellington during part of the Peninsular War (1807-1814).

Arthur Wellesley (1768-1852) was along with General William Beresford (1768-1854) the British commanders who helped to defend Portugal from the forces of Napoleon. In 1809 Wellesley retook the city of Porto from French forces in the so-called Second Battle of Porto, which involved a dramatic crossing of the Douro in small boats, aided by the local population.

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Cemitério Prado do Repouso Porto

Cemitério Prado do Repouso, Porto

The Cemitério Prado do Repouso was the first public cemetery in Porto established in 1839. The land previously belonged to the bishops of Porto. The São Victor church on the 10-hectare site became the cemetery chapel.

The cemetery is known for its large chapel-like tombs. The grounds also provide a home for various plants and trees including magnolia, camellia, and cypress.

Cemitério Prado do Repouso cemetery

Access - Getting There

Largo do Padre Baltazar Guedes
4300-059 Porto
Tel: 225379925

The nearest Porto Metro stations are Heroismo Station and Campo 24 de Agosto, which is close to a main long-distance bus station.

Also, close by are Porto's Military Museum and a number of hotels, for example, Eurostars Heroismo and Porto With Love Apartments.

Porto bus 400 stops at Heroismo Station and outside the gates of the cemetery as does bus 207.

Cemitério Prado do Repouso Porto

O Hilário Viseu

O Hilário, Viseu

O Hilário is a popular restaurant in Viseu on the narrow Rua Augusto Hilário. The street and restaurant are named after Augusto Hilário (1864-1896), a famous locally-born fado singer, who once lived on the street.

The friendly, family-run restaurant serves generous portions of pataniscos (cod cakes) and other favorites including the local stew - rancho - and Alheira de Mirandela sausage.

There is an English-menu and English-speaking staff. The place is good value and opens for both lunch and dinner.

Good local wines are also served.

Access - Getting There

R. Augusto Hilário 35, 3500-089 Viseu
Tel: 232 436 587

The restaurant is a short walk from Viseu Cathedral. Some recommended places to stay in Viseu include Casa da Se and the Hotel Avenida.

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Lavandaria in Portugal

Lavandaria in Portugal

Lavandaria (laundries) come in all shapes and sizes in Portugal. They offer either a wet wash (limpeza) or dry cleaning (seco) or both.

The laundry is sometimes weighed and a charge is levied per kilogram. Some lavandaria have a different charge as per the item: shirts, underwear, jackets or woolens etc.

Typical laundry in Lisbon

Some lavandaria are completely self-service and you do the washing and drying yourself, as in a launderette. In most smaller towns and cities in Portugal, you hand your laundry over to an attendant, pay the fee and collect it later. This is usually the next day.

Laundry and dry cleaners (Limpeza a Seco)

Communal wash houses still exist in parts of Portugal, where the washing is done in large tanks and hung out to dry outside. Afurada, across the Douro in Porto has a classic example. In many towns, these communal laundries were adjacent to fountains, such as the fountains in Azeitão.

Lavandaria in Portugal

Lavandaria in Lagos

Public laundry tank in Afurada, Porto

Self-service

Macau Science and Culture Centre

Macau Science and Culture Centre, Lisbon

The Macau Science and Culture Centre (Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau) in Lisbon aims to promote the history, culture, and society of the former Portuguese territory of Macau and to further Portuguese-Chinese relations.

Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau

The Museum occupies two floors and explores the interaction of Portugal in East Asia including not just Macau and China but also Japan during the Age of Discovery from the 16th to 18th centuries.

On display are a variety of Oriental books, bronzes, ceramics, coins, documents, furniture. ivory pieces, models of ships, opium pipes, stoneware, and textiles.

The highlight of the collection is export porcelain from China to Portugal, which reflects the artistic exchange between East and West at the time.

The building housing the museum dates from the 18th century and includes an Oriental-style garden and historic azulejos tile panels.

Access - Getting There

Rua da Junqueira, 30
1300-343 Lisboa
Portugal
Tel: 213 617 794
www: cccm.gov.pt

Hours

Museum

Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm

Library

Monday and Tuesday: 10 am - 1 pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 2 pm - 5 pm

Admission

Small entrance fee.

The nearest station is Alcantara-Mar.

Walking on the Azores Book Review

Walking on the Azores Book Review

Paddy Dillon
ISBN-13: 978-1852849085
Cicerone; (2018)
287 pages

The Azores Islands are a lush archipelago that consists of nine islands floating in the North Atlantic. The islands are Portuguese territory and a whopping 1,450 km (900 miles) from Lisbon. Thus, they are literally in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to commercial air travel though they are easily reached; from Lisbon, for example, a flight takes less than two hours. From London, direct flights last just under 4 hours.

This comprehensive guide introduces 70 walking routes from the three island groups: the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial), and Western Group (Flores and Corvo).

The hikes range anywhere from hour-long strolls to a full-day out. Most follow a network of official waymarked trails on the islands. One of the highlights is a route that climbs Mount Pico (Montanha do Pico), which at 2,351 meters (7,713 feet) is the highest mountain on Portuguese territory.

In addition, the guidebook gives offers much practical information on travel to the Azores from the European mainland and between the different islands themselves. Moreover, there is ample information on getting around by public transportation. Full route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 map extracts, with notes on eating and drinking spots, and local points of interest. The routes boast verdant green landscapes and fantastic volcanic landforms. Along the way, you will enjoy forests, rocky slopes, cliff coast, and waterfalls as well as a rich manmade heritage that includes churches, forts, windmills, and harbors.

The climate of the Azores is mild, and therefore ideal for trekking year-round.

Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access.

Finally, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The walks are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.

Buy this book Walking on the Azores from Amazon USA | UK | Japan

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Cruises on the River Douro

Cruises on the River Douro

Cruises on the River Douro come in all shapes and sizes from 50 minutes of fun around Regua to a multi-day voyage from Porto.

Take a Linha do Douro train from Sao Bento or Campanha stations in Porto to Regua to enjoy a fun 50-minute ride on a riverboat to see the spectacular wine terraces. You may even be asked to take the wheel under the watchful eyes of the captain.

On the trip, you will no doubt see some of the huge tour boats that have made their way up from Porto.

These cruises involve stopovers in various places along the River Douro and usually breakfast and lunch onboard.

Some trips begin in either Ribeira or Vila Nova de Gaia in downtown Porto, sail up to Regua and return by train to the historic Sao Bento Station.

Tours also operate with the train trip up to Regua from Sao Bento Station and return by boat. Take your pick depending on your schedule.

If you stop for lunch or for a stroll in Regua head for the interesting and informative Museu do Douro.

The museum is located in a spacious, former wine warehouse on the riverfront. There are beautiful views of the River Douro from the terrace and a wine bar here serves wines and ports including a complimentary glass with your ticket.

Aregos Station

Aregos Station

Aregos Station is on the Linha do Douro from São Bento Station in Porto to Peso da Régua. The station serves the town of Caldas de Aregos on the River Douro, a picturesque spa town with healing waters.

Caldas de Aregos has a number of upmarket hotels on both sides of the river offering spa treatments. These include the Douro Marina Hotel & Spa, the Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, both with four stars and the Quinta das Aguincheiras, a farm stay with great views of the valley and its wine terraces.

Access - Getting There

Caldas de Aregos, 4640-420, Santa Cruz do Douro

The station has a waiting room and public telephones.

Other Stations in Portugal

Baixa-Chiado

Belem Station

Parque

Sintra

Tomar

Trofa

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Praça do Quebedo Station Setúbal

Praça do Quebedo Station, Setúbal

Praça do Quebedo is a railway station in Setúbal, it is one stop south of Setúbal Station.

The station is on the Sado Line from Praias do Sado-A, the previous stop from Praça do Quebedo to Barreiro on the south bank of the River Tagus opposite Lisbon

The station is unmanned but has an automatic ticket machine to purchase tickets.

Access - Getting There

Largo da Estação, 2910
Setúbal

Nearby

The station is a short walk from Setubal's bus station and the beautiful Casa do Corpo Santo.

There are several hotels near Setúbal Station. These include the recommended four-star Meliá Setúbal Hotel, the Hotel Arangues, three stars, and the four-star Luna Esperanca Centro Hotel.

See a listing of all available hotels in Setúbal.

Casa do Corpo Santo

Portugal’s Rota Vicentina

Portugal's Rota Vicentina Book Review

Gillian Price
ISBN-13: 978-1852849603
Cicerone; (2019)
192 pages

The Rota Vicentina is one of Europe's most beautiful long-distance hiking trails. It follows the west coast of Portugal winding between the Atlantic Ocean and jagged inland cliffs.

This hiking trail is nearly 400 km (248 miles) along one of the most beautiful and well-preserved coastal areas of Europe. The walk is made up of two main trails and eight circular routes so there is much to choose from and something for all walkers.

This guide highlights the "Historical Way" (Caminho Histórico), which at 230 km is the longest of the routes, and "Fisherman’s Trail" (Trilho dos Pescadores). The former goes directly from Santiago do Cacém to the Cape of São Vicentina. 12 stages take you through forest tracks, small towns, and quaint villages. The latter and shorter trail (125 km, 77 miles) mainly follows a clifftop path from Porto Covo to Odeceixe.

The guide is broken into 12 sections - one for each stage of the Historical Way - and then four more for the Fisherman’s Trail. A typical day has you walking from 15 - 25 km (9 - 15 miles). The longest day will take about 6 hours.

Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access.

Finally, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The walks are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.

This small guide is all you need for a wonderful walking vacation.

Buy this book Portugal's Rota Vicentina from Amazon USA | UK | Japan

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Estádio do Bonfim Setúbal

Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal

The Estádio do Bonfim in Setúbal, south of Lisbon, is the home ground of local team Vitória F.C. The team is presently in the top division of the Portuguese league.

The stadium was built in the 1960s

Constructed in 1962, the stadium is beginning to show its age somewhat. The ground has a capacity of over 15,000 spectators and is located across the road from the pleasant Jardim do Bonfim.

Estádio do Bonfim has staged the odd international game in the past but Portugal is now blessed with far more modern stadiums with larger capacities for spectators.

Outside the stadium

Access - Getting There

Av. Dr. António Rodrigues Manito 27
Setúbal
Tel: 265 526 959

Buses 602, 610 or 612 all stop at the stadium.

There is a cluster of hotels located near Setúbal Station, a short walk from the stadium, including the recommended four-star Meliá Setúbal Hotel, the Hotel Arangues, three stars, and the four-star Luna Esperanca Centro Hotel.

See a listing of all available hotels in Setúbal.

Home ground of Vitória F.C

Walking in the Algarve

Walking in the Algarve: 33 walks in the south of Portugal including Serra de Monchique and Costa Vicentina Book Review

Nike Werstroh, Jacint Mig
ISBN-13: 978-1852849948
Cicerone; 2nd Revised (2020/1/31)
189 pages

This pocket-sized guidebook introduces thirty-three walks in the Algarve, a beautiful region of southern Portugal. The Algarve is a short distance from Lisbon and, across the border, Seville. Blessed with year-round good weather, fabulous scenery, and awesome hiking trails, it is a perfect spot for a walking holiday. The Algarve is, of course, best known for its draw-droppingly gorgeous coastline. This guide, therefore, features multiple trails for taking in beaches, cliffs, and views of the ocean. In addition, there are trails inland, the forested slopes of Monchique, and the peaceful countryside that lie between the mountains and coast.

The hiking trails range from 3.5 to 17 km (2 - 10 miles) and include the southern coast, the more rugged Vicentina Coast, the Monchique mountains, and villages of the eastern Algarve. Some of these routes are accessible by Portugal's public transportation. For those trails that are not accessible by train or bus, rental car or taxi is an option.

Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access.

For those with more time and energy, the recently completed Via Algarviana (300 km; 186 miles) takes in much of the Algarve. There are of course hills, but the highest mountain in the region is just 900 meters (2900 feet). That means that most of the walking is fairly easy going.

Last, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The hikes are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.

Buy this book Walking in the Algarve from Amazon USA | UK | Japan

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