Travel Budget for Cities inPortugal

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the northern region. It is a hub for commercial and industrial activity, and its historic city center has been around the UNESCO World Heritage status. The city is stretched out through hills along the Douro River estuary. Porto is an interesting city to explore, although the hills make it challenging to walk around. There is a range of architecture with medieval style buildings immediately next to the newest and modern structures. The hills give the city character, and many of the interesting buildings are built directly into a cliff that looks out on the river. Stone stair are cut into the rock that runs up and down the cliff. It makes for a very rewarding walking tour. On the other side of the river is the suburb of Gaia which has many warehouses for companies focuses on Port wine.

Like other cities in Portugal, it is best to avoid driving in Porto. There are cobblestone streets that are frustrating to drive on and highlight the compact nature of the city. Porto does have a state of the art metro system which is worth using during your visit. It is generally efficient and reliable, and perhaps the best way to travel around Porto. Other alternatives include the bus system and taxis. Taxis are easy to catch but can be significantly more expensive.

The best place to begin your visit to Porto is Ribeira, by the river. It's a wonderful area to walk around and a great place to start exploring the city. Make sure you stop by Sao Francisco church and the Stock Exchange palace during your walk. There are several museums throughout Porto that are worth a visit including the Casa da Musica or House of Music, and Fundacao de Serralves, which is a contempory museum designed by the architect Alvaro Siza. It also has a nice garden and park that make for a comfortable place to relax.

For about 10 euros you can take a nice river cruise. You'll have about an hour on the water and it's a great way to see the city and orient yourself. The scenery along the river can be quite beautiful.

On the Island of Madeira, Funchal is the capital and largest city. It is in the southern region between Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. The city is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Funchal is also, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. You can reach Funchal by plane with the several daily flights from Lisbon, among other cities in Portugal. While the airport used to be nerve whacking with its short runway, it has now been expanded and can accommodate all types of planes.

The compact city center in Funchal can easily be explored on foot, but to go elsewhere in the city you can take the orange buses. It's easy to buy a Giro Card for about 2.50 euros. This allows you two journeys, and you must then add additional money to make further trips, but the price remains cheaper than if you simply pay the bus driver. Most buses can be caught in the waterfront area.

There are some interesting sights throughout Funchal, including Jardins Do Palheiro, which is a nice public park, Madeira Botanical Gardens, with over 2000 plants, and Santa Clara Convent, which dates back to the 15th century. Also be sure and head over to Mercado Dos Lavradores and pick up some fresh, locally grown fruit. It's a lovely market, but do ensure that you're not being overcharged for the fruit, particularly if a cruise ship is in town as vendors are known to hike prices up for travelers.

There are a good number of restaurants throughout town, many of which offer local specialties such as the banana and fish dish. Prices may be higher than you expect however so keep your eyes peeled for a good deal.

Just 28 km from Lisbon, Sintra is a town that has long been home to Portuguese royalty leading up to the 1910 revolution. Here you will find a Royal Palace, a nearby Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace, dating back to the 19th centure. The towns is on the Estoril Coast near the Sintra Mountains, making the setting dramatically beautiful and picturesque. The surrounding hills are actually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they offer a great combination of both cultural importance and natural beauty.

It is possible to reach Sintra from Lisbon by either train or bus. If you choose to take the train, the Sintra train station is about a twenty minute walk from the town center. You want to avoid driving to Sintra, particularly during holiday weekends, because parking can be quite challenging. Once you arrive you can easily navigate the town with the bus system and on foot. It is possible to walk everywhere, but do be warned that there are some steep hills, particularly between the Palacio da Pena and the Castelo dos Mouros. There's a convenient bus route, the circular route 434 that takes you by most of the sites. It's reasonably priced as you can buy a day pass for only 4 euros.

There are a good number of sights around town that are worth checking out. The Quinta da Regaleira is a beautiful palace and gardens worth a couple of hours of time. There is, of course, the Royal Palace and the Pena Palace, as well as the Moorish Castle. If you've had your fill of palaces and castles you can head over to the Toy Museum. For only 3 euros you can see their over 20,000 exhibits. It's great entertainment for adults and children alike.

There are a handful of good restaurants throughout Sintra. Some are popular with tourists and priced accordingly, so it is best to find a more local joint as it is more likely to have delicious food at a reasonable price. There are also a few cafes and places to grab a drink if you're looking for a place to rest your feet.

Located in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal, Braga is a medium sized city with both old town and modern characteristics. There is a university in town, known as Universidade do Minho which gives the city a young feel with a lot of life. There are many bars, clubs, and activities around to keep you entertained.

The city is easily accessible by train, but once you arrive the train station is a little out of town. You can make your way into the city center by either bus or taxi. Alternatively, it is typically cheaper and faster to reach Braga by bus.

There are a handful of sights throughout the city, including cathedrals, museums, and the fascinating Tree of Life Chapel. This chapel is made with 20 tons of wood, but not a single nail or piece of metal. It's truly fascinating to see. It is also worth doing a trip to the nearby Nacional Park of Peneda-Gerez.

The food in Braga is actually quite diverse and delicious. Some of the specialties include potato and cabbage broth, a type of corn bread, roasted meat such as pork, fish, including cod or trout, duck rice, or local hams. The meals are typically filling and delicious.

To get around Braga there is a descent bus system. Although public transit here is not as established as in some other Portuguese cities, it is still relatively efficient and your best means of transportation aside from walking. Do try to get outside of the city during your visit, at least for a few hours. The landscape here is quiet beautiful and worth a day trip. There are nearby parks and some smaller, historic towns that are also worth a trip, so allow yourself at least one day during your visit to make some day trips outside of the city.