Museu Calouste-Gulbekian - Lisbon, Portugal

This museum is one of the best ones in Lisbon. It was built in 1960 and its collection ranges from tapestries, Persian rugs, Chinese porcelain to Rembrandt and Rubens.

For art lovers it is possible to spend the whole afternoon without being bored. It is not as big and grandiose as other museums in Europe but it is exquisite. I was fascinated by the rugs, vases, and illustrated bibles from Armenia and surroundings.

To get there, take the red or blue line to Sao Sebastiao (both red and blue) or Praca de Espanha (only blue line). The entrance costs 4 euros per person and it is worth every dime.

Pastelaria de Belem - Belem, Portugal

When you visit the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos in Belem, Portugal (and even if you don’t go to the monastery), a visit to Pastelaria de Belem is a must. The pasteis de nata are a little piece of heaven in your mouth. They are sweet but not cloying. It’s impossible to have only one. Even as I am writing this review, I close my eyes and I can feel the taste, the texture, the softness… I better not think anymore or I will have to get a ticket and get me some pasteis… To visit their website click here.

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos - Belem, Portugal

This is one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen. In my opinion, it is definitely the highlight when you visit Lisbon.  It is built in the Manueline-style architecture, and it was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

This monastery was built in the 16th century and it lasted 100 years. The King Manuel I chose the Hieronymite (Jeronimos) order to occupy the monastery since this order’s mission was to pray for the King’s eternal soul and to provide spiritual assistance to sailors and navigators.

It costs 7 euros to visit the monastery and the church’s chorus and they are totally worth it. Even with great number of visitors, the interior has a peaceful air, and either its beauty or the spiritual energy invites to meditation and silence. I have been there twice and both times I had the same feelings.

Braga, Portugal

I made a one-day trip to Braga and I got to see the most important places: Cathedral and Bom Jesus do Monte.

The Cathedral in Braga is the oldest one in Portugal dating from the 11^th century. Built in the Manueline and baroque styles, this cathedral has great art and treasury hidden inside. There are twin organs that are just magnificent. There is a little museum with jewels like the sculpture of Nossa Senhora do Leite (the Virgin breastfeeding the child) made by Nicolas Chanterene in the 16^th century; the cross used in the first mass in Brazil in 1500; and the tombs of Henri of Burgundy and Dona Theresa parents of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. It costs 5 euros per person for the guided tour in the chapels and the museum.

Bom Jesus do Monte is resort meets convent. This church was completed in the 19^th century in the Neoclassical style. The ‘monte’ part is that you have to climb 116 m (381 ft) through the baroque stairway but the view from up there is absolutely breath taking (literally!).  The stairs are divided in three parts: the Stations of the Cross, the five senses, and the three virtues. The Stations of the Cross, regardless of your creed, have very vivid scenes about the Passion of the Christ. Worth the additional effort and involuntary workout.

There is a suburbano train from Porto Sao Bento and Porto Campanha to Braga’s train station that is about 1.5 km far from the center. It costs around 3.20 euros per person per trip.

Porto, Portugal

I spent three days in Porto and I have to say I was quite impressed and welcomed there. I did one of the walking tours that the Lonely Planet guide suggested and I have to say that some of the places were quite a surprise.

I arrived in Sao Bento train station which is the one in the downtown. The other station is Porto Campanha, 2 km from the center. Sao Bento station most impressive feature is the azulejos (hand made tiles) depicting different scenes. This tiles were designed by Jorge Colaco in 1930.

Torre dos Clerigos is something else. Built by Nicolau Nasoni, this tower offers very nice views of the city. It is 76 m (228 ft) high and it has 225 steps. It costs 3 euros per person to go up.

Palacio da Bolsa, or stock market, is worth visiting. It used to be Porto’s stock market until the instauration of the euro in the 1990s and 2000s. It is only possible to see inside with a guided tour. The best part of the building is the Salao Arabe (Arabian Hall). When you enter you think that you just walked into Scherezade’s palace. The purpose was to invite businessmen and give the impression of grandeur and prosperity… Mission accomplished! It costs 7 euros per person for the tour.

Igreja de Sao Francisco is another sight that you can’t miss. It is a small church but the altar is magnificent. It is made in a baroque style and adorned with 100 Kg (220 lbs) of gold leaf. A definite ohhh once you enter. It costs 3.50 euros per person.

The ribeira is the ‘by the water’ part of Porto by the Douro River. When the weather is good is great to sit outside to have a drink, eat something… the restaurants are more affordable than you may think.

It is possible to eat very cheap in Porto. There are many cafes and cafeterias (diners) that will serve a complete meal for 7 euros. The service is OK for European standards (no offense) but do not expect additional accomodations or the discount for an erroneous dish. 

Calado & Calado - Coimbra, Portugal

The other restaurant I tried was Calado & Calado located in the lower part of the old city in the alley behind the “praca”. I had the grilled octopus that was excellent. Price for 2 people with food, dessert, and non-alcoholic drinks was 30 euros.

Restaurant Italia - Coimbra, Portugal

Restaurant Italia located in Manuel Braga park – as you may have guessed, they serve Italian food (pizza, pasta, risotto). Careful when you order sparkling water: for some reason the large bottle is more expensive than ordering the same amount in smaller bottles. Price for 2 people with food, dessert, and non-alcoholic drinks was 30 euros. Service is faster than expected.

Conimbriga Roman Ruins - Coimbra, Portugal

This is the place to see the best preserved Roman ruins in Portugal. Romans settled in Conimbriga between 1^st and 3^rd centuries AD. I recommend to go during the week as there are two buses coming and going to and from Coimbra; there is only one bus on the weekends, and it is possible to see all in half day. There are very well preserved mosaics from the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. If you happen to be an European resident and are less than 26 years of age, you would pay a very discounted ticket.

Portugal dos Pequenitos - Coimbra, Portugal

In the lower section of Coimbra, there is a surprising attraction called Portugal dos Pequenitos. By the name you may think this is only for children, but it turned out to be a pleasant place to spend Sunday morning. To enter is 8.95 euros per person.

Ibis Porto Centro, Porto Portugal

What I like about Ibis hotels is the price and the fact that I know what to expect. Ibis Porto Centro has an excellent location on Rua da Alegria. It is walking distance from Sao Bento train station, all the attractions in the center; it is even possible to walk to the Ribeira. This Ibis hotel was fully renovated and it looked very modern. Our room was adequate and clean; bathroom size was on the small side. The staff was friendly and helpful. When you go request a room that is not on the street side since it could be noisy. The only challenge we had was that the room did not have air conditioning and it could get warm especially during the day. Breakfast did not have as many options as in other Ibis hotels in other countries (e.g. France, Germany) but it was cheaper: 6 euros per person vs. 10 euros per person in Paris and Frankfurt.

Ibis Coimbra, Portugal

What I like about Ibis hotels is the price and the fact that I know what to expect. Ibis Coimbra is very well located on Avenida Emidio Navarro across the street from Parque Manuel Braga (parque da cidade, city park) and walking distance from Coimbra train station. Our room was adequate, clean, we had a bath tub (not all Ibis have it). The staff was friendly and helpful, and gave us excellent recommendations about places to visit. When you go request a room that is not on the street side since it could be noisy. The only challenge we had was that the room did not have air conditioning and it could get warm especially during the day. Breakfast did not have as many options as in other Ibis hotels in other countries (e.g. France, Germany) but it was cheaper: 6 euros per person vs. 10 euros per person in Paris and Frankfurt.

Ibis Saldanha - Lisbon, Portugal

What I like about Ibis hotels is the price and the fact that I know what to expect. Ibis Saldanha is well located in the Saldanha neighborhood, close to Saldanha metro stop serving red and yellow lines. Our room was adequate, clean, we had a bath tub (not all Ibis have it). The staff was friendly and helpful. When you go request a room that is not on the street side since Avenida Casal Ribeiro is a busy one. The only challenge we had was that the room did not have air conditioning and it could get warm especially during the day. Breakfast did not have as many options as in other Ibis hotels in other countries (e.g. France, Germany) but it was cheaper: 6 euros per person vs. 10 euros per person in Paris and Frankfurt.

SUGARCANE RESTAURANT

I have been to this restaurant twice and both times the experience was great. This restaurant’s concept is to use local ingredients so their menu changes monthly and the food is very fresh. Drinks are fantastic and they have more than 20 varieties of rhum. If you like fruit and sweet drinks, try the strawberry balsamic cocktail. The weekends are very busy so I suggest to make reservations specially for larger parties. The experience may be a little pricey specially if you have drinks and food. If you want to stay within your budget I suggest the sangria pitcher that serves at least four and costs around $30.00, instead of a cocktail that serves one and costs around $12.00. The tapas range between $7 and $15 and are small.

My first time at Sugarcane, our server was Paula and she was excellent. She took the time to explain us the concept of the restaurant and make suggestions about the best items on the menu… you could tell that she loved her job and the interaction with the customers.

The second time, our waiter was Tyson and he was very nice, helpful, and always made sure that we had everything we needed.

I would love to receive your feedback about this review and your experience so feel free to leave your comments or email me at trudieareviews@gmail.com.