My Portugal Guide
I’m married! Right after our wedding, we spent 12 days in Portugal for our honeymoon soaking in the love, the joy, and the relief that all the planning was behind us. When we were deciding where to go, Portugal checked every box: beautiful, coastlines, affordable, less crowded than other parts of Europe, and amazing food. Done deal.
How I Unplugged
My number one goal was to be asa present as possible.
No phone plan/internet — just my camera and Wi-Fi when needed (if I got lost lol)
Turned off all email notifications
Read two books
Screen time dropped by 35%
Swam, sat in the sun, walked everywhere, and enjoyed every meal with my new husband
My Top Travel Balance Tips
Pack travel snacks – Beef sticks, roasted nuts, aloha bars, roasted chickpeas, peanut butter pretzels, dried mango. Airport food and airplane meals are…not it. Fun fact: they add about 20% more salt to in-flight meals/snacks because the dry cabin air dulls your taste buds.
Bring minerals, electrolytes + a reusable water bottle – My go-tos: Magnesium glycinate, adrenal cocktail mix, Micro Ingredients Hydration, LMNT, or even just some good quality sea salt.
Get your steps in – Walk the terminal before boarding, explore while waiting for check-in, and skip the Uber when you can. Make SURE you have comfortable walking shoes.
Start your day protein + fiber – A solid breakfast keeps you full and energized for the day. When you’re exploring, you never know when the next meal will be.
Bring your own toiletries – I pack travel sizes of my clean favorites (Under Luna shampoo + conditioner, Dr. Bronner’s body wash, Risewell toothpaste, Cetaphil face wash, Acure face lotion). Keeps my skin happy and avoids unnecessary chemicals. I use these travel bottles.
Our Portugal Itinerary
We wanted to really experience Portugal instead of hopping around Europe. Four very different stops gave us a taste of it all:
Porto – Romantic old city on the river, full of history and culture
Lagos – Sunny surf and beach town with great energy
Sintra – Mountain air, castles, dramatic coastline
Lisbon – City with incredible food and nightlife - we only spent one day here
Where We Ate & What We Loved
In Porto
Escama – Moody place with good cocktails. Fresh oysters + amazing seafood
Mescla – Beachy Brazilian–Asian fusion. Loved these yuka fries.
Majestic Café – Iconic old café where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Get the fresh OJ + cappuccino.
Bolhão Market – Local produce, seafood, flowers; worth wandering through for some tastings. I bought lots of flower + fruit seeds to bring home for friends & my future garden.
Ft. the juiciest mango I’ve ever tasted
Tapabento – Tapas near the train station; incredible food and sangria. The tuna tartare was to DIE for.
Miradouro da Serra do Pilar – Best sunset view; we brought pizza + sangria from Italy Pizza Cafe.
In Lagos
Green Room – Cute beachy vibe mexican restaurant. Must get the fish tacos + the best mezcal + tequila cocktails with fresh juices and herbs
Sun Rays Kitchen – Women-owned, fresh juices, smoothies, and bowls. Creative + classic all at the same time. 10/10.
Sunrays (had to go twice I loved it so much)
Bahia – Cool beach bar, €12 for a chair/umbrella in the sun. Hugo spritz + club sandwich = perfection.
Mar – Chill seaside beach bar with a great view.
Mullens – Old Irish pub with amazing peri-peri chicken.
Casa Mãe – Fancy hotel with a beautiful patio restaurant and gift shop. Worth it Go for a meal or drink, elevated vibe.
Surf n turf + oysters
In Sintra
Cajo – Cute café near the train station with a unique menu. Local feel.
Restaurante Piscina Azenhas do Mar – Has a natural pool on the ocean, great vibe + view, fun music.
Bar do Fogo – Fancy, fresh seafood right on Grande Beach (surfing beach). The best bottle of vino verde.
Mata Pequena – Tiny preserved village with one restaurant, one bar, and four families. We booked an Airbnb Experience with a local who drove us and set up a picnic here.
Even on vacation (especially a big one like our honeymoon) the little habits that keep me feeling good at home still mattered.
Starting the day with a solid breakfast, getting plenty of steps in, staying hydrated, and giving myself time to rest made it so much easier to enjoy all the food, wine, and exploring without feeling wiped out.
Portugal was incredible, and because I kept those simple anchors, I came home feeling full in every way: full of memories, full of amazing food, and still feeling like myself.