THE WANDITS' GUIDE TO PORTUGAL: 2017 EDITION
WHAT'S IN PORTUGAL, ANYWAY?
Only the best gin & tonics, green wine, fado music, chilled out people, awesome weather, incredible food and the silliest wedding couple in the world. But seriously, we would make a few recommendations on cool things to check out while you’re in the country we adore.
LISBON IS A MUST VISIT
If you haven’t been to Lisbon before, you really, really, really need to spend a few days there either before or after the wedding. Although, if it’s before the wedding, maybe control the drinking slightly – we want you in top form for the party. History, culture and a laid back sense of happiness pervades the entire city. Imagine San Francisco, but with amazing weather, humble friendly people and at one fifth the price. We heart it. There are a couple accommodation recommendations we’d highly recommend:
TWO AWESOME SPOTS TO STAY IN LISBON
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Perfect location. Not too big, awesome staff, and a fantastic view from their rooftop bar. Not the cheapest option – they’re around 300 Euros a night, but if you want a known awesome hotel, we’d totally recommend it. The staff have come through for us on two different stays across two years – and the bell boy even remembered us when we got out of the Uber, “wow you’re back!” Just awesome. When our luggage was lost by Lufthansa they were all over it, chasing the next morning at 5am and updating us on the details as soon as we woke up. We were a bit in awe. Tell Jorge the general manager we sent you.
Again awesome location, very boutique (they only have nine rooms), and super cute rooms. We stumbled (literally, the tiled sidewalks are sometimes a bit exciting to walk on when inebriated) upon it wandering around the neighbourhood of our AirBNB. Will be cheaper than Barrio Alto – last we checked they were around 150 night.
LISBON IS BEST FIRST EXPERIENCED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT WE HATE TOURISM TOURS
They are just amazing people, with fantastic tours that are both low key and full of fun and local insights. They’ll take you all over the place and their Intro to Lisbon tour is a fantastic way to get to know the city. Also their Sintra X-Trip is brilliant. Sintra is just nuts. Tell them Ben & Nicky sent you – or we can connect you directly with Marta who organises their guides. We booked one tour at first last year…and then booked two more in a row in the same week. If you book online, be sure to enter a special voucher code: CASAMENTO BEN/NICKY. They’ll hook you up.
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Yep, the folks of city entertainment and nightlife fame have created a market of local culinary celebrity chefs. Get there just before noon to grab a seat and embrace all of the amazing boutique restaurant stalls set up by top Portuguese chefs. Seafood for days and days of amazing.
ANY RESTAURANT BY JOSE AVILLEZ
If you want to eat at Belcanto you have to book NOW. It’s nearly impossible to get a table within three months. The rest you should book ahead of time as well, but less drama and they’re all awesome.
RELAXING WITH A GLASS OF GREEN WINE AT CARMO SQUARE
Go there. Find a table in the square. Listen to the guitarist play for tips. Enjoy a glass of green wine. And pay one euro. Afterwards pop over to the Convent ruins just by the square and see the oldest remaining building from before their epic earthquake of 1755.
SEE SINTRA FOR A DAY NO MATTER WHAT
Just go. One way or the other you have to make the trip north of Lisbon for Sintra. Insane palaces from fairy tales. Mountain top views. Moorish ruins and forts. Crazy Masonic tunnels.
THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS DRINKING AT NICKY AND BEN’S WEDDING, WHERE AM I?
A última coisa que me lembro foi beber no casamento de Nicky e Ben, por favor, me diga onde estou?
(at least according to Google, good luck)