In late August 2024, we took an incredible trip to Portugal, splitting our time between Comporta, Lisbon, and the Douro Valley. (We also snuck in some short day trips to see Sintra, Cascais, and Porto.) Every stop felt so different but equally vibrant, and we were blown away by the scenery, food, and overall joyful nature of the country. Sharing a shortlist of the places we stayed, ate, drank, and explored in case you’re planning your own Portugal trip.
Comporta
Where We Stayed
Sublime Comporta
The Sublime Comporta property was lovely. There’s a reception building that houses the bar, main restaurant, and lounge area, and then the rooms are spread out across the property. There were a LOT of families stying there, so it’s very much a family-friendly hotel. With that said, I want to stress that getting anywhere off property requires a substantial drive. It’s a good 10 minutes to the beach and 15ish minutes into town, so we spent about an hour in taxis/shuttles every day. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s absolutely something to be aware of/prepared for.
Where We Ate & Drank
Mesa Comporta
Gomes Casa de Vinhos & Petiscos
Be Comporta
Vermelho
Food Circle
Activities & Sights We Loved
Praia do Carvalhal
JNcQUOI Beach Club
Dolphin watching & cruising on Vertigem Azul
Lisbon
Where We Stayed
Bairro Alto Hotel (Lisbon)
The hotel’s location was perfect for exploring the city on foot, the staff was warm and helpful, and there is a very cute rooftop restaurant and bar with unbelievable views.
Where We Ate & Drank
Solar dos Presuntos
Da Noi (Do not skip!)
Rosamar
Activities & Sights We Loved
Castelo de São Jorge
Embaixada concept store
Sidecar coastal tour from Sintra to Lisbon via Sidecar Touring Co.
Sintra & Nearby
Where We Ate & Drank
Picnic at Tivoli Palácio de Seteais
Activities & Sights We Loved
Pena Palace
Exploring the town of Sintra
Cabo da Roca
Cascais
Porto
Where We Ate & Drank
Vinum
Activities & Sights We Loved
Livraria Lello
Douro Valley
Where We Stayed
Six Senses Douro Valley
I feel the need to stress that Six Senses Douro Valley now has a spot in my top 5 favorite hotels in the world. I audibly gasped when I saw the view from reception, and the hotel pool set up was straight up majestic. We loved the food, which was fresh and mostly sourced locally (all Six Senses properties have a strong commitment to sustainability and community), and the spa was unparalleled.
Where We Ate & Drank
Aneto & Table
Vale de Abraão Restaurant
Summer Garden at Six Senses Douro Valley
Activities & Sights We Loved
Wine tasting at Quinta da Corte
River cruise with PipaDouro Vintage Wine Travel
