The beauty of Porto, Portugal will remain ingrained in my memory. The sounds of music in the narrow and windy streets, the lively vibes of the Ribeira, the gorgeous azulejos adorning the building facades. We fell in love with this city so much we couldn’t leave, even despite having a car and planned day trips. We parked our car when we arrived and it didn’t leave the lot until our drive back to Lisbon.

You must not miss this city during your time in Portugal. In this guide we’ll take you through a tour of this beautiful city, highlight the sites to see, where to eat, and much more! It made the perfect ending to our northern Portugal road trip. We also included some suggestions of day trips nearby if you have more time here.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

The Best 3 Days in Porto, Portugal: Itinerary

In This Article
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Ribeira, Sao Nicolau, Vitória, Ponte Luis I Bridge
Walking Tour: Vitória, Azulejos, Vila Nova de Gaia
Chapel of Souls, Bolhão Market, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Rua Santa Catarina, São Bento Station, Rua das Flores
Day Trips from Porto
A Must See City in Portugal

Our beautiful room at Mo House in Porto

Where to Stay in Porto, Portugal

Porto is full of so many great choices of where to stay. Since we stayed 3 days we decided to split our time between two different places in order to experience different areas. We also got a good idea of where we’d like to stay on a return trip.

The first few nights we booked a studio at PortoSense Ribeira, conveniently located right in the famous Ribiera, with beautiful views of the Douro river. You’ll wake up to the smells of the water and the sounds of seagulls. It was wonderful being right here where all the action was at night and we conveniently spent our nights hanging out by the riverfront. After closing the windows, the sound was almost nonexistent so our room was more quiet than expected. The room had a kitchen and even a washer, which was a nice bonus. If you want to stay in this area, it’s a perfect choice for any traveler.

The charming street view from our balcony at Mo House

The last night here we stayed at Mo House, a boutique hotel in the historical centre. With gorgeous street or river views, it’s the perfect place to wind down and relax. It’s on a charming narrow street close to many cafes, restaurants and the famous Rua das Flores. The room itself was nicely designed with french doors that opened to a balcony in both rooms. The breakfast was delicious and the entire hotel felt like the perfect mix between old and new. A great choice if you want to stay away from the busy Ribeira.

For more hotels in Porto, see here.

Grilled octopus from Taberninha do Manel

Where to Eat in Porto, Portugal

Portugal has such delicious food, it’s hard to choose where to eat. Here’s a list of where we ate, and a few other suggestions as well.

For a quick bite

Stop by Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau and try their cod cakes with white port wine combo. It’s located right by the Clerigos Tower and makes the perfect on the go snack if you want to maximize your day.

For breakfast

Hungry Biker Cafe is a great healthy/vegan cafe option. Their avocado toast and smoothies were delicious and everything was fresh. Mercador Cafe is another great option, but the wait was quite long when we stopped by. Noshi Coffee is another great healthy cafe, with a similar menu to Hungry Biker if you can’t get a table. If you’re in a rush or looking for a budget option, the Café do Comércio has some tasty pastry options, toasties, and more.

For lunch or dinner

Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia is a restaurant right by the water called Taberninha Do Manel. Everything we tried here was delicious, especially the octopus. The view by the water was beautiful, especially watching the sunset as we dined.

For dinner

One of our favorite meals in Portugal was at Taberna dos Mercadores. It’s a very small and cozy intimate space, with just a few tables. Our hotel booked the reservation for us a few days in advance. The salted cod is a must have here! Excellent service and delicious seafood.

Food and Wine Walking Tour
If you’re interested in having a guided foodie experience, this tour is a great way to learn more about the food and culture. It includes a guided tour of the old town, learn about the history of the food and the area, and also plenty of snacks and wine tastings along the way!

The gorgeous view of the Dom Luis I Bridge from across the water

Day 1: Ribeira, Sao Nicolau, Ponte Luis I Bridge, Porto Cathedral, Barredo Stairs

Our entire time in Porto was spent walking around and exploring. We found that not making a defined plan was actually better in the end. Hidden corners and gems were discovered along the way, and not to mention it’s great exercise for all the delicious food you’ll be eating here.

Ribeira

Ribeira is one of the most well known places in Porto. It’s lively, has the most beautiful views, and plenty of little souvenir stands along the water. Most of the restaurants here though are overpriced and not as authentic, so we recommend walking a little further in for food. From here you can also walk across the lower level of the Dom Luis I Bridge which connects to Vila Nova de Gaia. The Funicular Dos Guindais will take you to the top of the bridge to walk across and see views from high above. You can find it at the foot of the bridge and the cost was 2.5 euros one way. On the other side is a viewpoint and perfect spot to watch the sunset.

At night this area comes alive with performers, music, and plenty of outdoor dining. Although touristy, the gorgeous river views and charming buildings make up for it. Since our hotel was right here, we stayed here to hang out until heading back to our room to sleep.

The charming side streets behind the Ribeira

The lively and beautiful area of the Ribeira

Sao Nicolau

Next up we spent time in Sao Nicolau, one of four districts that’s considered a Unesco World Heritage site. It includes the Ribeira and also the streets immediately behind. We recommend walking along these side streets as they are so much quieter and bursting with charm. There are restaurants, gorgeous churches, cafes, shops and azulejos to admire as you explore.

It’s the perfect place to walk during golden hour. The sun setting over the buildings shines the most pretty rays of light over the cobblestone. There are nooks and crevices with stairways as you walk through. The perfect opportunity to capture some nice photos!

View of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória

Churches

A few of the churches to see in this area area the Igreja Monumento de São Francisco, Igreja Paroquial de São Nicolau, and Igreja de S. João Novo. You can easily spot them while walking, we even made a custom Google map with all the spots to see. Palácio da Bolsa is also a must see while here, the interiors are just breathtaking!

Porto Cathedral

The funicular by the Dom Luis I Bridge takes you to the Se district. One of the main sites to check out here is the Porto Cathedral, built in the baroque style the 12th century. Blue azulejo tiles cover the walls within the cloister. Nearby are some shops and restaurants in case you need a bite to eat.

Barredo Stairs

After visiting the cathedral you must take the Barredo stairs back down to the Ribeira. They start directly behind the cathedral and the narrow and windy alleyways take you through a series of colorful houses and cozy bars. Along the way down you’ll be rewarded with some amazing views of the river.

The view outside from within the Clerigos Tower while waiting to go up

Day 2 Walking Tour: Vitória, Azulejos, Vila Nova de Gaia

Vitória

On our second day in Porto, we spent a great deal of our time in the Vitoria district. Located directly behind Sao Nicolau in the central part of the city, there’s so much to see here. Here are some of the best spots to check out during this walking tour.

Clérigos Church and Tower

This baroque beauty dates all the way back to 1735. The interior of the church definitely shows the ornate details as you’d expect in this style of architecture. Climbing the 200 steps to the top is a must, and the views are incredible. It does get quite hot inside, so try to do it on a cooler day or in the morning. Entrance for the tower is 5 euros.

The gorgeous interior of the Livraria Lello bookshop

The exterior of the Igreja do Carmo covered in azulejo tiles

Livraria Lello

One of the most famous bookshops in the world, although quite touristy. The gothic style and stunning interior even inspired JK Rowling while writing Harry Potter. You can also see the Harry Potter collection on display here. The inside has beautiful wood paneling and an elegant stairway covered with red carpeting. You can spend all day here browsing the books, and admission even gives you a discount on your purchase. The fee to get in was 5 euros. We recommend going later in the day closer to closing for a shorter line.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória

A gorgeous medieval church built in 1539, a true architectural wonder. After a fire caused damage in the 18th century, it was renovated and restored. There is a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the center at the altar. We briefly stopped by to admire both the inside and outside while exploring.

Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas

These two churches are right next to each other and both feature incredible interiors. The churches were built in the 17th century in the late Baroque style. Igreja do Carmo had the blue azulejo tiles added in the 19th century which were made locally. They feature Portuguese scenes from Mount Carmel by artist Silvestre Silvestri. If you’re an architecture lover like us, then you’ll really enjoy seeing these.

The amazing view of Porto from Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia is on the other side of the river directly across from Porto. It’s filled with restaurants, shops, and port wine cellars. During a visit here you can book a wine tasting and tour at popular cellars like Cálem, Sandeman, and Graham’s. Afterwards head by the water and admire the view. Or you can ride the cable car, Teleférico de Gaia which you can access after crossing the upper level of the Dom Luis I Bridge.

Bus, River Cruise, & Port Cellar Tour
For those who need a break from walking, this tour gives you two day access to the hop-on hop-off bus. It also includes a river cruise and a guided tour of Calém Wine Cellars, such a great value!

Day 3 Walking Tour: Chapel of Souls, Bolhão Market, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Rua Santa Catarina, São Bento Station, Rua das Flores

Porto is famous for it’s stunning blue azulejos tiles all over the buildings around the city. This walking tour will feature a few landmarks covered with the tiles which are like works of art on their own. You can view these in any order you choose, as they are all fairly close to one another.

Chapel of Souls

This beautiful little church is located in the Santo Ildefonso district. The building is covered with blue azulejo tiles that depict various religious scenes featuring saints. It’s quite beautiful to see both inside and out, and definitely one of the most photographed buildings in Porto.

Bolhão Market

The Bolhão Market dates all the way back to the late 1800’s and was used for trading. Now it’s a mecca of locally grown fresh produce, meats, flowers, wine, olives, and other local goodies. Since it was under construction while we were there, it was temporarily in a new location. But we’d love to go back again and visit once it’s complete. If you’re a foodie like us you’ll really enjoy it here.

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Another gorgeous baroque church, this one dates all the way back to the 18th century. Over 11,000 azulejo tiles cover the facade featuring various scenes of Saint Ildefonso, hence the name of the church. The tiles were created by Jorge Colaço, the same artist of those at Sao Bento station. The church is located near Batalha Square with areas to sit and relax awhile. Cafe Santiago F is conveniently located nearby if you’re up for trying the famous Francesinha sandwich.

Rua Santa Catarina

After heading to Bolhão Market, you can continue shopping along the Rua Santa Catarina. It’s one of the largest shopping areas within Porto, and also filled with great restaurants and cafes like the Majestic Cafe. There’s a nice mix of mainstream international shops and local boutiques. It can get quite crowded here, so keep that in mind before you visit.

The gorgeous azulejos within the walls of Sao Bento Station

São Bento Station

Yet another beautiful site adorned with the azulejo tiles, this one has over 20,000 of them! The station itself was completed in the early 1900’s, and the tiles by painter Jorge Colaço took over 10 years to complete. The tiles show various scenes from Portuguese history. It’s another UNESCO World Heritage site, and also a National Monument of Portugal. Definitely a must to stop by and see this beauty in person.

Rua das Flores

Nearby the station is another famous shopping street called the Rua das Flores. The street name means the Road of Flowers, named after the manor homes along the street which used to be filled with beautiful blooming gardens. It now has beautiful traditional homes and plenty of shops to peruse. You will find many boutique artisan shops, souvenir shops, jewelers, cafes and restaurants, as well as street musicians while strolling along here.

Day Trips from Porto, Portugal

If you find yourself staying in Porto longer, or just want a taste of somewhere different there are plenty of great day trip options. Coimbra, a charming medieval town, is just a little over an hour drive away. Aveiro, nicknamed the “Venice of Portugal” is a beautiful coastal city with a series of canals. While here, you can also check out the colorful houses in Costa Nova. Braga and Guimaraes are both less than an hour drive from Porto, and also close to each other. If you love ancient and historic type places, you will love both of these. Although we never ended up taking a day trip, they are definitely on our list for a future visit.

Douro Valley

Of course a visit to the Douro Valley is a must while in Portugal. It may be a stretch to do within a day, but definitely makes a perfect weekend trip if you’re using Porto as a base. We ended up staying in Mesao Frio, and taking scenic drives stopping in Pinhao along the way.

Braga and Guimarães Full Day Tour
Braga and Guimarães are two beautiful cities to see. This full day tour includes transportation to both cities, lunch, bottled water and monument fees. A great way to see another part of the country!

Our little violinist playing for the streets of Porto!

Porto is a Must Visit

As you can see, Porto is a gem of a place filled with rich history and gorgeous architecture. You’ll also get a taste of so many delicious local specialties. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and I’m sure you will adore this city just as much as we did.

Have you been to Porto? If so we’d love to hear about it!

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Exploring a country by car is the best way to see it all. I have seen more variety on a road trip, then by hopping on a plane from city to city. It also allows you to have truly local experiences, with the freedom to stop by smaller villages and cities along the way. And of course there’s no denying you’ll see some amazing scenery and landscapes. This is why we decided upon a Portugal road trip after a 3 day stay in Lisbon.

When planning our trip to Portugal, I knew that I wanted to include driving in our itinerary. So we drove from Lisbon to Porto and made several stops along the way. In this guide we will highlight the perfect journey for Northern Portugal, with stops at Obidos, Monsanto, Douro Valley and more.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

The Most Charming Portugal Road Trip: Historical Villages

In This Article
Itineraries
Where to Rent a Car
Obidos
Monsanto
Piodao & Douro Valley
Pinhao & Porto
Best Way to Experience Portugal

The charming streets of Monsanto, Portugal

Itineraries

With Portugal being such a small country, you can actually cover a great deal of it in a short amount of time. The drive is also fairly easy and roads are not too crowded, except within the bigger cities. In this guide we will focus on the north and eastern part of the country, since we’ve saved the south for another trip.

Our trip started off in Lisbon where we stayed for a few days, and then rented a car to move on to other areas. First we stopped at Obidos, then Monsanto, a brief day trip to Piodao, Douro Valley, and finally to Porto. Between each place it didn’t take any longer than 3-4 hours, with some being even shorter. The beauty of having a car is the freedom to stop by anywhere you want, and take your time with it. We highly recommend seeing Portugal in this way.

Our car rental from Amoita

Where to Rent a Car

I must admit, after reading so many bad things about renting a car in Portugal I was concerned about it. But then I came across great reviews on Amoita car rental and felt relieved. It’s always an unknown what could happen once you arrive there, but I’m happy to say the experience was smooth and positive. Even better was that they deliver the car to you, in most of the major cities like Lisbon, Porto, Faro to name a few. There’s a small fee, but it’s so worth it.

Because they delivered, it also allowed us to enjoy some time in Lisbon for a few days without paying for a car we wouldn’t use. And we didn’t have to worry about the hassle of picking up at the airport after our flight. Although the cars are a bit older than other rental places, ours was in perfectly good condition. After the full rental, they also picked it back up as well, which was such a time saver!

Obidos is such an adorable village surrounded by beautiful landscapes

Obidos

The first stop on our Portugal road trip was Obidos, a beautifully charming village fairly close to Lisbon. With just a brief hour drive it was the perfect way to start our journey. We were able to enjoy a slow breakfast, explore Lisbon a bit in the morning then headed off around noon.

There are a few routes to get there, but we went via the A8, a straight shot north. The road has tolls, but our car automatically came with an electronic pass, and we were charged for any toll costs after the trip.

Quick Tip
In order to make sure you aren’t overcharged for tolls, try to keep a written tab of all the costs throughout the trip so you have a record of it.

We spent a little over a day here walking around the village and enjoying the slower pace. You’ll fall in love with the quaint streets, adorable artisan shops, and local way of life. Having a car and staying overnight also allows you to enjoy the village without all the tourists who come for day trips.

Read more on our One day guide to Obidos.

The sunsets were unreal from within the village of Monsanto

Monsanto

Next up on on our journey was the unique village of Monsanto. About a 3.5 to 4 hour drive from Obidos, you’ll arrive at one of the most fascinating places here. It’s built on the side of a mountain, which becomes quite apparent as you get closer. One of our goals during this road trip was to explore a few historical villages, and this was one of them.

Although there isn’t much to do here, expect to slow down a bit and enjoy the more simple things in life. We felt as if we had the place to ourselves, especially at sunset. It’s the perfect way to escape the crowds and enjoy a local experience. One of our highlights here was hiking to the Castle of Monsanto at the top of the mountain, and admiring golden hour on the way back down.

Read more about our overnight stay in Monsanto.

The incredible view of Piodao from the mountain roads

Piódão and Douro Valley

Piódão

After a wonderful overnight stay in Monsanto, we were off to our next stop. Piódão is another historical village with quite a striking appearance. Located within the stunning mountains of the Serra do Açor, it’s isolated with nothing else around except gorgeous landscapes. The drive there is an adventure in itself along narrow and windy (and sometimes steep) mountain roads.

All of the homes within the village are made out of schist, a rock formed from mudstone or shale. They look intricately pieced together with bright blue painted doors. As you walk through you’ll go up and down a network of schist stairs and pathways. There is also a spring below to cool off on a hot summer day.

A white church greets you at the entrance and contrasts against all the grey buildings. You’ll also see various souvenir shops and places to eat as well. It’s completely filled with charm and totally worth the day trip, or even an overnight stay. If you’re into hiking there are several trails around the area as well, and other villages to see along the way.

Beautiful views from the road through the Douro Valley

Douro Valley

After our brief time in Piódão, we headed to Douro Valley where we’d be staying the night. Summer isn’t typically the best time to be in this part of the country, but we wanted to get a taste of it and view the scenery. We decided to stay in the little village of Mesão Frio which took us about another 2-3 hours of driving. The journey there took us along the scenic N-108 route along the Douro river. We arrived right before golden hour, and had some time to relax by the pool before dinner.

Our home for the night was at Casa de Canilhas, an old Portuguese manor house with the most stunning views of the Douro river. It was such a great value for what you get, and the delicious homemade breakfast with a view was divine. We didn’t have time to stop at a vineyard with such a brief stay, but the staff gave several great recommendations of where to go.

See more places to stay in Douro Valley.

You can eat nearby in Regua, however we chose to eat within the center of Mesão Frio, a quick 5 minute drive away. We had dinner at Tasca do Zéquinha and got lucky enough to score a table. It’s not a fancy place by any means, but the food was incredible and well worth any wait. We felt like we were having a homemade meal at grandma’s house. The owners were very accommodating and even gave us a few snack samples to try on the way out.

Back at the hotel we were able to lounge outside our room and get a beautiful glimpse of the stars. It was truly a wonderful stay, and if you can stay longer then definitely check out some of the vineyards nearby.

Douro Valley Tour
If you’re staying an extra day, this tour is perfect to see more of the area. It includes a tour of two wineries, a river cruise in a traditional boat, and lunch, a great value for what you get!

View from the train station in Pinhao

Pinhão and Porto

Pinhão

Before heading off to Porto, our final stop on our Portugal road trip, we wanted to do another scenic drive. We decided to take the beautiful N-222 route along the other side of the Douro river in order to stop by Pinhão in the heart of wine country. It was fairly quiet when we arrived, but we parked and decided to take a stroll.

In the autumn during harvest the town is more busy with lots to do, but for now it was fairly sleepy. The train station is quite historic and worth a look for the beautiful azulejo tiles depicting life scenes. You can also take a river cruise and get closer views of the Pinhão bridge. We didn’t have much time so we didn’t do much except walk around and explore. Most of the shops were closed, aside from souvenirs and a few cafes. However we enjoyed our brief time here and would love to come back during the fall!

Will forever remember these sunsets by the water in Porto

Porto

For the last and final stop of our road trip we spent 3 days in Porto. We were set to spend a few days here, although had some day trips in mind. However we fell in love so much that we decided to just stay within the city and never even used the car again. We did do some research and had a few day trips in mind. If you have more time, or want to see more than just Porto, you can head to Aveiro, nicknamed the Venice of Portugal, Coimbra, Braga, and Guimarães. All of these places are within close driving distance and can easily be done in a day trip. Costa Nova in Aveiro has the famous brightly colored striped houses to see. If you’re really into history then Braga or Coimbra would be great choices. We have saved all of these for another trip, along with the south!

The Best Way to Experience Portugal

We hope this gives you inspiration for a northern Portugal road trip. Although we saw a lot, there is still so much more to see throughout the country. It was easily one of our highlights of our 10 day trip and we enjoyed having the freedom to see things at our own pace. Next time you find yourself in this country, definitely make sure to rent a car and hit the road! There’s so much to be discovered within these hidden corners!

Have you been on a memorable road trip? We’d love to hear about it!

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There are so many wonderful places to visit in Portugal, and Obidos is one you should not miss. This beautiful village is filled with whitewashed buildings which are painted and covered with colorful bougainvillea. You’ll quickly fall in love as you slowly stroll around the narrow streets. We briefly stopped here overnight on our 10 day trip through Portugal. It’s an easy drive from Lisbon, and the perfect stop on a road trip. Read on to see why this place captivated our hearts and memories.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

Places to Visit in Portugal: Obidos Village Guide

In This Article
Brief Background of Obidos
How to Get to Obidos
When to Go to Obidos
Where to Stay in Obidos
What to Do in Obidos

The view of Obidos from the castle

A Brief Background on Obidos

Obidos is a unique place with a network of narrow cobblestone streets, town squares, homes and shops. It sits atop a hill with Obidos Castle as its focal point. King Afonso II presented it to his wife on her wedding day in the 1200s, which happens to be a Portuguese tradition. Because of this its been nicknamed “The Town of the Queens.”

The village is a perfect example of medieval architecture, with fortified castle walls surrounding it and entry through various gates. Because it’s close to the Atlantic, it used to thrive as a trading port. The 1755 earthquake caused damage to the town, but since then it has been restored.

How to Get to Obidos

You can get to Obidos by bus or train from Lisbon, however the best way is to rent a car and drive there. It’s about an hour drive via the A8 expressway and very easy to get to. You will have to park outside the walls once you arrive.

Driving also allows you to stay overnight and have it all to yourself after all the tours leave. Since it’s popular as a day trip, it can get quite crowded during the day. But once they leave the streets become much more quiet and empty.

Public Transportation

To get there by bus you’ll take the Rápida Verde from Campo Grande station in Lisbon. We do not recommend going by train since the journey takes much longer and also is not as close to the village.

Read more about our Portugal Road Trip

The homes were covered with flowers and beautifully painted

When to Go

The best time to visit Portugal overall is usually in spring or fall. We went during summer and stayed in the northern part, since the Algarve was most touristy during this time. If you’re into festivals you might want to plan your trip around those. In the end, it really comes down to personal preference of when to go.

The gorgeous view from the terrace and yard at Casa Picva

Where to Stay in Obidos

There are many wonderful places to stay in Obidos depending on what your style is. You can either stay inside or outside the walls. With a car, it’s much more convenient to stay somewhere outside the walls since you can park nearby. You cannot park on the inside since there’s no access.

We ended up choosing Casa Picva, perfectly located right outside the walls near one of the gates. The owner João was very welcoming and hospitable for our entire stay. The room was very spacious and comfortable and we even got an extra bed for our daughter. There is a cozy yard with seating, a koi pond, and fruit trees with gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape. Breakfast was served communal style and everything was fresh and homemade. He offered great advice on what to see and do, as well as a helpful map. The house itself contained a lot of history and a wonderful collection of art. It was a perfect, relaxing stay and we would not hesitate to return again.

If you’re interested in staying within the walls the Torre de Maneys gets great reviews and is loved by many. It’s quite a unique place that makes you feel like you’re staying in a medieval castle. The interiors look stunning with beautiful views, and a delicious breakfast is included.

Need more Obidos hotel options? See more

What to Do in Obidos

Although Obidos is a rather small village, there are still many things to do. Below I’ve outlined some of the highlights on what to do while here, whether it’s a day trip or staying overnight.

Wander and Explore

One of the best parts of being in a gorgeous village like this, is just letting yourself wander. There are many hidden discoveries to be found walking around. Pay attention to the details around you, there is so much charm here. We had such a wonderful time relaxing and checking out all beauty around us. Since we live such a fast and busy life in a big city, it feels great to just slow down. Some of our favorite parts of a place are away from the main streets. You definitely won’t get tired of it!

A Medieval Tour
Are you a history lover like us? Get a proper intro to this village with this tour. You’ll visit a few secret spots including the castle, and finish off with a Ginjinha liqueur tasting.

Shop and Stroll Along the Rua Direita

Next up is the Rua Direita, a main street which runs through the center of the village. There are several local artisan shops, souvenir shops, restaurants and art galleries, and a great place to try some ginja. Although it can get rather busy, this street is bursting with delight. Make sure to stop by Capinha d’Óbidos for a sweet. It’s a family run bakery since the 1800’s with traditional recipes and such a wonderful atmosphere.

Closeup of ginja served in a chocolate cup

The view of the surrounding Portuguese countryside beyond the castle walls

Drink Ginja

Drinking ginja is another popular thing to do in Obidos. It’s a sour cherry liqueur that’s usually served in a chocolate cup. It’s very easy to find here along the Rue Direita and usually around 1 euro per cup. Many of the shops here also sell bottles of it so you can bring plenty home with you!

Obidos Castle and Walls

Obidos Castle is one of the first things you see as you come upon the village. Dating all the way back to the 8th century, this beautiful medieval castle is a symbol of national pride. But since it was transformed into a luxury hotel (pousada), you can’t take a tour inside. The castle walls surround the entire village, and we highly recommend taking a walk around them. Or if you’re brave, along the top. It’s much more quiet around these parts and there are beautiful views to see. If you’re staying the night, wake up early and watch the sunrise here.

Festivals

Another great thing to see while traveling are the festivals. There are a few popular ones in Obidos. The Medieval Market usually takes place in mid-July through August. There are people dressed in costume with plenty of artisans selling handicrafts, food, and entertainment to enjoy. The International Chocolate festival takes place in the spring (April-May) featuring many chocolatiers from around the world.

Tiny violinist in the beautiful streets of Obidos

A Beautiful Place to Visit in Portugal

If you’re looking for a brief escape, Obidos is the perfect place to be. You can easily add it on to your Lisbon itinerary, or part of a larger road trip. With its quaint cobblestone streets, brightly painted cottages, and local vibes, you’ll come here never wanting to leave. It was the perfect start to our road trip through Portugal. And although it may be small, Obidos is bursting with history and character.

Have you been to Obidos? If so, we’d love to hear more!

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I still remember it vividly as we approached Monsanto, Portugal after driving through vineyards, and stunning Portuguese landscapes. The sight of what appeared to be a huge mountain speckled with homes built right within it. They were almost hard to see until we got closer. Perfectly blended into the natural landscape around. It’s truly one of the most unique places we have ever been. And as you continue to read you’ll easily see why.

This was the third stop on our 10 day journey through Portugal and makes a perfect road trip. You really only need one night here to see it all, but it’s a wonderful relaxing stay for even longer. Discover this overnight guide and see why we fell in love with “The Most Portuguese Village in Portugal.”

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

Monsanto Portugal One-Day Guide

In This Article
History of Monsanto
How to Get to Monsanto
When to Go to Monsanto
Where to Stay in Monsanto
What to Do in Monsanto

Walking the path to the Castle of Monsanto ruins

A Brief History of Monsanto

Monsanto, Portugal is located within the area of Idanha-a-Nova in the central part of the country bordering Spain. It rises on a mountain called Mons Sanctus almost 800 feet above sea level. Granite cottages with burnt orange roofs exist in harmony between and around large boulders which makes for a unique sight. The homes run along a network of irregular tiny stone alleyways, some of which are connected by stairs and go uphill as you ascend the mountain. It is eerily quiet and feels like you’ve stepped back into the early ages.

The village is one of twelve Historical Villages of Portugal which helped to defend the country. It traces back to the Early Stone Age, with presence from Romans, Visigoths and Arabians in the area. In 1165, King Alfonso I gave ownership of the city to Order of Knights Templar, and then the Order of Santiago. Eventually a fortress was built on the top of the mountain called the Castle of Monsanto and was used to protect during invasions in the Middle Ages. However it was destroyed in the nineteenth century due to an explosion from within.

Sunrise over the village and a view of a large boulder home.

How to Get to Monsanto

The best way to get to Monsanto is by car. We rented one from Amoita and had a wonderful experience. They delivered the car to us in Lisbon, and also offer pickup service as well.

You can also take a bus from Lisbon or Porto. Check this site to see if there’s a route from where you’re staying.

Apparently there’s also a train as well, but a car offers the quickest and most convenient way there. You can also stop at other sites along the way as you wish.

Discover more places in our Portugal Road Trip Guide

The beautiful stone streets were empty most of the time

When to Go

The best time to go to Monsanto is during the spring or fall, which are the shoulder seasons. We went during summer and it was pretty hot during the day, so it depends on what you prefer. If you’re into cultural experiences, the Festival of the Holy Cross happens in early May. Women carry rag dolls and flower pots to the castle on top of the mountain, and toss the pots over the walls. Overall, it’s generally not very crowded there, so even in summer we had the streets to ourselves at times.

Where to Stay

Monsanto can easily be done in a day trip, but staying overnight allows you to really slow down and enjoy the village. You can stroll the quiet streets at sunset, or wake up before everyone else and watch the sunrise from the mountain. Although we only stayed one night, you can certainly stay longer and explore some of the parts around.

Within the village there are a few great choices of places to stay. We recommend experiencing one of the boulder houses, which will also mean you’ll be right within the main part of the village. We stayed at Casa de David and really enjoyed it. The owners were very friendly and accommodating. A fresh homemade breakfast is served and included with your stay. The room was comfortable and quite unique with the stone walls all around. There is also a small shop here with a tasteful selection of clothing and accessories.

For those who want to stay in a private home, the Casa Mont’santo gets great reviews and has a private garden for relaxing. Sun Set House is a smaller one very close to the castle with beautiful views.

There are so many wonderful options here, but some do sell out quick with limited availability. So we suggest booking well in advance in order to have more to choose from.

See more places to stay in Monsanto.

Walking within the walls with Chapel of Santa Maria behind

View from within the castle walls

What to Do in Monsanto

Castle of Monsanto

Although the village is quite small, there is still plenty to keep busy with. One of the main sights is the Monsanto Castle which sits at the very top of the mountain. There’s a walking path which leads up, and you’ll need comfortable shoes for the journey. Aside from the ruins of the castle and its walls, there are other sites to see as well. The Chapel of Santa Maria, Chapel of São João, The Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, and Church of São Miguel. As you walk from site to site there are gorgeous views of the towns and valleys below, and even of the Serra da Estrela mountain range in the distance. Here’s a helpful outline of all the main sites in the area.

The nearly empty streets were so refreshing!

There were several spots around the village with stunning views

Explore and Shop

One of our favorite things to do here was simply to walk around and explore. During sunset a gorgeous orange sun-kissed glow covers all the stone and is worth the visit alone. It’s fun to walk around the alleyways and see where they lead. Along the way you’ll discover little shops to grab some souvenirs and treasures. We noticed a lot of shops selling ribboned drums and marafona rag dolls, the traditional items from the area. It took us a few hours to explore the streets and little nooks and crannies between the boulder homes. Spending time here makes you feel as if you’re in another era, with the rich history well-preserved.

Watch the Sunset

Watching the sunset is always a must while traveling. But the orange glow on the granite homes with views of the landscapes beyond is stunning. We walked around the streets as the sun was setting and truly enjoyed it. You could also sit and relax at one of the viewpoints, or admire it from Monsanto Castle on top of the mountain.

Pork dish at Petiscos e Granitos

Try the Local Food

There aren’t many choices of restaurants in Monsanto, but it’s always nice to try some local food. We ate at Petiscos e Granitos which was probably one of the better options in the area, but still not that great. The food was ok, but service was quite slow. We wanted to sit outside, but there was no space. So we ended up having to choose one of the inside tables, which was a bit more private. Apparently there are lovely views from the terrace, so consider going early. The restaurants may be closed, so call ahead or ask your guesthouse to recommend one that is open.

A Must-See Historical Village

After being in Lisbon for 3 days, we wanted to see more of the country. Monsanto is definitely one of the unique and less known spots to see. It’s one of the most fascinating places we’ve been and definitely worth checking out. It makes for a wonderful road trip from Lisbon or Porto, and an easy stop on the way to Douro Valley. You can even combine with other sites and do a complete Historical Villages of Portugal tour. These villages are just one of many hidden gems to see in this beautiful country.

Have you been to Monsanto? If so, we’d love to hear more!

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Sintra Portugal is what fairytales are made of. Stunning greenery, charming cobblestone streets, ornate palaces, and mysterious historical sites. I was enchanted even more with each place we saw and loved escaping here for the day. There is so much to see beyond the famous Pena Palace and totally worth spending the night to slow down and take your time.

Even though we only had 3 days in Lisbon, I still could not resist planning a trip here. It was such an easy train ride with great transportation options to get around the village. Although there is much to see, we were only able to fit in a few key sites. But we will highlight some other options of what to see and do in Sintra.

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Sintra Portugal Day Trip from Lisbon

Discover what we did during our day trip to Sintra as we explored Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, and much more!

In This Article
How to Get to Sintra
When to Go to Sintra
Where to Stay in Sintra
What to Do: Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Historical Center of Sintra

The view of Pena Palace through the walls of Castle of the Moors

How to Get to Sintra

In order to get to Sintra, you must take the train from Rossio station. There are trains every 30 minutes and it takes around 40 minutes to get there. Once you arrive, there will be tuk tuks or cars waiting to take you where you need to go. This will save time, especially if you have only the day to spend here.

When to Go

The best time to go to Sintra is during the off-season which is usually in spring or fall. Because we were there in late summer, it was very crowded. It also tends to be less busy during the week, which could help if you happen to be there during peak season.

Where to Stay

We only spent the day here, so we can’t personally vouch on where to stay. However there are plenty of options like Chalet Saudade a charming guesthouse perfectly located to explore all the sites. If you’re looking for something more self-sufficient like an Airbnb, Casas de Biquinha is a wonderful option and gets raving reviews.

Staying overnight puts you at an advantage to beating the crowds. If we had more time in Portugal, I would definitely stay somewhere in town next time. You can also spend more time at each site and split it into a few days of exploring.

See more hotels in Sintra, Portugal.

Stunning view over Sintra while walking along the walls of Castle of the Moors

What to Do: Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Historical Center of Sintra

Sintra, Portugal is a gorgeous town filled with lush greenery, exquisite palaces and villas, and rich history. The Portuguese royal family used to reside here, and they’ve left behind so much beauty to explore. It’s located within the Serra de Sintra, a mountain range dotted with several historical sites and pine forests. You can see a lot in just a day trip, but we recommend adding on another day to get the full experience. We were able to explore three main sites and felt a bit rushed at times, but still we got a nice taste of the city. Here we will highlight what we saw, with also a few suggestions on what else there is to see.

Castle of the Moors

Castle of the Moors is a medieval castle which sits on top of a hill within the Sintra Mountains. It was used for protection and built by the Moors in the 8th-9th centuries. Eventually it was surrendered to Christian forces and left in ruins until it was reconstructed in the 1930’s. Today you can walk along the castle walls and enjoy the beautiful views of Pena Palace, and the village of Sintra below. We spent a few hours here exploring and felt that was sufficient.

We got a car from the station to drive us up here, and they recommended it as a first stop since most go to Pena Palace right away. It wasn’t too crowded and there’s a small cafe with snacks and restrooms. Some of the areas of the walls have no side rails, so be careful while walking around, especially with your kids. There are some steep drops on some parts and it can get quite scary.

Terra spinning around on the terrace of Pena Palace

Looking up at the colorful facade as you enter Pena Palace

Pena Palace

The next stop on our day tour was Pena Palace. It also sits on a mountaintop not far from Castle of the Moors. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and also one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders. According to history, King Ferdinand built a summer residence from the remains of a chapel and monastery that was destroyed during the 1955 earthquake. The architecture is a vibrant mix of Renaissance, Gothic, and Islamic styles with hints of Portuguese influence as well. This is what makes it such a unique beauty that so many tourists flock here to see.

You can also explore the inside of the palace as well as the terrace. You will need to buy the combined ticket in order to access these areas. We definitely recommend it since the terrace allowed us to escape the crowds and get some gorgeous shots. We spent about 2-3 hours here total, including some of the parks and gardens. You can grab tickets here online for several sites including Pena Palace. It will also save you time once you arrive.

A magical sight in Valley of the Lakes at Pena Palace gardens

Swans were swimming in the lake, so pretty!

Valley of the Lakes: Pena Palace Gardens

Around the palace there are also several gardens to discover and explore. You can easily spend a whole day alone just devoted to the gardens, however we were short on time. So we decided to check out the Valley of the Lakes, a string of lakes filled with duck houses and swans at the base of Pena Palace. An enchanting forest of trees and exotic plants surrounds the water which makes it even more beautiful. We were one of few in the area as we walked around the lake, which was such a nice contrast to the palace crowds.

Quinta da Regaleira

Also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Quinta da Regaleira is a quirky residence near the historic center of Sintra. It’s also one of the biggest tourist attractions here, but not too overly crowded. Around the palace are several parks, gardens, grottoes and mystical wells, with the Initation Well being one of the most mysterious. The palace is nicknamed “The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire,” named after its former owner António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. It has since gone through several owners through the years, but now belongs to the town of Sintra.

It’s quite a display of unique architecture with gothic details and gargoyles throughout. The house was built using materials sourced from around the world and built with luxurious taste. Nearby the house is a chapel that also has ornate detail and lavish decor inside and outside.

Initiation Well

On the premises of the residence is the Initation Well, which was said to be used for masonic rituals. Apparently in order to be initiated you’d have to descend the well in complete darkness, then find your way out of dark and cold caves and underground tunnels. But once you did finally make it out you’d have to walk across small stone steps over water, with no light to guide you. If you made it across without falling in, then you successfully complete the ceremony.

We decided to tackle this challenge in the light, and it wasn’t easy walking across those steps! The entire experience felt very mysterious, eerie and beautiful at the same time. As you walk through the tunnels at the bottom of the well, you will see the Waterfall Lake after exiting the caves. The well has a lot of symbolism of death and rebirth, and it’s still a mystery as to what it was intended for. But this makes it an even cooler place to visit!

The view over the historical center of Sintra from one of the viewpoints

Historical Center of Sintra

The historical center of Sintra is filled with adorable cobblestone streets, charming buildings and adorable shops. There is also a great selection of local food to try here too. We ended our time in Sintra walking around exploring before catching the train back to Lisbon. If you want to eat at the more local spots, we recommend making a reservation. We ended up not doing this and having to eat at one of the touristy spots along the main section of town.

Sintra Full Day Tour
If you like having everything planned out, you can book this tour. You’ll get to see the Sintra National Palace, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and much more! Transportation and a guide for some of the sites is included.

Alternative Option: Monserrate Palace

If you’re not interested in seeing one of the sights above, or perhaps have additional time here you should definitely check out the Monserrate Palace. I was hoping to go here, but just couldn’t fit it in since we arrived here later than planned. It’s another architectural beauty with gorgeous gardens and a unique mix of exotic plants. The palace itself looks like a dream as well.

Sintra Portugal is a Must See

We had the most magical time in Sintra and it was the perfect day trip from Lisbon. The village and surroundings are beautiful and the gardens are relaxing and peaceful to walk in. Of course we would have loved to have more time here, but we are glad we added it into our ten day trip to Portugal. You should definitely add Sintra to your Portugal bucket list, the beauty will remain in your memory forever.

Have you been to Sintra? If so, we’d love to hear more about your experience!

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We spent 3 days in Lisbon as part of a ten day journey in Portugal. It’s known to be “The City of Seven Hills,” however I couldn’t imagine a more family-friendly city. Between the gorgeous azulejos adorning the buildings and windy cobblestone streets, the quaint charm captivated me in so many ways. It’s the perfect place to live life a bit slower and stroll around aimlessly.

In this guide we will highlight the places we saw. Overall we had a pretty loose schedule without a strict itinerary. You can easily customize it to your liking. So we hope this gives you practical advice on what to see with or without kids.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

3 Days in Lisbon with Kids

This 3 day guide gives a brief taste of the charming city of Lisbon. You’ll explore Chiado, Rossio, Baixa, Alfama, Graca, Bairro Alto, and Belem. It also includes a day trip to Sintra, a must see while in Portugal.

In This Article
Traveling with Kids in Lisbon
Best Time to Go
Where to Stay in Lisbon
Helpful Tips for Lisbon
Baixa, Chiado, Alfama, Bairro Alto
Day Trip to Sintra
Cais do Sodre, Time Out Market, Belem, Jeronimos Monastery

Exploring the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon

Traveling with Kids in Lisbon

I had heard that Lisbon was rather kid-friendly, so I thought it would make a great family trip. With all the hills, crowded trams, and bumpy streets it’s not the most stroller-friendly. But if you have a carrier, or older kids that can walk it’s a lot easier. Riding one of the trams is a must-do, our daughter loved the experience!

If you want to see some Fado music a lot of the places either did not allow kids, or only allowed older ones. However we were able to book an earlier time at A Severa, and catch part of the Fado show. The food itself was a bit pricey for what it was, but the experience was nice. If you don’t have kids with you we recommend one of the other clubs from this list.

Another option is to see Fado Inside the Box, at Adega Machado, a one hour show with wine, snacks and bread. It’s from 5:00-6:00pm and is perfect for families who want to experience the music.

Best Time to Go to Lisbon

Typically it’s best to go to Lisbon between March and May or September-October. The weather is warm, and because it’s the off-season prices are cheaper and it’s less crowded. June-August tend to be hot and busy. We went in early July and lucked out with cooler weather, however we still couldn’t escape the crowds. November-February are the winter months which means more rain and grey skies with cooler temperatures. Because we went during the busy season we decided to do a road trip outside of Lisbon which allowed us to escape the usual tourist crowds. In the summer the beaches in the Algarve get packed, so if you plan to go here usually off-season is ideal.

Looking to go beyond Lisbon? Check out our road trip itinerary to Portugal.

Our room at Chiado Arty Flats

Where to Stay in Lisbon

With the short time we had here we wanted to stay central, so we chose Chiado. Baixa and Alfama are also popular areas to stay that are near a lot of main sites and restaurants.

I booked a few nights at Chiado Arty Flats, funky and modern apartments and studios with nice city views. Our unit had a kitchen with a dining area, and queen sized bed. They also setup a little bed for our daughter as well. It’s conveniently located near Bairro Alto, and the Rossio train station.

We were welcomed with pasteis de nata and port wine and also a glass bottle of water. Breakfast was included and usually an assortment of pastries, breads, ham, cheese, yogurt, granola and juice. There was a coffee machine and free WIFI in our room during the stay. It was such a comfortable place with easy access to transportation. It was also walking distance from a lot of great restaurants and bars.

Looking for more places to stay in Lisbon? See more.

The charming area around our hotel in Chiado

3 Days in Lisbon Day 1: Chiado, Rossio, Baixa, Alfama, Bairro Alto

The first day we focused on four neighborhoods stopping at some highlights in each. We explored Chiado, Rossio, Baixa, and Alfama. Chiado is an artsy area known for it’s shopping, and is a mix of old and new. There are a lot of great restaurants and bars in this area, and it’s a great place to stay. Rossio is right next to it and is the heart of the city. It contains the main square and is usually the busiest. Baixa is considered the downtown part with a lot of shopping and touristy shops. It’s also very busy and can get quite crowded. Alfama is the oldest and most charming area of the city, with a lot of narrow cobblestone streets and perfect for photographers.

By the time we arrived in Lisbon it was almost lunch-time. We checked into our hotel, left our bags and immediately started exploring starting with the Chiado area. Along the way we stopped for lunch at Oficina do Duque as recommended by a local and enjoyed a relaxing seafood lunch outside. There is also a great gelato place nearby called Gelato di Chef which made for a delicious snack.

Intro to Lisbon
Get the perfect introduction to Lisbon with this tour. You’ll visit Bairro Alto, Chiado, admire the city from a viewpoint, and take the tram to Alfama. Includes a guide, tram ride, and a coffee break.

Walking down towards the Gloria funicular

Chiado: Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara, Gloria Funicular, São Roque Church, Rua Garrett

After lunch we started exploring without a set plan. We did not have a strict schedule of what to see, but more so focused on certain neighborhoods each day. Lisbon is definitely one of those cities that is great to explore by foot. As we walked uphill we came across one of the many viewpoints, Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara. It’s not the most spectacular viewpoint in the city since I noticed some construction vehicles below, however there’s a nice garden here with benches to relax.

Right beside the viewpoint you’ll see the Ascensor da Gloria as you descend down the pathway. Also nearby is the Convento de São Pedro de Alcântara, a gorgeous baroque church with beautiful azulejo tiles and ornamental style. It’s worth taking a brief look inside at the chapel and great for those who love architectural details.

As you continue walking past the Gloria Funicular you’ll come across the church of São Roque. This stunning place miraculously survived the earthquake of 1755 and contains quite the history. It doesn’t look too special from the outside, but the inside is a gem.

One of the main shopping areas in Chiado is Rua Garrett. There is a large variety of shops, restaurants and street vendors here. You can also check out one of the oldest bookstores, Bertrand Bookshop built in 1732. Unfortunately because of the little time we had here we couldn’t browse or shop much. However if it’s important for you to shop we suggest spending more time in this area.

Looking up at the Santa Justa Lift

View from Carmo Convent ruins looking up towards the sky

Rossio: Carmo Convent, Santa Justa Lift, Rossio Square

After checking out the shopping areas we came upon Carmo Convent. Here you can see the ruins left by the destruction from the 1755 earthquake. There is also a small museum here, but we only checked out the ruins. It was interesting to see what’s left against the open sky, a reminder of the tragedy from the disaster.

Nearby you can also see the Santa Justa Lift, Neo-Gothic iron tower and very popular place to see in Lisbon. The views from the top are beautiful, but the wait is also very long. For this reason we decided to just admire it from below. Apparently there’s a small gift shop across the street which will take you up. Then you just have to pay 1.50 euros to walk the staircase to the top.

While you’re in the area you can also see Rossio Square, which is the heart of Lisbon. There are several cafes to stop by here, and monuments to see. It’s also nearby the Rossio Train station which takes you to Sintra and other areas outside of the city.

Baixa: Rua Augusta, Rua Augusta Arch, Praca do Comercio

If you continue to walk downhill along the Rua Augusta you’ll lead straight to the Rua Augusta Arch. This street is very busy and touristy and not the best place to stop for food or shopping. Because of all the tourists things tend to be overpriced here and not the greatest. However it’s worth walking along here to see the arch, as the details are incredible.

Unfortunately we happened to be here while it was crowded, but if you go early in the morning it’s very quiet. Walking through the arch will lead you to the Praca do Comercio. This is the main square with views of vibrant yellow facades and the Tagus River. The palace used to be located here before it was destroyed in the earthquake. From here you can take a tram to Belem, another popular area to see.

View of Lisbon from the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

Alfama: Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, São Jorge Castle, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro das Portas do Sol

From Praco do Comercio we started walking towards Alfama. We reached the Santo António Church where we decided we would take a tuk tuk up to one of the viewpoints. If you’re into churches then you definitely want to take a look inside this 18th-century Baroque beauty. Because we were already short on time we decided to continue on.

The tuk tuk driver took us all the way up to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the highest viewpoint in the city. This was our favorite out of all that we went to. Nicknamed Our Lady of the Hill, it offers spectacular views over the city including a view of the castle and beyond. Because it’s so far uphill, most tourists don’t think to come here. So it was a lot more quiet than others.

Miradouros of Lisbon

We decided to walk down after spending some time here. It’s a nice way to see more of the Graca neighborhood leading into Alfama. You can also visit a few viewpoints along the way including Miradouro da Graca, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro das Portas do Sol. You can grab a drink from Miradouro de Santa Luzia to relax and watch the sunset. Another great place to watch is from the São Jorge Castle.

Alfama is best explored by foot and we recommend going off the beaten path a bit. Smells of food filled the air as we walked through the quaint alleyways. This was by far our favorite part of the city and would love to see more on a return trip.

Fado in Bairro Alto

While planning the trip I knew I wanted to see some live Fado music. However while researching I quickly learned that bringing a child to one of the later shows wasn’t going to be an option. I contacted several places and finally was able to book an earlier table at A Severa around 8:00pm which allowed us to see part of the show that began at 9pm. This worked out perfectly so that we could still bring our daughter and experience hearing the music. Without kids we recommend checking out one of the other places from this list.

View of Pena Palace from the back courtyard

3 Days in Lisbon Day 2: Sintra Day Trip

We decided to spend the second day on a day trip outside of Lisbon. You can easily get there by train from Rossio station and it takes about 40 minutes. From the station there are plenty of tuk tuks or cars to bring you up, or you can walk the whole way. Since we were short on time we decided to take a car up.

View of Castle of the Moors from high up

Castle of the Moors

The first stop of the day is Castle of the Moors. If you’re not interested in seeing this one you can skip it, but we enjoyed it. It only took a little over an hour to walk around the castle walls and it’s worth the beautiful views of Pena Palace. Be careful as you walk along the walls, there are some parts that have no guard rail. It’s especially important to watch your kids on these parts with the big drop below. There is a small cafe with some snacks like sandwiches and chips which gave us a bit of energy for the next stop.

The enchanting Valley of the Lakes at Pena Palace gardens

Pena Palace

Castle of the Moors is conveniently located right nearby, so we walked from here. Since we started the day around 1pm, we got here around 3pm. There were definitely some crowds but it wasn’t too bad. We ended up purchasing the ticket for the parks and the palace, which allowed us to go onto the terrace. For us it was worth the cost as we found there were less people in this area which felt refreshing. We also got a glimpse inside the palace which was interesting. Overall it’s a truly stunning place no matter how touristy it is and definitely a must during your visit to Sintra.

Since we still had one place left to see we couldn’t see much of the parks. We decided to walk down to the Valley of the Lakes, which was an easy and pleasant walk. If you must choose only one part of the park to see, this one was quite the fairytale. There were swans within the lake with a few duck houses. The paths were lined with beautiful greenery and flowers. It was a delight to spend some time here and less crowded too. We definitely recommend checking this out after you see the palace. You can easily dedicate a full day to the parks if you have more time.

The truly stunning residence of Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira

The last stop on our day trip to Sintra was Quinta da Regaleira. People usually come here to see the Initiation Well, however the grounds and the residence are worth a look as well. We spent about a few hours here first checking out the well, and climbing into the caves and grottoes, then we came out and explored the gardens. Our time ended here checking out the beautiful and quirky architecture of the quinta.

Historical Center of Sintra

After exploring all three sites on our list, we ended the day in the historical center. We grabbed a bite to eat in the main center, which was quite touristy. However all of the small local places were booked up. Don’t forget to grab travesseiros (puff pastry with a filling of almonds, egg and cinnamon) from Casa Piriquita, a famous dessert shop in town.

See more: Day Trip to Sintra Portugal

Alternative Option
If you’re interested in both Cascais and Sintra, this tour takes you to both cities for the full day. You will visit a few highlights in each and also the westernmost part of Europe, Cabo da Roca. Includes transportation and entrance fees to the sites.

The gorgeous Jeronimos Monastery during golden hour

Cais do Sodre, Time Out Market, Belem, Jeronimos Monastery

On our last day in Lisbon we decided to book a different hotel, so we stayed at the Flores Guesthouse. This charming hotel is located in the Misericordia area not far from Baixa and Bairro Alto. It does not have an elevator so keep that in mind if you’re staying on a higher floor. They serve breakfast every morning in a little basket which hangs outside your door. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating, and even helped with a slight issue we had with our rental car. We would definitely stay again when we return to Lisbon!

The crowds around lunchtime at Time Out Marker

Time Out Market

Day 3 of Lisbon was actually our last day of our ten day trip in Portugal. We had spent the first few days here, then left on a road trip to various areas, and came back before having to fly out the next morning. Since we had driven from Porto, we arrived around lunchtime. Time Out Market is supposed to be one of the must sees in Lisbon, so we decided to check it out.

Although the food was great, it was extremely busy during lunch which made the experience not so pleasant. We didn’t even get a table, so we had to eat standing up. I’m not sure what the ideal time to come here is, but maybe an off-time in between lunch and dinner would be better. Other than that, there are some great food vendors here to try and get a taste of what the city has to offer.

Cais do Sodre

After lunch you’ll be right in the center of the Cais do Sodre neighborhood. It runs right along the river and is full of trendy bars, restaurants and beautiful views. It also puts you in a great location with easy access to Belém, our next stop of the day.

Jeronimos Monastery

The tram to Belém had very long lines, so we decided to take an uber instead. It was actually rather affordable, so we recommend using it if you want to get somewhere fast. The driver dropped us off at Jeronimos Manastery first, then we walked to Belém Tower.

We visited the monastery at a perfect time during golden hour, with the light shining so beautifully. You have to purchase your tickets at a different entrance, then walk down to the other entrance which will get you inside. You can visit the chapel for free, but we decided to pay to walk around inside. The details on the architecture are stunning and it’s easy to see why it’s a UNESCO world heritage site. We spent a little over an hour here felt it was plenty.

Nearby is the famous Pasteis de Belem where you must get some pasteis de nata. We lucked out with a shorter line, but it also moved very quickly. You can also get a table inside which might end up being faster depending on the take-out line. They really are worth the wait and we enjoyed every bite.

Walking towards Belem Tower

Belém Tower

We had the uber driver take us to one of the 28 Tram stops. Although it’s touristy, we wanted to at least experience it before leaving. You can ride it the whole way, but we got off in Chiado so we can find a place to eat. Since we didn’t book a place ahead of time, we spontaneously walked around and came across A Cultura do Hambúrguer on a whim. They were able to seat us within 10 minutes and it was the perfect laid-back place to spend our last night. Not to mention the burgers and drinks were delicious too! Sometimes having no plan can be a nice surprise.

The Best 3 Days in Lisbon

Lisbon is a beautifully charming city with so much history. It’s the perfect place for any kind of traveler and we enjoyed it as a family. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and it has a vibrant feel to it. We absolutely loved our time here and it’s a must see while in Portugal! If you have additional time in the country, check out our one day trip to Obidos. There’s so much to see even beyond the bigger cities, and an easy car trip away!

Have you been to Lisbon? If so we’d love to hear more!

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Denmark is filled with plenty of beauty to see around the whole country. Although we only had 5 days to spend in Copenhagen, we wanted to venture out for an overnight trip. Some possibilities on our list included Ribe, Aarhus, Odense, and Aero Island, but I was intrigued when I came across Bornholm Island. I really wanted an experience that was more immersed in nature while exploring smaller less known villages. I’m more than thrilled to share our one day adventure in Bornholm and open your eyes to more of the country.

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A Guide to Bornholm Island

In This Article
Where is Bornholm Island
Best Time to Visit
How to Get to Bornholm
Getting Around
How we Spent One Day in Bornholm

Where is Bornholm Island?

Bornholm is actually a small island located off the coast of Sweden. It’s located within the Baltic Sea and quite small at less than 600 square km. You can drive the entire perimeter in a day, however if you want to stop and enjoy the sites it’s best to have at least 3-4 days here to explore.

When is the Best Time to Visit?

The high season and popular time to visit Bornholm is from June through September. Dubbed the “Sunny Island,” the skies and Baltic Sea are filled with shades of blue during this time. The island is vibrant and bustling with visitors and activities. If you’re looking for perfect weather, water activities and more excitement, then this would be the best time to go.

The off-season however has its advantages. We were here in November and truly enjoyed having the entire island practically to ourselves. We drove for long stretches without seeing a soul. When we stopped to see the main sites, they were empty giving us full freedom to explore. Each village was practically a ghost town which felt eerie, but refreshing. However, not many restaurants were open and lodging wasn’t as widely available. We also didn’t have as much sun as we had hoped, but it made it feel more surreal. Overall, everything else made up for that and we highly recommend visiting during both for different vibes.

View of Ronne from the ferry

How to Get to Bornholm

There are several ways to get to Bornholm, but public transportation by bus and ferry was easiest. I bought a combo round trip ticket from Bornholmerbussen and it was fast and efficient. Since the site is in Danish, having a translator handy is helpful. The trip takes about 3 hours and tickets were around $60 total for all of us.

You could also take trains to Ystad Sweden, and then take the ferry from there. This option is much longer than by bus, so we opted not to try this route.

The last option would be to rent a car and drive to the ferry. We didn’t feel this made as much sense, but it could depending on your itinerary.

Getting Around the Island

There are public buses that operate around the island, but they don’t run often. We decided to rent a car since we had limited time here. If you really want to explore the off the beaten path areas, then you’ll definitely need one. There’s a Europcar right by the ferry, so it was very convenient to pickup and dropoff there during our visit. You’ll have to know how to drive a manual car since there’s no automatic cars to rent.

The roads are very smooth and easy to drive. They are clearly marked and so intuitive to navigate. Some of the villages are quite hilly and narrow, but easily manageable.

Drone view of Hasle, a small village in Bornholm

How We Spent One Day in Bornholm Island

Since we took the 6:45am bus from Copenhagen, our ferry arrived around 9:30am. We picked up our rental car right away by the ferry, and headed on our way. We didn’t have a set itinerary planned, but had a few villages in mind to explore. Since it was winter and off-season we decided to keep our exploration in the northern part of the island instead of the south.

Explore more: 5 Day Guide to Copenhagen

Allinge

We started off by driving up the left coast towards Allinge. Along the way, we stopped in a small village called Hasle. The streets were pretty deserted and there weren’t many people around at all. With it being so quiet, we thought it was a great opportunity to send the drone up to snap some aerial photos of the village. We also walked around on foot and explored a bit. The weather was quite windy and frigid, so we decided to head on our way towards our next stop.

Walking through the deserted streets of Allinge

The great thing about Bornholm is it’s very quick to get to each place. In about 15 minutes we arrived in Allinge, another beautiful village with adorable Danish style homes. On our way to the island we had eaten a light breakfast, so we were quite hungry by now.

A smokehouse on the water in Allinge

We drove to a smokehouse, but unfortunately it wasn’t open. In fact not many places were open at all. It was hard to find decent food, so we had to settle for whatever we saw open. We finally found a grocery and a small cafe nearby called Hoiers Iscafe. They had smörrebröd which was a plus, but the food was average at best. It’s definitely worth noting down if you’re here during off-season, but if not we suggest heading elsewhere.

After lunch, we parked the car and strolled around on the streets. It was pretty amazing how empty it was, allowing us to photograph the empty and charming streets. If only the weather was sunny, it would’ve been perfect! I truly enjoy having a place to ourselves sometimes. Overall the village was beautiful, with cute colorful homes and interesting pathways looping in between.

Walking towards Hammershus Castle Ruins

Hammershus Castle Ruins

There are several sites to see around Bornholm, and Hammershus is one of them. We saw several castles during our trip, and this was one of the most memorable. You must not make a trip here without seeing it. It’s truly an amazing place to explore and the scenery around is stunning.

See more: Castles in Denmark

Crossing the medieval bridge into the castle grounds

Hammershus is a medieval fortress built in the 12th century. It provided protection for the island until it was abandoned in 1743. There’s a visitor center where you can read more about the history, but we didn’t have time to stop by. From the visitor center you can also get a stunning panoramic photo of Hammershus.

View of the spooky trees from inside the castle ruins

We spent a few hours walking around the grounds of the castle. It was very drone friendly, which was perfect. With nobody around it was easy to take a lot of footage without disturbing anyone. Being the only ones exploring such a historical site was refreshing. There’s beautiful views of the Baltic Sea from several viewpoints within the ruins. It felt eerily beautiful at times, with overcast skies, crisp air, and a slight fog all around. I loved the mossy ground and spooky trees, which added to the whole experience.

Strolling through the streets of Gudhjem

Gudhjem

By now it was starting to get darker, so we decided to leave Hammershus to continue our drive to Svaneke, our final stop for the night. We drove along the north shore and first stopped at Gudhjem, a quaint little fishing village, situated up on a hill. Like the other villages, it was quite deserted. So this allowed some uninterrupted exploration of the empty streets again. I imagine it must look gorgeous in the summer with views of the blue sea!

View of the village of Svaneke through our guesthouse window

Svaneke

The last and final stop for the night was Svaneke, a very small and beautiful town in the northeastern part of the island. We chose to stay here since it’s one of the most stunning towns on the island. With colorful timbered homes, narrow windy streets, and the best views of the sea we can see why! We arrived in darkness, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see the town in daylight until the morning. But even walking through it at night is quite an experience.

The cute entrance to Svaneke Guesthouse

Where to Stay

I wanted a more local experience for lodging, so we opted for Airbnb. I came across Svaneke Guesthouse, a beautiful yellow half-timbered home tucked in on one of the most charming streets, with views of the sea from the windows. We chose the larger private room in the house, and had the entire top floor to ourselves since we were the only guests.

The Guesthouse

The room was absolutely perfect, so cozy and sufficiently warm. There were two small beds, and a larger queen sized bed. Terra adored having her own little sleeping space within a nook. There was also some cats roaming around, so if you’re allergic this might not be the place for you.

The beautiful backyard area of the guesthouse

Outside of the room is a common guest area with a fridge, dining area and some places to lounge. Terra had so much fun with the kids toys they had available. Everything was very clean and nicely stocked, including the bathroom. The house also has a cute backyard area, which would be quite lovely to hang out in the summer.

A true homemade Danish breakfast!

In the morning there’s a breakfast option for an additional cost. It included homemade bread, jams, meats with cheese, and yogurt with muesli, a truly Danish meal. Coffee, tea and hot cocoa was also served. The entire meal was so fresh and delicious, a healthy start to our day!

Talking to our host Michael was the best part of our stay here. He lives in the bottom floor of the guesthouse with his wife Lene, however she was not in town for the night. It was so intriguing to learn about life on the island, and Danish style living, as well as some history. They start their day with a nice swim in the sea, sounds like quite the charming life! It was truly a delight being hosted by such lovely people. Our entire stay was very intimate and comfortable. We plan to go back during the summer season!

See more: Places to stay in Bornholm Island

The inside of the restaurant, quite empty!

Dinner

After arriving in Bornholm, we noticed not many restaurants were open, so we were quite worried about dinner. Luckily Michael booked us a table at one of the only restaurants open in Svaneke during off-season called Svaneke Bryghus. It was actually a lovely place with beautiful rustic decor and a wide array of craft beers. There was a variety of food and great choices for kids. The meal did not come cheap, but the food was decent.

Walking to the restaurant was an experience in itself. The narrow streets were only lit by a soft glow of lanterns, and it was so quiet we heard our voices echo. This was one of those memorable travel moments that you don’t forget.

A beautiful red house by the water in Svaneke

Svaneke

With an early start and a nice homemade breakfast, we had a bit of time to explore before driving to the ferry. The area around the guesthouse is actually quite charming and makes for some wonderful photo opportunities. There are also gorgeous views from the windows all around.

The empty streets of Svaneke, I wonder what it’s like in summer?

The most charming house, love the red door!

Walking around Svaneke felt just like the other villages, deserted and absolutely amazing. As I strolled through the empty streets, there was not a soul around. Talk about instagram photo heaven! No selfies sticks hanging around, no waiting in lines for photos, it was the best! The area by the water was beautiful, with small boats docked. There were small shops, bakeries and hints of life, however mostly all closed up for now. There’s a plethora of colored half-timbered homes to see with cute windows. If you have more time we highly recommend extending your stay here to explore more.

The historical Osterlars round Church

Osterlars Church

After a morning walk around the village, we had to leave for the ferry. Since we had plans to head to Tivoli later in the day, we had to take the 10:30am ferry.

Conveniently located on the way there is Osterlars Round Church. It’s one of the other popular sites to see on the island, and dates all the way back to the 1100’s. You can go inside, however we only had time to briefly walk around the outside. It’s an adorable and beautiful church with gorgeous gardens surrounding it. With another overcast day, the slight mist made it feel slightly mysterious. Around the island are three other round churches to see as well, so you can definitely make a tour out of it!

The grounds around the church had gorgeous gardens!

As you can see, there’s so much more to Denmark beyond Copenhagen. We hope this opened your eyes to add Bornholm Island to your list of places to explore. It’s a beautiful, utopian island with a rich history, refreshing nature, interesting architecture and quaint fairytale villages. What more could you want?

What’s the most stunning island you’ve been to? We’d love to hear in the comments!

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Copenhagen Christmas markets are filled with delightful smells, and beautiful decor. Our spontaneous decision to visit this city resulted in a surprise of delight at stumbling across several markets while exploring. Being here during this time means frigid weather, but it also means less crowds, hygge vibes and beautiful holiday decor all around. We visited the markets during our 5 day trip to Copenhagen.

There are several Christmas markets in November and December, but we only explored the ones that were open during our time here. Make sure to drink some glogg and eat special holiday sweets! Here’s a list of five that we’ve visited. We’ve also added in other markets that we didn’t actually see, but are worth checking out.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

Copenhagen Christmas Markets: A Complete List

Kongens Nytorv Christmas Market

The entrance to Kongens Nytorv Christmas market

One of the largest markets is at Kongens Nytorv, a large public square right near the famous Strøget street. There’s a lot of shops with knitted goods, holiday decor, christmas ornaments and delicious goodies. We tried some pork goulash, sausages, and mini pancakes while browsing here. The smells in the air are heavenly, and the decor is lovely. You’ll also have views of the stunning Hotel D’Angleterre in the background.

Website
Dates: Usually Mid-November through end of December
Address: 1050 Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen K

Beautiful holiday decor while strolling along the markets

Nyhavn Christmas Market

Conveniently located right nearby Kongens Nytorv is the Nyhavn Christmas market. During the holidays this beautiful canal is adorned with stunning holiday lights. The restaurants are all cozy and complete with hygge, including blankets, candles and an outdoor fire. All along the canal the market is alive with plenty to eat, and numerous shops to grab traditional gifts and souvenirs. We tried glogg for the first time here and it was comforting on such a cold night. It’s a joyful site to see and experience!

Dates: Usually early-November through end of December
Address: Nyhavn, 1051 Copenhagen K

Market stalls at the Hojbro Plads Christmas Market

Højbro Plads Christmas Market

Højbro Plads is another square located right near the shopping district of Strøget street. The convenient location makes it easy to make a stop here while exploring other main sites. The surrounding architecture is a beautiful backdrop to the festive market stalls. This market is loaded with so many great eats and desserts. We tried sausages, waffles, and bought some delicious sweets to bring home. We stopped here twice and there were less crowds during the week. The holiday vibes were full of cheer here!

Website
Dates: Usually mid-November through end of December
Address: Højbro Plads, 1200 Copenhagen K

Cheerful and fun vibes at the Tivoli Christmas market

Tivoli Christmas Market

Tivoli is a wonderland of holiday decor during the holidays. There are several Christmas market stalls located throughout the park. You’ll find a lot of delicious snacks, glogg, hot cocoa and sweets to try. Don’t miss out on trying Aebleskiver here! The shops were filled with traditional Danish gifts, holiday decor, candies, and other memorable souvenirs. This was the most crowded of them all, with plenty of people admiring the decor around. There are perfect holiday photo opportunities here, and a gorgeous Christmas tree to see. The rides are even a huge bonus!

Website
Dates: Usually early November through end of December
Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V

The charming Christmas market we stumbled upon during our walk to Frederiksborg Castle

Hillerød Christmas Market

If you’re planning a day trip to Frederiksborg Castle, you’ll walk through the charming town of Hillerød. Along the way is a small Christmas market, setup in the town square next to the lake surrounding the castle. It’s a very small market, but cute to see and has gorgeous views of the castle behind. It’s not worth a trip for this alone, but definitely perfect combined with a day trip here.

Dates: Usually mid-November through December
Address: Hillerød Town Square

Other Christmas Markets in Denmark

In addition to this list, there are also several other Copenhagen Christmas markets to explore. We walked by the Hans Christian Andersen market, but it was closed by the time we made it there. Freetown Christiania also has their own holiday market, but typically not until December. To venture outside of Copenhagen, there’s a market at Kronborg castle, and also markets in any other cities you may visit. It would help to research dates beforehand and make sure they collide with when you’re going.

Christmas Spirit Tour
Joining a guided tour is a great way to gain insight and discover cool spots. This Christmas tour teaches you about Danish Christmas traditions, and brings you on a city walk to admire all the beautiful and festive decor and markets. You’ll also get to taste Æbleskiver, a delicious holiday treat!

We hope this list is a start for your Copenhagen Christmas visit. It’s such a wonderful time of year to visit, and will definitely get you in that holiday spirit!

Have you ever been to Copenhagen during the holidays? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

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Going to Denmark in November brought about many little gems. Like seeing the Christmas markets, the streets adorned with festive decor, drinking glogg, and experiencing the beauty of hygge. Perhaps the most special of all was seeing the magic of Christmas at Tivoli Gardens. It’s one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and it’s easy to see why it sparked inspiration for Disney World. I have loved the excitement of theme parks since I was a child. It was nice to see Terra have this same excitement as well. We spent the day at Tivoli as part of our 5 day itinerary in Copenhagen.

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A Magical Photo Tour of Christmas at Tivoli Gardens

When is Christmas at Tivoli?

The dates vary every year, but typically it’s from mid-November through December ending with a special New Year’s Celebration.

The beautiful festive entrance during the day

What Are the Costs?

I’m not going to lie, a day at Tivoli doesn’t come cheap. If you have the Copenhagen card, the entrance is free, but it not it runs 120DKK for those 8 years and up. For children 3-7 it’s 50DKK.

You still have to pay for rides and food on top of this cost. The Unlimited Ride cost is 230DKK for both children and adults. If you want to just be a co-rider with your kids it’s 460DKK. All of this doesn’t even include food or other activities. So it’s definitely something worth planning for your trip budget.

Is the cost worth it? I think so for the experience. It’s not often you get to go to Denmark, let alone Tivoli during the holidays so make the most of it. If you’re truly trying to be economical, you can easily just pay the entrance fee and wander the park checking out the Christmas market and all the decor. The rides are just a bonus!

What to Eat

Inside the park are several restaurants, cafes and food options in the Christmas market. The markets mostly had street foods, sweets and drinks. We definitely saw a lot of options, so it’s easy to find something kid-friendly here.

The beautiful entrance once you go through the ticket lines

Christmas Decor

There are really no words to describe how beautiful the holiday decor was at Tivoli Gardens. The entrance alone is absolutely beautiful and inviting. During the day it looks like a magical winter wonderland, and at night it’s even more pretty with all the lights lit up. Walking around the park was such a dream.

The Christmas Tree area at Tivoli

Beautiful lights and winter decor all around

Closeup of the trains moving around the Christmas tree, such a delight!

As we entered the park we were in awe over the lights, it was so hard not to take a million photos! There’s a large Christmas tree fairly close to the entrance with several trains moving around it. Terra loved sitting and watching them for awhile. If you’re hungry for a snack there’s some goodies within the Christmas markets, or restaurants around for a more sit down experience.

We lucked out with a shorter line during our visit, but sometimes it can get quite long. You can get a combo canal tour and skip the line ticket for Tivoli here which allows you to take a one hour boat tour and skip the ticket line at Tivoli. Perfect for families who just want to speed things up!

Little gingerbread houses filled with souvenirs and treats

Christmas Markets

After checking out the tree we browsed around some of the markets, they had cute ornaments and holiday decor items available to buy. While Seikai and Terra waited in line for some rides, I walked around the entire park and took photos. It was fun to window shop and check out all the adorable souvenirs. The smell of hot cocoa and glogg filled the air while strolling through the Christmas markets. There were also handmade sweets and candies available, a great souvenir to bring back home!

Delicious aebleskiver at Tivoli

In between rides, We ended up trying aebleskiver, which are delicious donut holes sprinkled with sugar and served with jam. These are typically only served around the holidays, so its a must-try if you’re here around this time of year!

The dragon boats in the lake surrounded by festive lights

Seikai and Terra in one of the dragon boats, they loved it!

On our way to dinner we walked over to the Dragon boats. I snapped some photos of them in the boat. There was also a light show over the lake with music synchronized to the lights and water. It was so cool to see! We then walked around a bit more until dinner. I had booked reservations at Groften to warm up to some traditional Danish fare. The food was good and the service was superb. It was also very festive and cozy inside, a nice break from being out in the cold.

A Kid-Friendly Place

With our hunger satisfied we set back out again to explore more of the park. There’s a huge playground area with a lot of cool things for kids to climb on, and slides to go down. We also noticed a little music area where kids can play drums and chimes. Terra had a blast playing here for awhile, and it was even more cool with the holiday lights all around. This gave us a nice break to relax while she let out some energy.

Riding on the old fashioned car ride

The gorgeous carousel ride, so festive!

Before leaving the park, Terra wanted to go on a few more rides. With the park being open until 11pm, we were able to maximize our time here given we didn’t arrive until 4pm. 5-6 hours is definitely plenty of time to go on some rides and see everything.

An overall view of the park, isn’t it magical?

Overall there was so much to see and do during Christmas at Tivoli. Even if you’ve been here during the summer, we highly recommend coming back for the holiday experience. It was truly unforgettable and the vibes were so cozy, warm, and full of Christmas cheer.

Have you ever been to Tivoli during the holidays? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

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Denmark has no shortage of beautiful places to see. From bustling cities, to historical villages, and idyllic islands, it truly is quite a fascinating country. I must admit, I have loved castles since I was a child, so I was ecstatic about exploring them here. Terra was wondering if she’d find a princess there. Copenhagen has several of their own castles and palaces, but there’s also a plethora to see throughout the country. Here’s a list of 5 castles in Denmark that will leave you in awe. We were able to explore these during our 5 day Copenhagen getaway.

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. This helps us to continue providing great content. For more info you can read our full disclosure here.

5 Must-See Castles in Denmark

Inside one of the reception rooms at Christiansborg Palace

1. Christiansborg Palace

One of our first stops after arriving in Copenhagen was Christiansborg Palace. It was tricky finding the entrance as we noticed some construction going on, but totally worth the effort. With limited time, we purchased tickets only for the Royal Reception rooms, but there’s still more to see here. Before taking a tour, you’ll be asked to put on some blue foot coverings in an effort to keep the floors clean.

The Queen’s Library at Christiansborg Palace

Part of the palace is still being used by the Royal Family for events, so it was quite interesting to imagine how that must be. Every room we explored was stunning and exquisite. The furniture, patterns, and ornamental details were just incredible to see up close. We loved the Great Hall, the floors and rich tapestries were quite a sight to see. The Queen’s Library also stood out with all the books on display and gold adornments shining through.

One of the Christmas table displays at Christiansborg Palace

On temporary display were the Christmas tables, inspired by Danish royal history through the years. They were presented in a way that brought you back to how it must have looked in the various eras. A nice bonus for being here around the holidays!

It’s definitely worth exploring for a few hours. You can easily spend a day checking out the full combined tour. If you want to plan ahead you can book a private walking tour here which includes other sites around the city as well. They are closed on Monday so please plan accordingly. You will love seeing a slice of Danish history!

Website
Plan your visit
Cost: 215DKK for Palace Ticket, 140DKK for Royal Reception Rooms, and 80DKK each for Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Stables. 18 and under are free.
Address: Prins Jørgens Gård 1, 1468 København, Denmark

The stunning Amalienborg Palace

2. Amalienborg Palace

The Royal Family currently resides at Amalienborg Palace, so it’s not open to the public. However there’s a museum open during certain days in which you can see certain interiors and rooms from throughout history. We did not visit that part, but we did experience the beautiful view of the outside.

Changing of the guards at Amalienborg, cool experience!

The changing of the guards happens around 12pm everyday. It’s quite an affair to see and we were lucky to be in the area to stumble upon it. During parts of the event, you can get some cool closeup photos. It was amusing watching the crowds following the flow of the guards to get an opportune shot. When the royal family is in residence there’s music to see as well. The palace itself is stunning and definitely worth a look.

Website
Plan your visit
Museum Cost: 125DKK, 18 and under are free
Address: 1257 Copenhagen K

Beautiful view of Rosenborg Castle from the gardens

3. Rosenborg Castle

A treasure of history, Rosenborg Castle is another stunning castle in Copenhagen. Unfortunately we did not tour the inside, but you can see some of the interiors like the Knights’ Hall, and check out the crown jewels of the Danish royal family. You can truly experience the space as the king lived it, with well-preserved artifacts.

Imagine how beautiful this garden must look in the spring!

Around the castle is the Kings Garden, a beautifully landscaped park that is open to the public. With stunning views of the castle, it’s a great place to unwind and relax a bit. It’s best viewed when everything is in bloom, but we loved the unique towering trees along the paths.

Website + Info
Plan your visit
Cost: 140DKK, 18 and under are free
Address: Øster Voldgade 4A 1350 København K

Magical sunset view of the castle

4. Frederiksborg Castle

Located in the quaint town of Hillerød, Frederiksborg Castle is easily one of the most stunning to see in Denmark. If you must choose only one place to go on a day trip, do not miss this one. The Renaissance details are classically beautiful and we highly recommend taking the time to explore the inside. Even the quiet walk to the castle is lovely, and the picturesque lake with ducks swimming around makes it feel even more like a fairytale.

The gold adorned chapel inside the castle

The ornate hallway to the Audience Chamber

Some of the main highlights of the castle included the Chapel, adorned with golds, and the Audience Chamber which was quite the artful masterpiece. We also enjoyed the Great Hall with a special exhibit showcasing the history of Crown Prince Frederik. Going from room to room will take you on a journey through royal Danish history, and the experience is surreal. You truly need a whole day here to get a full glimpse of the details.

The beautifully manicured gardens during winter

After a tour of the inside you can check out the gardens behind the castle. I imagine in the spring and summer it’s quite beautiful with everything in bloom. We noticed a path of tall trees similar to the Kings Garden at Rosenborg. Overall the garden felt very romantic and whimsical with perfectly manicured bushes.

Although we paced ourselves and spent most of our time here, we would have loved to see more! You can do a full day combo tour of Frederiksborg, Kronborg, and Roskilde, a perfect option for history and architecture lovers!

Website
Plan your visit
Cost: 115DKK (Adults), 18 and under are free
Address: Frederiksborg Slot 10, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
How to Get Here: S-train line E to Hillerød, walk 20 minutes to the castle. The path is well marked and easy to follow.

An aerial shot of the entire castle ruins

5. Hammershus Castle Ruins

Nestled on a cliff on the northern tip of Bornholm is Hammershus, a medieval castle left in ruins. It used to be a form of protection for the island by the Archbishop of Lund during the middle ages, until it was abandoned in the 1700’s.

View of the Baltic Sea from the castle cliff

Exploring within the castle ruins

Surrounding the castle are beautiful lakes, forests and views of the Baltic Sea. It felt quite magnificent standing within the crumbling, fortified walls looking over the seaside cliffs. There was a surreal eerie feeling while exploring here, with ghostly trees and mossy grass all around. If you go during off-season you may find yourself to be the only one here.

A panoramic view of the castle ruins as you enter the vicinity

There’s a nice visitor center nearby with panoramic views of the ruins. We didn’t have time to explore inside here, but there’s a cafe and info about the history of the castle.

Explore more: Weekend Guide to Bornholm Island

Website + Info
Cost: Free, other than parking fees from Spring-Fall
Address: Langebjergvej 26, Hammershus 3770 Allinge

These are just five of many castles in Denmark to explore. A few others that we missed during this trip are Kronborg Castle, Egeskov Castle, and Rosenholm Castle. See more castles to visit there.

Have you ever been to any castles in Denmark? If so, we’d love to hear more!

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