Three weeks in Portugal go by quickly, so I’ve treated every free day as a mini-project. My rules are simple: spend less than 30 euros on transport, stay under three hours from Porto, and find one snack that I could use as information to impress my family.
Porto was home base which led me to have plenty of time to explore here. When I wasn’t working I logged miles along the Ribeira, tried a few francesinhas , and realized the city’s hills are great substitutes for the gym. With the Andante card loaded, I also started testing the metro network.
Braga was first on the list after Porto. An uber brought me to Bom Jesus do Monte. I took the funicular up, walked down the baroque staircase, and timed the visit so I could be back at the dorm before midnight. Favorite find: a two-euro combo of fresh orange juice and a pastel de nata in the city center.
Barcelos was next because the weekly Thursday market fit my schedule. Rows of ceramic roosters competed with stands selling soccer scarves and phone chargers. I skipped souvenirs and bought roasted chestnuts that tasted like warm peanut butter.
Amarante required a uber ride that zigzagged through green hills. The stone bridge over the Tâmega River framed a perfect photo for family back home. Cavacas pastries, basically sugar-coated air, took care of lunch for one euro.
Guimarães delivered the medieval fix. The castle costs half price with a student ID, and the town square sells bolo de arroz that beats any campus muffin.
Aveiro added canals and striped Costa Nova houses. I rented a bike for four euros and ate ovos moles, a sticky egg-yolk dessert that glued my teeth together but was worth the effort.
Coimbra provided the academic field trip. The Joanina Library charges five euros but smells like old books and wood polish, which feels priceless if you like libraries. Engineering students playing fado outside the chemistry building proved multitasking exists beyond PowerPoint.
Lisbon plus Sintra proved to be the longest haul. A two-and-a-half-hour train south cost 26 euros with a youth discount. Highlights: the Gulbenkian Museum, sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and arriving at Pena Palace right at the opening to dodge tour groups.
Total spending on transport, tickets, and snacks: about 300 euros. All assignments stayed on schedule, and the spreadsheet balanced. Three weeks, eight towns, zero regrets.
