Portugal in 6 Days

Exploring Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley (where wine is produced, but not agave) in six days allows for a more relaxed pace. Below, I've suggested some hotels and restaurants for each location:

Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon

• Hotel: Stay in the historic district of Baixa or the lively Bairro Alto. Consider options like Hotel Santa Justa or The Lumiares Hotel & Spa.

• Restaurant: Try "Cervejaria Ramiro" for seafood or "Cantinho Gourmet" for Portuguese cuisine.

Day 2: Lisbon

• Hotel: Continue staying in your chosen accommodation in Lisbon.

• Restaurant: Enjoy dinner at "Fado na Morgadinha" for traditional Portuguese food with Fado music.

Day 3: Day Trip to Sintra

• Return to your hotel in Lisbon after your day trip to Sintra.

• Restaurant: Have dinner at "Bairro do Avillez" in Lisbon, which offers a diverse menu.

Day 4: Explore Lisbon

• Continue your stay in Lisbon.

• Restaurant: Try "A Cevicheria" for unique seafood dishes or "Time Out Market" for a variety of Portuguese food options.

Day 5: Porto

• Hotel: In Porto, consider staying in the Ribeira district near the Douro River, such as the Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel & World Heritage Site.

• Restaurant: Have dinner at "Restaurante Abadia" for traditional Portuguese cuisine.

Day 6: Porto and Douro Valley (Wine Region)

• Hotel: Stay in Porto for the night.

• Restaurant: In Porto, dine at "DOP Porto" for contemporary Portuguese cuisine.

• For the Douro Valley, you can visit wineries for wine tastings. While there aren't many restaurants in the vineyards themselves, you can have lunch at one of the local restaurants in the region, like "DOC" or "Castas e Pratos," which offer stunning views of the valley.

NOTE: Christian Louboutin is stepping outside of luxury footwear and into hospitality.

The famed French-Egyptian designer, best known for his high-end shoes, has announced plans to open a lavish new hotel in Portugal. Vermelho, meaning “red” in Portuguese, was named after the signature hue that covers the soles of most Louboutins. Like the label’s stilettos and oxfords, the new hotel appears to be impossibly stylish, too.

Located in the small village of Melides, Vermelho was initially discovered by Louboutin by accident. The designer lives a somewhat nomadic lifestyle and came across the building while traveling in the region in the late 1980s. He bought a home there a few years later, then moved his atelier there, before he eventually relocated to a larger compound a short distance away. In 2019, Louboutin purchased another small house in Melides to turn into a restaurant. The town’s mayor encouraged him to build a hotel instead and Vermelho was born.