Surf Travel Europe: Lastly

When (not “IF”) you visit Portugal, here is your list of “must places” to attend:

1. Praia Grande

A popular surfing/relaxing beach near Sintra. Beach day. Surf all day. In and out of the water.

2. Fishing village: Setubal

Modest little city. With once again, the best seafood I’ve ever consumed.

3. Serra Da Arrabida

Located next to the sea, between Setúbal and the fishing town of Sesimbra, Arrábida Natural Park has incomparable natural beauty, where the blue of the sea alternates with the white tones of the chalk cliffs and the depths of the green vegetation that covers the mountain range. We spent the day on Praia de Galapos. A small, private white sand beach surrounded by the green, lush mountains.

4. Ramiro Restaurant

The best seafood you can possibly dream up. Order Pedunculata (Barnacles). Don’t be scared. Trust me!

5. Sintra (see Portugal Part 1, number 6. on the list)

Sintra, Portugal

6. Feira de Ladra

I get anxiety just thinking about being at this flea market. Lisbon’s flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought to mean “Thieve’s Market” (in Portuguese “ladra” is a woman thief) but it actually derives from “ladro,” a bug found in antiques. A market of this type is thought to have been in place in Lisbon since the 12th Century and the name Feira da Ladra was first mentioned in the 17th Century.

Today, the traders here are perfectly legal, many of them gypsies showing their wares in the Campo de Santa Clara street, in the district of Alfama. The market is held every Tuesday and Saturday, from dawn to dusk.

Contact Lisbon Emotions for a guided tour of anything Lisbon. Owned and operated by a local, super friendly down-to-earth surfer, Tiago Santos.