Nestled atop Ajuda hill in Lisbon, the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda is a beautiful neoclassical palace that tells a fascinating story. After the devastating 1755 earthquake and tsunami, the royal family first lived in a temporary wooden structure here. In 1796, construction began on a grand stone palace. The palace was originally designed in Baroque‑Rococo […]
Places
Near Lisbon: Sesimbra
Sesimbra is a charming coastal town in Portugal, known for its stunning beaches, fresh seafood, and laid-back atmosphere. Nestled between the Arrábida mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, this lovely town is less than an hour drive from Lisbon. We visited Sesimbra for the first time in late 2024 because a friend of our suggested we […]
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What To Do In Lisbon With (Or Without) Kids
As our one year anniversary of living in Lisbon approaches, I thought it was about time I wrote a blog post on what to do and see in Lisbon. I know there are a ton of posts out there telling you what you should see when visiting this amazing city, but on this post I […]
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Hiking in Buçaco National Forest
Finding a cool place to hike in June can be a tall order in Portugal. Temperatures in most places are quite hot around this time of year. Luckily, while looking for a nice place to go hike this past weekend, we found Buçaco National Forest. Buçaco National Forest is about a 2-hour drive from Lisbon. […]
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Visiting Conimbriga Roman Ruins
Portugal is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in Western Europe, offering a fascinating glimpse into the country’s amazing past. Among these historic sites, Conimbriga stands out as one of the best-preserved Roman settlements in Portugal. If you enjoy visiting historic sites, and especially Roman ruins, then visiting Conimbriga Roman ruins should […]
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A Weekend in Marrakech
Back in October 2024, our family had the opportunity to travel to Marrakech for a weekend. Despite having spent a month in Marrakech a few years ago, there were still many places we wanted to see. Marrakech is a vibrant city we really enjoyed visiting, so we were all excited to go back to spend […]
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24 hours in Porto
While I would strongly recommend you spent more than just 24-hours in Porto, I realize that not everybody has the time to visit this city as its own separate trip. That being said, it is possible to get a good feel for the city during a quick overnight trip. This is exactly what I did […]
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Near Lisbon: Palácio Nacional de Mafra
If you are looking for a hidden gem near Lisbon, then you should definitely visit the Palácio Nacional de Mafra! A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this palace is one of Europe’s largest palaces, with an area of about 38,000m2. This baroque beauty is just a half hour drive from Lisbon and it’s so worth the […]
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Near Lisbon: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima
Growing up Catholic I learned about the story of the Virgin of Fatima at an early age. I was always fascinated by the story of the three shepherds who the Virgin appeared to. It is no surprise that, when I first visited Portugal back in 2011, I made a visit to the Sanctuary of Our […]
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Walking the Perimeter Trail in Monsanto Park
Monsanto Forest Park: Lisbon’s Green Escape Monsanto Forest Park (Parque Florestal de Monsanto) is Lisbon’s largest green space, covering approximately 900 hectares. Established in 1934 under the guidance of architect Keil do Amaral, the park transformed the once barren Monsanto Hills into a lush urban forest. This reforestation effort utilized local farmers and prisoners from the nearby […]
