Europe Travel Specialist | Portugal, Spain, France

Behind the castle in Óbidos

Europe Travel Specialist | Portugal, Spain, France & the MediterraneanIn May 2023, my son and I spent 16 days exploring Portugal from north to south, with additional time in Amsterdam and Paris during long layovers that became memorable experiences of their own.On the way to Portugal, we had a 12 hour daytime layover in Amsterdam where we explored the area around Central Station and had lunch with Brazilian friends who now live in Europe. After our friends returned home, my son and I took a boat tour through Amsterdam’s famous canals, which gave us a completely different perspective of the city and its historic architecture. It was a great reminder that even a long layover in Europe can become part of the travel experience itself.We began our Portugal journey in Lisbon, where we spent five days exploring the city’s neighborhoods, history, food, and coastal beauty. During our stay, we visited Cascais and Sintra, including the colorful Pena Palace overlooking the hills. From Lisbon, my son and I rented a car and began a road trip through Portugal that became one of my favorite travel experiences in Europe.Óbidos was the highlight of the trip for me. This medieval walled city felt like something out of a fairytale, complete with cobblestone streets and a castle overlooking the town. After spending two nights there, we continued north through Nazaré, Fátima, and Coimbra, where we visited the historic University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in Europe.From there, we traveled to Aveiro, often called the “Venice of Portugal” because of its canals and colorful boats, before continuing to Porto. Porto completely exceeded my expectations with its dramatic architecture, famous bridges crossing the Douro River, riverside atmosphere, and incredible scenery. After three nights in Porto, we continued through Guimarães, Braga, Vila Real, and the breathtaking Douro Valley region before reaching Bragança near the Spanish border.We eventually drove south through Portugal to the Algarve region, visiting Lagos and Faro before returning to Lisbon for our flight home. On the return journey, we had another memorable 12 hour overnight layover in Paris. One of the first places we visited was the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River at night, followed by the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre area, the Latin Quarter, Moulin Rouge, Sacré Cœur Basilica, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Despite language barriers, our Uber driver gave us an incredible nighttime tour of the city before taking us to try authentic French crêpes filled with chocolate and later returning us to the airport for our morning flight home.In October 2024, my wife and I returned to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise experience. We flew into Madrid and spent time exploring the city before taking a late evening train to Barcelona. Barcelona immediately impressed me with its architecture, especially the world famous designs of Antoni Gaudí, whose work gives the city such a unique and artistic identity. We also visited the Sagrada Família, the iconic Catholic basilica designed by Gaudí that has remained under construction for decades and is still one of the most breathtaking churches I have ever seen. After three nights there, we boarded Azamara Onward for a French Riviera cruise visiting destinations such as Marseille and Nice before ending in Monaco.Nice was one of the most beautiful coastal cities I have visited in Europe. We explored the city by bike, spent time along the Promenade des Anglais, and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the French Riviera. We then spent three nights in Monaco exploring the principality in depth, including the Prince’s Palace area, the classic car museum, the waterfront, and the city’s beautiful coastal scenery.These firsthand experiences throughout Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, and the Mediterranean allow me to help travelers plan European vacations with practical insight, realistic travel pacing, transportation guidance, and destination recommendations based on personal experience rather than online research alone.