A weekend in the Douro Valley

Terraced vineyards, river boats and long dinners.

I came to Portugal with a loose plan and a long list. By the end, the list mattered less than the small moments in between — a conversation at a train station, a meal I didn't expect, a view I almost skipped.

The highlight for me was lisbon's hilltop viewpoints. Go early if you can; the light is softer and the paths are quiet. After that, porto and the douro valley made a perfect slow afternoon.

My route moved at the pace of one main sight a day, with a rest day roughly every five days. It sounds slow, but it never felt rushed — and I saw more because of it.

If you are planning your own trip, my advice is simple: give each place more time than you think you need. Portugal is best in spring through early autumn, but every season has its own reasons to visit.

Pack light, carry a reusable water bottle, and leave space in the day for things you can't plan. That's where most of my favorite memories came from.