Sometimes the destinations you know the least about before you arrive are the ones you talk about most afterward.
That was Portugal for me.
I recently returned from nearly three weeks in Europe — beginning with a few days in Lisbon, followed by Viking’s Portugal’s River of Gold cruise through the beautiful Douro Valley, and ending with three wonderful days in Paris.
Paris, of course, needed little introduction. I already knew I would love being back among the cafés, museums, beautiful neighborhoods, historic architecture, and that unmistakable Parisian energy.
Portugal was different.
It was more of a discovery.
And perhaps that’s exactly why it made such an impression on me.
First Stop: Lisbon
Lisbon immediately felt warm and welcoming.
It’s beautiful without feeling overly polished, historic without feeling stuck in the past, and wonderfully easy to enjoy at a relaxed pace.
We wandered past colorful tiled buildings, climbed cobblestone streets, enjoyed neighborhood cafés and grand plazas, sampled Portuguese food and wine, and spent time exploring the city’s maritime history.
There was plenty to see, but Lisbon also made you want to slow down and simply take it all in.
And it turned out to be the perfect introduction to Portugal.
Then Came the Douro
From Lisbon, we joined Viking for Portugal’s River of Gold, a seven-night cruise aboard the Viking Gyda.
This was the part of the trip that surprised me most.
The Douro Valley is simply gorgeous — terraced vineyards climbing steep hillsides, little villages tucked along the river, centuries-old wine estates, and views that seemed to get more dramatic around every bend.
And seeing it by river made the journey feel especially relaxing.
You unpack once, settle into your stateroom, and let the scenery come to you.
Mornings might begin with breakfast while watching the river outside your window. Then it’s off to explore a historic town, vineyard, or countryside village before returning to the ship, seeing familiar faces, and perhaps enjoying a glass of Portuguese wine before dinner.
Not a bad way to travel!
Viking made the entire experience easy and comfortable. Our ship was lovely, the staff was warm and attentive, the food was excellent, and the excursions gave us a much deeper feel for the region.
We learned about Portugal’s wine traditions, explored historic towns and beautiful countryside, and visited places I honestly knew very little about before I arrived.
Now those are some of the places I find myself talking about most.
And Then on to Paris
After Portugal, we flew to Paris for three very full — and very fun — days.
We visited the beautifully restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, spent time with the Impressionists at the Musée d’Orsay, cruised the Seine from Pont Neuf toward the Eiffel Tower, browsed the huge antique and vintage flea market at Saint-Ouen, and escaped the city for a half-day visit to Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny.
But some of my favorite moments were the simplest ones.
A leisurely breakfast. Wandering through Saint-Germain. Popping into neighborhood shops. Lingering over dinner. Sitting at a café and watching Paris go by.
Those little moments are such a good reminder that a memorable trip isn’t always about how many landmarks you can fit into the day. Sometimes it’s simply about having enough time to enjoy where you are.
What I Bring Home From Every Trip
As a travel advisor, I spend a lot of time researching destinations for my clients — hotels, excursions, transportation, neighborhoods, cruise lines, restaurants, logistics, and all the little details that can make a trip work beautifully.
But there’s something different about experiencing a destination firsthand:
You understand the pace.
You discover which neighborhoods make you want to stay awhile.
You learn which excursions are really worth the time.
You get a feel for the terrain, the transfers, the distances, and where you might add another night.
And sometimes, you discover a destination you never expected to love quite so much.
Portugal was that destination for me.
It reminded me that while there are places we dream about visiting for years, there are also places we barely know — until we arrive and wonder why we waited so long to go.
So once you’ve identified what matters most to you about a trip — how you want to feel, what you want to experience, and the kind of memories you want to bring home — perhaps the better question isn’t simply:
“Where should we go?”
Maybe sometimes it’s:
“Where haven’t we thought about going yet?”
Because those unexpected places can end up giving us some of our very best travel stories.
I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever traveled somewhere that completely surprised you — a destination you loved so much you couldn’t stop talking about it afterward?
Reach out to me at Monica@MagnoliaTravelDesigns.com to start planning your next vacation.
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