Recently, Sammy, Preston, and I had set out for a European adventure to explore earthquake ruins, port, and Spanish tapas. We started in historic Lisbon, Portugal and headed North to Porto before finishing in the Spanish metropolis, Madrid. Here is the quick itinerary of interesting places to stay, historic things to do, and an expansive list of restaurants to indulge in.

General Itinerary
25-26: Fly to Lisbon from Chicago

26: Lisbon

27: Lisbon

28: Lisbon 

29: Lisbon

30: Train from Lisbon to Porto

1: Porto

2: Porto

3: Fly to Madrid from Porto

4: Madrid

5: Madrid

6: Madrid

7: Fly to Chicago from Madrid

Sprint International Call Settings
Iphone 7
Go to settings, click on cellular, click cellular data option, click roaming (turn voice and data on), International CDMA should be off. We’ll receive a welcome message when we arrive. 

Samsung Note 8
Go to settings, click on connections, click on mobile networks, click data roaming, turn off all domestic roaming (voice, text, and data), turn on all international roaming (voice, text, and data).
We’ll receive a welcome message when we arrive. 

Money Overseas
Charles Schwab Brokerage Checking Account
Transfer cash for free ATM withdrawls and no transaction fees. 

Credit Cards
Bring the Chase Sapphire, Mileage Plus Explorer, Chase Business Ink, and Delta Skymiles Gold Amex for no transaction fees. Call to see which exchange rate is lower (Most base it on the Wall Street Journal).

Preston is excited for his first flight overseas....and so is the guy sitting behind him.

Flights/Trains
25-26th: Fly to Lisbon from Chicago
United Flight UA972 from Chicago to Brussels

Total cost: 60k miles per person plus taxes and fees

Seats: 34E, 34G (Priority boarding with a child, check stroller with car seat at the gate) 

Depart: 6:00 pm (04/25) ORD (8 hr 5 mn with bassinet) 

Arrival: 9:05 am (04/26) BRU

TAP Portugal  Flight TP647 from Brussels to Lisbon

Seats: 16B,16A (Priority boarding with a child , check stroller with car seat at the gate) 

Depart: 11:30 am (04/26) BRU (2 hr 50 mn) 

Arrival: 1:20 pm (04/26) LIS

30th: Train to Porto from Lisbon (Unconfirmed seats) 
Train 125

Total cost: $130 (1st Class, choose seats at checkin, child on lap), arrive 1-2 hours to book train time and seat

Depart: 12:09 pm Lisboa Oriente (flexible time) 

Arrival: 2:44 pm Porto Campanha

3rd: Fly to Madrid from Porto
Ryanair Flight 5423 from Porto to Madrid

Seats: 2F, 2E (Already checked in month early) 

Total cost: $217.94 (Priority with 2 cabin bags per person, child on lap) 

Depart: 3:35 pm OPO 

Arrival: 5:50 pm MAD

7th: Fly to Chicago from Madrid
Lufthansa Flight LH1113 from Madrid to Frankfurt

Seats: 20A/20B (Priority boarding with a child, check stroller with car seat at the gate) 

Depart: 12:55 pm (05/07) MAD (2 hr 30 mn) 

Arrival: 3:25 pm (05/07) FRA

Lufthansa Flight LH432 from Frankfurt to Chicago

Seats: 34G/34F (Priority boarding with a child, check stroller with car seat at the gate) 

Depart: 5:15 pm (05/07) FRA (9 hr 5 mn with bassinet) 

Arrival: 7:20 pm (05/07) ORD

Airbnbs

26-30th: Lisbon
Listing: Comfortable, versatile best quarter with Fadoflats

Travessa João de Deus 8 (2nd floor right) 

Lisbon, Lisbon 1200 Portugal

+351 91 985 8312

fadoflats-c2vmqwuwpkay6y9d@host.airbnb.com

Check-in: 4:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am

-Directions: A taxi from the airport should take you to the flat in about 30 minutes and cost you around 15-20 euros (please tell the taxi driver flat is in Chiado quarter, very close to Cervejaria Trindade - Trindade Brewery). In alternative you can take the subway and drop out at Baixa-Chiado station. It will take you about an hour and cost you 2 euro per person.Third alternative is hiring our private transfer service (for you only): a 7 seats van will be waiting for you at the airport for the price of 30 euros to be paid directly to the driver. In any case I would appreciate if you could text me or call me after picking up the bags and passing passport control at the airport. 

Notes: Great 2 bedroom, vintage space that once was a palace before the 18th century earthquake. Great location and size for our needs. Plenty of nearby restaurants and more. The Alfama neighborhood to the East is another option (more historic and quaint). 

30th-3rd: Porto
Listing: Caldeireiros Home Two - feel at home with Fadoflats

Rua dos Caldeireiros, 4050-250 Porto, Portugal

+351 91 714 1223

alcina-77maoh3q8wdkxxbx@host.airbnb.com

Check-in: 3:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am

Directions: Walk to the flat from the Sao Bento train station 2 blocks away. 

Notes: Great modern space with the perfect location. Truly a wonderful host. 

3rd-7th: Madrid
Listing: Pta. del Sol- Pza. Sta Ana, Madrid with Miriam

Calle Núñez de Arce 10 2b, 28012 Madrid, Madrid, Spain

+34 699 915 788

miriam-zu29zer8pxbllkz5@host.airbnb.com

Check-in: 2:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am

Directions: 

-Taxi: You will find taxi stands ouside all the airport terminals. Always use the official taxi services and do not take offers from drivers inside the terminal. Trip duration up to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
-Bus: The yellow airport express bus runs 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. You can take the bus from terminals T1, T2 and T4 and the ticket costs 5 euros. The journey takes aproximatelly 40 minutes and the bus makes only 3 stops along the way, the corner of O’Donnell and Doctor Esquerdo, Plaza de Cibeles and Atocha train station (from 6:00 am until 23;30 pm). 

-Metro: You can take metro line 8 from all the terminals of the airport and head to Nuevos Ministerios station at the center of Madrid. From there you can hop to another metro line until your end destination. The journey until the Nuevos Ministerios station is 15 minutes and the metro operates daily from 6:00 am to 2:00 am. Tickets can cost up to 5 euros depending on your end destination. 

Notes: A very central location but we don’t recommend staying here unless it’s cheap and you don’t mind a Super 8 hotel experience.

Exploring the historic Belem area of Lisbon

Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal
Random Notes
-Use ‘The Fork’ phone app or call to book restaurant reservations

-Restaurants (5-10% tip and bread/olives aren’t free), most restaurants open 12-3 and 7-10

-Most museums free until 2:00 on Sundays

-Taxes after 9 pm cost more 

-Lisboa card for attractions (askmelisboa.com) 

-Buy 24 hour pass (metrolisboa.pt) 

-Book a tour: https://www.withlocals.com/experiences/portugal/lisbon/?adults=2&children=1

-Travel with kids: https://kindertravelguide.com/destination/europe/portugal-with-a-baby-or-toddler-2/lisbon-with-a-baby-or-toddler/

Belem Ruins
-Jerónimos Monastery, Praça do Império  (free entry to the church, €10 for the rest of the monastery)
-Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos-entry fee €4)
-CCB (Belém Cultural Center), Coach Museum (Museu dos Coches)
-Statue to Afonso de Albuquerque 

Rossio Neighborhood
-Parque Eduardo VII (northwest of Rossio Fountains, down the Ave da Liberdade) 

-Confeitaria Nacional near the Praca de Figueiro for pastries

-A Ginjinha – Local sweet liquor spot near Igreja de Sao Domingos

-Rossio Fountains/Park (24 hour cafes nearby) 

-Churches: Igreja de Sao Domingos, Praca da Figueira (next to each other) 

-Elevador da Gloria: Take you from the Praca dos Restauradores up to the Bairro Alto neighborhood

-Ride the Tram 28 to see the historic parts of the city on a ride. Expect lines.

Rooftops of the Alfama neighborhood in Lisbon

Chiado Neighborhood
-Elevador de Santa Justa down to Baixa Neighborhood

-Convento do Carmo & Museu Arqueologico

-R Garrett Street: pedestrian street 

-2 Michellin Star Restaurant: Bellanto

-Nightlife strip: Tv Carvalho

Baixa Neighborhood
-Nucleo Arquelologico (free underground tunnels) 

-R Augusta: Pedestrian street from the Praca de Comercio on the water 

Bairro Alto Neighborhood
-Church: Igreja & Museu de Sao Roque

-Elevador de Gloria

-Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara

-Restaurant: Lost in Coffee Café (corner of Tv da Agua da Flor and R Sao Pedro de Alcantara) 

-Public toilet under Largo Trindade Coehlo

-1800’s Beer Hall on R Nova da Trinidade

-Fado bars on R da Alalara

Alfama Neighborhood
-Tram 28 stop: Near Se (free Gothic Cathedral) 

-Restaurants and Fado: Cruzes Credo Café, Clube de Fado (8 pm – 2 am), Memmo Alfama Rooftop Bar, Guitarras de Lisboa – Food and Fado, Senhor Fado (8 pm -2 am), Mesa de Frades (Fado in old small chapel 11 pm) 

-Museu do Teatro Romano (free Roman Ruins) 

-Igreja de Sao Vicente de Fora (monastery) 

-Panteao Nacional  (10 am – 6 pm)

A taste of Lisbon....plenty of seafood and fish!

Restaurants in Lisbon
-Fabrica

-Pasteis de Belem 

-Manteigaria 

-Café A Brasileira

-Cervejaria Ramiro 

-Feitoria

-A Taberna da Rua das Flores 

-Belcanto

-Bica Do Sapato 

-Prado 

-Café Tati

-Merendinha do Arco 

-Cantinho Lusitano

-A Baiuca

-Marisqueira Nunes

-Tasquinha do Lagarto

-Beco dos Surradores 5

-Tasco do Vigario

-Varina da Madragoa

-Zé da mouraria

-Bairro do Avillez (went twice) 

-Time Out Market (Such a neat food scene on the weekend) 

-Cantinho do bem estar

-Cevicheria

-Solar dos Presuntos

-Palácio Chiado: Renovated palace turned into food court

-Restaurante Carmo

-The Sandeman Chiado (best salmon we’ve ever eaten, try the 40 year Tawny) 

-Royale Cafe (best octopus we’ve ever eaten)

Things to do in Porto, Portugal
Sightseeing in Porto
-São Bento station

-Use ‘The Fork’ phone app or call to book restaurant reservations

-Take the train or drive to Duoro Valley for wine tastings (2 hour ride) 

-Walk over the Ponte de Dom Luís I and take viewing cart (teleférico) over the river to the port warehouses (major port producers have their warehouses in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south side of the River Douro) 

-Visit the bar Vinologia for port flights and charcuterie 

-Garrafeira AMS (wine shop) 

-Sé do Porto (free admission) 

-Armazém

-Ribeira Square

-Handy Resources: What to Do in Porto: http://portoportugalguide.com/porto-guide/porto-in-2-days-itinerary.html, https://catavino.net/travel/portugal/porto/

-Clérigos Tower (Igreja E Torre Dos Clérigos) 

-Lello bookshop (Livraria Lello): Inspiration for the book store in the Harry Potter movies

-Sao Bentro Train Station

-Porto Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace (Sé Do Porto) 

-Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa) 

-Igreja de São Francisco

-Villar d’Allen

Restaurants in Porto
-Confeitaria Serrana

-Cantinho do Avillez

-Michelin-starred Pedro Lemos restaurant

-Stash

-Centro Português de Fotografia (free) 

-Torre de Clérigos (admission 3 euros) 

-Caldeireiros

-Trasca

-Porta’O Lado

-Brasão Cervejaria

-Fonte dos Leoes for a francesinha, a Portuguese sandwich filled with cured ham

-Café Guarany 

-Café Majestic

-Matosinhos 

-Vila Nova de Gaia

-Flor dos Congregados

-Rei dos Galos de Amarante

-Adega Quim

-Casa Aleixo

-Tasca da Piedade (Adega Rio Douro) 

-Conga

-Casa Nanda

-Adega Vila Meã

-Taberna do Largo

-Taberna Santo António

-Maus Hábitos

-Guindalense Futebol Clube

-O Buraco

-Cantina 32

-BASE

-Miss’Opo

-Café Candelabro

-Traça

-Casa de Ló 

-Bar Tolo

-Bite Me

-Boa Nova 

-Vinum restaurant at Graham’s port lodge: Gorgeous rooftop

-Ode Porto Winehouse

-Camafeu

-Pedro Limos

-Casa da Horta

-Bacalhua

-O Comercial

-Bufete Fase

-O Paparico

-Grelhador da Boavista

-Pateo das Flores (loved the francesinha and tuna poke cones)

Things to do in Madrid, Spain

Random Notes
-Many dine out at 9 pm or later

-Handy Resources: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/madrid-food-tour/, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/21/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-in-madrid-spain.html, https://www.eater.com/maps/best-madrid-restaurants-38

Sightseeing in Madrid
-Plaza España

-Gran Via (shopping) 

-Palacio Real

-Plaza Oriente 

-Barrio de la Latina

-El Rastro (Spain’s largest flea market, Sunday) 

-Puerta del Sol (popular plaza) 

-Chocolateria San Gines 

-Plaza Mayor

-Mercado San Miguel

-Watch a flamenco show at Cardamomo

-Retiro Park (huge park) 

-Palacio Cristal

-Reina Sofia

-Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

-El Prado (world famous art museum) 

-El Bernabeu Stadium

- Las Salesas (shopping)

Restaurants in Madrid
-Bocadillo de Jamón y Champán

-Duquesita Pastelería (century-old pastry shop) 

-La Venencia (sherry bar) 

-Bar Cock

-Pum Pum Café

-Círculo de Bellas Artes (drink with a panoramic view) 

-Amazónico (an opulent jungle-inspired space) 

-Chocolatería San Ginés (since 1894, a mug of hot chocolate and six churros) 

-El Imparcial

-DiverXO

-San Mamés

-Lakasa Restaurant

-Kappo

-Sala de Despiece

-Nakeima

-Quesería Cultivo

-Bread at Panic

-StreetXo

-Tortilla de Patatas at Casa Dani

-Coffee at Toma Café

-1862 Dry Bar

-Bodega de la Ardosa

-Vermouth at Ángel Sierra

-El Cisne Azul

-La Tasquería

-La Tasquita de Enfrente

-Casa Salvador

-Del Diego Cocktail Bar

-Tapas at La Catapa

-Takos al Pastor

-Horcher

-Viridiana

-Pastries at La Mallorquina

-Sherry at La Venencia

-Chuka Ramen Bar

-Cocktails at Salmon Guru

-Casa Revuelta

-Bistronómika

-Corral de la Morería Restaurant

-La Sanabresa

-Yoka Loka

-La Copita Asturiana

-Santurce

-Bar El Boqueron

-Cocido Madrileño at Cruz Blanca Vallecas