Going to Spain and Portugal? Steal Our Food-and-Photo Guide
Planning a trip to Spain and Portugal but not sure where to begin? We spent our trip eating, exploring and scouting some of the best photo and food spots across five cities: Barcelona, Granada, Seville, Lisbon and Porto.
This guide covers the sights that were truly worth visiting, the dishes we’d order again, the places we found overrated, and the practical tips we’d share with our friends before their trip.
In Spain, we paired Barcelona’s big-city energy with the more traditional Andalusian atmosphere of Granada and Seville. We then rented a car for a road trip between Granada and Seville, stopping at Caminito del Rey and Ronda along the way. In Portugal, we explored Lisbon and Porto, two popular cities with distinctly different personalities.
SKIP TO THE SECTION
Barcelona · Granada · Andalusia Road Trip · Seville · Lisbon · Porto · Final Thoughts
BASIC PHRASES THAT WILL COME IN HANDY
Although all of our stops were very English-friendly, I still enjoy greeting locals in their language out of respect. Barcelona technically has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish, but most would understand if you used basic phrases in Spanish. There are also different accents/dialects, but locals would understand if you are not familiar with all the granularities.
Spanish
Buenos días (bwen-nohs dee-ahs) – good morning
Buenas tardes (bwen-nahs tar-des) – good afternoon
Buenas noches (bwen-nahs no-ches) – good evening
Adiós (ah-dee-ohs) – bye
Gracias (grah-see-ahs) – thank you
Disculpa (dee-scool-pah) – excuse me
Que tenga un buen día (kay-teng-ah oon bwen-dee-ah) – have a good day
Que tengas una buena tarde (kay-teng-ahs oo-nah bwen-nah tar-deh) – have a good evening
Por favor (poor fah-vohr) – please
Sí (see) – yes
No (noh) – no
La cuenta por favor (lah kwhen-tah poor fah-vohr) – the bill please
Portuguese
Bom dia (bohm dee-ah) – good morning
Boa tarde (boh-ah tar-duh) – good afternoon
Boa noite (boh-ah noh-ee-tuh) – good evening
Obrigado (oh-bree-gah-doo) – thank you (if you’re a man)
Obrigada (oh-bree-gah-dah) – thank you (if you’re a woman)
Por favor (pour fah-vour) – please
Desculpe (dih-shcul-peh) – excuse/sorry
Sim (seem) – yes
Não (like the English word “now”) – no
A conta por favor (ah cohn-tuh pour fah-vour) – the bill please
As per usual, I recommend downloading the languages in your Google Translate app beforehand so you can use it offline.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Electricity Differences:
Both countries take the same type of electric plug, so you will be fine with the standard European plug adapter.
Currency:
Both countries use the euro (EUR). Although both are pretty good about taking credit cards, it’s always good to have a little bit of cash just in case.
Visiting Cathedrals:
If you plan to visit a Catholic cathedral, be sure to wear appropriate clothing or you will not be allowed inside (i.e., covered shoulders, no short shorts/skirts, etc.).
Barcelona
HIGHLIGHTS
Must-see: Sagrada Familia
Must-eat: El Xampanyet for delicious, classic tapas
Best photo spot: in front of Sagrada Familia around the reflective pond
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN BARCELONA
Sagrada Familia - this Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudí is the most iconic site in Barcelona and is a must-see. From the level of detail on the exterior to the unique forest-style interior, it is truly unique. You’ll definitely want to purchase tickets in advance. Surprisingly, they were stricter about taking off your sunglasses indoors than covering your shoulders, but I would still bring a cover-up just in case.
Park Güell - an artistic complex of parks and gardens also designed by Antoni Gaudí. It is scattered with mosaics and city views. We booked our timed-entry tickets in advance for the slot when the park opens. As soon as we got in, we headed straight to the famous stairway. Since we were among the first people in the park, we were able to snag photos at the famous stairway before the crowds! That area was already filled with people 15 minutes after opening.
Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau - this former hospital is the most beautiful hospital I’ve ever seen with its tilework and architecture. This ‘hospital’ is more of a park with a large collection of buildings you can stroll around.
Casa Batlló - an extremely unique house also designed by Antoni Gaudí. Like his other works, it is inspired by nature, avoiding straight lines. We booked our timed-entry tickets in advance.
El Born - one of Barcelona’s oldest neighborhoods and a charming area to stroll around, enjoy cafes, and go souvenir shopping.
Sagrada Familia Sagrada Familia Park Güell Park Güell Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau Casa Batlló
WHERE TO EAT IN BARCELONA
El Xampanyet - one of my favorite tapas spots. I really loved the lagarto (marinated pork ribs) and calamars amb sanfina (grilled squid). We also enjoyed the botifarra del perol (Catalan sausage), patates escalivades, and some montaditos. Be prepared to wait for a table or scope for a spot at the bar.
Compa - delicious sandwich shop. We got their most popular options - diamante (mortadella, pistacchio pesto, burrata cheese) and gràcia (porchetta, roasted potatoes, provola cheese). Both were mouthwatering, but I especially liked the diamante!
Petit Tapas - slightly more chic tapas spot. We had the truffle ravioli, beef tenderloin, coca bread with tomato, and a carrot dish that is no longer showing on their menu. Slightly small portions for the price, but the flavors were great! Better to make a reservation if you can.
El Xampanyet - lagarto and calamars amb sanfina Compa Petit Tapas - coca bread with tomato and carrot dish
Micu Maku - a highly reviewed restaurant that specializes in paella (Spanish rice dish). We tried the traditional and the squid ink paellas. Although both were yummy, we prefer the traditional one.
Xurreria Trebol - great place for classic Spanish churros plus different options! Keep in mind that Spanish churros are not the cinnamon sugar churros we are used to in LA - they are plain churros with a cup of hot, slightly bitter chocolate dipping sauce on the side. There are a couple bar seats but you can easily enjoy the churros standing.
Jon Cake - traditional Basque cheesecake - not as dense as traditional American-style cheesecakes and has a creamier consistency. We very much enjoyed it with a cup of coffee. There are no tables or chairs so be prepared to eat it standing outside.
Bodega Biarritz 1881 - popular tapas restaurant. We actually kind of enjoyed that this place offered combos where we simply selected the number of tapas we wanted without knowing what they would be. It gave such a great variety to sample a bunch of little plates that were all yummy! The only one we didn’t like as much was a mustardy chicken tapas as it was a bit too strong of a mustard flavor. We also enjoyed the churros here. Expect to wait in line for a bit to get a table.
Micu Maku Xurreria Trebol Bodega Biarritz 1881
Granada
HIGHLIGHTS
Must-see: Alhambra
Must-eat: Alhambra Churrería for classic Spanish churros
Best photo spot: Alhambra (Nasrid Palaces and Generalife Gardens)
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN GRANADA
Alhambra - this is the must-see spot in Granada. It was originally a fortress that was rebuilt as a palace during the Nasrid Dynasty. There’s so much to see in this huge compound of beautiful Islamic architecture and gorgeous gardens. You’ll definitely want to get tickets in advance for the Nasrid Palaces, and we also enjoyed the Generalife Gardens.
Catedral de Granada - Roman Catholic church built in the Renaissance style with beautiful white stone columns and walls.
Mirador de San Nicolás - best viewpoint of Alhambra during golden hour. It can be quite crowded, especially during sunset, with locals playing live music.
Alhambra Alhambra Alhambra Alhambra Catedral de Granada Mirador de San Nicolás
WHERE TO EAT IN GRANADA
Alhambra Churrería - the best Spanish churros we had! These were lighter and more airy, which paired well with the dense dipping hot chocolate. I also really loved the frozen latte in the hot weather. It is located in a nice square to sit and relax outside while enjoying your sweet treats.
Los Manueles - great restaurant recommended by a friend’s local contact. They had some of the best fried calamari (calamares fritos) I’ve ever had! It was perfectly breaded, and the squid was so easy to bite into. We also really enjoyed their sea bass ceviche (ceviche de corvina) and Iberian grill platter (parrillada de ibéricos). They were all excellent!
La Telefonica - beautiful restaurant that you may need a reservation for to sit inside. We absolutely loved the pink tomato salad (with fresh market escarole, burrata and strawberry vinaigrette, topped with caramelized almonds). The mix of the flavors with the strawberry vinaigrette was so good that we searched for a similar dressing to remake the salad at home!
Their Iberian pork ribs glazed in rosemary bourbon sauce were very tender and flavorful. Although we can’t remember what the last dish was (was beef or pork), we didn’t feel it was remarkable.
Alhambra Churrería Los Manueles - calamares fritos Los Manueles - parrillada de ibéricos Los Manueles - ceviche de corvina La Telefonica - pink tomato salad La Telefonica - Iberian pork ribs and other meat dish
Artesanos de Granada - cafe next to our Airbnb where you can find the traditional pionono - a thin, moist sponge cake soaked in cinnamon-infused syrup, rolled around a creamy custard filling, and topped with toasted, caramelized cream. Although it was yummy, we personally aren’t huge fans of cake in general. We did try their croissants and were disappointed.
Here are a few other restaurants we didn’t get to try. These are recommendations my friend received from their local friend: El Pescaíto de Carmela & Bodegas Castaneda
Andalusia Road Trip
We chose to rent a car and drive from Granada to Seville so we could enjoy a couple pit stops on the way.
Caminito del Rey (The King’s Little Path) - hiking trail built along the walls of the El Chorro Gorge. If you’re scared of heights, this is definitely not for you. It’s famous for being an extremely dangerous path that many adrenaline junkies tried to trek despite the high fatality rate. In 2015, they rebuilt the path with steel safety railings, so it is now safe enough to take a tour.
We booked our tour through Civitatis. Even though the tour was conducted in English, we struggled to understand our tour guide due to his heavy accent. The first half of the tour was so fast that we barely had time to snap photos without getting left behind. The pace slowed down during the second half, which gave us more time to enjoy the views and take photos. As a leisure hiker, this was a difficult hike due to the sun exposure and distance. Including the walk from the shuttle drop-off to the meeting point, and the end of the tour back to the shuttle, we were on our feet for over 3 hours straight.
Although I was exhausted, it was a really cool experience! It was terrifying to see the old hiking trail beneath us and to imagine how much more dangerous it was back then!
Arc of Christ - perfect spot for the postcard photo of Ronda’s Puente Nuevo above a cascading waterfall. Although it’s not really a hike, you do have to walk a bit from the parking lot to the viewpoint.
Caminito del Rey Caminito del Rey Arc of Christ
Seville
HIGHLIGHTS
Must-see: Royal Alcázar of Seville
Must-eat: Abaceria del Postigo
Best photo spot: Plaza de la España
WHAT TO SEE & DO SEVILLE
Royal Alcázar of Seville - supposedly the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. It is a large, beautiful complex with Mudéjar architecture and gardens. Fun fact: it was used as the filming site for House Martell in Game of Thrones! Even with a ticket in advance, you still have to get in a long line to enter. Be sure you get in the correct line for your ticketed entrance time.
When exiting the Royal Alcázar of Seville, you can grab another great photo in this square with the Seville Cathedral tower in the background.
Plaza de la España - another beautiful architectural complex with a Venetian-style canal. Fun fact: it was used as a filming site for Star Wars where Padmé and Anakin walk across the tiled bridge and through the colonnade. We went for golden hour photos and it was lively with music and people hanging around.
Royal Alcázar of Seville Royal Alcázar of Seville Royal Alcázar of Seville Exit of Royal Alcázar of Seville Plaza de la España Plaza de la España
Catedral de Sevilla - the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third-largest church overall. It was pretty unique to see so many separate chapels rather than a single gathering area. You can also find the tomb of Christopher Columbus here. The coolest part in my opinion was the main altarpiece that features over 200 carved wooden figures layered in gold leaf, depicting scenes from the Old Testament and the lives of saints.
Casa de la Memoria Centro Cultural Flamenco - it only makes sense to check out a flamenco show in the region it was created! This show was in a small theater (expect to be touching shoulders with your neighbor) with three dancers and three musicians using a guitar, their voices, clapping, and stomping. The intimate environment and simplicity of the show made it feel more authentic - almost like you’re at a family party. They were all so talented, but I especially loved the dance with the frilly scarf!
WHERE TO EAT IN SEVILLE
Abaceria del Postigo - delicious tapas restaurant that you’ll want to get a reservation for in advance! Although we didn’t have a reservation, we got lucky and were able to snag a table only because they canceled all of their reservations due to their AC not working! As we usually do, we just ordered whatever the waiter said was most popular. Here are the items we tried in the order of which we liked the most:
Tuna tartare with purple onion, avocado, soy sauce and special emulsion
Duck magret with mango cream and white truffle oil
Special pulled pork: in dark beer bread with lime mayonnaise and spicy aubergines
Piquillo pepper stuffed with cream cheese, green apple and raisins
Rolled goat cheese gratin on caramelized onion and tomato jam marmalade
We also had the sangria, which perfectly hit the spot since it was a warm evening with no AC!
La Sacristía de Tapas - great tapas bar recommended by a friend’s local contact. We ordered the oxtail stew in traditional sauce and pork cheese in Sevillian sauce. Both were yummy but the oxtail was right up my alley! I would definitely go back for more! Be careful picking up the oxtail bones because you might splash oil on yourself if you drop it on the plate.
Abaceria del Postigo - Tuna tartare Abaceria del Postigo - Duck magret La Sacristía de Tapas
Lisbon
HIGHLIGHTS
Must-see: Quinta da Regaleira
Must-eat: Pastéis de Belém
What we’d skip: As Bifanas do Afonso
Best photo spot: Quinta da Regaleira in front of the Regaleira Palace
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN LISBON
Quinta da Regaleira - this enchanted palace gives you the fairytale photos you dream of! It is actually located in Sintra, which is a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon. Although Palácio da Pena is the more popular castle to visit in Sintra, we chose to visit Quinta da Regaleira instead because we prefer the mystical, romantic vibes over the bold, bright vibes. Not only does it have the Regaleira Palace with the classic castle look and whimsical gardens all around, it also has the iconic Initiation Well, which really makes you feel like you’re in a fairytale!
We took the train from Sete Rios Train Station to Sintra Train Station and took a Bolt (like Uber) up to the castle. Booking your timed-entry ticket in advance is absolutely essential as slots sell out long before the day of your visit. This applies to either castle you choose to visit.
Regaleira Palace Initiation Well
Jerónimos Monastery - this monastery is a prime example of Manueline (Portuguese late-Gothic) architecture. The intricately carved columns and arches are what really make the courtyard unique.
This is also the birthplace of the pastel de nata (custard tart)! In the 18th century, monks used large quantities of egg whites to starch their religious robes, leaving them with an abundance of leftover yolk, thus creating the exquisite treat! Be sure to check out my notes regarding Pastéis de Belém in my “Foods to try in Lisbon” section.
We purchased a timed entry ticket in advance but still had to wait in a long line to get in. I was thankful to have my sun hat because the line was directly in the sun. Once you get inside, the courtyard area is the main thing to see. There wasn’t a lot more beyond that, so it was a pretty short visit.
Ascensor da Bica - famous yellow funicular. I linked the top of the track for that iconic downward view. It was actually out of service when we went, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we had all the time in the world to grab photos while the yellow car was static.
Jerónimos Monastery Jerónimos Monastery Ascensor da Bica
Miradouro das Portas do Sol - in this area we were able to find a great viewpoint overlooking the red tile roofs.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia - at this location we tried to get a picture of a nice view with greenery draping above on the pergola and the decorative blue tile along the wall. Unfortunately, it was too crowded, and the sun peeking through the greenery wasn’t the ideal lighting on our faces. However, we walked around and down a bit and found a less crowded spot with pink flowers draping above us instead. Although the view is not as nice, this spot was better overall for us to take photos.
Rua Augusta Arch - grand arch in the heart of the pedestrian shopping street where you can take a nice photo with the yellow buildings surrounding it.
Castello de Sao Jorge - we ended up opting out of visiting this place because we were already able to get great view pictures and the photos looked like any other fortress.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol Spot near Miradouro de Santa Luzia Rua Augusta Arch
WHERE TO EAT IN LISBON
Pastéis de Belém - the best pastéis de nata hands down!! Definitely a must try! It is the only place that is allowed to call them pastéis de belém as it is the original recipe of pastel de nata, but it was also truly the best we tried. The recipe was created by the monks of Jerónimos Monastery, and only a handful of master bakers know the exact formula. The custard is just the right amount of light and sweet, and the crust is perfectly crispy and flaky. We went through the takeout line, which was quick. I definitely wish I had time to go back and get more.
Corrupio - this place was recommended to me by one of my Portuguese clients, and we enjoyed it so much we went twice! Many of the dishes we tried had an Asian flavor to it. Although they were all delicious, here are the dishes we tried in the order of which we liked the most:
Mendinha style short rib - good chunk of meat with side salad
Crispy seared chicken
Swordfish pico-pau - like a ceviche
Slow roasted lamb with handmade pasta - was more of soup than a pasta dish
Crispy pork belly sandwich
Canalha - this was another place that was recommended by my Portuguese client. We had the partridge fried empanadas, bluefin tuna crudo, and ribeye steak, which were all scrumptious!
Pastéis de Belém Corrupio - Mendinha style short rib Canalha - Ribeye steak
Manteigaria - a very popular chain for pastéis de nata. Although we found them to be heavier and sweeter than Pastéis de Belém, they were still very enjoyable! This chain was the only place I could rely on for a decent iced latte! A lot of other places I tried felt more like room temperature or lukewarm lattes, whereas this place was actually nice and cold.
As Bifanas do Afonso - the bifanas (pork sandwich) were good, but the social media hype caused the wait to be 30-45 minutes, which was too long for basic pork sandwiches. It’s good to try bifanas in Portugal, but we had better ones in Porto that we didn’t need to wait in a long line for. I wouldn’t go out of my way for this spot - I would only recommend it if you happen to be in the area and the line isn’t too long.
Porto
HIGHLIGHTS
Must-see: Dom Luís I Bridge
Must-eat: Taxca spicy bifana
What we’d skip: Castro pastéis de nata
Best photo spot: Palácio da Bolsa (Arabian Hall and Nations' Courtyard)
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN PORTO
Dom Luís I Bridge - iconic double-decker bridge. Michael researched for me and found this spot to take a photo with the bridge at a nice distance. I kind of like that the gondolas were swinging by in our photo as well!
Palácio da Bolsa - this “stock exchange palace” was built on the ruins of a Franciscan monastery with the goal of impressing visiting foreign merchants and investors. It is most known for the Arabian Hall - or, as our tour guide called it, the wow room, because that’s what most people naturally say when they first walk in. The walls and ceiling are covered with stunning, intricate details and real gold leaf. I also thought the Nations' Courtyard was beautiful. It has coats of arms representing the twenty nations Porto had the closest trading relationships with at the time.
Capela das Almas - church with the cool blue tile facade that we took some photos in front of. Igreja do Carmo is another church with a similar facade.
Estádio do Dragão - football (soccer) stadium where we took a tour and strolled around the museum. We were both surprised how large the museum was.
Dom Luís I Bridge Palácio da Bolsa - Arabian Hall Palácio da Bolsa - Nations' Courtyard Palácio da Bolsa Capela das Almas Estádio do Dragão
WHERE TO EAT IN PORTO
Taxca - we both much preferred the bifana (pork sandwich) at this place compared to the overhyped one in Lisbon! It was spicier and juicier. So good that Michael ended up eating 3 of them!
Solar Moinho de Vento - we went to this place specifically for their short rib rice stew which was delicious! Although we didn’t have a reservation, we were able to snag a table outside.
Oficina dos Rissóis - cafe specializing in rissóis (savory turnovers). Our favorites were the spicy veal and chorizo rissóis. I also really enjoyed the simple organic salad to go pair with the rissóis.
Brasão Aliados - we went to this place to try their francesinha. A francesinha is layers of toasted bread and various meats covered in melted cheese and a thick tomato/beer sauce. Although it was good, we felt that the dish itself was nothing special. We prefer a good cut of meat rather than average meat covered in cheese and sauce.
Manteigaria - same chain for pastéis de nata we had in Lisbon with the good iced latte. We also tried Nata Lisboa, which had great pastéis de nata. I would recommend skipping Castro as the line goes out into the street and the pastéis de nata were a little burnt.
Solar Moinho de Vento Oficina dos Rissóis Nata Lisboa
Final Thoughts
Out of all the stops, Granada was my favorite because I tend to prefer smaller cities with a more traditional vibe. when exploring new countries. It was tourist-friendly without feeling like the kind of place where you have to constantly watch for pickpockets.
However, I would love to go back to Lisbon just to get more pastéis de belém! If anyone knows of a spot to get pastéis de nata in the LA/OC area that is actually the Portuguese style (not Chinese style), please let me know!
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