Portugal should be on every traveler’s bucket list. The diverse heritage and stunning architecture make it a must-see for history lovers, while the sublime cuisine is a foodie’s dream and the coastline attracts surfers and beach-goers from all over the world. If you’re planning a break to this fantastic country, here are eight suggestions for things to do in Portugal that will take your trip off the beaten track and make some memories you’ll never forget.

 

Explore Fairytale-worthy Castles

 

If you enjoy the odd bit of fantasy, you absolutely have to visit the Sintra region, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its incredible array of palaces. First, there’s the Quinta da Regaleira, built by Carvalho Monteiro and Luigi Manini in a style that draws from the Romantic era, Gothic and Renaissance architecture and Manueline ornamentation. In its details, the building is alleged to have references to the Knights Templar, Masonry, the Rosicrucians and other mysterious alchemic symbology. Once you’ve finished there, head up to the eclectic Pena National Palace, which is considered to be one of the major examples of Romantic architecture in the world. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right and is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

 

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Eat at the Fanciest McDonald’s, Ever

 

If you’re heading to Porto, make sure to drop by the fast food outlet on Praça da Liberdade, found inside a majestically restored Art Deco café. With sweeping staircases, an impressive stained-glass wall and an imposing eagle sculpture watching you enter and exit, tucking into a Big Mac doesn’t seem to make any sense.

 

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Witness the World’s Largest Collection of Matchboxes

 

Extinguish all open flames before heading into the curious Musea dos Fósforos, in Tomar, which houses 43,000 matchboxes – or approximately 2-3 million matches. The private collection was started in 1953 by Aquiles da Mota Lima, and is now supervised by his daughter and a modest collection of staff. Matchbox designs from 127 countries are represented, covering just about every subject and using a vast range of illustrative and typographic techniques. One visit is simply not enough.