Just came back from an amazing week in Portugal – the breathtaking scenery, traditional village life, cities defined by contemporary life blended with historical remnants, warm and friendly people, amazing food and pastries, and many more define this western European country. Portugal is an amazing place to visit – here are the top 10 must see and do while there.

1. Sintra (vila): Just 30 minutes away by car or bus from Lisbon, Sintra is a stunning place that takes you back to different times. This Unesco World Heritage place is like a page torn from a fairy tale: lush green gardens, imposing castles, narrow alleyways and mountain roads makes it a must-do day trip while in Lisbon. Visit the Palácio National de Sintra, walk around and visit the shops, and don’t miss the beautiful and fun Quinta da Regaleira up the mountain featuring its lush gardens, fountains, grottos, lakes and underground caverns. If you have a sweet tooth, do not miss Sintra’s famous casa Piriquita close to the Palace which has been tempting locals and tourists with pasteis de nata, queijadas, and the travesseiro (pillow), a light puff pastry turned, rolled and folded seven times, then filled with delicious almond & egg cream lightly dusted with sugar.

2. Lisbon 3-in-1 tour with the Yellow bus: whether you have 1 day or 3 days at your disposal to see the city, a ride of the Yellow bus or other sightseeing buses is an excellent way to really see some of the main sites as well as the areas outside of the city centre such as the Parque das Nações part of town which was built for expo 1998.

3. Mercado da Ribeira, Lisbon: Mercado da Ribeira (also known as Mercado 24 de Julho) is Lisbon’s main food market since 1892, when it opened with an iron interior and a large oriental dome. The food court, with canteen-style communal tables, opened in May of 2014 and has become a major food destination. It’s on the western side of the building on the ground floor, and opens every day from 10AM to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and from 10AM to 2AM from Thursday to Saturday.Don’t forget to try some seafood, particularly the grilled sardines, a Portuguese staple.

4. Pastel de nata: These tasty tarts with custard cream filling are known as Portuguese tarts in many parts of the world. Pastéis de nata (plural)were created before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém (15 minutes tram from Lisbon city centre). At the time, convents and monasteries used large quantities of egg-whites for starching of clothes, such as nuns’ habits. It was quite common for monasteries and convents to use the leftover egg yolks to make cakes and pastries, resulting in the proliferation of sweet pastry recipes throughout the country. The best tarts are still made in Belem at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém very close to the monastery.

5. Listen to live fado music: Born in a working-class neighbourhood of Lisbon, the melancholic music of Fado has been around for centuries. Fado music has become a great art and you can still listen to it in many restaurants and bars in Lisbon and other parts of the country. The songs typically recount sad love stories, broken hearts and unfulfilled dreams trough a strong voice and a 12-string Portuguese guitar.

6. Night life in Albufeira: If you’re looking for a fun and relaxed atmosphere in a town bustling with tourists, Albufeira is the place to be. You can find here many bars open until early in the morning, live music and pretty cobblestone streets this is the place to be. During the day, spend some time tanning in the warm sun listening to the waves of the ocean and go for a relaxing walk along the long stretch of the beach.

7. Praia Dona Ana and Praia da Marinha, Algarve: The southern beaches of the Algarve region in Lisbon are famous for the picturesque beaches and refreshing ocean temperatures. If you’re looking for the most beautiful views and photo opportunities, Praia Dona Ana in Lagos and Praia da Marinha close to Corveiros are a must-see. If you like surfing, the western beaches are the best.

8. Coffee or espresso (bica or double bica): Bica is one term used in certain areas of Portugal for a “café” (coffee in Portuguese) that is similar to espresso, but longer than its Italian counterpart and a little bit smoother in taste.

9. Marvel at the beauty of the azulejos: Some of Portugal’s most captivating works of art are the hand-painted tiles which you can see everywhere around Portugal on houses, inside buildings and train stations.

10. Experience of the local specialties of Porto: From world renowned Porto wine, to the Francesinha sandwich, to the typical tripe dish, Porto is a great place to visit. Plus, enjoy any of these at one of the many restaurants and bars along the Duoro river for amazing views.

See more on Portugal from Cris2Travel:

• Algarve
• Lisbon & Sintra
• Nazaré
• Porto
• Country overview: Portugal