A Hostelling International Slovenia’s Study Trip to Portugal

The partner organisation, Pousadas de Juventude, did their best to ensure HIS members could visit seven very different hostels located between Lisbon and Guimarães, a city in northern Portugal.

We began our journey in Lisbon where we gathered at the Almada Youth Hostel in the afternoon. The hostel is located south of Lisbon and the best way to get there is by crossing the 25 de Abril Bridge, which connects one side of the Tagus River to the other. Traffic is easily manageable, as the city has great transport connections due to its size, and one of the fastest ways of getting around, especially when more people are travelling together, is definitely by using ride-hailing apps, such as Kapten and Bolt. The Almada Youth Hostel offers a wonderful view over Lisbon and, with its 126 beds, can cater to both solo travellers as well as groups. Sports fans will find the hostel to be a great starting point for visits to the Costa da Caparica Beach where surf schools and water sports flourish.

After an acquaintance party and familiarising with the Portuguese cuisine, we headed to Sintra by bus the next day. There, we climbed a 400-metre-high hill with castle ruins on top known as Castelo dos Mouros. After descending back down the hill, we took a walk down the colourful streets and treated ourselves to some liqueurs and a rather unfortunate coffee blend, and last but not least bought some souvenirs.

Our trip took us further, to Santa Cruz, where we tried the ubiquitous codfish for lunch again and then visited the Santa Cruz Hostel. The hostel which boasts a large swimming pool and playgrounds is also located near beaches spanning along the Atlantic Ocean.

Our next stop was luckily once again marked by the ocean – we stopped at the Areia Branca Youth Hostel that’s situated on the coastline. The hostel is a good choice, particularly if you’re visiting Portugal during summer when you’ll be awaited by a large outdoor terrace and a beautiful view.

It’s already been dark when we drove off towards the Alfeizerão – São Martinho do Porto hostel. It’s an old but a wonderfully renovated building with a rustic touch that evokes a feeling of familiarity.

After a long day, we arrived in Alvados and the hostel of the same name, Alvados-Porte de Mós, in the evening. The hostel is located near the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros natural park and close to Fátima. The former is a popular centre of pilgrimage that became famous in 1917 due to the reports of sightings of the Virgin Mary who was said to appear to three little shepherds in the nearby field of Cova da Iria. We headed there the next day and then continued towards Porto. The city is incredibly colourful, even though it can get really windy and gloomy on a November day and you simply need to adapt to the conditions. That’s when indoor activities become especially welcome. We visited one of the Sandeman wine cellars, a wine company that produces many types of wine, port wine being the most famous. The guided tour included wine tasting in the end. Other sights worth noting are numerous bridges connecting the city. The architect of the Dom Luís I Bridge was a Gustave Eiffel’s co-worker, which is why the style is reminiscent of that of the Eiffel Tower. Ribeira is the old working-class area with narrow streets, colourful façades and dozens of culinary options to choose from. The São Bento Railway Station is also worth visiting and is located right next to the city centre. Its interior is comprised of tiles that form various images of battles and everyday life.

We stayed at the Porto Youth Hostel near the Douro River estuary, one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula. It’s quite a long walk to the city centre, but the location is well connected by buses, trams, and the metro.

On our last day there, we headed even further north to Guimarães. The old town is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an example of an extremely well-preserved medieval settlement that evolved into a modern city. We also stopped at the Guimarães Youth Hostel, situated in a beautiful century old building an with an entrance that is accessible by wheelchair.

Study trips are an excellent opportunity and provide an insight into something new and unfamiliar as well as networking and an exchange of experiences. Thank you all who are doing your best to arrange for us a worry-free trip and creating lots of opportunities for good memories and laughter.