ForumsInterracial Couple Travel & AdventureAnyone done Portugal together? Looking for a chill trip where we won’t get stared at the whole time
Anyone done Portugal together? Looking for a chill trip where we won’t get stared at the whole time
My boyfriend and I are planning our first real trip together outside the US and I’m trying not to overthink it, but also… I kinda am. We’re a Black woman and a white guy, and while we’ve traveled a little bit inside the States, we haven’t done a big international trip as a couple yet. Portugal keeps coming up because it seems relaxed, good food, walkable cities, all that, but I don’t know how it actually feels day to day for an interracial couple.
We’re thinking Lisbon + Porto, maybe a day trip or two, and using trains instead of renting a car. Has anyone been there as an interracial couple? Were people cool, weird, just indifferent? Also open to recs for neighborhoods, restaurants, or even just how to avoid tourist trap stuff. I’m trying to find somewhere that feels easy and romantic, not like we have to be on guard the whole time.
Mar 17
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2 repliesT
Tyler R.We did Lisbon and Sintra last fall and honestly it was one of the easiest trips we’ve taken together. I’m Latina, my husband is South Asian, and nobody batted an eye. The only time we got attention was in the super touristy spots, and even then it was more like people trying to squeeze past each other on narrow sidewalks than anything weird.
If you go, stay somewhere in Baixa, Chiado, or Alfama if you want the classic feel, but Alfama has some hills that will humble you fast lol. We used Bolt for rides and it was way cheaper than Uber a lot of the time. Also, if you like wine, do a Douro Valley day trip from Porto if you can swing it. We booked one through GetYourGuide last minute and it was actually really smooth.
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David OkaforSeconding Portugal, but I’d say Porto felt even more low-key than Lisbon for us. We’re a Black woman/white man couple too, and people were polite and mostly kept to themselves. We stayed near Ribeira, walked a ton, and took the metro when we didn’t feel like climbing another hill.
One thing I’d recommend is learning a few basic Portuguese phrases, even just thank you and excuse me. People appreciated the effort. Also, if you’re nervous about being out late, the areas around the main squares were fine for us, but we just kept things simple and used Bolt back to the hotel after dinner. Nothing dramatic, just easier.
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