Sightseeing

1. Onde fica o Mosteiro dos Jerónimos?

   Where is the Jerónimos Monastery?

   Usage

   Ask for directions to a major Lisbon landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Onde fica" is slightly more idiomatic than "Onde é" for asking the location of a place

2. A que horas abre o museu?

   What time does the museum open?

   Usage

   Check opening hours at museums or attractions

   Grammar Note

   "Abre" is third person of abrir. Replace with "fecha" to ask about closing time

3. Pode tirar uma fotografia de nós?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Ask a passerby to take a group photo

   Grammar Note

   "Tirar uma fotografia" is idiomatic for taking a photo. "Foto" is the common abbreviation

4. Quanto custa a entrada?

   How much is the admission fee?

   Usage

   Ask for the entrance fee at tourist sites

   Grammar Note

   "Entrada" means both the entrance and the admission fee

5. Tem um mapa da cidade?

   Do you have a city map?

   Usage

   Ask for a city map at a tourist office or hotel

   Grammar Note

   "Da" = de + a (preposition + feminine article). "Mapa" is masculine, same as Spanish

6. Há visitas guiadas em inglês?

   Are there guided tours in English?

   Usage

   Check for English-language guided tours at a tourist attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Guiada" is the feminine past participle of guiar (to guide). Agrees with feminine "visita"

7. Qual é o horário de funcionamento?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Ask for the operating hours of a museum or tourist site

   Grammar Note

   "Horário" (timetable/hours) is masculine. "Funcionamento" means operation/functioning

8. Há desconto para estudantes?

   Is there a student discount?

   Usage

   Ask about student discounts at museums or attractions

   Grammar Note

   "Desconto" is masculine. Swap "estudantes" with "idosos" (seniors) or "crianças" (children)

9. Este lugar é incrível!

   This place is incredible!

   Usage

   Express awe at a stunning tourist sight or landscape

   Grammar Note

   "Incrível" is gender-invariable. Alternatives: "fantástico!" (fantastic!), "maravilhoso!" (marvellous!)

10. Quanto tempo demora a visita?

    How long does the visit take?

    Usage

    Ask how long a tour or visit takes before committing

    Grammar Note

    "Demorar" means to take time. "Visita" (visit) is feminine

11. O Castelo de São Jorge fica em Lisboa

    St. George's Castle is located in Lisbon

    Usage

    Talk about a major Lisbon landmark like St. George's Castle

    Grammar Note

    "Ficar em" expresses location. "Castelo" (castle) is masculine, hence "O"

12. O Algarve tem praias magníficas

    The Algarve has magnificent beaches

    Usage

    Talk about Portugal's most popular beach destination

    Grammar Note

    "Algarve" derives from Arabic al-Gharb (the west). "Magníficas" agrees with feminine plural "praias"

13. Évora tem uma história romana fascinante

    Évora has a fascinating Roman history

    Usage

    Talk about Évora, a UNESCO-listed city with Roman ruins in the Alentejo

    Grammar Note

    "Fascinante" is gender-invariable. "História" (history) is feminine, but the adjective stays unchanged

14. Quero visitar o Palácio da Pena

    I want to visit the Pena Palace

    Usage

    Express your plan to visit the fairy-tale Pena Palace in Sintra

    Grammar Note

    "Palácio" (palace) is masculine. "Da" = de + a (preposition + feminine definite article)

15. A Torre de Belém é um monumento histórico

    The Tower of Belém is a historic monument

    Usage

    Talk about Lisbon's famous UNESCO-listed Tower of Belém

    Grammar Note

    "Torre" (tower) is feminine. The Tower of Belém is a masterpiece of Manueline architecture

16. O Porto é famoso pelo vinho do Porto

    Porto is famous for port wine

    Usage

    Talk about Porto and its world-famous fortified wine

    Grammar Note

    "Pelo" = por + o (preposition + masculine article). "Vinho" (wine) is masculine

17. Sintra parece um conto de fadas

    Sintra looks like a fairy tale

    Usage

    Describe the magical UNESCO-listed town of Sintra near Lisbon

    Grammar Note

    "Parece" is third person of parecer (to seem/look). "Conto de fadas" literally means "fairy's tale"

18. O Douro é um vale de vinhas deslumbrante

    The Douro is a breathtaking valley of vineyards

    Usage

    Talk about the stunning Douro Valley, heart of port wine production

    Grammar Note

    "Deslumbrante" means dazzling/breathtaking. "Vinhas" (vineyards) is the plural of vinha (feminine)

19. Os Açores são o melhor destino para mergulho

    The Azores is the best destination for diving

    Usage

    Talk about the Azores as a world-class diving and nature destination

    Grammar Note

    "Melhor" is the superlative of bom (good). "Açores" is a plural name that takes the article "os" and a plural verb ("são")

20. Coimbra é a cidade das universidades

    Coimbra is the city of universities

    Usage

    Talk about Coimbra, home to Portugal's oldest and most prestigious university

    Grammar Note

    "Das" = de + as (preposition + feminine plural article). Coimbra University (1290) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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