🇵🇹 Berlengas Islands: Lisbon's Hidden Glass-Water Paradise 🗺️🏊
The Berlengas archipelago has officially become my top weekend escape from Lisbon! 🌊✨ Home to the clearest turquoise waters I've seen in Portugal (sorry, Algarve—you were cloudy when I visited 😅). 🚌 How to Get There 1️⃣ From Lisbon to Peniche (1h drive/bus): We took Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios station (€9 round-trip 💰) Pro tip: Book early—the 8 AM bus gets you to Peniche in time for the first ferry! ⛴️ 2️⃣ Ferry to Berlengas (25 min): Multiple operators at Peniche harbor (we used Feeling Berlenga 🚢) Schedule: Usually 2 departures/day (morning + afternoon) Cost: €25 round-trip (speedboats available but choppier! 🌊) ⚠️ Motion sickness warning: Take meds + sit at the back! The captain said our day was "lake-calm," but I still got queasy... 😵💫 🏝️ Island Adventures 🏖️ Beach Bliss: The main beach greets you right off the dock—powdery sand + translucent water = instant swim urge! 🩱 No gear shops, but ice cream stands exist 🍦 (pack your own snorkel!) ⛰️ Hiking Trails: Easy 30-min walk to cliff viewpoints (P10-13 photos 📸) with jaw-dropping ocean panoramas 🌄 🚣 Glass-Bottom Boat Tours (€10): Explore sea caves and hidden coves! (I skipped it—too wobbly for my stomach 😂) 🛌 Overnight Option Stayed at WOT Peniche Hostel 🏨: Super friendly staff 🤗 Free ping-pong/foosball 🎮 Perfect for early ferry catches! ⏰ Day-Trippable from Lisbon, but staying overnight lets you chase sunrises/sunsets! 🌅 💡 Must-Pack: Swimwear 🩱 + reef-safe sunscreen 🧴 Motion sickness pills 💊 Water shoes (rocky paths!) 👟 GoPro/waterproof phone case 🤿 #BerlengasIsland #PortugalParadise #HiddenGem #BlueLagoon #WeekendEscape #LisbonDayTrip #TravelPortugal #IslandVibes #NoFilterNeeded