let’s go to portugal

May 28

Written By Fightress Aaron

🇵🇹 The Aarons Unbound: From 9 Days to 9 Weeks in Portugal

A Family Journey of Learning, Living, and Loving Portugal Feb-April 2025

What began as a 9-day getaway turned into 9 incredible weeks exploring Portugal — a place that invited us to slow down, learn deeply, and connect as a family. From the colorful banks of Porto to the coastal rhythm of Lisbon, every stop became both a classroom and a memory.

As a traveling homeschool family with three children — ages 9, 4, and 1 (who turned 2 during our trip!) — we discovered that education doesn’t only happen at a desk. Portugal offered lessons in history, art, culture, geography, and empathy that no textbook could rival.

Our Route: Porto → Coimbra → Óbidos → Viseu → COIMBRA→ Lisbon

Porto: Learning Through Color, Culture, and Connection

Our journey began in Porto, where winding cobblestone streets and tiled façades sparked endless curiosity.
Highlights:

Ribeira District – geography came alive as we traced the Douro River on maps and then stood beside it, watching the rabelos (wooden boats) glide by.
Dom Luís I Bridge – an engineering wonder that doubled as a math lesson on arches and symmetry.
Livraria Lello – inspired imagination and reading; Kyrie declared it his “Hogwarts library.”
São Bento Station – we counted over 20 azulejo murals, each telling stories from Portugal’s history.
Vila Nova de Gaia – adults sampled port wine while the kids learned about trade, fermentation, and patience.

Coimbra: Lessons in Legacy and Tradition

In the heart of Portugal, Coimbra reminded us that knowledge is timeless.
Highlights:

University of Coimbra – we explored one of Europe’s oldest universities and its gold-leaf library — a perfect tie-in to our homeschool discussions on world education.
Sé Velha (Old Cathedral) – architecture as art and history combined; the kids sketched the arches in their notebooks. Our Airbnb was STEPS away from the Cathedral!
Mondego River Walks – daily movement became our P.E. while spotting local wildlife added to our science journals.
Fado ao Centro – the emotional Fado performance became a family discussion about how music expresses grief, love, and identity.

Óbidos: Storybook Streets and Imaginative Play

Óbidos was a fairytale turned real — and a perfect “hands-on” history lesson.
Highlights:

Medieval Walls – we talked about medieval life and defense systems as we walked the fortress walls.
Ginja in Chocolate Cups – cultural studies in sweetness; locals explained traditions passed down for generations.
Bookstores Everywhere – we counted seven within walking distance and talked about what makes a “city of literature.”
Obidos Lagoon – a science day on ecosystems, tides, and water safety for our curious explorers.

Viseu: The Art of the Everyday

A lesser-known gem, Viseu taught us the beauty of community and slower rhythms.
Highlights:

Historic Center – the kids practiced Portuguese greetings as we interacted with shop owners.
Grão Vasco Museum – art appreciation turned interactive scavenger hunt; we picked favorite paintings and described their emotions.
Viseu Cathedral – introduced geography and architecture vocabulary like “nave,” “cloister,” and “baroque.”
Serra da Estrela Day Trip – nature journaling, cheese-making demos, and mountain science rolled into one unforgettable day.

Lisbon: Where Every Corner Tells a Story

Lisbon felt like the grand finale — a vibrant mix of old and new.
Highlights:

Alfama District – the kids traced our walking routes on paper maps to practice navigation.
Belém Tower & Jerónimos Monastery – history of exploration tied into our lessons about courage and curiosity.
Time Out Market – global foods sparked discussions on nutrition and culture.
LX Factory – art installations and bookshops encouraged creativity.
Sintra Day Trip – fairytale palaces became a deep dive into architecture and legends.

Learning in the In-Betweens

Some of our favorite lessons happened between destinations:

Counting train stations became math practice.
Learning to say “obrigado” and “bom dia” built confidence and connection.
Visiting village markets turned into economics lessons on currency, budgeting, and local trade.
Even rainy days became language arts as we journaled about feelings, sights, and gratitude.

Reflections: The Real Education of Travel

Portugal reminded us that education and wellness go hand in hand. Our children didn’t just memorize facts — they learned resilience, adaptability, and how to find beauty in difference. As parents, we learned to release rigid schedules and embrace presence.

What was meant to be a 9-day vacation transformed into a 9-week life lesson:

Learning is everywhere — if you slow down long enough to notice it.

From the Aarons Unbound

We are the Aaron family! A worldshooling, homeschooling family of 5! We share these stories to inspire other families to redefine education, wellness, and connection through travel. Follow our journey as we continue worldschooling, exploring, and growing — together.