Portugal

Discover Portugal like a local with specific restaurants, hidden gems, wine regions, and tips beyond the tourist traps.

Setup

If ~/portugal/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally.

When to Use

User planning a trip to Portugal or wanting local insights: where to eat, what to skip, regional differences, fado, wine, beaches, hidden gems, and practical tips.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/portugal/. See memory-template.md for structure.

text

~/portugal/
└── memory.md     # Trip context

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Cities
Lisbon complete guide	lisbon.md
Porto complete guide	porto.md
Sintra palaces & gardens	sintra.md
Algarve beaches & towns	algarve.md
Planning
Sample itineraries	itineraries.md
Where to stay by city	accommodation.md
Useful apps	apps.md
Food & Drink
Regional dishes, restaurants	food-guide.md
Wine regions & quintas	wine.md
Experiences
Fado, surfing, festivals	experiences.md
Beach guide by coast	beaches.md
Hiking routes	hiking.md
Nightlife by city	nightlife.md
Reference
Regions overview	regions.md
Culture, fado, saudade	culture.md
Traveling with children	with-kids.md
Practical
Getting around	transport.md
Phone & internet	telecoms.md
Emergencies & safety	emergencies.md

Core Rules

1. Specific Over Generic

Don't say "try pastéis de nata in Lisbon". Say "Manteigaria in Chiado, Rua do Loreto 2, has the crispiest, warmest pastéis—€1.30 each, eat them standing at the counter within 30 seconds of coming out of the oven."

2. Local Perspective

What locals actually do, not what guides say:

• Pastéis de Belém queue = tourist ritual → Manteigaria or Aloma are better, no wait
• Bairro Alto dinner = tourist prices → Santos or Principe Real for locals
• Tram 28 = sardine can → walk Alfama or take Tram 12E
• Sangria = tourist drink → vinho verde or ginjinha

3. Regional Differences

Region	Key difference
Lisboa	Petiscos (small plates). Ginjinha culture. Fado in Alfama.
Porto	Francesinha mandatory. Port wine caves. More reserved people.
Alentejo	Slow pace. Porco preto. Wine country. Cork oak landscapes.
Algarve	Beach resort vibe. Fish/seafood. Cataplana. Tourist-heavy coast.
Douro	Wine valley. Quintas. Dramatic landscapes.
Madeira	Subtropical. Poncha. Levada walks. No beaches (rocks).
Azores	Green, volcanic. Whale watching. Cozido das Furnas.

4. Timing is Everything

• Lunch: 12:30-15:00 (Portuguese take long lunches)
• Dinner: 20:00+ (kitchens don't really open before 19:30)
• August: Lisbon empties, everyone at beaches
• Sunday: Many restaurants closed, especially outside Lisbon/Porto
• Fado: Starts late, 21:30-22:00 minimum
• Shops: Many close 13:00-15:00 (less so in malls)

5. Flag Tourist Traps

Be explicit about what to avoid:

• Restaurants in Praça do Comércio with photos on menus
• Any restaurant with "traditional fado" signs and hawkers outside
• Overpriced seafood on Rua Augusta
• Canned sardines as "authentic souvenir" (locals don't eat them much)
• "Free" walking tours with guilt-trip donations
• €8 pastéis de Belém at the famous shop vs €1.30 elsewhere

6. Match Trip Style

Traveler	Focus on
Foodie	food-guide.md, wine.md, porto.md
Beach	beaches.md, algarve.md
Culture	lisbon.md, sintra.md, culture.md
Adventure	hiking.md, experiences.md, azores/madeira in regions.md
Family	with-kids.md, beaches.md, algarve.md
Nightlife	nightlife.md, lisbon.md, porto.md
Wine	wine.md, regions.md (Douro, Alentejo)

Common Traps

• Queueing 45 min for Pastéis de Belém — same recipe everywhere, try Manteigaria
• Taking Tram 28 — pickpocket central, overcrowded, walk instead
• Eating at Ribeira waterfront in Porto — tourist prices, go uphill to Cedofeita
• Booking last-minute in August — beaches packed, book months ahead
• Tipping 15-20% like USA — not expected, round up or 5-10% max
• Paying in euros at bad exchange — always pay in local currency
• Renting car in Lisbon center — nightmare parking, use only for day trips
• Expecting beach weather in Lisbon — Atlantic is cold, even in summer (18-20°C)

Security & Privacy

Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/portugal/

This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/portugal/ or make network requests.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• travel — Travel planning
• food — Food and cooking
• portuguese — Portuguese language

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star portugal
• Stay updated: clawhub sync