Nice, France is the second most visited city in France after Paris. The 300 days of sun per year and the promenade alongside turquoise water are two main draws. Monaco and Cannes are 30-minute train rides away, making for convenient day trips.

Porto, Portugal is my final stop in Portugal. While smaller than Lisbon, it feels like there may be a greater quantity of tourists in Porto. It still strikes me as impressive how nearly every local I’ve encountered has spoken sufficient English to converse, save a handful.

Sintra, Portugal is a frequent day trip destination from Lisbon. I decided to spend time in a smaller town to have more time in nature. While in Sintra, I experienced hazy air and thought it was pollution, but it turned out to be a dust storm from the Sahara desert.

Lisbon, Portugal was my first destination in Europe. The reason for choosing Lisbon came down to a cheap flight and warm weather, plus it was one of the last western European countries I had yet to visit. Portugal ended up having a lot more rain than expected, but I hear it is unusual and is bringing much needed rain after a drought.