The Expensive Delicacy In Portugal Rick Steves Says Is Worth The Splurge

When it comes to international travel, there can be a lot to learn, research, and plan. From whether to take advantage of open-jaw style plane tickets to knowing whether you should pack your toiletries to take with you on a trip, travel can be as stress inducing as it is relaxing — once you're at your destination, that is. With that said, travel can give you the incredible opportunity to see, experience, and taste new things, all while absorbing and appreciating another culture altogether. Knowing which things are worth your time, however, can require a bit of research before you ever board the plane. This is where travel writer, and European vacation expert, Rick Steves can come in handy. From advice on tourist traps to avoid to recommending hidden spots you might not have ever heard of, Steves can be a wealth of knowledge for anyone planning a trip to Europe. This advice can be particularly useful for anyone looking to plan a trip on a budget, where the ability to indulge in splurges might be few and far between.

Among the many sights, sounds, and delicacies that might greet you along your journey is one particular food dish that Steves' says is worth a bit of splurging. Specifically, Steves recommends trying the famed, if difficult to catch, gooseneck barnacles caught and freshly sold in Portgual's Nazaré beach town. If you're wondering why this particular delicacy is so special, as Steves explains in his travel blog, it's because, "it was harvested just hours ago...and it's worth the expense and all that trouble."

Steves shares the joy of his favorite delicacy, "Barnacles, my sentimental favorite here, are sold on the street like munchies." He goes on to explain that, "Merchants are happy to demonstrate how to eat them: like boiled clams, washed down with local beer." Depending on your preferred style of fare, eating gooseneck barnacles might sound either refreshingly delicious or flat out intimidating. With that said, an important consideration — before deciding on whether or not to give these percebes a try on your Portuguese journey — is the price.

According to a MyTripJournal blog from 2022, hungry tourists could pick up roughly one kilo (or 2.2 pounds) of the barnacles for roughly 45€, or around $52 at the time of publication. Or, for a single person's serving, tourists can pay roughly $9 for a little less than half a pound. While that might seem expensive, it's worth noting that travelers from other parts of Europe have found that Portugal's barnacle pricing is cheap in comparison to their own countries. Plus, even in Portugal, Steves' preferred spot of Nazaré is considered to have some of the cheapest of these barnacles available.

As Steves explains, "Fresh barnacles are expensive, as they are difficult and dangerous to harvest from [the] rocks they cling to amid turbulent waves along the coast." In fact, the percebeiros — or those that risk their safety to harvest these delicacies on the coast — are often touted for their sheer bravery, so it's no wonder their bravery comes with something of a premium when buying their daily catches.

If the unique barnacles aren't enough to convince you to visit Portugal, it could also be worth knowing that the country is often considered one of the cheapest European destinations for vacation travel. Porto, in particular, is considered one of Europe's cheapest cities and the country as a whole is largely considered the perfect destination for retirees hoping to retire abroad. From the country's bustling capital, Lisbon, to its sleepy second cities like Porto, Portugal offers visitors a wide range of landscapes, history, attractions, and things to do. Best of all, thanks to the country's affordability, your budget can go further on your travels, allowing you to extend the length of your trip, or even visit more sites throughout the country while on your trip.

According to travel blog, Never Ending Footsteps, travelers can generally find decent and safe hotel rooms in centralized locations for around €50-€100 a night, or about $58-$120 a night. With that said, there are obviously more luxury oriented options that can cost quite a bit more — especially depending on which city you might choose to visit. Similarly, visitors can take advantage of relatively cheap public transportation options in the country's larger cities. Not to mention, most visitors will enjoy the country's cheap food options — as cheap as €10, or $12, for a three-course meal with wine. So, whether you're looking for a sleepy seaside barnacle-loving town like Nazaré or a larger and more diverse city to explore, Portugal probably has what you're looking for in your next European vacation.