Se bem que o itinerário seja curto, o guia inclui uma noite num albergue junto ao farol.

Although the itinerary is short, the guide includes one night in a hostel next to the lighthouse.

Breakdown of Se bem que o itinerário seja curto, o guia inclui uma noite num albergue junto ao farol.

• ser: to be
• a noite: the night
• uma: a
• incluir: to include
• junto a: next to
• curto: short
• num: in
• o albergue: the hostel
• o itinerário: the itinerary
• o farol: the lighthouse
• se bem que: although
• o guia: the guide

Questions & Answers about Se bem que o itinerário seja curto, o guia inclui uma noite num albergue junto ao farol.

Why is seja used instead of é in o itinerário seja curto?

Because se bem que is a conjunction that normally requires the subjunctive.

• é = indicative mood, used for simple facts: o itinerário é curto (the itinerary is short).
• seja = present subjunctive of ser.

After concessive conjunctions like:

• se bem que (although, even though)
• embora
• ainda que

Portuguese usually uses the subjunctive to express contrast, concession, or something presented from a more subjective/“comment” point of view:

• Se bem que o itinerário seja curto, o guia inclui…
  Although the itinerary is short, the guide includes…

Using é here would sound incorrect or, at best, very odd in standard European Portuguese.

What exactly does se bem que mean, and how is it different from just se?

se bem que is a fixed expression meaning roughly although or even though.

• se bem que o itinerário seja curto…
  although the itinerary is short…

This is not conditional if like English if or Portuguese se on its own:

• Se o itinerário for curto… – If the itinerary is short… (a condition)
• Se bem que o itinerário seja curto… – Although the itinerary is short… (a contrast, concession)

So:

• se = if (conditional)
• se bem que = although / even though (concessive, takes subjunctive)

Can I replace se bem que with embora or apesar de?

Yes, but you have to adjust the structure:

1. With embora (also takes subjunctive):

   • Embora o itinerário seja curto, o guia inclui…
     (Although the itinerary is short…)

2. With apesar de (preposition + noun/infinitive, not a full clause):

   • Apesar de o itinerário ser curto, o guia inclui…
     (Despite the itinerary being short…)
   • Spoken European Portuguese often contracts: Apesar do itinerário ser curto…

You cannot say:

• Apesar de o itinerário seja curto ❌ (wrong: apesar de is not followed by subjunctive with que omitted)

Natural alternatives in European Portuguese:

• Se bem que o itinerário seja curto…
• Embora o itinerário seja curto…
• Apesar de o itinerário ser curto… / Apesar do itinerário ser curto…

Why do we say o itinerário with the definite article? Could we drop the o?

In Portuguese, definite articles (o, a, os, as) are used more often than in English.

Here, o itinerário means the itinerary in the specific context (e.g. the one described by this guide). It would sound incomplete or very unusual to say:

• Se bem que itinerário seja curto… ❌

You almost always need the article with a singular, countable, concrete noun when you're talking about a particular thing:

• o itinerário – the itinerary
• o guia – the guide
• o farol – the lighthouse

So: keep the o. Omitting it is rarely correct and not in this sentence.

Why is inclui in the present tense? In English we might say “will include”.

Portuguese often uses the simple present to talk about:

• scheduled or planned events
• contents of something (a program, a guide, an itinerary, a brochure)

Examples:

• O programa inclui três refeições.
  The program includes / will include three meals.
• O tour começa às oito da manhã.
  The tour starts / will start at eight in the morning.

So o guia inclui uma noite… can mean:

• it generally includes one night (as a standing feature), or
• it will include one night (in the context of a specific trip being described).

Using incluirá or vai incluir would not be wrong, but the present is the most natural for “what this guide offers”.

What is num and how is it different from em um or no?

num is a contraction:

• em + um = num

In the sentence:

• uma noite num albergue
  = a night in a hostel
  = uma noite em um albergue

Other useful contractions:

• em + o = no → no albergue = in the hostel
• em + a = na
• em + uns = nuns
• em + umas = numas

So:

• num albergue = in a hostel
• no albergue = in the hostel (specific one)

What does junto ao farol mean exactly? Is it the same as perto do farol?

junto a literally means next to / right by / close to.

• junto ao farol = junto a + o farol
  → right next to the lighthouse or by the lighthouse.

perto de also means near:

• perto do farol = perto de + o farol → near the lighthouse

Nuance:

• junto ao suggests very close, almost touching or directly adjacent.
• perto do is a bit looser: nearby, in the area, but not necessarily right beside it.

Both are very natural in European Portuguese; choose based on how close you want to imply.

What exactly is an albergue in European Portuguese? Is it the same as a hostel?

In European Portuguese, albergue usually refers to a simple, budget accommodation, often:

• a youth hostel
• a pilgrim’s hostel (e.g. on the Camino de Santiago)
• a basic mountain/refuge lodge

In everyday modern speech, you will also see:

• hostel (English word, especially in big cities and tourist contexts)
• pousada (which can be a small inn, guest house, or a specific hotel chain)

So:

• um albergue ≈ a hostel / a basic lodge
  In many contexts, translating it as hostel is a good choice in English.

Why is it uma noite and not um noite? Can noite really mean “one night’s stay”?

Noite is feminine in Portuguese:

• a noite – the night
• uma noite – a night / one night

So:

• um noite ❌ (wrong gender)
• uma noite ✅ (correct)

Yes, uma noite commonly and naturally means “one night’s stay” in a travel/accommodation context, without extra words:

• O pacote inclui três noites num hotel.
  The package includes three nights in a hotel.
• O guia inclui uma noite num albergue.
  The guide includes one night in a hostel.

You don’t need to add anything like de estadia; it’s understood from context.

How are some of these words pronounced in European Portuguese?

Approximate European Portuguese pronunciations (using rough English-like hints):

• se – like suh (very short)
• bem – like English bang without the final g: bem
• que – like kɨ (a very short, almost kuh sound, but with a central vowel)
• seja – roughly SEH-zhɐ
  
  • s as in set
  • j as the s in measure
  • final a is very reduced, like uh
• itinerário – ee-chee-neh-RAH-ryu
  
  • ti before vowel often sounds like chi
  • stress on rá: iti-ne-RÁ-rio
• guia – GEE-ɐ (two syllables: gui-a, but very smooth)
• noite – NOY-tɨ (like NOYT-uh with a short final vowel)
• albergue – al-BER-gɨ (soft g as in get, final vowel reduced)
• junto – ZHOO-ntoo (initial zh like measure)
• farol – fa-ROL (stress on rol, final l is velar/dark, a bit like “aw” + l)

These are only approximations, but they should help you get close to European Portuguese sounds.