With its dramatic volcanic mountains and craters, Madeira island really is a paradise for walkers. You won’t catch me scaling the peaks of Pico do Areiro or Pico Ruivo any time soon but I have now done five fairly easy walks in Madeira. (Originally, this article contained just 3 walks but I’ve updatedRead More →
Taking a Lisbon boat tour will open your eyes to a different perspective of Lisbon. As well as the cool breeze, which is more than welcome on hot days, being on the water allows you to escape from the noise and irritations of busy streets. The wide waters ofRead More →
A visit to the ancient northern city of Guimarães, which is known as Portugal’s birthplace, will really give you a sense of the proud history of this country. Because there are so many things to see and do here, it’s well worth spending a day or two to soak inRead More →
Between the Serra da Estrela Mountains and the border between Portugal and Spain you’ll find lots of small villages which were established centuries ago to defend the territory from invaders. Some of them, like Sortelha, Monsanto, Idanha-a-Velha and Belmonte, have achieved international fame by being selected as part of theRead More →
If you’re wondering what to do in Madeira, this travel guide will help you discover the sights beyond its capital city, Funchal. The subtropical climate of Madeira makes it mostly green and beautiful with an abundance of flowers, which is just one of the things I love about it. ItsRead More →
Relocating to a new country is both exciting and daunting. You have to consider so many things when deciding if moving to Portugal is right for you. One of those is access to healthcare and although as a resident, you are entitled to access the state health system, sometimes it’sRead More →
It may not be my favourite place in the Algarve but lots of people absolutely love visiting Lagos. They’re attracted by some of the best beaches in the Algarve and the dramatic beauty of it’s cliff-stacked coastline but that’s not all that Lagos has to offer. The old town isRead More →
Madeira island’s dramatic landscape was created by volcanic eruptions around 890,000 years ago. As you explore its peaks, valleys and craters, you’ll see plenty of evidence of this in the form of striated cliffs, undulating folds formed by lava flows, hardened bubbles in the rocks and black sand beaches. You can even goRead More →
Since the beautiful island of Madeira has so much to see and do, and is very varied for such a small landmass, it’s important to pick the right base so that you can make the most of your time. I’ve made it easier for you to choose where to stayRead More →