As you might expect from a place called Buddah Eden, this garden in the Silver Coast area of Central Portugal contains several Buddah statues. Portuguese art collector and businessman Joe Berardo was horrified when the Buddahs of Bamiyan destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. He responded by buying a wideRead More →
I’d heard good things about Quinta do Sanguinhal and was not disappointed when we finally got the chance to visit this winery on a recent trip to the Silver Coast. The traditional wine estate is just outside the small town of Bombarral and has been in the same family sinceRead More →
If spending time in a quaint medieval town in Central Portugal appeals to you, it’s worth considering staying in or around Óbidos for a night or two. Not only does the town itself have bucket loads of charm, there are several places nearby that you could visit from this base inRead More →
Having spent years sailing around the world, Sam and Rich Malone found the ideal place to drop anchor in Portugal’s Silver Coast. After 11 years of hard work and significant investment, they have achieved what many Brits dream of and transformed a ruined Portuguese farmhouse and outbuildings into a delightfulRead More →
How do you decide on the best place to stay in Lisbon if you’re visiting for the first time? Each of the most central Lisbon neighbourhoods has something different to offer so use my insider guide to help you choose the best area to stay in Lisbon for sightseeing according to yourRead More →
Vinho verde is often badly translated as ‘green wine’ but it really just means young wine; light, fresh, slightly effervescent and best drunk within a year of bottling. Within this overall category of Portuguese wines, there’s a surprising variety of flavours, as I discovered when I visited Quinta de SantaRead More →
Wondering how to experience some of the best of the Douro Valley on a budget? If you’re keen to visit the Douro wine region, taste its wines, see its landscapes and take a boat trip on the Douro River and can’t stretch to an organised one day tour with transport,Read More →
I firmly believe that Sintra deserves more than a day trip. Once the majority of the tourists have disappeared back to their Lisbon hotels, the historical town takes on a more relaxed atmosphere. Strolling around the cobbled streets is more pleasurable without the hoards so when choosing your Sintra accommodation, ideallyRead More →
When deciding where to stay in Porto, consider how you want to get around. I like being able to walk to the main sites and fortunately, Porto’s historical centre is compact enough to facilitate that. If you venture out of the centre, you’ll need to factor public transport journeys intoRead More →
