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, your choice of neighbourhood will be guided in part by how you want to get around the city centre. I like being able to walk to the main sites and fortunately, Porto’s historical centre is compact enough to facilitate that. If you’re not burdened byRead More →
BTL (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa) is Portugal’s most important annual travel fair, which is why I go every year. The first few days are for professionals, press and trade but from Friday evening throughout the weekend, the public have the chance to find out what’s on offer in Portugal andRead More →
I don’t know whether it’s an age-related thing or a by-product of blogging about Portugal but my appreciation of skilled craftsmanship has certainly increased in recent years. Among the many Portuguese arts and crafts that I have come to admire are the Arraiolos tapestry rugs. These beautiful, hard-wearing woolen carpets don’t come cheapRead More →
The Douro valley in northern Portugal has more than just the perfect climate and soil for cultivating grapes and a wine-producing culture that dates back centuries. The undulating curves of the Douro wine region’s hillsides create a beautiful and dramatic landscape which changes with the seasons and is so specialRead More →
When I’m feeling stressed and long to retreat from the world for a while, the place my mind transports me to is the island of São Jorge in the Azores. I’ll admit, I haven’t been to all of the Azores islands yet so there is a chance that São Jorge’s position asRead More →
You may come to the Algarve for its beaches but it’s always worth prising yourself off your sunbed and exploring the region. Here are some great day trips in the Algarve. It might be worth hiring a car but you can get to all of these places by public transport or organised toursRead More →
Long-term readers may remember that I published an insider’s guide to getting the best value for money when travelling in Portugal a couple of years ago. While most of the advice in Money Saving Tips For Travel In Portugal: Unlock The Secrets To Getting Great Value For Money remains valid,Read More →
