This small city in northern Portugal is famous for the legend that lies behind the painted souvenir rooster of Barcelos. Judging by the number of giant cockerels dotted around the historical centre, this is still its main claim to fame but there are more things to do in Barcelos thanRead More →
The pretty town of Caminha is still an under-the-radar destination in the far north of Portugal. You’ll find plenty of things to do in and around Caminha, which makes it a perfect base for enjoying beaches, rivers, mountains, forests, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and fabulous food. Although tourism existsRead More →
The breathtakingly beautiful Douro wine region has become one of Portugal’s must see destinations. Commonly referred to as the Douro Valley, the UNESCO World Heritage landscape actually extends way beyond the Douro River and is dotted with towns, villages and wine estates. When deciding whether or where to stay inRead More →
I often get asked about things to do in Porto, especially its ‘must sees’. This intriguing city has such a lot to offer that it’s hard to narrow down the selection but some places definitely make it onto an itinerary for 2 days in Porto. Ideally, you should allow moreRead More →
I get lots of enquiries from people who are interested in hiking in the Douro Valley. After all, it’s a stunning part of Portugal with its ever-changing mosaic of terraced vineyards, olive groves and small villages. When the weather is not at its extremes, exploring this region on foot canRead More →
I’d been wanting to stay at Vidago Palace Hotel for a long time but felt it warranted a special occasion. Our 10th wedding anniversary seemed the perfect justification for heading to this luxury historical hotel in the north of Portugal. It turned out to be absolutely the right combination ofRead More →
Our golfing expert, Andy Waple, is back with another helpful golfing guide. This time, the spotlight is on the golf courses in the north of Portugal. Golf in Porto and the North Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe yet it is a mere babe when it comesRead More →
“I’m not really a fan of Francesinha,” I said. Cue horrified faces from the people that had just begun raving about their new Porto food tour. After admonishing me to never utter those words in Porto, where the Francesinha is revered, they explained that ‘theirs’ is no ordinary meat andRead More →
If you only have one day to explore the Douro Valley, a day trip from Porto will give you a taste of its beauty, culture and gastronomy that will linger in your memory and make you yearn to return (see below for other options if you have more time to spare). Read More →
