Patanisca de bacalhau, bolinho de bacalhau, broa cornbread

“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 →

Braga street with cathedral at the end

With so many fun things to do in Braga, it’s well worth incorporating into your Northern Portugal itinerary. The former Roman city of Bracara Augusta is now the capital of Northern Portugal’s Minho region and is well and truly steeped in history and architectural treasures. Try to allocate at leastRead More →

Piscina das Marés seawater swimming pools, Leça da Palmeira, Porto. Photography by Julie Dawn Fox

If you’re staying in Porto for more than a couple of days, you’ll find a variety of places you can visit as a day trip from Porto. As well as the amazing Douro Valley and Vinho Verde wine regions, you’ll find beaches, nature reserves, medieval cities, Celtic settlements, fishing villages andRead More →

São Gonçalo bridge and church. Things to do in Amarante, Portugal

Descriptions of picturesque balconies overhanging a river were enough to lure Mike and I to the pretty riverside town of Amarante on our way home from Porto. This first visit revealed enough things to do in Amarante to warrant a return trip, including glimpses of local lifestyles and traditions andRead More →

Views on Porto. Discover which city parks offer the most stunning views so you can fully appreciate them and take enviable photos

With its prime position on the mouth of the river Douro and its huddle of colourful buildings, Porto is extremely photogenic. Here are my tips for where to find the best views in Porto so you can go home with enviable holiday snaps. Note that my flexible self-guided walking tour of Porto sightsRead More →

Hiking in Peneda-Gerês National Park

If the idea of spending a week walking from village to village in the mountains of northern Portugal appeals to you, this could be the tour for you. In the Peneda-Gerês National Park, you’ll get a variety of landscapes and terrains and stunning views as well as the chance toRead More →