Every four years, the pretty town of Tomar in Central Portugal hosts a unique festival. Festa dos Tabuleiros means Tray Festival but it’s what’s on top of the trays that matters. Local women support the weight of several feet of bread and flowers on their heads as they parade throughRead More →
Portugal golf expert Andy Waple is back to share his insights into the Lisbon golf scene and courses in the surrounding area… Over to you, Andy: The Lisbon area plays second fiddle to the Algarve in terms of the number of golf courses yet it is very popular, commanding aRead 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. While it’s possible to get a quick glimpseRead More →
Eating out in Portugal is usually a very enjoyable, relatively straightforward and affordable experience. Even so, knowing what’s standard practice for ordering in Portuguese restaurants, cafés, bakeries and bars will help you order with confidence and avoid leaving with a nasty taste in your mouth. Find out when to eat,Read More →
You really don’t have to travel far from Lisbon to find some amazing beaches. In fact, some of these Sintra beaches are among my all time favourite beaches in Portugal. All of them are within the beautiful Sintra Cascais Natural Park and therefore largely unspoilt. They range from hidden covesRead More →
Contributed by golfing expert, Andy Waple (see bio below). These days it’s hard to imagine the Algarve without golf, yet a ball was not struck on this sunshine coast until 1966, when the first of many Algarve golf courses was laid out at the newly-emerging Penina resort near Portimão inRead More →
If you’re looking for somewhere to go hiking near Lisbon, Sintra Cascais Natural Park has a wide range of walking trails to suit different fitness levels and interests. You can opt for shaded forest paths in the Sintra Mountains near several UNESCO World Heritage monuments or explore the park’s fascinatingRead More →
I only went to São Vicente de Fora monastery because I’d heard it had a good viewpoint. “It’s the best view of Lisbon,” promised the man on reception, “But before the view, there is all this to see,” he said, waving his hand towards a faded poster showing the highlightsRead 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 →
