If you want to explore beyond Lisbon and Porto, it may be best to rent a car in Portugal to give you full flexibility over where you go and when. Hiring a car in Portugal is fairly straightforward if you know what to watch out for, as is driving here. These insider car hireRead More →
Exactly what clothes and equipment you need to take with you on the Camino de Santiago or any other long walk will depend on factors like the weather and your personal needs. Most importantly, whether you will be carrying it around with you all day or opt have your luggage transferred betweenRead More →
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’s highlightsRead More →
Since walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, several people have asked how I trained for walking over 200 kilometres of the Central Camino in 10 days. Here’s what preparation for walking the Portuguese Way of Saint James Dori and I did and what we would do differently next time. There’s a summary of tipsRead More →
I often get asked about Porto’s ‘must sees’. The city has such a lot to offer that it’s hard to narrow down the selection but some places definitely make it onto a ‘best of Porto’ list. With that in mind, I’ve published a self-guided walking tour of Porto’s highlights that’s flexible enough to do inRead More →
If you’re going to be spending Christmas and New Year in Portugal, either as an expat or on holiday, this post is for you. Find out how and where to celebrate, how the Portuguese do things and what events are going on during the festive season. Click one of these links to jumpRead More →
Working out which travel card and payment system you need to use Lisbon’s many forms of public transport can prove more complicated than it should be. If you have a Lisbon card, your travel costs are covered, as well as some entrance fees. If not, you need to think aboutRead More →
One thing you need to know about Porto is that it’s hilly. Fascinating and beautiful too, but be prepared for some steep slopes and steps. The maps don’t show where these sneaky inclines are so unless you’re very familiar with the city, your sightseeing route could easily involve an unanticipated workout. That’s why it’s worth findingRead More →
Vila Nova de Cerveira may be small but it made a lasting impression on me. This northern Portuguese village on the bank of the River Minho, has bags of natural beauty, historical architecture and more than its fair share of art. It’s also named after a legendary stag. In no particular order, hereRead More →