If spending time in a quaint medieval town in Central Portugal appeals to you, it’s worth considering staying in or around Óbidos for a night or two. Not only does the town itself have bucket loads of charm, there are several places nearby that you could visit from this base. WithRead 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 deciding where to stayRead 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 →
Whether you spend one night in this charming riverside city or several, my insider tips should help you decide where to stay in Coimbra. I’ve selected the best Coimbra hotels and apartments that I consider to be stylish, well-located and good value in three distinctly different parts of the city. As I’veRead More →
How do you decide where to stay in Lisbon if you’re visiting for the first time? Each Lisbon neighbourhood has something different to offer so choose the best area to stay in Lisbon depending on your interests. If you want to be based in the heart of the city within walking distance ofRead More →
It’s all too easy to fall for Caminha, which is how the Rinoterra Minho retreat came about. A brief visit to see friends was enough to convince Ilya, the owner, and his wife to relocate from Russia to the top corner of northwest Portugal. Appreciating how special the Minho region is, he decided to find a wayRead More →
It really wasn’t hard to fall in love with Herdade dos Grous, a country estate spread over 730 hectares of Alentejo countryside. For nature lovers who appreciate comfort, good food and fine wine, it’s hard to beat and I’m glad I accepted the invitation to stay there. I would happily put my handRead More →
How do you revitalise a sleepy historical village that’s off the beaten track? Paulo and Carmen Romão from Casas do Côro have made a huge difference to Marialva by buying up several traditional granite cottages and renovating them to form a luxury rural retreat. They haven’t taken over the entireRead More →
It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for Portuguese manor houses and stately homes, especially ones you can stay in and pretend you own (or perhaps that’s just my little fantasy). Casa da Ínsua is one such place and I jumped at the chance to check it outRead More →
It’s not every day that I get to stay in a Portuguese palace, let alone one where guests are given a tour of the property by the resident count. At Paço dos Calheiros (Calheiros Palace) I got more than a tour; the countess ended up cooking for me and weRead More →
