Given that the country has over 1,790 kilometres of coastline, it should come as no surprise to find that Portugal is brimming with beautiful beaches from north to south. Some of the best beaches in Portugal are relatively unspoilt and there is a great deal of variety among them. WhetherRead 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 →
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 →
Off-season Sesimbra is so laid back it’s almost comatose. When my friend and I visited this fishing village / low-key seaside resort town near the Arrabida Natural Park on a somewhat gloomy day in late May, we seemed to be the only people in the streets under the age of 60.Read More →
The huge waves that draw surfers to the beaches around Peniche were not the reason I visited. One disastrous surfing lesson was enough to persuade me that it’s not the sport for me. I had other plans, the main one being a boat trip to the nature reserve on Berlenga Islands.Read More →
Figueira da Foz, aka the Queen of Beaches, has been a popular Portuguese holiday resort for over 100 years, hence the number of hotels, holiday apartments and rooms to let. There are, of course, more things to do in Figueira da Foz than lounge on its beaches or stroll the extensiveRead More →
Many people in the Vila Nova de Poiares neighbourhood learned to swim in the swimming pools at Recreio da Fraga leisure complex (nicknamed Fraggle Rock in our house) but it became neglected and was closed down for many years. Thanks to the efforts of the local council and local investment,Read More →
You may visit the Algarve for its beaches but it’s always worth prising yourself off your sunbed and exploring the region. There are plenty of things to do in the Algarve that will give you a deeper appreciation of its culture, natural beauty and history. Here’s my selection of some ofRead More →
You really don’t have to go far from Lisbon to find stunning landscapes and some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches. Simply take a day trip south across the River Tagus to the Serra da Arrábida Natural Park and you’ll find white sand and turquoise waters backed by greenery and limestoneRead More →
