Porto has enough to keep you busy for several days, but it’s also one of the easiest cities in Portugal to use as a base. Within an hour or two you can be tasting wine in the Douro Valley, wandering medieval streets in Guimarães, swimming at Atlantic beaches or hikingRead More →
Private tours to the Douro Valley understandably cost more than small group tours, so they’re not the right choice for everyone. Having explored the Douro Valley independently, on small group tours and on a private tour, I’d say the extra cost is justified if you value flexibility, exclusive winery visitsRead More →
Benagil Cave is one of the Algarve’s most famous natural attractions, but visiting it has become more regulated in recent years due to safety concerns and overcrowding. You can no longer swim into the cave or explore it independently by paddleboard or kayak. Most visitors now experience Benagil Cave onRead More →
If you’re wondering what to expect from a Porto food tour with Culinary Backstreets, this article is for you. I had the pleasure of joining a small group tour in January and although I already know quite a lot about Portuguese food, I got to try some new things andRead More →
Taking a Lisbon boat tour will open your eyes to a different perspective of Lisbon. As well as the cool breeze, which is more than welcome on hot days, being on the water allows you to escape from the noise and irritations of busy streets. The wide waters of theRead More →
Pastel de nata is one of my favourite Portuguese cakes. These custard tarts at their very best when they’re still warm – the flaky pastry is crispy and the filling soft and gooey. When I was offered the chance to learn how to make them at a pastel de nata workshop,Read More →
I’ve been hinting at a Lisbon walking tour for a while and it’s finally ready! My GPS-activated audio walking tour of Lisbon is now available via the VoiceMap app. Thanks to VoiceMap’s innovative GPS-triggered technology, I can guide you virtually around some of Lisbon’s most beautiful squares and viewing spotsRead More →
“Hippo! Hippo!” Whenever Ana, the HippoTrip ‘animator’, yelled this, our job was to raise our hands and whoop with excitement. We were on board Alegria, one of HippoTrip’s brightly painted amphibious vehicles, about to tour the city of Lisbon. Reserve now and pay later for this 90min Amphibious Sightseeing Tour. The HippoTrip experience IRead More →
For my Lisbon cooking class the chef, Patrícia, gave me the choice between learning how to make a bacalhau (salted cod) dish or polvo à lagareiro (baked octopus). The decision was easy. Bacalhau may have been first choice for many Portuguese people but I’ve been in love with octopus ever since I movedRead More →
