In a city that’s already bursting with colour, Lisbon’s Santo Antonio festival takes it up a notch. Before June has even settled in, the streets are strung with vibrant decorations in anticipation of a full month’s partying. Lisbon’s old town neighbourhood, Alfama, an already confined maze of narrow streets and tiny doorways, becomes even more […]
Author Archives: Joe
Sintra is unusual not just for its beauty, but for its high concentration of incredible monuments. Stand atop the sturdy stone ramparts of the ancient Moorish Castle and you’ll catch a view of the colourful Pena Palace; climb a tower at Quinta da Regaleira and catch a view of the Moorish Castle; and so on. […]
For those whose idea of a perfect getaway involves ample space, tranquility, and the feeling of a home away from home, there’s nothing quite like renting out a luxurious villa. Self-contained and able to host entire families, couples or groups of friends, such properties provide a holiday in of themselves. Of course, Portugal has many […]
The Algarve is a well-known and incredibly popular holiday destination for tourists – especially during the summer. The southernmost region of mainland Portugal, this relatively small area attracts almost 10 million people each year. But while many travellers will have heard of famous beaches and towns like Lagos, some of the best places to explore […]
As well as generally being an amazing place to pass the time, Portugal offers some particularly alluring hotspots. These places get circled on the calendar for various reasons, whether for events and festivities or evolving travel trends. So what are they this year? Here’s what’s hot: The Azores Flights to the Azores used to be […]
Lisbon has both narrow winding laneways and wide bustling streets; modern establishments set within ancient buildings; little-known gems nestled around the corner from well-known tourist destinations. So when it comes to experiencing the best of it you just have to have a sense of adventure and a little bit of knowledge on where to look. […]
There are many things you could say about Portugal as a holiday destination, the grand sum of which might well lead you to conclude that it’s one of the best – if not the best – holiday destinations in Europe. Some of those things are obvious. Some are not. There’s of course the weather: a […]
You’re already dreaming of where to spend your holidays, and it’s crossed your mind that somewhere with an abundance of sunshine, beautiful beaches, a hospitable culture and relaxed vibe might just be the place. Ticking all those boxes and more, it’s no great wonder that Portugal has landed on the top of your destinations list. […]
Portugal’s diverse cultural heritage and strong religious beliefs can be seen in its countless festivals celebrated throughout the year across the country. A combination of religious origin combined with sharing fine Portuguese food around large festival tables make for wonderfully colourful gatherings. The carnival season is celebrated in Portugal in February. The first day of […]
Portugal is blessed with a diverse landscape dotted with some of the most breathtaking towns, villages and castles. Heres our top selection: Lisbon: One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon is stooped in history and this is clearly demonstrated with the numerous old building dotted around the city, along with traces of civilizations […]
Do you ever feel like you spend more time planning a holiday than actually being on one? From a personal perspective I probably spend less time than my wife. Its something i pointed out recently after witnessing her spend hour after hour, day after day, evening after evening on the laptop. Tabs open – flights, […]
If you’re visiting the beautiful Portuguese town of Sintra, not far from Lisbon, you probably have a pretty clear idea of what you want to see. This picturesque hillside paradise is dotted with castles and historic buildings. However, there are some rather more quirky sights and activities you should try to check out while you […]
When heading to the Algarve for your Portugal Holiday, the natural association is with sun, sea and beaches, but as we’re always looking for alternative places to visit, we decided to find out what else the Algarve had to offer. We start visiting an old town which used to be the capital of the Algarve […]
Lisbon is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Portugal’s capital is well known for offering locals and tourists a huge range of options to go out. From bars and restaurants to nightclubs, you’ll surely find something that suits you in the streets of Lisbon. A district of Lisbon that holds […]
Santa Maria is a small island only 17km long and 9km wide, the highest point of the island is Pico Alto. Santa Maria was discovered in the early 15th century, with settlers coming over to populate the island from Portugal after 1439. The island was attacked by pirates many times and the inhabitants used to […]
Sao Jorge Island is about 7km wide and 54km long. The island features a volcanic ridge that stretches across the island from the northwest to the southeast. Sao Jorge is a part of the ‘triangle islands’ along with Pico and Faial and is also part of the Central Group. Pico da Esperanca (Hope Peak) is […]
There are plenty of great eating options in the small East Algarve city of Tavira, but there are a fair few tourist traps too. Here are a few tried and tested options, recommended by someone who’s spent many years living in the region. A High-End Tavira Restaurant: Quatro Aguas Quatro Aguas is far from being the […]
Vila Real de Santo Antonio is the furthest eastern point of Portugal’s Algarve, and the border town with Spain. Many people just use it as a “jump off” point for a trip to Spain, but the town is actually well worth a visit in itself. Vila Real de Santo Antonio has a very different feel […]