Author Archives: Joe

The Portuguese village of Sintra

Sintra, Portugal at Sintra National Palace

In the metropolitan area of Lisbon you’ll find amazing villages to spend your time. There’s, for example, Cascais, Mafra, Oeiras and last but not least, Sintra. Ranking as the village with the most inhabitants in Portugal, Sintra is the perfect spot for tourists who want to experience both nature and culture. In 1995, UNESCO named […]

Vela 2 Tavira, the Most Fish You Will Eat in One Sitting!

Vela 2 in Tavira

The Algarve is known for its sparkling fresh fish, and for good reason. Simply grilled with olive oil and salt, it’s one of the key culinary attractions of the area. If you’re a fish lover and staying in the Tavira area, you’d be well advised to avoid ordering a single portion of bream or sea […]

Roman galleries of Prata Street, Lisbon

Roman galleries of Prata Street, Lisbon

If you are passionate about history especially about the Roman Empire, you must get in the queue, and visit the Roman Galleries of Rua da Prata (Galerias Romanas). The galleries were discovered in 1771 during the reconstruction of Lisbon when it was almost totally destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The galleries are hidden beneath […]

Getting from The Algarve to Seville

algarve to seville

It comes as a surprise to many that Seville (in Spain) is actually the closest big city to Portugal’s Algarve. It’s nearer than Lisbon, and from the East Algarve can be reached in under two hours. So, what’s the best way to get from The Algarve to Seville? Algarve to Seville by Public Transport Despite […]

Terceira

Azores - Terceira

The Terceira is the second most inhabited island of the Azores. The island is 17km wide and is 30km long.. The highest point on the island is situated in the Serra de Santa Barbara. In around 1430 the area began being called the Island of Jesus Christ. It was recognised by Portuguese navigators as the […]

Shopping in Tavira

Tavira shopping, The algarve

The East Algarve city of Tavira is home to plenty of small craft and tourist shops, but if you really want the flex your credit cards, the place to head to is the Gran Plaza shopping centre, just on the outskirts of town. This modern mall is shiny and spacious and also wonderfully quiet and […]

Best things to do in Porto

Best things to do in Porto, Portugal

If you are looking for scenery, culinary, culture or anything else you can imagine, Porto is the place for you. Ranking as one of the biggest and most important cities in Portugal, the city of Porto offers tourist about anything they want, from museums and art galleries to cuisine. Lovers of museums are in for […]

Coimbra’s burning flag festival

Portugal might be a small country, but it doesn’t lack of places to visit and one of the most famous in the country is Coimbra, a beautiful city that holds a lot of history in its back. Coimbra is well known for the Universidade de Coimbra, a renowned university in Portugal founded in 1290. The […]

The infamous dessert Pastel de Belem

pastel de belem

Portugal is a country with a strong history of desserts. If you’re ever in the region, you must go to a café or one of the many bakeries. You should definitely try as many as you can, but there is one you cannot miss. One of the most traditional Portuguese desserts is without a doubt […]

Marvao, a trip through Portuguese history

Marvão, Portugal

Even after a long holiday, with a lot of sun and many beach days in July and August, we still missed having some short breaks from the noise, traffic and all the excitement that comes along with big cities. We had always heard that the Alentejo region has some beautiful landscapes, historical villages and good […]

What do to in Valença do Minho?

The north of Portugal is full of wonders, but very few cities have as many sights as Valença do Minho. Right at the border of Spain, Valença do Minho is a gorgeous city that offers a range of sights for all tastes. There you’ll be amazed at the history, visible in every single bulding, in […]

The Tivoli Marina Portimão

The Tivoli Marina, Praia da Rocha, Portimão’s beach resort

Praia da Rocha, Portimão’s beach resort, is one of the Algarve’s most well established holiday destinations. People have been visiting here since the 19th century, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places to stay. The Tivoli Marina hotel, located in the marina zone at the eastern end of the resort, is undoubtedly […]

Where’s the Best Casino in Portugal? Head for Estoril!

Lisbons best casino

Casinos are rather popular in Portugal. There are three in the Algarve region alone. But if you really want to experience the ultimate Portuguese casino, the option to choose just has to be Estoril. Estoril is just outside Lisbon and easily (and scenically) reached by car or train from the capital. The Estoril Casino is […]

Exploring Sintra, Portugal

Trekking the Sierra Sintra

Considered the most beautiful and mystical Portuguese destination, Sintra certainly is an unforgettable place with its diverse nature and ancient history. Sintra is located only 30 km from Lisbon. It was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. This delightful place has been occupied by various civilisations from ages past. From the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic times, […]

Cacela Velha: A Stunning Glimpse of Unspoiled Portuguese History

Cacela Velha

If you’re ever in the East Algarve, don’t miss the opportunity to turn off the main N125 road in the direction of a small hamlet called Cacela Velha. You’ll find the turning between Tavira and Manta Rota, and you’ll know from the view on approach that you’ve arrived at somewhere very special indeed. Cacela Velha […]

Apolonia – Gourmet Shopping in the Algarve

Apolonia - Gourmet Shopping in the Algarve

When one thinks of Portuguese food, it’s usually in reference to cuisine that is honest and unfussy – using local ingredients simply and inexpensively. However, Portugal can do gourmet too, and not just in Lisbon and Porto. The Algarve has a burgeoning gourmet food scene, and a good place to get a feel for it […]

Searching for a great place to Eat in Evora?

Botequim da Mouraria in Evora

There are over 150 restaurants in the beautiful walled Alentejo city of Evora. This vibrant place has a large student population, and good (and inexpensive) food is easy to come by. However, if you’re looking for a real dining experience, there’s really only one option, and that’s to visit Botequim da Mouraria. Botequim da Mouraria […]

Nights out in Braga

Portugal, Braga Nightlife

The city of Braga is well known in Portugal for having a large number of young people. One of the reasons probably is the Universidade do Minho, which is one of the best universities in the country, and it recently ranked among the best in Europe. Naturally, the city equipped itself with a number of […]