Guide to the best beaches in Lagos, Portugal

Porto de Mós beach in Lagos, ALgarve

In the western Algarve, Lagos is my favourite small city to make my base – and around Lagos you’ll find some of the most spectacular beaches in the Algarve. If you’ve ever seen pictures of dramatic and rocky orange cliffs against the vibrant blue sea, then chances are they were taken around Lagos.  I’m based […]

Where to stay in the Algarve: Ultimate guide to choosing your base

Praia Coelho in the Algarve

Choosing a hotel, guesthouse or apartment for your time exploring the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, is not like picking a neighbourhood in a city like Lisbon.  The Algarve isn’t a singular place – it’s a region of about 150 kilometres (100 miles) of gorgeous coastline with charming villages, modern cities, historic towns, and golf resorts. […]

Where to eat in the Algarve

Best grilled prawns in the world are found at Casa Corvo, Fuseta, Algarve

Updated Mar 4, 2025 Fine dining fans could spend the week knocking back degustation menus at Michelin-starred restaurants and emptying jugs of white sangria at beach bars priced for the British crowd. Me? With my tasca budget and Michelin palate, I hunt for the best tabernas, cervejarias and marisqueiras that locals love as much as […]

Ultimate Portugal events guide: Best festivals & cultural events for 2025

Caretos de Podence running through the streets during the Entrudo do Chocalheiro

Last updated Mar 14, 2025 Portugal knows how to throw a brilliant party, and in 2025 these will be the biggest and best festivals and events to attend. Each year cities, towns and villages across Portugal play host to traditional celebrations, food-focused events and huge music festivals. From celebrations with sardines and world-class street theatre, […]

15 best things to do in Olhão, an Algarve gem

Things to do in Olhão

Fisherman, locals and tourists move at the same slow pace through the narrow, whitewashed streets of Olhão. Charming and full of character, this town perched on the edge of the Ria Formosa feels as though time has paused.  Ornate chimneys and flat, Moorish-style roof terraces make the old centre of the small city feel closer […]

Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Lisbon and Lagos, Algarve

Alcacer do Sal streets

If you have at least five days or even a week in Portugal, you might like to skip south and explore two regions – the capital, Lisbon, and Lagos on the sunny Algarve coast. While you can zip between the city and this charming coastal town in under three hours, if you have the time […]

Itinerary: My ideal 7-day Algarve road trip

Casa Igreja, Cacela Velha, Algarve

Updated Jan 16, 2025 Golden shores with gently lapping waves. The smell of grilled sardines and sunscreen. Trees heavy with figs, lemons and olives. White-washed villages watching slow days pass by. I love the Algarve, especially in the summer, and it’s not hard to see why Portugal’s southern coast is a favourite destination for beach […]

14 best things to do and see in the Algarve

Daniela in Tavira

Whitewashed houses with little chimneys and colourful doors, the shrill of seagulls and shouts of fish vendors, the smell of sunscreen and grilling sardines. Here are my favourite things to do in the Algarve

Tile of the day: Palacio de Estoi

Estoi Palace, Algarve, Portugal

Let’s explore Palacio de Estoi and its incredible tiled staircase. Construction began on this palace in 1840 and it is considered the “most significant manifestation of Romanticism in the Algarve”.

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