9 places to visit in Portugal this summer
Summer in Portugal is a sun-drenched dream with long beach days and wall-to-wall festivals and events, where every esplanada (terrace) is filled with happy people enjoying the weather and a few (too many) Super Bocks. While summer is a fun time to explore Portugal, it is peak season, so the most popular places will be […]
9 places to visit in Portugal this spring
Spring can be the best time to visit Portugal, but it’s not all sunshine all the time. While there’s optimism in the air as the country defrosts and the warmth of the sun gains strength, there’s also a constant risk of April showers and crisp days where a thick coat is still necessary. Despite this, […]
My 10 favourite Portugal trips in 2024
Each year I round up my favourite trips I’ve taken across Portugal, and it’s a fun chance to reflect on where I’ve been and share a tale or two from cool places that I (often) haven’t had the time to write any blogs about (yet!). For me, 2024 was a really good year personally and […]
Guide to winter in Portugal: Where to go, things to do & more
Winter is the low season for travel in Portugal, but there are so many positive reasons to visit. Fewer tourists and lower prices are just two (of many) reasons to visit during this quieter period, and having spent six winters in Portugal now I can attest that it’s often sunny with blue skies in January! […]
28 best medieval & historic events in Portugal in 2025
Colourful banners flutter above cheering crowds as knights on horseback clash in a tournament for the ages. The air is thick with the scents of roasting meat and red wine, and music from another era fills your ears. Vendors hawk their wares from stalls while theatrical performers bring every corner to life, dressed as noble […]
Best music festivals in Portugal: Complete 2025 guide
Each year, especially in summer, Portugal’s music festival calendar is packed with big-name artists, major festival line-ups and smaller boutique events. Expect to find music festivals in Portugal’s big cities of Lisbon and Porto, plus down south on the beaches of the Algarve and in secret countryside locations in 2025. I’m a huge fan of […]
Ultimate Portugal events guide: Best festivals & cultural events for 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, to medieval fairs and international […]
14 common mistakes people make when visiting Portugal
From cultural tips to wearing the wrong shoes to avoiding scams, here are 14 of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen people make while visiting Portugal. Mistake #1: Thinking the bread is free (the bread is never free) The beauty of travel is connecting with other cultures but sometimes those cultures aren’t what we’re expecting. Restaurants […]
The best Portuguese cookbooks in English
Updated Feb 7, 2025 Whether you’re looking for a brilliant souvenir to mark your time in Portugal, or a thoughtful gift for someone special, I’ve rounded up what I think are the best Portuguese cookbooks available in English. While living here I’ve been collecting Portuguese cookbooks in both English and Portuguese, and one thing I’ve […]
A strange whistle in the street? That’s Portugal’s travelling knife-sharpener – the amolador
The first five times I heard an amolador, I mistakenly thought it was just a neighbour with a few loose screws. After all, why would someone be wheeling a bike through the neighbourhood while piping a charming, if slightly repetitive, tune on a pan flute? After more than a year living in Portugal, I recall […]
Food festival guide: Best gastronomic events in Portugal 2025
From celebrating sausages and sweet potatoes to Michelin-starred chefs cooking with fire, Portugal honours its rich gastronomic heritage with dozens of food festivals, wine fairs and events. Food is closely intertwined with culture in Portugal so it’s no surprise the small country puts on more than its fair share of food events. Each village has […]
6 best food markets in Portugal
My favourite way to get to know a place is through its food, and there’s no better place to start than at the source – the local fresh produce markets. Every town and city in Portugal is home to permanent market halls filled with fruit and veg vendors, fish wives, butchers, cheesemongers and spice stalls. […]