Tile of the day: Santarém Train Station
On the journey from Lisbon to Porto I often look out the window when we pass stations to see if the platforms and buildings have gorgeous hand-painted tiles. I finally had a journey finishing in Santarém, so naturally I took the chance to see the train station’s tiles up close. While the Estação de Santarém […]
Where to shop for tiles (azulejos) in Portugal
Portugal’s azulejos or tiles seem to be everywhere you look across Lisbon, Porto and Portugal’s smaller cities. It’s hard not to fall in love with the unique patterns and colours that blanket whole buildings and make this small European country and its streets beloved for their beauty. Of course, if you’re visiting Portugal you’ll want […]
Itinerary: Our magical 5-day Madeira Island road trip
Life on much of Madeira is a battle between man and nature. Moments from the coastline, sharp, jagged mountains rise out of the earth covered in thick, green foliage that few manage to tame. A scattering of typical Portuguese houses with terracotta roofs dot the ridges and valleys. We catch but a glimpse as we […]
Sardines & pimba: Your 2026 guide to Lisbon’s Santo António Festival
Every June the smell of sardines and sound of pimba music ricochets through the narrow cobbled streets of Lisbon‘s most traditional neighbourhoods. The start of summer is a wild and wonderful time to be in the Portuguese capital. In late May locals start constructing temporary bars and barbecues, and hang colourful streamers and decorations ahead […]
Tile of the day: Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina in Porto
The tiled churches of Porto are simply insane. One minute you’re peacefully wandering the old streets and – boom – you turn a corner and there pops out yet another church or chapel clad in impressive blue-and-white illustrative azulejos. Today’s #tileoftheday is diving deep on Capela das Almas de Catarina or Capela de Santa Catarina, […]
9 best things to do in Figueira da Foz
Have you ever been ice skating on the beach? For Jorge’s birthday in January I wanted to get away somewhere north of Lisbon, ideally where his family in Aveiro could meet us for lunch and Jorge could enjoy a winter surf. I landed on Figueira da Foz. The small city lies where the River Mondego […]
Made in Portugal: Where to shop for Portuguese ceramics
While I love all things made in Portugal I have a particular soft spot for Portuguese handmade ceramics. There are simply so many incredible small artisans and bigger factories producing truly beautiful, high quality and affordable plates, jugs, cups, bowls and more. In this guide I’ve listed a bunch of my favourite Portuguese ceramic brands, […]
Tile of the day: Sé Cathedral do Porto
Sé Cathedral do Porto is covered in some of the most spectacular blue-and-white tile scenes to check out. Visit in winter to enjoy a magical sunset from the top of a tower.
14 things to do and see in Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha, a small city about one-hour drive north of Lisbon, is known for two things: hot springs and ceramics. Sometime in the 15th century, Portugal’s Queen Leonor established a hospital and church here – hence the name Caldas da Rainha, which means “Queen’s hot springs”. By the 19th and 20th centuries spa towns […]
25 traditional dishes to order in Portugal
There’s a lot more to Portuguese food than piri piri chicken and custard tarts. In this article I’ve rounded up two dozen or so traditional Portuguese dishes you can easily order throughout the country. When it comes to eating in Portugal, I’m always amazed by the wide variety of dishes, seasonal specials and regional plates, […]
The best specialty coffee and cafes in Porto
Portugal has no shortage of coffee. It’s there on every corner, every meal, possibly even every hour of the day (and night) for some people. But as much as I’m here for bica culture, there’s a reason the espresso nickname translates to “drink this with sugar”. And for an Australian about 18,000km from home with […]
Tile of the day: Nazare’s Ermida da Memória
A tiny chapel perched on the edge of a cliff filled with tiles? This is Ermida da Memória, a little capela in the coastal city of Nazare that is loaded with religious legend.