Where to shop Portuguese ceramics by weight (cerâmica ao kilo) & pottery outlets
Portugal makes tonnes of ceramics, from small-scale artisanal pieces thrown on a wheel through to industrial pottery output at a large scale. At factory scale that includes making ceramics for big companies abroad, so there are local ceramic stores and pottery factory outlets where you can scoop up seconds, overproductions, and certified bargains. The newest […]
Sunday in Madeira at the Santo da Serra Farmers Market
This Sunday farmers market might be the best thing I’ve done on Madeira Island. Okay, the landscapes are incredible and the hikes of Madeira are truly breathtaking, but if you’re a regular reader then you know I love food and local experiences – and this one ticks both boxes to the extreme. The Sunday Mercado […]
Meet Portugal’s last cowbell makers: Chocalhos Pardalinho
Saving the voice of the fields The Alentejo is a land of slow living, where the beautiful landscape unfolds like a painting. The soundtrack to the ancient olive groves and frozen centennial cork trees is the gentle ding, ding, ding of cowbells. It’s not uncommon to cross paths with a shepherd, letting his flock roam free […]
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 seven winters in Portugal now I can attest that it’s often sunny with blue skies in January! […]
Local’s guide to Lisbon’s best restaurants: 45 great places to eat (2026)
A perfectly salted fish cooked over coals. A juicy tomato plucked in the peak of summer. The crunch of a pastel de nata, still warm from the oven. Portuguese food is a lesson in perfectly executed simplicity.
18 best places to visit in the Alentejo: prettiest villages, towns and cities
The Alentejo region is easily one of my favourite parts of Portugal to explore. There’s something instantly relaxing about being out in the countryside, passing fields where sheep and black pigs graze beneath cork tree forests and ancient olive groves. With each vineyard and whitewashed village that flashes by the car or train window, time […]
Two days in Porto: Perfect first-time itinerary
Porto is the ultimate weekend city. In two days you see and taste it all – from the tile-covered churches to port wine tasting to the city’s famous hearty sandwiches. The architecture and tiles are different to Lisbon, the city is cooler (in temperature) but the people are perhaps a little warmer. There’s not much […]
8 best poncha bars on Madeira Island
It’s an impossible task to write a list of all the poncha bars on Madeira. Any bar worth its liquor license will almost certainly be serving this strong and fruity local punch. Over multiple trips to this mountainous Portuguese island off the coast of Africa, I’ve enjoyed a few (too many) Madeiran ponchas – a […]
28 best medieval & historic events in Portugal in 2026
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 […]
29 traditional Madeira dishes and food to try: What to eat and drink
The beauty of travelling around Portugal is eating through the huge variety of regional dishes, local sweets and unusual. From the north to the south, and out to the remote islands there are so many unique things to try. I find Madeira has a huge range of traditional dishes, local produce, and quirky drinks that […]
The 4 best hikes (that I’ve done) on Madeira Island
From lush, tropical scenery to ancient Laurisilva forests to arid plains and volcanic stone beaches, the scenery in Madeira is anything but dull – and dozens (in fact, hundreds) of incredible trails make it a top hiking destination in Europe. I really feel one of the best ways to experience the natural landscapes, flora and […]