Ultimate Portugal events guide: Best festivals & cultural events for 2026
Portugal knows how to throw a brilliant party, and in 2026 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 […]
Pastel de nata cooking class: Best workshops in Lisbon & Porto
If you’ve become obsessed with Portugal’s pastéis de natas (Portuguese custard tarts) then you have two options: If you’re interested in learning the secrets behind this irresistible Portuguese pastry (and potentially learn to bake other traditional desserts), read on to find the many hands-on pastéis de nata classes found across Lisbon and Porto. No time […]
My favourite tascas in Lisbon: Where to eat traditional Portuguese food
Every Lisboeta grew up eating at tascas, and so every local has a favourite hidden gem or secret spot in their Lisbon neighbourhood. A tasca is essentially a Portuguese bistro. They are cheap, family-run and you can enjoy a traditional Portuguese meal with wine, snacks and dessert for €10-€20 most of the time. Tascas are […]
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 […]
Photo Diary: Guide to the traditional costumes of Viana do Castelo & Minho
One of my favourite experiences in Portugal was witnessing the Mordomia Parade where more than 900 women proudly marched by wearing the ornate traditional costumes from their village. While the poster of the festival of d’Agonia, which falls every August, usually features a beautiful young woman wearing the most famous traditional red dress from Viana […]
Romaria d’Agonia: The most beautiful traditional festival in Portugal
If Mattel was to make a Portugal Barbie, the traje de Viana would be the costume. After the train passes Porto the hills turn green and we pass vineyards that line the tracks and corn fields at their peak. Stone towns and cabbage patches zip by as we chug north towards Viana do Castelo, the […]
Lisbon restaurants open Sunday and Monday
The beauty of being on vacation is that the day of the week doesn’t matter. It might be a Monday when you decide it’s prime time for a long Portuguese lunch with white wine in the sunshine. But of course, days of the week matter to the locals – especially since many restaurants and bars […]
Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Porto and the Douro Valley
If you’re a wine lover, then a cheeky road trip from Porto to the luscious Douro Valley is a must. While you can visit world’s oldest demarcated wine region on a (very long) day trip, if you have the time to spare I suggest a road trip from the city to the countryside for a […]
Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Lisbon and the Douro Valley
Anyone visiting Portugal with a love for wine will have the Douro Valley firmly on their radar. Here vines cascade down steep hills until the skinny terraces reach the curves of the Douro River. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, dating right back to 1756. Driving directly between Lisbon […]
Where to find the best vintage and second-hand shops in Lisbon (2026)
Second-hand or vintage shopping is always fun in Lisbon. There’s the thrill of not knowing what you’ll find, the highs and lows of finding something does (or doesn’t) fit, the feel-good fact that you’re stopping an item from going to landfill, and that you’re filling your wardrobe with ethical options over fast fashion. There are […]
Portugal’s pottery village: Why you should visit São Pedro do Corval
In the heart of the Alentejo, surrounded by fields of ancient olive groves, cork trees, and almonds lies Portugal’s pottery village: São Pedro do Corval. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Portuguese village has made a name for itself as the largest pottery centre in the Iberian Peninsula. Across a handful of streets you’ll find almost two dozen pottery […]
The best tile painting workshops in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve
Among Portugal’s artistic treasures, it’s the azulejos that matter most. Steeped in centuries of tradition, hand-painted tiles adorn the facades of buildings, palaces, and churches, narrating stories of Portugal’s past with vibrant colors and intricate designs. If you’re visiting Portugal – or live here – you may have an interest in a tile painting workshop […]