Best Douro Valley wine tours from Porto
If you’re a fan of wine, spectacular landscapes, and fresh country air, then a Douro Valley winery tour is the best day trip from Porto. This beautiful region west of Porto is recognised as the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Its rich winemaking history dates back to 1756 when the Prime Minister Marquis of Pombal […]
Made in Portugal: 20 Portuguese T-Shirt Brands
There’s no better basic than the humble T-shirt. Whenever I take a vacation, I often pack fancy linen shirts and colourful dresses, but more often than not I just wish I’d packed a few more classic T-shirts. Portugal is well known for its production of jersey fabrics. After buying my first Portugal-made T-shirt four years […]
Local’s guide to the LX Factory, Lisbon’s creative micro neighbourhood
I’ve been living within a five-minute walk of the LX Factory in Alcântara – one of Lisbon’s best things to do – for the past five years, so I know the industrial warehouses and creative precinct of this micro-neighbourhood very well. That’s why I’ve written this guide, sharing the best things to do along with where […]
How to spend 48 hours in Lisbon: Two-day itinerary
In Lisbon you have to go with the flow, which is why this guide gives you the freedom to choose-your-own-adventure and go with the rhythm of the city.
20 things to do in Évora, the Alentejo capital
History doesn’t have to be something you experience only in textbooks. In Évora you can touch, taste, and experience the marks left by ancient civilisations. From the remains of a Roman temple to the grandeur of its medieval cathedral, the capital of Portugal’s relaxed Alentejo region is a living, breathing museum of the country’s storied […]
Where to eat in Évora: best restaurants, cafés & sweets
If I had to pick a favourite regional Portuguese cuisine I’d choose the Alentejo. This expansive land of cork trees, olive groves, and vineyards has produced some of my all-time favourite Portuguese dishes. At the heart of it all lies Évora, the Alentejo capital, a small whitewashed city finished with yellow trim where you’ll find […]
Where to shop in Évora: artisans & boutiques
Whenever I visit a destination I always want to explore what is made there. In the Alentejo that means a rich heritage of terracotta pottery, wool capotes (coats), cork products, folk-art painted furniture, rugs, wine and more. Évora, the Alentejo capital, is a small and charming city with a historic core that is a joy […]
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 […]
31 best things to do in Sintra
Sintra is Lisbon’s best day trip, for sure. Each year millions of visitors flock to the UNESCO World Heritage Sintra village to explore enchanting 19th-century palaces and eat a travesseiro. But there’s much more to do here than tick off the top sights and twirl around a palace (though there are plenty of opportunities to […]
Lisbon’s best day trip: Sintra 1 or 2-day itinerary
I always say Sintra is Lisbon’s best day trip and encourage anyone visiting me here in the Portuguese capital to take at least a day to explore. Fairytale palaces, dense mystical forest, charming villages, oversized mossy boulders and a wild, rugged coastline define the historic Sintra village and wider region, and while there’s so much […]
15 best things to do in Olhão, an Algarve gem
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 […]
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 […]