Christmas is often a time of feasting and indulgence, and Portugal is no different. Towards the end of November, Portugal’s towns and cities take a turn towards the holidays. Christmas lights are lit in the citues, and the markets, and bakeries will bring much of their traditional Christmas food out! There are regional, and local favourites to be found, as well as the iconic bacalhau. Is there an event in Portugal that doesn’t involve bacalhau? For any visitors that will be here during the Christmas holidays, let’s explore traditional Portuguese Christmas food and what will be found on the tab ..read more

The Algarve’s capital Faro is a more subdued affair than many of the typical resort towns of the Algarve. Despite Faro’s title as the capital of the Algarve, and its biggest city, Faro has kept a non-hurried essence. Within Faro you’ll find a charming old town, cobbled streets, local museums, and unique cultural attractions. It’s great to explore, and as a more local city has kept a wide variety of traditional restaurants and its cultural heritage alive. What to Eat and Drink in Faro In Faro, you’ll find casual bars serving cheap and cheerful bifanas, to high end restaurants serving exceptiona ..read more

Braga is a historical city located in the Northern Region of Portugal. Braga has become known for its beautiful Baroque architecture, and its supremely impressive Bom Jesus do Monte on a dramatic hilltop overlooking the city. Braga is Portugal’s third largest city with a population of 190,000, however when exploring the small streets, and historical attractions it rarely feels this big. However, you’ll find a vibrant array of bars and restaurants, and all the facilities a larger city provides! It’s also home to one of the largest universities in Portugal, the University of Minho with a student ..read more

Nearly everyone has heard of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, a list of man-made wonders that was originally compiled in 100 BC. This list featured seven monuments across the known world of the time – the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. In 2007, Portugal would set about deciding its own version of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. The Seven Wonders of Portugal In 2007, the Portuguese public voted on what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Originally, a staggering 793 monuments were included, but this was then narrowed down to 21 finalists in four different categories ..read more

Viana do Castelo is a charming waterfront city in the North of Portugal. It’s a delightful place and a perfect example of a classic Northern Portuguese city, rich in history and culture, surrounded by incredible scenery, while proudly displaying its Portuguese heart. You’ll find unique attractions, and some of the best food Portugal has to offer, all in an underrated destination devoid of mass tourism! A Brief History of Viana do Castelo The area around Viana do Castelo has been inhabited since at least the Mesolithic era. Although its first significant settlement appears in the iron age. Cit ..read more

Barcelos is a small city located in the Braga district of Northern Portugal, it’s famous for the Rooster of Barcelos (O Galo de Barcelos) a national symbol of Portugal which takes the town’s name. It’s a vibrant place where history, legends, and religion all blend into a romantic riverside city. Most of the town is on the north side of the River Cávado. Arriving from the south, you’ll cross the Ponte Medieval and be faced with the historic walls of Castelo de Barcelos, which really sets the scene to come! Within the city you’ll find lively squares buzzing with local life, historic monuments, f ..read more

The stunning coastline of Lagos is world famous for its azure blue waters, golden sands, and its ochre cliffs. It’s safe to say that these beaches and cliffs have attracted visitors to the region for decades and these viewpoints are a large part of that! Perhaps nowhere is this truer than Ponte da Piedade, a rocky headland around 3km south of Lagos. It’s a southern spur of the coastline that hides an incredible array of rock formations, stacks, arches caves, and natural pools. It’s a place of simply amazing scenery where you can take in the views, hike, swim in natural rock pools, take boat tr ..read more

Those who aren’t familiar with Portuguese cuisine often find it surprising how many rice dishes there are within the country’s gastronomy. In Portugal, rice often abandons the position of a side dish to become the star of the it, joining a variety of ingredients, seafood, cured meats, and even the classic egg yolks and sugar of the Portuguese pastelaria. Many of these dishes use a homegrown variety called Arroz Carolino whose high starch content makes it perfect for creamier dishes or how the Portuguese would casually say, arroz malandrinho.In fact, rice is that much of a staple in Portugal, t ..read more

The coastline of Algar Seco is an area of stunning cliffs, incredible rock formations, caves, blowholes, and natural pools located near Carvoeiro in the Algarve. It’s a place of amazing scenery where you can hike, swim in natural rock pools, take boat trips along the coast, or even just simply relax with an ice-cold drink! Algar Seco is a unique place that offers something for nearly every tourist coming to the Algarve! Keep reading on to find out everything you need to know to visit one of the Algarve’s natural wonders – Algar Seco! What is the Algar Seco? Algar Seco refers to the spectacular ..read more

The Carvoeiro boardwalk is a 570m wooden boardwalk along the top of cliffs near the beach town of Carvoeiro. The boardwalk offers stunning views of the coastline of the central Algarve. It’s an incredible and easily accessible way of exploring the cliff tops, and it’s suitable for all ages. It’s a great feature for anyone exploring nearby, and the stepping off point for the iconic Algar Seco area. Where is the Carvoeiro Boardwalk? The Carvoeiro Boardwalk is located around 500m from the town itself, it’s easily walkable from the town. But there’s plenty of roadside parking and a small car park ..read more