Porto is a beautiful, hilly city on the banks of the Douro River in the north of Portugal. Its historic old town is recognised as a World Heritage Site, and – as you can probably tell from the name – Porto is the city that gave the world port wine (and the country its name). … Read more
I often get asked by tourists and expats whether tipping in Portugal is normal or even necessary. Many Brits and Americans are used to a tipping culture. Although tipping in Portugal is not as highly ingrained in Portuguese culture as it is in the USA, there are some situations such as outstanding restaurant service where … Read more
Yesterday I went on a Douro Valley wine tour from Porto. It’s something that I didn’t have time to do last time I was in Porto. I did visit one or two of the Port houses in Porto (on the other side of the river in Gaia), and I wanted to see and learn about … Read more
Portugal stands out amongst European countries for its vast array of spectacular hiking opportunities. Considering the size of Portugal compared to neighbouring France and Spain, out-and-about nature lovers are spoilt for choice here. Today’s article highlights the best hikes in Portugal on both the mainland and the islands. The Best Southern Portugal Hikes Via Algarviana … Read more
Seville which is located in Spain, and Faro which is located in Portugal are two very scenic towns which are fairly close to each other and easy to travel between. In fact, there are only 125 miles separating them, and this distance can be traveled easily and quickly. You can expect warm and sunny climates … Read more
Last week I had a few extra days in Lisbon after giving up my (rather noisy!) Bairro Alto apartment. Before heading off to Coimbra and Porto I spend 5 nights at Rostelbem guest house Lisbon. If you are looking for something cheap and reasonably quiet in Lisbon then I would recommend that you book Rostelbem. … Read more
It’s very easy to get from Coimbra to Porto on public transport. There are three main ways that you can get from Coimbra to Porto – train, bus or private taxi. I took the train from Coimbra To Porto and it was really easy. Let me talk you through all the options and how to … Read more
The island of Madeira is located off the coast of Portugal in the Atlantic ocean. it’s famous for the beautiful scenery and fantastic hiking. Here are some of the best things to do in Madeira… Book a day trip to the Ilha Deserta. Take a catamaran sail to the other side of Madeira and go … Read more
Once a small market town with little tourist interest, Almancil is now the centre of two of the most exclusive tourist developments in the Algarve. Almancil is a bust, but a lively city full of restaurants, cafes and bars. Getting to Almancil Almancil is 8 miles northwest of Faro International Airport, which is a 15-minute … Read more
It’s very easy to get from Lisbon to Coimbra by train. I would advice booking in advance using the CP PT app. Book online at cp.pt or via the app from Lisbon Oriente to Coimbra B as this is the fastest and most direct train. It will cost around €15-30 depending on the time and … Read more
