One of the most remarkable cities in the European continent, Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, has come a long way from being an unexplored land to a thriving tourist place. Regarded as one of the top 10 cities in the world by none other than the Lonely Planet, the city attracts a varied variety …
Portugal’s capital has seen a sudden rise in popularity over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. Its cheerful, colourful colonial architecture, thriving nightlife and stunning, accessible nearby coastline mean its giving the old European favourites a run for their money. There’s plenty of diversion to be had in the city centre, …
Not far from the coast, this Alentejo town is marshalled by the walls of its medieval castle. The castle was first built by the Moors and is one of a few historical sites to mark on your map. The other big-hitter is the Roman settlement of Miróbriga, which has the remains of Portugal’s only Roman …
If you have a taste for port wine Peso da Régua in the UNESCO -listed Douro Valley is a somewhere you’ll love. The town is on the river in that strange but beautiful amphitheatre of high shale slopes with wine terraces cut from the rock. Until the last century Peso da Régua was where barrels …
On a plateau in the Norte region, Paços de Ferreira is a small municipality that buzzes with light industry. The big employer since the 1800s has been the furniture business, and the town hosts Ikea’s Portuguese manufacturing HQ. The furniture museum in the old town hall goes into more depth about Paços de Ferreira’s flair …
The eastern nook of Alentejo, minutes from the Spanish border, was changed forever at the start of the 2000s. At that time the Alqueva Dam impounded the Guadiana River, flooding the valley and forming an immense body of water. Never mind that this lake is man-made; the reservoir and its banks are absolutely stunning and …
The captivating town of Óbidos became home to Portugal’s queens after Afonso II gifted it to his wife Urraca of León in the 1200s. Many of the buildings and monuments in were founded or funded by a queen. On a narrow ridge, the town’s weaving, carless streets are contained by the dominant walls of a …
Leaving Lisbon’s western suburbs and climbing into Sintra feels like crossing over into another world. This town is in a green mountainscape of palaces, country estates, parks and a medieval castle. In the centre, the Palace of Sintra was a residence for the Portuguese royalty, and it’s just one of many exquisite properties to win …
When well-heeled Lisboans need a change of airs in summer they go west to Cascais on the upper lip of the Tagus Estuary. At this beach getaway you can bathe in transparent waters at peaceful coves. Or you can brave the charging Atlantic waves of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park on a surfboard. Portugal’s royal family …
Hiding in Beira Litoral between the cities of Aveiro and Coimbra is the town of Cantanhede. Since prehistory there have been quarries in Cantanhede, exploiting rich seams of high-quality limestone. There’s a museum all about this stone in the centre of town, in one of a couple of sophisticated palaces from the 16th century. In …