In the Eastern Algarve, Olhão da Restauração is a coastal town on the Ria Formasa lagoon. Despite its phenomenal setting Olhão has only recently begun to attract tourists. The ocean and shellfish beds in the lagoon have always been the main source of income, and the fish market in the town is a sight for …
This town in the east of the Alentejo was the first line of defence between two warring nations, and it certainly shows. Evora has the largest set of bulwarked fortifications in the world. These are so large and have so many layers of history that you’ll need a guide just to make sense of all …
The town of Valongo is in the hills 10 kilometres from the centre of Porto. You can take in every inch of Norte’s capital and then return to a quiet residential community, near forested mountains and vineyards, and with a handful of its own attractions to keep you diverted. In June one of Portugal’s most …
In the north of Alentejo, a short march from the Spanish border, Portalegre is an upland town on the cusp of the Serra de São Mamede mountains.This place has a long-standing textile tradition, and in the 1940s began weaving tapestries to the highest European standards. Earlier, in the 1920s the eminent Portuguese writer José Régio …
Sumba Island lies to the east of Bali but strangely enough most visitors don’t take the time to visit. Those who do make the trip here are usually surfers, as Sumba has a surprising surf scene that many people don’t even realize exists. Coupled with its pounding waves, Sumba also serves up some gorgeous azure …
This coastal city at the mouth of the River Ave is a beach destination with a riveting history. From the Age of Discovery until the 20th century, Vila do Conde was a shipbuilding town, assembling vessels that spread Portuguese influence to Asia, Africa and South America. A replica of one these craft is moored on …
Volcanoes and the Azores go hand-in hand: Nearly every volcano to be found on Portuguese soil is set on these islands. There are spectacular clues to their power at a peninsula on Faial that was formed in the 1950s, or in the geothermal activity around the town of Furnas on São Miguel where local chefs …
This mountain town is only a few kilometres from the highest point in mainland Portugal. People come in winter for one of Portugal’s only ski resorts, and in summer to marvel at the granite peaks, lakes and hike in forest. In Covilhã it’s fun to see how the town has adapted to its impossible terrain …
Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali and is a completely different atmosphere to brash and busy areas like Kuta or Seminyak. This part of the island has long been known as its cultural capital and you will find colorful art galleries, engaging museums, and dainty temples all over the area. There is also …
Northwestern Ontario’s largest city, Thunder Bay sits along Lake Superior, giving it its nickname the ‘Lakehead’. The city is the bridge between the Prairies of Canada and the Atlantic Ocean, and the gateway to the region. Thunder Bay is arguably the most visited city in all of Northern Ontario, as it has so much to …