Portugal Travel Tips
Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals, it also remains refreshingly affordable.
Savoring life slowly is a Portuguese passion, and much of the best is humble - traditional folk festivals; simple, honest food drowning in olive oil; music that pulls at the heart strings, recalling past love and glories; and markets overflowing with fish, fruit and flowers.
Things to Do in Porto Moniz, Madeira
Written by Sasha, February 2013
Rugged Porto Moniz is tucked away in the north-western corner of Portugal’s holiday island of Madeira, reached from Funchal, the island’s capital, by scenic rail trip of 30 miles (48 km). It is ...
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Top 5 Activities for Families in Lisbon
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, February 2012
Here are some great things to do as a family visiting Lisbon !
1. Marionette Museum (Museu das Marionetas, Rua da Espercanca, 146, Lapa). In a lovely 18th century former convent, this collection ...
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Top 5 Reasons to Visit Evora
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, November 2011
Evora may be one of Portugal‘s best kept secrets, but just in case you needed extra convincing, here are my top 5 reasons to visit Evora.
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Town of Setubal
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, October 2012
Once the main visitors to the coastal town of Setubal, sardines
contributed to the town’s thriving fishing industry. Now there are
dolphins living in the Sado River estuary and the lovely beaches ...
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Traditions to Try in Portugal.
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, February 2012
Delicious Pastries
If you do nothing else in Lisbon , you must go to the Belem district and eat a Pasteis de Belem. Known around the world as Portuguese tarts, you have not tasted one until ...
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5 Reasons to Go to Evora
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, May 2012
Évora is a beautiful city in Portugal
with archeological findings dating back to 4,000 BC. With a
well-preserved UNESCO-listed town center, some beautiful churches and
plenty of ...
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Baixa: Lisbon's Lower Town
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, September 2012
The main shopping district of Lisbon is Baixa , the downtown area which is literally down, being the flat part of the city between the hills on either side.
Baixa runs from the river at ...
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Belem Tower
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, October 2011
Back in the day, Portugal was quite the maritime force in the world, and Lisbon was the center of the beginnings of globalization.
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Christmas in Lisbon
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, December 2011
This is a particularly family-focused time in Portugal with a big meal on Christmas Eve, gifts exchanging, then on to Midnight Mass. On Christmas Eve the generations of the family gather together in ...
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Exploring the Coast of Funchal
Written by Sasha, March 2013
Funchal is the capital city of sunny, lush Madeira, Portugal’s craggy outpost in the Atlantic, and rises from the sea in a half-moon of red roofs that cling to the hillsides around the bay. The ...
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Exploring the Ribeira
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, July 2012
Ribeira, meaning river, is the area alongside the Tagus (Tejo) River in Lisbon .
Being an important port city for centuries, the riverside is where so much of Lisbon life developed and still ...
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Family Fun at Lisbon Zoo
Written by Sasha, March 2013
Allow at least four hours to explore Lisbon Zoo, opened in 1883 as the first in Portugal. Largely revamped since 1990, it is accessible on public transport to Sete Rios. It is one of the more ...
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Getting Around Lisbon
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, August 2011
One of my favourite things about Lisbon
is the transport. It has everything. A modern metro decorated with
contemporary art, iconic yellow trams, funiculars for those hills, even
an elevator ...
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Jeronimos Monastery
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, June 2011
Churches are designed to strike awe into the hearts and minds of those who enter them, to bring them to a belief in God, of whatever conviction. I’ve always known this but mostly I’ve ended up in ...
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Lisbon's Elevator Nightclub
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, January 2012
Located in one of the best and most unusual pieces of public transportation anywhere in the world, the Lift Club is a small, hidden nightclub with seriously good views over Lisbon’s center. In the ...
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