Portugal travel advice
Food and friendliness tips
“What stands out is what my clients say about how very friendly the Portuguese are. I had a pilot stay and he had visited about every country on the planet for comparison! About the food, I remember from 1985 when I had just arrived in Portugal, how simple things like tomatoes tasted - totally different from what I was used to in Holland. And still, after so many years, simple 'chicken piri piri' can be a treat from heaven. Plus grilled fish like dourada, cataplana (Portuguese paella) or arroz de marisco (shellfish risotto)."
Our Portugal Vacations
Porto to Lisbon cycling vacation, self guided
Family Cycling Vacations in Portugal | Self-Guided
Portugal cycling vacations, self guided
Tranquility cycling vacations
Azores tour, island explorer
Dolphins, whales and explore fiery volcanic islands!
Yoga vacation in Portugal
A stunning Yoga retreat in the Portuguese mountains.
Algarve vacation accommodation
Enchanting agrotourism on 6 ha rural estate close to beach
Madeira walking vacation
Small group walking tour of madeira
Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
Eco-friendly B&B, in Sintra Natural Park near lovely beaches
Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
A leisurely cycling vacation in the Algarve
Sintra Natural Park retreats & walks in Portugal
Walking, yoga, R&R near beaches, forests, historic sites
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
Yoga & relaxation vacation in Portugal
Yoga, massage and mud baths in the Portuguese mountains.
Short cycling break in the Algarve
Self guided mini cycling break in Eastern Algarve
Madrid to Marrakech via Portugal
Experience first-hand Spanish, Portuguese & Moroccan lifestyles
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
Atlantic Coast biking vacation in Portugal
Snowshoe in the heart of Italy
Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
Live a dream and swim with wild dolphins
Family swimming with dolphins in the Azores
A family focused adventure and experience of a lifetime.
Small group tour in Portugal
Discover Portugal's idyllic Alentejo Coast
Algarve cycling vacation in Portugal
Western Algarve self guided biking vacation
Alentejo & Algarve self guided biking vacation, Portugal
touring bicycle vacations sw portugal - alentejo and algarve.
Coastal hiking vacation in Portugal
The very best walks from the 125km selection of coastal trails
Yoga retreat in Portugal with Tashi Dawa
A week of nourishing yoga in the forests of Portugal.
Spain and Portugal vacation, historic cities & villages
Visit cosmopolitan cities, quaint villages & rolling hills
Azores whale vacation, Blue Whale bonanza
Come see Blue Whales in the Azores!
Portugal mountain bike tour
Self guided biking tour in Portuguese Historical Villages
Volunteer at a wolf sanctuary in Portugal
Volunteer with wolves at a sanctuary near Lisbon
Alentejo Coast family activity vacation, Portugal
Family multi-activity week on the Alentejo coast, Portugal
Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Visit the Azores at the best time to see Blue Whales
Yoga & surfing vacation in the Algarve, Portugal
Nourish yourself with yoga, surf & deliciously healthy food
Algarve self guided cycling tour
Dramatic coastline to picturesque countryside in the Algarve
Find freewheeling freedom
Eat like a local
Inge Keizer runs our supplier Quinta Alfarrobeira in the south of Portugal, and has some great restaurant tips to help visitors eat like a local in the Algarve:“There are great restaurants in the area, especially to eat fish. One of the best is Casa Chico Ze in the village of Odiaxere – THE place to eat bacalhão (salt cod). In the next village, Mexilhoeira Grande, the Vila Lisa is often voted one of the Algarve's top 10 restaurants. If you´re a meat-eater there are several places in the countryside where you can eat a good wild boar or goat from the oven. Try O Sitio Do Rio in Carrapateira on the west coast - they use free range meat and organic vegetables.”
Wildlife tips
Catherine Crone from supplier Headwater talks about the brilliant birding on a specialist twitching break at the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada in the Algarve:“Ornithology here is extraordinarily rich due to the diverse habitats. Over 120 species live round the quinta year round – warblers, stonechats, shrike, bee-eaters, kingfishers, woodpeckers, three species of eagle (short-toed, booted and Bonelli's). The area also has one of Europe’s highest densities of nightingales - during spring you’re rarely out of earshot! There are four other birdwatching areas within an hour and a half's car journey. The Sado Estuary is a haven for marshland birds, while south west is the migratory route along Portugal's rocky coast. The Rio Formosa salt pans have a wealth of wading birds including Purple galinules. The Alentejo plains are truly stunning - specialities include bustard, sandgrouse, stone curlew, Lesser kestrel and Montagu's harrier.”
Our top Portugal Vacation
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
This independent vacation is available any day of the year except August and the last two weeks of July.
Health & safety in Portugal
HEALTH
SAFETY
Portugal tips from our travelers
We have selected some of the most useful Portugal travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.


“Pack a torch, a water bottle, good shoes for getting around, don't expect accommodation to be luxury, and bring a hat in the summer! Carry an open mind.”- Joanna Benn
“Some rural accommodations take only cash - no card payments. So make sure you carry enough if you choose to dine there (highly recommended by the way!).” - Adriana Moore
“The weather can turn in the mountains so make sure you take waterproofs so you can still go out and enjoy the countryside.”- Amanda Law


“Not enough mobile reception to make phone calls (a good thing for me) - text messages possible though. Phone calls were possible to make when at the surrounding towns.”- Emma Scott-Boon
“If you are susceptible to being bitten, don't forget to bring your anti-midge cream and use the mosquito nets at night!”- Christina Mitchell
“Shops/restaurants may be closed between lunch and 7pm, and on Sundays it may be hard to find anywhere to stop and eat. Take snacks with you if you have children, and lots of water.”- Kylie Horsfall