It is possible that a visit to Ponta da Piedade is already on your list, but this is such an unmissable experience we did not want you to overlook it. If you are staying at the Memmo Baleeira don’t miss this tour, it’s a short drive away. Go early, park your car and climb down the steps to come to one of the most spectacular… Read more »
Category: Things to Do
The Praia do Carvalho is a hidden gem in the small town of Carvoeiro, one of our favorite beaches in the region. If you are staying at Tivoli Carvoeiro don’t miss spending a day on this beach, it is just a six minute drive away. Located in the lower part of a small cliff, to reach it you must go down some steps and through… Read more »
Spend a few hours in the small village of Alvor, a ten minute drive from Portimão. In the summertime and windier seasons you’ll find many sports enthusiasts practicing kite and wind surfing. If you enjoy water sports, take this opportunity to brave the sea and wind at Alvor! But even if that is not quite your thing, you’ll likely still enjoy seeing the sea covered… Read more »
What a fantastic day! We started in the Vilamoura region, a more conventional beach for Algarve standards, yet very beautiful. Ahead of you an infinite deep blue sea and behind you the red cliffs and rocky towers. You’ll need to park on the upper region of the cliff and climb down to the beach. There is a small beach hut selling beverages, sandwiches and ice… Read more »
The most well-known beach in Portimão is Praia da Rocha, where some of our suggested hotels are located, like the Hotel da Rocha and the Bela Vista. It is long, full of bars, restaurants, playgrounds for children and water sports equipment. Although we like the views to this beach, as some of our hotels and many of the restaurants we tried were in the area,… Read more »
If you are in Faro, the Algarve’s largest city, this boat trip is really lovely. Please be mindful that Faro is far from the most popular sights which come to mind when you think of the Algarve, the rocks and cliffs and magnificent views. In Faro one can mix up the sea and the river and the infrastructure is very simple with no starred restaurants… Read more »
If you are staying in the region of Faro (our suggestion is the Hotel Faro), a drive to Santa Luzia, known as the “Octopus city” makes for a nice half day trip. This tiny fishermen’s village has been slowly growing. Today it has a few summer homes and a main riverside street full of restaurants. Make your choice and savor some octopus, and later take… Read more »
A day in Dürnstein is a lovely day trip when staying in Vienna. This small town looks like something out of a story book fairy tale. Right by the Danube, it offers beautiful views of the river and Wachau valley, a UNESCO heritage site. It is a perfect day trip, located one hour away from Vienna, and it can be reached by train, car or… Read more »
Certainly, a trip to Vienna will include a visit to Hofburg Palace, but many are not aware that the palace is home to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Watching a horse show will make for a unique experience, distinct from the many visits to palaces and museums. These beautiful traditional performances take place in an 18th Century Baroque building and date back to the… Read more »
An old textile company and manufacturing complex that was shut down many years ago and that has been transformed in one of the coolest areas in town. That’s LX Factory, an assemblage of galleries, design shops and venues to eat and drink. Actually, it also holds offices and studios of creative professionals and start-ups, which you can see in the different floors of the old… Read more »
We highly recommend you extend your Lisbon stay by one or two days so that you can make day trips to sights a little further away, but very much worthy of a visit. The picturesque medieval town of Óbidos, only eighty kilometers from Lisbon, is a fortified city that hides a small treasure behind its walls. It is such a jewel that many queens demanded… Read more »
Only thirty minutes away by car, these two small cities are a must-see. They are charming, traditional, very typical of this part of northern Portugal and historically significant. Guimarães is considered the cradle of the nation, since it is Afonso Henriques’ birth place, the first king of the country. Visit the medieval castle and get lost amidst the many cobbled streets and squares. Braga, one… Read more »
The headquarters of the Commercial Association of Porto houses what used to be called Stock Exchange Palace. In this site you will find one of the most beautiful rooms in the whole country, the Arabian Room. The neoclassical building itself is worth a visit, as are the interiors, with wooden paneled rooms, sculpted ceilings, interesting historical facts, relics and coats of arms. Visits last forty… Read more »
The Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful regions we have ever visited, particularly if you appreciate wine. We recommend staying at least two nights, although some travelers prefer to spend the day only. If you opt for a day trip, take a car and leave early in the morning to make the most of your journey. Take the fast route until Amarante and… Read more »
Portuguese azulejo tiles are part of the country’s history and travelers usually enjoy coming across the quintessential blue and white, and occasionally gold, façades and walls. The tiles are a heritage of the Moors occupation of the peninsula, the word azulejo meaning “small polished stones” in Arabic, and it is in Portugal that it flourished the most. They are usually in geometric shapes or in… Read more »
Brussels might surprise you with the quality of its Fine Arts Museum, a large building composed of different museums. The highlights are the comprehensive collection of Flemish Art from the 15th to the 18th Centuries at the Oldmasters Museum and the Rubens Room, with many paintings by the renowned painter. Nearby, do not miss the small Magritte Museum, focused on the Belgian artist recognizable by… Read more »
Murano is a nearby small island where the famous and colorful glasses of the same name are produced. It is in Venice’s lagoon, not far at all and easily accessible by taking any of the many boats around the canal near the Doge Palace. Once there, head to Rio dei Vetrai, where you will find many houses making and selling the pretty glasses, then visit… Read more »
The Accademia, an old time school of arts and one of the first in the world to develop art restoration, has turned into a museum of pre-19th Century Venetian art. A visit to this museum is a perfect way to better understand the history of Venice, with its many paintings and other forms of art. It holds some important masterpieces by Carpaccio and Tintoretto, both… Read more »
This wonderful historical building, one of the most famous in Venice, has become a new hotspot for high-end shopping, quite a different experience from the many stalls and souvenir shops in neighboring Rialto Bridge. The interiors are spectacular and a signature of famous Koolhaas, who perfectly mixed the renaissance essence of the building with a magnificent contemporary style. Labels like Burberry, Fendi and Gucci can… Read more »
We are not merely suggesting that you should visit St Mark’s Square, obviously. Even if you have been to Venice before, the Piazza is so fabulous that visiting every time you are in town is essential. However, during the day Venice can feel invaded by day-trippers, who arrive by train or cruise ships to spend a few hours in the Piazza, go for a gondola… Read more »
