Guides & Articles

Guide

Coimbra's Street Art: The Murals Reshaping the Alta

Coimbra's Alta district has gained a new visual dimension in recent years: large-format murals claiming blind gables and forgotten alleys between the Sé Velha and the University. A free two-to-three-hour walk, best in late afternoon, that serves as an entry point to one of Portugal's most interesting, and most vertical, neighborhoods.

21 Mar 2026 · Coimbra

Guide

Mértola on Foot: Where Every Hill Tells a Story

Mértola compresses centuries of Islamic, Roman, and medieval history into a town you can walk in a day, but that deserves two. From the steep lanes by the castle to the Guadiana riverbank, a guide to exploring the Alentejo's museum town at the right pace.

21 Mar 2026 · Mértola

Guide

Mértola's River Beaches: Swim the Guadiana Crowd-Free

Mértola's river beaches along the Guadiana stay uncrowded even in August. The trick is arriving before 10am, when the river is yours alone, the castle looming above, and not a beach towel in sight.

21 Mar 2026 · Mértola

Guide

Mértola's Best Cafés: Coffee Above the Guadiana

Mértola has maybe four good cafés, and that's all it needs. Carob cake, Serpa cheese with honey, and a bica overlooking the Guadiana. Interior Alentejo at the right speed.

21 Mar 2026 · Mértola

Guide

Mértola's Crafts: What's Worth Bringing Home

In Mértola, handwoven blankets cost between €80 and €200, and they're worth every cent. In an Alentejo full of generic souvenirs, this museum-village above the Guadiana still produces craft with a thousand years of Islamic influence. Here's what's actually worth bringing home.

21 Mar 2026 · Mértola

Guide

Day Trips From Mértola Worth the Detour

Fifteen minutes from Mértola, an abandoned mine looks like another planet. Forty minutes away, Serpa guards the Alentejo's best cheese. An hour south, you can zipline from Portugal to Spain. Mértola isn't just a destination, it's a launchpad for full days of exploration.

21 Mar 2026 · Mértola

Guide

Almada's Beaches: Why Skip the Algarve This Spring

While everyone plans their Algarve pilgrimage, Almada has kilometres of nearly empty coastline from March to June. From Costa da Caparica to the coves of Arrábida, this is the guide for beach days without crowds, and good bars at sunset.

21 Mar 2026 · Almada

Guide

Easter Sweets in Mafra: A Tradition Worth Tasting

At Easter, the municipality of Mafra becomes an artisan pastry operation. From overnight-leavened folares to sugar-coated almonds presented with bureaucratic solemnity, this guide takes you from Ericeira's bakeries to the confectioneries of central Mafra.

21 Mar 2026 · Mafra

Guide

Portalegre Museums: Which Are Worth Your Time

The Guy Fino Tapestry Museum alone justifies the drive to Portalegre, but the city has more to offer, and one museum you can skip without guilt. An honest guide to which collections are worth your time in the Upper Alentejo.

21 Mar 2026 · Portalegre

Guide

Portalegre Without the Filter: A Real Weekend

Portalegre doesn't appear on anyone's top ten, and that's exactly the point. The capital of Upper Alentejo has a tapestry museum unlike anything in the world, unfussy Alentejo cooking, and the Serra de São Mamede right next door. A weekend for two for under €250.

21 Mar 2026 · Portalegre

Guide

Portalegre's Real Food: Where Locals Actually Eat

In Portalegre, the daily set menu costs under €12 and includes black pork migas made by people who still raise their own animals. In an Alentejo without too many tourists, the table is honest, and that makes all the difference.

21 Mar 2026 · Portalegre

Guide

Portalegre on Foot: Neighborhoods Worth the Walk

Portalegre has no beach, no airport, and the nearest train stops in Elvas. But it has medieval quarters with traces of the old Jewish community, a tapestry museum that rivals any Lisbon gallery, and old-town tascas where lunch with wine stays under €15.

21 Mar 2026 · Portalegre