Sérgio Conceição, football coach, shares the feeling of portuguese villages

Portugal has vibrant and trendy cities, but it is built on small villages throughout the territory. Villages with its own traditions, food and festivities. With its own people. Like Sérgio Conceição, a football coach who is from a small village, Ribeira de Frades. He shared the feeling of being born in a village, with its sense of community and tradition. This is an adaptation of what he shared with the national newspaper Expresso, for a special Villages' Guide Edition. My village brought me the happiness of having a childhood in the outdoors, which is a true blessing. I was fortunate to grow up and play on the street, until late night hours. I remember the most important thing, then, was family life. Having grown up in a place where everyone knew each other's names, I remember the feeling of solidarity amongst all villagers.

These are some of the most beautiful villages in Portugal, which you really need to visit and get to know its people.

Sistelo

This village is located at the gates of National Park Peneda-Gerês. Set in the middle of the mountains, Men were obliged to build terraces in order to grow cereal. The beauty and authenticity of Sistelo granted it the classification of National Monument. This is the perfect scenario to explore as a family, walking through its trails and visiting ancient buildings. Don't forget to stop at Café da Ti Amélia, a traditional get-together spot, where you can eat local delicacies.

Photo from Aldeias de Portugal

Vilarinho de Negrões

This village sits between the river banks and the high peak mountain of Larouco. Its dark houses are built with granite stone and make contrast with the green landscape. Discover by foot and with time. To fill your stomach, try the local pastry, filled with veal.

Photo from Wikipedia

Pena

To get to this little and idyllic village is half the adventure! The road is steep and narrow, so much that only one car can pass at a time. However small, there is a lot to explore. From the all-round nature to the little alleys with typical houses made of stone. Don't forget to visit the local gastronomic center, Adega Típica. Here you start with cheeses, ham and chorizos and go on with the famous cozido à portuguesa or feijoada (beans' stew).

Photo from Aldeias do Xisto

Marialva

This is one of the 12 historic villages of Portugal. With remains from the roman empire domain, it has ruins of a medieval castle, chapels and granite houses. There is also an old house turned lodging and a very refreshing pool, for the hottest summer days. Visit Museu do Côa, which was built to preserve rock engravings from the paleolithic period.

Photo from Wikipedia

Almeida

This village is another one of the 12 historic villages of Portugal. It is located at the top of a mountain plateau, which made the muslims invaders call it Al-Mêda (meaning the table). Here, they built a castle, but there isn't much left of it, for it was destroyed on the french invasions. In the 18th century a new fortress was built, with an hexagon shape. It is one of the most beautiful military buildings of the country. Have lunch at Casa D'Irene, a true gastronomic sanctuary, where you can taste regional cuisine.

Photo from Aldeias Históricas de Portugal

Costa Nova do Prado

This picturesque village sits right in front of the Atlantic Ocean, with a magnificent beach. Its striped houses were old fishing warehouses, now turned into summer houses used by locals and tourists. Hop on board of a Moliceiro, a traditional boat which was used as a means of transport on the river channels.

Photo from Visit Portugal

20 reasons why to come to Portugal and eat

To eat well is part of Portugal's DNA. However, our cuisine is not easy to internationalize, thus why there aren't many portuguese restaurants throughout the world. The main reason why this happens, according to CNN Travel, is the difficulty to have the freshest local ingredients. And this is the secret to portuguese cuisine.

So if you're a foodie, always looking for the next big thing in restaurants, you should come to Portugal

Dine in our "tascas" (a very small restaurant with an informal way of serving, where you taste real food) is just one example. Here's 20 more!

Fish

Portugal has fish and seafood like nowhere else in Europe. There are inumerous ways to do it, but definitely you need to visit a market and see the fish for yourself. You will be amazed with the diversity and freshness. In many restaurants, you get to pick your fish and the chef will cook the one you chose.

Olive oil

Olive oil is used in most of portuguese cuisine, both in the kitchen and at the table. Also, it has a strong economic value in Alentejo, Beira and Trás-os-Montes regions, as many families own olive groves and take income from its produce. It is called liquid gold for a reason.

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash

National dish

Portuguese food varies from North to South. Upnorth the food is robust, with lots of meat. In the South, there is more fish, seafood and cooked bread. However, there is one national dish, which is offered in almost all traditional restaurants, on sundays - the cozido à portuguesa. It consists of beef and pork, boiled with blood sausage and chorizo, and different vegetables and beans cooked in the same water. So there's different ingredients but everything tastes the same! You need to have this at lunch and you will skip every meal until the next day.

Gourmet offer

Recently portuguese chefs have awakened themselves to experiment modern techniques and approaches to portuguese cooking. Chefs like José Avillez, who has a 2 michelin stars restaurant (Belcanto) and Henrique Sá Pessoa, with several projects in Lisbon.

Our beloved codfish

It is said Portugal has a recipe to cook codfish for every day of the year. Probably there are even more! And you will find always an offer with codfish in every restaurant.

Smelly cheese

French and dutch cheeses are known all over the world, Portuguese cheeses are great; we just don't have the right communication skills! You can have cheese before a meal, with some bread, or after, with marmalade or a glass of Port wine.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Porto's finest

Portugal's second city has two very famous dishes. However, please be warned that you need a very strong stomach for both. That said, have no fear and taste away! Tripas à moda do Porto is a stew of several types of meat, with the star ingredient being the tripe - the white lining of the cow stomach. The other one is francesinha - or little french girl - and is basically a big sandwich made of beef, egg, cheese, a special sauce and some other things you probably don't need to know about.

Everything with rice

There are a lot of dishes made with rice - seafood, octopus, duck and also desserts, similar to rice pudding (but better!). They are not known all over the world, as risotto and paella are, but they are so so much better.

Black is the pig

These pigs grow in the wild in the plains of Alentejo. They have a different taste and texture and provide for the best cured ham Portugal has to offer.

Have lunch at school

There are a lot of old primary schools, all over the territory, which now serve as restaurants. You find many different concepts in unusual locations.

Pour the wine

There is wine for everyone here. And award-winning too! Green wine you can only find in the North of Portugal. The same with Port, one of our best sellers abroad.

The explorers' food

Portugal was a colonizing country, with territories from Africa, to Brasil and India. These flavours are now part of our cuisine. And also, part of our offer on its own, since you can taste food from old colonies in many dedicated restaurants.

We love little pigs

Suckling pig is a delicacy at the middle of the territory, in a town called Mealhada. You can taste it elsewhere, but the real thing is there.

Local fruit

Our mild climate, together with singularities with mountain or island climate, turn Portugal in a fantastic home to many tasty seasoned fruits. We eat it plain and make jams or desserts with it.

Little as the sardine

Sardines are only available in the Summer, on which you can have it at Lisbon's street festival. Grilled of course.

Photo by Elle Hughes on Unsplash

Weird but tasty

A blood-sucking snake-shaped fish. Goose-necked barnacles. Or a sugared blood sausage. Don't ask. Just taste.

Visit the local market

To see all you can taste in its original form, visit a local market. There is one in each town, even in the smallest.

Photo by Stefan Pflaum on Unsplash

We are so sweet

Come and bring a larger pair of trousers. You will need it. Portuguese pastry is very diverse and unique on its own. Our pastel de nata is famous everywhere but you need to dig further and try other options. You won't regret it.

Meat sandwiches

We already referred to our tascas. There you can either eat a bifana (a sandwich made with fried pork) or a prego (same concept, but with beef). Or both.

Many many meat

Portugal is more known for its fish and seafood. But we have meat too - and good one.

Hope you have (even) more will to come to Portugal - and eat!

What is the best time to travel to Portugal?

The weather in Portugal is mild all year round, so it is always a great time to visit! There are, however, the best times of the year to enjoy the sun and have less chance of rain.

Destiny	Recommended Season	Temperature
Lisbon	From April to September	Summer - maximum:  35°C [95°F]; minimum: 16°C [60.8°F]. Winter - maximum: 16°C [60.8°F]; minimum: 8°C [46.4°F].
Porto	From May to September	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum: 15° C [59°F]; Winter – maximum: 13°C [55.4°F]; minimum: 5°C  [41°F].
Braga	From May to September	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum:  14°C [57.2°F]; Winter – maximum: 15°C [59°F]; minimum: 5°C [41°F].
Coimbra	From May to September	Summer – maximum: 29°C [84.2°F]; minimum: 15°C [59°F]; Winter – maximum: 13°C  [55.4°F]; minimum: 5°C [41°F].
Évora	From April to June / in September to October	Summer – maximum: 30°C [86°F]; minimum: 16° C [60.8°F]; Winter – maximum: 12°C [53.6°F]; minimum: 5°C [41°F].
Guimarães	From May to September	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum: 15°C [59°F]; Winter – maximum: 13°C  [55.4°F]; minimum: 5°C [41°F].
Algarve	Spring and Autumn	Summer – maximum: 29°C [84.2°F]; minimum:  15°C [59°F]; Winter – maximum: 18°C  [64.4°F]; minimum: 8°C [46.4°F].
Azores	From May to September	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum:  18°C [64.4°F]; Winter – maximum: 17°C [62.6°F]; minimum: 11°C [51.8°F].
Madeira	Spring and Summer	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum:  19°C [66.2°F]; Winter – maximum: 19°C [66.2°F]; minimum: 13°C  [55.4°F].
Porto Santo	All year	Summer – maximum: 25°C [77°F]; minimum:  20°C [68°F]; Winter – maximum: 18°C [64.4°F]; minimum: 13°C  [55.4°F].

Best destinations for November - and Lisbon is one of them

November has arrived and is usually a quiet month to travel. After the summer holidays and before Christmas' break, it is not a regular time to travel. But that is just another reason to come to Lisbon, Portugal, at this time of year. It is also less crowdy, the temperatures are lower (but even so, pleasant) and by the end of the month, you will feel a sense of Christmas, with all the lights and Christmas' trees.

Lisbon is on Travel+Leisure list of destinations for November, along with other great destinations

And it also gives some ideas on what one should do in our great city.

Our capital Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills

If you climb each one of them, you will get a wonderful sight of the city and of the Tagus river, along with its southern margin. It mentions Alfama, one of the historic districts, where you can listen to fado music on many restaurants and wonder through the narrow streets. Our marvelous cuisine is never unnoticed, and the online magazine refers to seafood and fish, namely bacalhau (cod fish), which we cook in more than 100 different ways.

Photo by Tom Byrom on Unsplash

November is also a month of several cultural and business events

Vodafone Mexefest brings music to Lisbon's downtown, offering concerts in different locations, such as churches and train stations. Also, Lisbon and Sintra Film Festival brings to town many people related to the movies' industry, such as directors, writers and actors. On a business note, the Web Summit is in Lisbon for the 3rd year in a row, bringing Lisbon many entrepeneurs and techies. Travel+Leisure didn't forget our "São Martinho" celebration, on which we eat roasted chestnusts and drink Jeropiga (a delicious sweet wine). Check out the other destinations for November by Travel+Leisure.

A portuguese professional surfer talks about his favorites' beaches and why he thinks surf has a lot of potential

Tiago Pires is a surf icon in Portugal and worldwide. And he has a lot to say in what concerns beaches and best surf spots in Portugal, along with the potential this sport has from a travel destination point of view.

This is an excerpt of what he told national newspaper Expresso, for a special Beaches' Guide Edition.

We have some of the best beaches of the World, much diversified and beautiful. Our cropped coast has a lot of character. Personally, I love the Vicentine Coast. In terms of natural beauty, it is and area with beautiful beaches, pretty untouched by Man. For surfing, there are good waves from North to South, although the northern ones are colder but beautiful, like Moledo beach. In terms of waves, I would say south of Nazaré and Figueira da Foz there is a lot of diversity, coming with all sizes and formats. The best known are on my special list, such as Ericeira and Peniche. Let's not forget surfing is a development factor, but these days we need to ask ourselves what can we do to keep this going. We have to take advantage of the conditions we have, in terms of waves and climate, as we have the best climate in Europe. So it is yet the time to do a profound study of surf potential in Portugal. Sport's initiation is providing jobs to many people, and it is necessary to organize this practice. Beaches are not just for surf and sun... they exist all year long. Meaning we need to understand the interaction with the beach, both with surfers and bathers. And we need to keep preserving them. One cannot love the ocean and not respect the beach. We can no longer take garbage and not put it into the bin. We have to respect and leave the beaches clean, also because of the image this offers to our country. We want the traveler to come and find a well preserved beach. We totally agree with Tiago and welcome all these initiatives to keep our beaches as they are. Beautiful and lasting.

Photo by Rita Gomes Oliveira on Unsplash

Portugal is the Hottest Destination of the Year 2018 according to Virtuoso Awards!

Following the last Virtuoso Travel Week 2018, which took place on August 11-17 at Las Vegas, the luxury travel network recognized Portugal as the Hottest Destination of 2018. The award was given to the National Tourism Bureau (Turismo de Portugal I.P.) in front of an audience of 1,700 members of the luxury travel industry, representing travel agents, hotels, airlines and cruise lines from all over the world.

Portugal is still growing as a luxury destination for the North-American Market! The last year 2017 the North-American market had a total growth of 35%, and this year of 2018 it has already grown 21,3% compared to last year first trimester.

Congratulations Portugal!

16 Fun Things To Do in Portugal with Kids

Most people here in Europe associate Portugal with beaches, nice weather, and good food. But if you have been following our blog for a while, you probably know that we are not that much into sun-tanning on the beach. 

So when I think about our recent trip to Portugal with kids, I have completely different family-friendly experiences in mind that I want to share with you. This is a selection of all kinds of fun things to do in Portugal with kids that doesn’t involve swimming, playing on the beach, visiting zoos, aquariums, or other traditional family activities. Find out!

 Best experiences to have in Portugal with kids

In no particular order, below is a list of some of the best things to do in Portugal with kids from Full Suitcase. This selection is based on our experiences that the kids enjoyed the most. You know, the kind that they keep on talking about long after the trip…

1. Ride a tuk-tuk

If you ask our kids what they liked the most in Portugal, they will unanimously vote for the tuk-tuk ride. It was the very first time they ever rode a tuk-tuk, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen all three of them so excited! Ever. So if you are traveling to Portugal with kids, make sure you take them for a tuktuk ride. You will find them in Lisbon, Porto, and Sintra.

2. Walk the city walls of Obidos

Obidos is a small medieval town just an hour North of Lisbon. Walking the old city walls was one of the most unforgettable experiences in Portugal for kids. Just be careful, especially with kids, as the walls have no rails on one side.

3. Explore the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra 

Sintra has so many castles and palaces that it might be difficult to choose which ones to visit. There is one castle, however, that you really shouldn’t miss if visiting Sintra with kids, and that is Quinta da Regaleira.

Actually, it’s not that much the castle that kids will love the most. The garden of Quinta da Regaleira is a real paradise for little explorers! Your kids will love walking in dark secret tunnels, exploring hidden passageways, jumping over stones over water at a hidden waterfall, or climbing the spiral staircase of a 27m deep well…

Check this post for more ideas on what to see and do in Sintra in one to three days.

4. Ride Lisbon tram nr. 28, Nazaré funicular, Porto gondola, and take the kids for a boat ride

If there is one thing we learned from our trips with kids, is that children love all kinds of transportation. The more varied the better. I already mentioned the tuk-tuk rides. But there are many more fun experiences involving different means of transport that you shouldn’t miss if traveling in Portugal with kids.

Here are some of our family’s favourite transport-related activities in Portugal:

·        Ride a historic tram in Lisbon or in Porto

·        Take a funicular to the O’Sitio district in Nazaré. Read amore about it here: Visiting Nazaré fishing village in Central Portugal.

·        Ride a gondola in Porto

·        Take the kids on a sailing cruise in Lisbon (you can book this highly-rated and very affordable cruise here). Read more about it here: How to spend a perfect day in Lisbon with kids.

5. Visit the caves Grutas de Mira de Aire

Grutas de Mira de Aire is a must place to visit if traveling in Central Portugal with kids. Descend 110m below the ground and explore more than 600m of incredible underground chambers. This is something the whole family will love for sure! Oh, and don’t worry about having to climb back up – there is an elevator to take you back to the surface.

6. Taste traditional Portuguese custard cakes Pasteis de Nata

Traveling is also about getting to know the local food. Our kids are becoming more and more difficult when it comes to new culinary experiences, but they all really enjoyed the Portuguese custard cakes, pasteis de nata. 

7. Discover some of the most amazing viewpoints of Portugal

This will probably come as no surprise: our kids love climbing staircases and visiting old towers. The higher, the better.

Here are some of our favourite towers to climb and viewpoints not to miss in Portugal with kids:

·        Elevador de Santa Justa in Lisbon;

·        O Sitio district in Nazaré;

·        Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto (the bridge has two levels, the views from the top are priceless);

·        The Cathedral tower of Evora.

 8. Explore an old convent

Museums, churches, and other kinds of religious buildings are not always a big success when traveling with kids. However, Portugal has some amazing places, especially the monasteries, that any kid will love to explore. Our favourites were the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha. Not a chance your kids will get bored here!

9. Get lost in the most beautiful forest of Portugal – Mata Nacional do Buçaco

If you like off the beaten path destinations, nature, and history, make sure you take the kids to the Bussaco forest in Luso, Central Portugal. They’ll love this ancient forest with something different and exciting to explore behind every corner. Take a picnic and make this one of the most memorable family day trips in Portugal!

10. Admire Portuguese azulejos

It would be unthinkable to visit Portugal without falling in love with the traditional Portuguese tiles – azulejos. Children will love looking for new patterns or discovering some ancient stories on the walls of residential buildings, churches, train stations, and old castles… Take the time to really explore this unique kind of art with your kids.

11. Visit Costa Nova – the most colourful town of Portugal

Take your kids to Praia da Costa Nova. This little coastal town with colourful striped houses was a favourite with our boys.

12. Visit a local market

Our kids love visiting markets. There is so much to see, to touch, to taste…

We visited a couple of markets in Portugal with kids, but there was one that left them speechless – a local seafood market in Costa Nova. They didn’t know where to look first – there was a huge variety of fish, but also octopus, shrimp, crab… And then there were eels, hundreds of eels, alive and crawling, waiting for a buyer to take them home for dinner. The kids couldn’t believe their eyes! 

13. Explore Porto by night

One of the best parts of any vacation for our kids is being able to stay up late. They love exploring new places at night!

Our favourite place to explore late in the evening in Portugal was the Cais da Ribeira waterfront area in Porto. Not only does it have some incredible views, you will also find a really great atmosphere with nice also family-friendly restaurants and lots of street performers. The whole family loved it!

14. Buy a Portuguese hat

We try not to buy many souvenirs when we travel, but it’s something our kids look forward to on every trip. I guess all kids do…

If you buy one souvenir in Portugal for your kids, make it a hat. It’s the best 5 Euros you can spend! Not only will it protect them from the harsh sun, it will make all the vacation pictures so much more stylish.

15. Visit a real-life Disney castle – Pena Palace

Portugal is home to many castles, but there is one that kids will definitely remember long after the trip. Palace of Pena in Sintra is probably the most colorful castle in the world. It’s like walking into a real-life Disney castle.

16. Look for street art

City trips can be tiring for children. Looking for street art is a great way to keep the kids busy and involved when exploring Lisbon or Porto. You will be amazed at how much street art there is, and the kids are really good in finding it!

 So, this is our selection of somewhat unusual things to do in Portugal with kids. Of course, you can spend a day at the beach with your family (check the best beaches in Algarve!), take the plunge in the pool, visit an aquarium or a zoo… Portugal has many family-friendly activities. I just wanted to show you that traveling with kids doesn’t always have to be about beaches and theme parks. Not even if visiting such a typical European beach vacation destination as Portugal.

Source: Full Suitcase | See more hidden things to do in Portugal here. 

25 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Portugal

#1 - Quinta da Regaleira

Eccentrically decorated palace and gardens replete with grottoes, fountains, underground tunnels, caves, and numerous statues.

#2- Livraria Lello

One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world hides an Neo-Gothic interior behind a Art-Nouveau facade.

#3 - The Village of Monsanto

Houses are tucked between, on, and underneath giant boulders.

#4- Portugal's Chapel of Bones

A 16th century chapel decorated with bones, skulls, and entire bodies hanging from the wall.

#5 - Pena National Palace

This unreal Portuguese palace looks as though it's made from a pile of different castles.

#6 - Drowned Village of Vilarinho da Furna

A submerged village appears when dam levels drop.

#7- Carmo Convent Ruins

Legacy of the earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the face of the Earth.

Walls built of femurs

#8- Capela de Ossos Bone Chapel

This small chapel is built of human bones and decorated with a golden skeleton.

#9 - Livraria Bertrand

The world's oldest bookshop still in operation.

#10- Boca do Inferno

A unique seaside cave where Aleister Crowley faked his own death.

#11 - Convento de Cristo

The medieval castle built as headquarters for the Pope's secretive Knights Templar.

#12 - Belem Tower Rhinoceros 

A king's pet, a pope's gift, an artist's inspiration, and a tragic shipwreck.

#13 - Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)

An ancient and majestic fortress that played an integral role in Portugal's road to independence.

#14 - Capela do Senhor da Pedra

Picturesque intersection of witchcraft and ancient Christianity.

#15 - Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias

This fairy-tale, neo-Gothic church in the Azores is a world of magical realism.

#16- Igreja de São Francisco

The stunning interior of this Gothic church is covered in ornate gold details.

#17 - Stone House

A small Portuguese cottage formed between boulders in the countryside.

#18 - Santa Justa Lift

This Industrial Age architectural and engineering gem helps visitors and residents alike traverse Lisbon, “The City of Seven Hills.”

#19 - Jerónimos Monastery

Elaborately carved to showcase the glorious wealth that the age of exploration brought to the Portuguese empire.

#20 - Bom Jesus do Monte

A stunning 18th-century site where pilgrims ascend by a series of punishing stairs only to return via funicular.

#21 - Fort of Graça

This star-shaped military outpost is now simply trying to protect itself from neglect.

#22 - Mina de São Domingos (Sao Domingos Mines)

An abandoned mine now resembles a post-apocalyptic landscape of derelict buildings and blood-red pools of water.

#23 - Bordallo Pinheiro Garden

A garden in Lisbon filled with giant porcelain creations.

#24 - Ponte da Misarela (Misalera Bridge)

Local lore says the devil built this beautiful medieval bridge to help a fleeing bandit.

Montemor-o-Novo Castle

#25 - Montemor-o-Novo Castle

This crumbling Portuguese ruin overlooks the populace it once ruled.

Source: Atlas Obscura | See more hidden things to do in Portugal here.