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. 

22 reasons why everyone is going to Portugal right now

According to The Telegraph everyone seems to be going to Portugal right now. Indeed, this week the country reported gleefully on another record year for overseas arrivals. Just over 12.7 million foreigners visited the country in 2017 – up 12 per cent year-on-year. Here's why it is proving so popular.

 1. Lisbon’s timeworn charm

“Set against the ever-present backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, this dainty sun-kissed city lives in a Latin fairytale of timeworn manners and traditions,” says Telegraph Travel’s Lisbon expert, Guyan Mitra. “Check out the century-old wooden trams and iron funiculars that still lurch and rumble their way through the city. Or witness the best of this bygone heritage by wandering through the Baixa district, where age-old herbalists, haberdashers and tailors rub shoulders in the baroque streets of the ornate city centre.” Portugal's capital is a "Latin fairytale" according to our expert.

2. Pretty Porto

“With its medieval heart, contemporary buzz, magnificent gold-leaf-laced churches – oh, and a rather nice signature tipple – Portugal’s second city merits a visit at any time,” writes Telegraph Travel’s Adrian Bridge. Carved in two by the Douro river, downtown Porto has a faded sophistication, while the seaside suburbs have witnessed something of a renaissance in recent years, home as they are to a burgeoning collection of bars, restaurants and cafes, which offer an authentic slice of local life.

3. The wine, of course

Portugal’s national drink (port or porto) is ubiquitous across the country, particularly in its eponymous home. Any bar and restaurant worth its salt will sell the fortified wine, but for larger quantities head to one of Portugal’s plentiful off-licences, which sell anything from dusty, 100-year-old bottles worth €1,000, to more affordable vintages.

 4. The Harry Potter connection – and a spectacular bookshop

JK Rowling taught English in Porto back in the 1990s and was a regular at the Livraria Lello bookstore, which is one of the most famous shops in the city. Apparently, its decorative bookcases, carved wooden ceilings and lavish staircases inspired the Hogwarts Library in her Harry Potter books.

 5. Freshly-baked pastel de natas

Nowhere does custard tarts (or pastel de natas, as they’re called here) quite like Portugal. And perhaps nowhere in Portugal does them as well as Pasteis de Belém in Lisbon, which is why queues for the sweet, rich and perfectly crisp tarts often stretch along the pavement.

6. The weather

Perched on the western edge of Europe, Lisbon is the continent’s sunniest capital city, boasting an average of 2,799 hours of sunshine a year, pipping Athens, which has 2,771 hours of sun a year, to the post.

7. It has Madeira

“Madeira is not Ibiza. It attracts a more mature clientele, and raving is limited to enthusing about the island’s dramatic scenery and botanical wonders,” writes Telegraph Travels’ destinations expert, Gavin Bell. Bell was particularly enthused by the island’s cornucopia of fine food and wine, plus the landscapes which he said could have been “dreamt up by Tolkien”.  

8. Your pound goes further

The vote for Brexit hit travellers in the wallet, but trips to Portugal soften the blow. Yes, it takes the euro, but the country remains one of the most affordable destinations on the Continent, offering visitors the elegance of Western Europe for Eastern European prices. In fact, in its annual Holiday Money Report, the Post Office declared Portugal the second best value destination for a European getaway, after Bulgaria. 

9. This bridge

Located in Lisbon, this record-breaking structure is named after the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama.

10. This spectacular stadium

Portugal’s unexpected victory at Euro 2016 ignited further interest in a sport that already enjoys semi-religious status across the country. There are bountiful opportunities to watch a game, but for something special head to Estádio Municipal de Braga, a stadium carved out of a rock. Listen out for the phrase “o jogo Inglês”, which means “the English game” and is used disparagingly to describe boring football. Charming. 

11. You can whack people with mallets

St John’s Day (June 23) is celebrated with gusto in Porto. There are church services, all-night parties and, weirdly, inflatable mallets, which are used to club fellow revellers with.

12. The beaches are exquisite

Portugal’s exquisite coastline, reliable weather and fine seaside resorts make it one of Europe’s best destinations for a beach break. 

13. The waves

Thanks to the rolling swell of the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is one of Europe’s best surfing destinations with a wave for every ability. Best of all, the breaks are relatively uncrowded.

14. It boasts ‘Europe’s answer to Hawaii’

Floating in the Atlantic Ocean, some 850 miles from mainland Portugal, the Azores was described as “the Hawaii of the Atlantic” by Telegraph Travel’s Chris Leadbeater. “They are lost in deep seas; steep-sided, beautiful, wild,” he wrote. “This is not to say the weather matches the glow of Pacific America – cloud and rain dog the Azores as much as sunshine – but such climactic inconstancy only adds to the aesthetic. Every day is different.”

15. Its secret cities 

Everyone has heard of Lisbon and Porto, but how about Guimarães, Tavira and Sintra? If those names don’t ring any bells you’re missing out on an opportunity to discover what Portuguese cities were like before the tourists arrived.

16. Opulent hotels abound

And because money goes further in Portugal, a luxury stay is refreshingly affordable.

17. The nightlife

From the thronging streets of Lisbon and Porto to the pumping seaside resorts of the Algarve, Portugal’s love for a night on the tiles is no secret. Less known, however, is the country’s growing affection for Afro-house, which is being imported from Africa like its going out of fashion. The genre has found fertile ground in Lisbon’s vivacious clubbing scene, but it’s poised to spread across the country.   

18. Fado bars

At the core of Portugal's musical tradition is the distinctive song form, fado – literally “fate” – which is predominantly slow, resigned and melancholy in character. The music is lyrical, soulful and accompanied by guitars – the Spanish-style guitar known in Portuguese as viola and the Portuguese pear-shaped guitarra. To catch a live performance drop into one of the country’s wonderful fado houses.

 19. It’s home to Europe’s most underrated river

The Douro might not conjure the imagery of the Seine or even the Thames, but it’s comfortably one of the most beautiful waterways in Europe, as it snakes through vineyards, bucolic villages and Porto, where it is spanned by the city’s iconic iron bridge.

20. There’s a chapel made from bones

The interior of the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Evora is, rather morbidly, decorated with human skulls and bones from some 5,000 corpses. The chapel was built by a Franciscan monk in the 16th century, who wanted to remind worshippers that life is transitory.

21. It has one of Europe’s best pools

The Leça Swimming Pool complex, designed by the eminent Portuguese architect, Alvaro Siza, is one the continent’s best bathing spots. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Leça da Palmeira, near Porto, its saltwater swimming pools are carved into the rugged shore and are popular with architecture aficionados as well as bathers.

22. It’s home to Serralves

The most visited museum in Portugal, Serralves is also one of Europe’s most influential contemporary arts museums. Located in Porto, this wonderful exhibition space sits in manicured gardens, which are scattered with works from the likes of Richard Serra and Claes Oldenburg.   

Source: The Telegraph | See the original article here.

Bike Tour "Grand Prix Portugal National Road 2"

A wonderful road that holds the best of our history, representing a guardian of our memory. A heritage united by an incredible umbilical cord that truly aggregates, from end to end, Portugal.

 The Bike Tour "Grand Prix Portugal National Road 2" is much more than a portentous sports event, which is a major competition at world level. It's a project that aims the promotion, stimulating and valuing this fascinating road.

There will be many actions throughout the year, but everything will have the epicenter and its peak in the Bike Tour.

Now, everyone to the road to see the cyclists pass!  :)

Together we will build the most fascinating project of national cycling "Bike Tour Portugal National Road 2 - The biggest road in Europe".

Wine Valley Cruise

Enjoy a private sailing or yacht cruise along the Douro river, taste the best Port Wine or participate in a wine harvest. Do all of this with the Douro Valley vineyards as a backdrop, while staying at the loveliest boutique hotel on the river front or a luxurious resort hotel with an amazing river view!

Experience our Wine Valley Cruises!

Goumet experience aboard "The Presidential"

Meet "The Presidential": a luxury project that brings together the best Michelin chefs in the world, the best wines and the best local products. Come aboard on a beautiful train, that holds a lot of portuguese History, the Portuguese Presidential Train. Aboard this train have traveled Presidents, Heads of State, Kings and Popes. Come along the Douro line, in this luxury and gourmet train experience, that gathers emotion, Michelin gastronomy and breathtaking sights.

Filigree Route: understand the portuguese tradition

Filigree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork that holds a tradition of portuguese generations.

The Filigree Route allows you to get a closer look at the art behind a luxury piece that is traditionally portuguese. You can visit a lot of ateliers that work everyday to keep this traditional piece alive (45 minutes each atelier) and you can even produce your own piece of filigree by attending a workshop at a goldsmith school. Then, you'll be able understand the History behind these pieces by visiting an exhibition at the Tourism Office.

PORTUGAL: TOURISM SECTOR EXPECTED TO GROW THANKS TO LUXURY HOTELS

Here's an article about the growth of the tourism sector in Portugal published by Tourism Review news:

"A recent study on the tourism sector in Portugal revealed that the industry is likely to grow in the area of luxury hospitality and several niche products like nature, surf, sun, beach, and culture. The regions with positive outlook with respect to tourism include Algarve, Lisbon, Porto and Madeira.

The study was published by Cushman & Wakefield in response to the increasing interest of real estate investors in the Portuguese tourism sector. The report “Hospitality Market in Portugal 2017” talks about a booming hotel sector in the country, marked by an excellent performance of hotels and by the ever increasing tourist indicators registered year after year, since 2010.

“The performance has been drawing the attention of international investors in tourism products, as they find in these assets an investment option with competitive ROI rates,” reads the paper. The study highlights the cities of Lisbon and Porto and the region of Algarve as very appealing destinations to the foreign capital and recognizes the hospitality assets of these zones as a very significant potential of recovery capital.

Among the main trends of the evolving tourism sector in Portugal, the authors highlight the product qualification, with an increase in the supply which will tend to focus on higher category facilities, and the expansion of alternative products such as nature (in Açores and Serra Algarvia),  surf (on the West coast, in the North of Lisbon, Alentejana and Vicentina), and new ‘sun & beach’ destinations (in Troy and on the Coast of Alentejana) and of a cultural nature (in Évora, Coimbra, Aveiro, Guimarães and Braga).

A trend of market yields contraction is also noted in the study, mostly driven by the arrival of players with hotel management capabilities and by the increase of generated performances. The analysis points to yet another trend of concentration of operation” in the Portuguese tourism sector, with the current scattering of market operators to be substantially reduced through the growth of the dominant brands, essentially through the acquisition of the existing facilities, but also through some organic growth.

In this evolution process, the assertion of the dominant destinations such as Algarve, Lisbon, Porto and Madeira is expected. In Lisbon’s case, there are about 40 known future projects, which will translate to over 3,500 accommodation units in the next five years in the city, the majority of the projects being located in the center of the city and belonging to the four and five-star categories.

Although admitting that the level of growth in the supply in the last few years may evoke some reservations about the sustainability of the sector, the consulting agency points out that the growth of the demand was much bigger.

“Bearing in mind the inaugurations expected for the next three years in the city of Lisbon, the average annual growth of the supply may be estimated at 3%. For their part, the hotel stays in the capital in the last three years increased at an average annual rate of 11%, more than three times the rate expected for the supply,” the study states.

Regarding the Metropolitan Area of Porto – which today has over 170 hospitality establishments that offer about 12,000 accommodation units – the projects expected to open in the next three to five years surpass 30 facilities, the vast majority being located in the city of Porto.

“The increasing activity of the city for international tourists has been capturing the investment in new hospitality facilities, so that now there are 18 new projects with a demand that surpasses 1,200 rooms,” says Cushman & Wakefield, emphasizing that almost all of the new hotels expected to open in Porto in the next three years are four or five-star hotels. Such as in the capital, the average annual growth rate of 3% expected for the supply in Porto is “well below” the level of demand, whose average annual growth between 2014 and 2016 was around 15%."

Source: Tourism Review

Meet Viana's garranos!

Source: Pinterest

It is now inaugurated the Equestrian Course of Ribeira Lima, where you can walk a total of 16km, between Lanheses and the city of Viana! You can either horseride or walk along this trail! Prepared to be surprised by its sights and its biodiversity! This initiative is part of a valorization project called "Pónei da Serra", promoting equestrian tourism. You'll be able to meet "garranos", wich are our native short kind of horses!

It is intended that in 2018 two more rails will be inaugurated.

Source: Público

The new boutique hotel in Évora is a Noble House

The former Casa dos Condes de Lousã, in the historical center of Évora, is being restored and transformed into a "luxury boutique hotel" and it will open in June.

Source: Fugas - PÚBLICO

The historical center of Évora

The building, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, was purchased by Unlock Boutique Hotels and has been restored since November 2016 to form The Noble House. Évora's new luxury boutique hotel is 200 meters from the city's Cathedral, right in the heart of the historic center, classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The project for the renovation of the former Casa dos Condes de Lousã is in charge of the architect Fernando Coelho, author of several reference projects, such as the Cella Bar on the island of Pico (Azores), distinguished by ArchDaily as Building of the Year 2016. 

In addition to "one of the largest suites of the district", which integrates part of the city's Roman wall into one of the walls, the new housing unit still preserves other features of the historic building, such as the 18th century tiles, the emblazoned portal, the vaulted ceilings. Some "frescões" (which cover the walls of several rooms), the garden or the well used formerly for homemade water consumption.

The landscape of Alentejo region 

For the first time, there are eight hotels distinguished by the Forbes Guide

Lisbon premieres this year at the Forbes Travel Guide Awards with eight distinguished hotels. Bairro Alto Hotel was the only Portuguese to receive four stars, a threshold reserved for "exceptional properties".

Source: Fugas - PÚBLICO 

Each year, Forbes Travel Guide inspectors anonymously visit dozens of hotels, restaurants and spas, scrutinizing them through a thin sieve of "up to 800 objective criteria." At the podium of the Star Rating Awards comes only the crème de la crème of the sector, divided between five-star properties ("extraordinary, often iconic, with a virtually perfect service and incredible facilities"); four stars ("exceptional, offer a high level of service and corresponding facilities"); and recommended ("excellent, with consistently good services and facilities").

This year, the prizes awarded by the international publication have expanded to 20 new destinations, including the Portuguese capital. Lisbon premieres with eight distinguished hotels. None reached the top of the podium, but the Bairro Alto Hotel won the four-star label.

In addition to Bairro Alto Hotel, seven other Lisbon units were "recommended" by the international travel guide. The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon - a good choice for those who want a "quiet place" to stay in the city; The InterContinental Lisbon - with "vast views" over the capital; The Olissippo Lapa Palace - one of the outstanding features is the "exceptional collection of hand-painted Portuguese typical wall murals"; The Penha Longa Resort - a "picturesque hideaway" between the mountains of Sintra; The Pestana Palace Lisbon Hotel - where "palatial luxury and history meet"; The Pousada de Lisboa - "a luxurious look at the past" of the city; And the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade - "French sophistication in elegant Lisbon".

Besides to Lisbon, new cities such as Bali, Barcelona, Bogotá, Budapest, Cartagena, County Kildare, Dublin, Kyoto, Lima, Manila, Melbourne, Monte Carlo, Munich, Osaka, Santiago, Seoul, Saint Tropez, Sydney , Venice and Zurich premiered in this guide made by Forbes. 

New project wants you to discover Portugal through Science and Culture

“Ciência Viva” and Vodafone Foundation have just launched a "tourism of knowledge" program. Project includes a discount card, interactive guides and a mobile application.

The “Ciência Viva” Circuits want to get the Portuguese to know the country "through science and culture". A trip to the beach that ends up providing the discovery of dinosaur footprints in Lagos, Algarve; a stroll through Estremoz, Alentejo, that turns into a journey through quarries, castles and the solar system, a walk through the center of a city that surprises you with an art in the extinction.

Estremoz, where one of the routes passes by

For now there are 18 available circuits, with "54 routes and more than 200 steps to explore". Each itinerary is part of one of the “Ciência Viva” Centers spread throughout the country: Açores, Alviela, Aveiro, Bragança, Coimbra (there are two centers but only one circuit in the city), Constância, Estremoz, Faro, Guimarães, Lagos, Lisboa Centro, Lisboa Oriente, Lousal, Porto, Proença-a-Nova, Sintra, Tavira and Vila do Conde. The Ciência Viva Center of Porto Moniz, on Madeira Island, is the only one without an associated circuit.

The new "knowledge tourism program" includes a card, an interactive guide and a mobile application (available for Android and iOS). The first one is the epicenter of the project. It is valid for one year for "two adults or one couple and their children up to the age of 17" and gives free admission to the 20 Ciência Viva Centers and access to discounts "in more than 100 science, culture and leisure institutions" - including museums, Monuments, parks and nature reserves, caves, mines, zoos and aquariums, among others - and in partner entities of the project - such as accommodation units, transport companies or restoration establishments.

The card activation also opens doors to everything else, either through the project website or the mobile application: details about the suggested circuits, interactive maps of the routes, "challenges to explorers", sharing of experiences and access to promotional rates. It is also possible to consult a schedule of activities in the different destinations. The circuit kit costs € 50 - it has a card, a guide and a small pocket-sized notebook. 

Lisbon is also included in the program 

The “Ciência Viva” Circuits are an initiative of this national institution, in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation. "We feel that we could be the catalysts for an innovative project of knowledge tourism," says Rosália Vargas, president of Ciência Viva - National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, arguing that "this is a sustainable nature project" that "Looks at the future, while valuing tradition and heritage ".

According to Mário Vaz, Vodafone Portugal Foundation’s president, the program "provides users with a complete and highly creative experience", which "allows not only knowledge of the national and regional heritage in a clearer and more practical way but also allows the sharing of trips, photographs and knowledge."It is, above all, a dynamic, pedagogical and fun way to discover or rediscover Portugal", he emphasizes.

Source: Fugas – PÚBLICO 

Three Portuguese cities among the undervalued destinies deserving a visit

The journal The Telegraph selected 21 european cities that “you never equated to visit – but that you definitely should”. Tavira, Guimarães e Braga are amoung the elected.

Source: Fugas 

Tavira, Portugal

They are smaller cities and, because of that, they ended undervalued by the big metropoles or touristic icons. But they are perfect for a getaway “without crowds”, capable of assure “a weekend of great food, rich culture and stunning views”.

The first one is a good option for those who want to “have a glimpse of what was Algarve before the mass tourism”, affirms the journalist Helen Pickles. “Crossed by the Gilão river, [Tavira] exhales an authentic Portuguese charm”. There are few hotels but a lot of churches, the fishing boats heap in the water and “everyone has time to dawdle”. 

Castelo de Guimarães, Guimarães, Portugal

However, “if there is a city which can be described as adorable is Guimarães”, defends Tim Pozzi. The footpaths from the heart of the city form a network of Gently winding streets, with alleys with hanging clothes to dry, adorned with small bars and coffes”, describes the journalist. 

On its turn, Braga is possible a familiar city to football fans, once it’s the cradle “of one of the most awesome stadiums in the world”. But the city also has another charms: “the oldest cathedral in the country, a rich roman heritage, vibrant coffees and some of the best gastronomy of the country”.

Among the 21 cities recommended by The Telegraph, are also: Bergamo (Italy), Skopje (Macedonia) Treviso (Italy), Tbilisi (Georgia), Segovia (Spain), Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), Osijek (Croativa), Umea (Sweden), Nantes (France), Bregenz (Austria), Sion (Switzerland), Lubeck (Germany), Wroclaw (Poland), Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Trieste (Italy), Aarhus (Denmark), Eger (Hungary) and Maribor (Slovenia).

Bom Jesus de Braga, Braga, Portugal 

Estorial Palace on the internacional luxory spas guide

Condé Nast Johansens launched this week the new edition of the annual guide dedicated to luxury spas located in hotels all around the world.  

Estoril (Cascais), Portugal

The beauty and well-being treatments’ service of Estoril Palace remains as the only Portuguese between the restrict selection of 68 international establishments. 

The 2017 edition integrates, however, 14 new entries, including three hotels in Europe: Bulgari Hotel (United Kigdom), Miraggio Thermal Spa Resort (Greece) and Hotel Belleuve (Croatia). Among the guide Condé Nast Johansens Luxury Spas novelties stand up the services locatel in the hotels The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore (Singapura), Taj Exotica Goa Resort (India), The Chedi Muscat (Omã), Water Garden Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) and Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa (Canada).

The guide is already for sale online for 9,99 libra (about 11,87€). 

Source: Fugas - Público