Home > Portugal Travel Central Portugal · Take the slower road Central Portugal ItineraryMake room for more than the highlights Flexible routes for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, connecting Coimbra with Roman ruins, schist villages, forest walks and the Atlantic coast. Start in CoimbraInto the mountainsHead for the coast By Carter Lowry · Portugal […]
Madeira is one of Europe’s most spectacular island destinations, combining volcanic mountains, dramatic coastlines, world-class hiking, charming villages, and year-round mild weather. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a week-long adventure, this guide covers everything you need to know—from where to stay and what to do to the best time to visit and how […]
Home > Portugal Travel Portugal does not end when you leave Lisbon, and it certainly does not become less interesting. Head east or south from the capital, and the buildings begin to thin out. Apartment blocks give way to cork trees, vineyards, olive groves, fortified villages, and roads that disappear toward the horizon. Welcome to […]
Wondering what to eat in Portugal? This Portuguese food guide covers traditional dishes, regional specialties, desserts, coffee, and practical restaurant tips for first-time visitors.
Home > Portugal Travel PORTUGAL · FIRSTHAND TRAVEL GUIDE Portugal Travel Guide Build a Better Trip Beyond Lisbon and Porto I live in Portugal and spend a ridiculous amount of time wandering its cities, mountain roads, villages, coastlines, festivals, cafés, and places most visitors drive straight past. This guide will help you decide where to […]
Home > Portugal Travel European Portuguese • Real Conversations • Portugal Portuguese Small Talk: How to Have a Real Conversation in Portugal Portuguese small talk is where memorized vocabulary finally meets real life. These are the European Portuguese phrases, replies, and conversation habits that have helped me stop freezing when someone actually answers back. Start […]
Home > Portugal Travel Portugal Travel Apps • Tested Living Here Best Portugal Travel Apps: 13 Apps I Actually Use Living Here I don’t recommend these Portugal travel apps because they appeared on somebody else’s list. I live in Coimbra and use many of them while traveling around Portugal by train, bus, car, metro, and […]
Home > Portugal Travel Central Portugal · About 30 minutes from Coimbra Penela Castle Portugal: History, Medieval Festival and Visitor Guide I have returned to this hilltop fortress several times. The view from the valley first pulled me toward it; the history, atmosphere, and medieval fair kept giving me reasons to come back. Why Penela […]
By Carter | Originally published March 5, 2024 | Updated July 2026 The Buracas do Casmilo are one of the most unusual day trips from Coimbra, Portugal. Hidden in the limestone hills of the Serra de Sicó, this quiet valley contains enormous openings left behind by a collapsed cave system. Short walking routes let visitors […]
