Portugal Travel Blog – Olá Daniela
I'm Daniela. I'm an Australian travel writer and food journalist who has been living in Lisbon since 2018. Portugal is a vibrant and varied land of azulejos (tiles), tascas (local bistros), Portuguese traditions and culture. And I’m obsessed with all of it. I started my blog to share my love of all things Portugal, and I’ve packed it full of helpful guides that go a little deeper than your average travel blog. My guides to the Algarve, Alentejo and beyond are based on my real experiences. Together we can plan your ultimate Portugal trip, filled with off-the-beaten-track food, culture and artisan adventures.
Where to shop cheap Portuguese-made ceramics
Portugal makes tonnes of ceramics, from small-scale artisanal pieces thrown on a wheel through to industrial pottery output at a large scale. At factory scale that includes making ceramics for big companies abroad, so there are local ceramic stores and pottery factory outlets where you can scoop up seconds, overproductions, and certified bargains. The newest trend seems to be ceramic stores in Portugal that sell pottery by weight – known as cerâmica ao quilo or loiça ao peso – for as little as €2.50 per kilogram. I’ve listed more than a dozen places in Portugal where you can buy ceramics by the kilo or at outlets. I’ve included a map too.
14 things to do in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Caldas da Rainha, a small city about one-hour drive north of Lisbon, is known for two things: hot springs and ceramics. I adore visiting Caldas da Rainha on a day trip from Lisbon, and I really feel it is a great off-the-radar Portuguese city brimming with creativity, culture and history. If you have an interest in ceramics or just want to avoid the crowds at more popular destinations, here are the best things you do can do and see in Caldas da Rainha.
Cultura Portuguesa - Trajes Típicos
Conheça mais sobre como seus antepassados 🇵🇹 portugueses seus costumes e como se vestiam no século 19!
Algarve: Where to Stay Guide – the best towns, village and bases
Choosing a hotel, guesthouse or apartment for your time exploring the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, is not like picking a neighbourhood in a city like Lisbon. The Algarve isn’t a singular place – it’s a region of about 150 kilometres (100 miles) of gorgeous coastline with charming villages, modern cities, historic towns, and golf resorts. I giggle every time I hear someone say “I’m visiting Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve” as the Algarve is so large that where you choose to stay changes everything. In this article I’m sharing a handful of towns, villages, and cities across the Algarve that I can suggest or recommend as an accommodation base. I’ve also carefully selected hotels, guesthouses and resorts that would make a perfect base in each area.
Guide to Comporta: Where to stay, shop, play, eat
Some of Portugal’s most spectacular stretch of coastline is found just over an hour south of Lisbon. The golden sands around the Comporta region are some of the most wild, natural, and pristine in the whole country. Here pine forests bump up against vast sand dunes, gorgeous beaches back onto fields of rice, and local fishermen rub shoulders with Europe’s jetsetting crowd. I’m still surprised when a visitor mentions Comporta in the same breath as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. This small village and sparsely populated coastal region has somehow blown up international media as “Portugal’s secret beach spot”, the “Hamptons of Europe”, and as the “coolest beach town” where the A-list crowd goes for barefoot luxury.
Guide to Portugal's pottery outlets and ceramics by weight stores
Portugal makes tonnes of ceramics, from small-scale artisanal pieces thrown on a wheel through to industrial pottery output at a large scale. At factory scale that includes making ceramics for big companies abroad, so there are local ceramic stores and pottery factory outlets where you can scoop up seconds, overproductions, and certified bargains. The newest trend seems to be ceramic stores in Portugal that sell pottery by weight – known as cerâmica ao quilo or loiça ao peso – for as little as €2.50 per kilogram. I’ve listed more than a dozen places in Portugal where you can buy ceramics by the kilo or at outlets. I’ve included a map too.
Sunday in Madeira at the Santo da Serra Farmers Market
This Sunday farmers market might be the best thing I’ve done on Madeira Island. Okay, the landscapes are incredible and the hikes of Madeira are truly breathtaking, but if you’re a regular reader then you know I love food and local experiences – and this one ticks both boxes to the extreme. The Sunday Mercado Agrícola do Santo da Serra is as real as they come. Here you’ll find a mix of locals selling produce grown on the island (nothing imported), street food stalls with local cider, wine and grills, and homemade goodies like bolo de mel cake and artisanal woodwork and basketry.
Ultimate Guide to Winter in Portugal: Where to go, things to do & more
Winter is the low season for travel in Portugal, but there are so many positive reasons to visit. Fewer tourists and lower prices are just two (of many) reasons to visit during this quieter period, and having spent six winters in Portugal now I can attest that it’s often sunny with blue skies in January! Yes, I live in Portugal so I can give you a real opinion on visiting in the winter months. While there is always a good chance of rain, Portugal is in southern Europe – so it’s one of the warmest European destinations in winter, and there’s a good chance of gorgeous winter sunshine – just don’t expect places to be heated inside.
Sunday in Madeira Island: Santo da Serra Farmers Market
This Sunday farmers market might be the best thing I’ve done on Madeira Island. Okay, the landscapes are incredible and the hikes of Madeira are truly breathtaking, but if you’re a regular reader then you know I love food and local experiences – and this one ticks both boxes to the extreme. The Sunday Mercado Agrícola do Santo da Serra is as real as they come. Here you’ll find a mix of locals selling produce grown on the island (nothing imported), street food stalls with local cider, wine and grills, and homemade goodies like bolo de mel cake and artisanal woodwork and basketry.
My 10 favourite Portugal trips in 2024
Each year I round up my favourite trips I’ve taken across Portugal, and it’s a fun chance to reflect on where I’ve been and share a tale or two from cool places that I (often) haven’t had the time to write any blogs about (yet!).
Carnival in Portugal: 7 traditional carnivals to attend in Portugal
Each whimsical wooden mask is carved from a single tree trunk, with every person attempting to outdo the next. These heavy masks give the wearer anonymity, something that links all traditional Portuguese entrudos. In Lazarim rest of the outfit might be a big hay suit, or shaggy hessian sacks, or natural objects sewn into a suit. The goal is to hide your true self so you can run amuck and cause light-hearted trouble without being caught.
Carnival in Portugal: 7 Unusual Traditions & Events
“Cardadores” take to the streets of Ílhavo in wild and wonderful bird-like costumes. As they run, bells rattle and colourful headdress flow majestically in the breeze. Groups of local single men craft their own costumes, with masks made from white sheepskin with red-painted cork around the eyes and mouth. Their head is covered by long flowing coloured ribbons, the moustache is made from horse or ox hair, and the pièce de résistance is a long and phallic red nose made from red cloth.
7 most traditional carnivals to attend in Portugal
While Portugal has more modern Carnival celebrations – like those in Rio de Janeiro with glitter, floats and smiles from ear-to-ear – I certainly find myself drawn to the darker side where you never what chaos lies around the next stone-walled village corner. I’ve rounded up the seven best traditional Portuguese Carnivals with pagan roots. These tend to celebrate the changing of seasons with fire, feasting, and fanfare in the name of spring fertility. Usually the fun runs from the Saturday until Tuesday.
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Devil on the loose: 7 traditional pagan carnivals to attend in Portugal
Every February the streets of a few small Portuguese villages come alive with dark winter carnivals, known in Portugal as entrudos. These pre-Lent or Shrovetide festivals were a chance for the locals to forego society’s rules for just a moment. By concealing their identity with huge masks and crazy costumes, their mischievous side bubbles to the surface. Yes, the devil is on the loose in Portugal, so watch your back.