What's new in Portugal? 10 reasons to visit in 2025
The hilltop town about 40 minutes' drive from Lisbon is celebrating 30 years of Unesco world heritage status. Sintra was the first European site listed as a cultural landscape, thanks to its fairytale architecture set among lush parks and gardens. There are 30 events taking place throughout the year, especially aimed at young people, culminating in the Sintra PH30 festival in December. Initiatives include outdoor activities such as geocaching, orienteering, mountain biking, hiking and running; escape rooms, murder mysteries and ghost experiences in and around the town's historic buildings; behind-the-scenes visits to restoration sites and conservation projects; and live music and talks.ph30.parquesdesintra.pt
The Macam modern art gallery opened last month in an enormous 18th-century former palace close to the 25 April Bridge on the north bank of the River Tagus. The gallery displays one of the best private art collections in Portugal – the collector, Armando Martins, bought his first original piece in 1974 and now has more than 600 Portuguese and international artworks from the 19th century onwards, by artists including Paula Rego, Marina Abramović and Olafur Eliasson. The complex also comprises a 64-room, art-filled hotel with library, plus a modern extension, as well as a restaurant, cafe and shop. And the former chapel is a live performance space and bar.Exhibitions from £5, free entry on the first Sunday of the month, macam.pt
The Costa Verde in north-west Portugal, between Porto and the Spanish border, is being tipped as an emerging holiday destination. More operators are offering walking and cycling trips to the region, and the villa rental company Solmar Villas, which has more than 2,000 villas across 30 destinations, launched 22 properties there last year and is expanding. The area is less touristy and more tranquil than the Algarve, great for active travellers and easily reached from Porto. It boasts quiet beaches and surf spots along the Emerald Coast, while inland there are pine forests, rivers and hills, and vineyards producing vinho verde. Solmar recommends the towns of Vieira do Minho and Esposende as good bases for hiking and surfing/watersports respectively.More information at lonelyplanet.com
The 1930s O Val farmhouse, on a large estate between Estremoz and Monforte in the Alentejo, has been restored and reopened as a holiday rental and retreat venue. There are five double bedrooms and lots of communal spaces, including an outdoor dining room; a garden with fruit trees, flowers and herbs, surrounded by olive groves, cork and holm oak trees; and a pool. The former cattle handling area is now a hilltop studio space for creative workshops and retreats, from textiles to ceramics to cooking. Dates for workshops and retreats will released soon.
€830 a night, sleeps 10, o-val.pt
The tour operator Responsible Travel has noticed a growing interest in Portugal over the past three years, with cycling the most popular type of trip on the mainland. In response, it has launched two new ebiking trips this year. One is a seven-night self-guided tour through the Douro Valley, including a boat trip and the chance to stop at vineyards for tastings. The other is an eight-night, guided tour around the Atlantic Ring in central Portugal. Participants cycle alongside the Mondego, Dão and Vouga Rivers and the Atlantic coast, stopping at historic cities such as Coimbra, Viseu and Aveiro.From €1,490 for eight nights B&B, including guide, luggage transfer and one dinner, responsibletravel.com
Ramble Worldwide has a new self-guided holiday walking the Rota Vicentina, a long-distance coastal path from Santiago do Cacém to the Cape St Vincent in south-west Portugal. Walkers will traverse beaches, coastal trails and clifftops, staying at five towns along the way. The difficulty level is classed as moderate – walks are between 8½ and 14½ miles a day, including some hills, taking about six or seven hours (on some days there is a shortcut option). On day four, there is a change of scene when the route heads inland to Aljezur, a medieval market town with a ruined Moorish castle.From £639 for seven nights' B&B, including transfers and luggage transport, from April to November. rambleworldwide.co.uk
Portugal's national gastronomy day will be celebrated on 26 July in Albufeira, a resort city in the Algarve. The annual event showcases regional specialities and this year the focus is bivalves, particularly razor clams and cockles, which are central to many regional dishes. Albufeira is perhaps better known for the bars along its strip – but there are also two Michelin-listed restaurants here: Vila Joya (which has two stars) and Al Quimia. For more relaxed spots specialising in seafood, head along the coast to smaller towns such as clam capital Olhão, Tavira and Alvor.More information portugalresident.com
Portugal is a prime European surfing destination: its long coastline picks up a variety of Atlantic swell, from gentle rollers to giant breaks. Eco Yoga Surf, which has been running Drift retreats in Jersey since 2017, is holding its first retreat in the country this year. Drift Portugal is based at a surf villa in Arrifana, on the south-west coast. The programme includes meditation and energising vinyasa flow every morning, surfing at different spots each day, and relaxing yoga nidra at night, with optional beach hikes and workshops on ocean literacy and ecosystems. The villa has a swimming pool and fire pit, and healthy, plant-based meals are included. Suitable for all levels.£1,195 for six nights, 12-18 October, driftretreat.co.uk
A Portuguese hotel group inspired by the Japanese philosophy of kodawari, ('the uncompromising and relentless pursuit of perfection') is opening its first property, Kodawari Flores, on 1 May on Porto's Rua das Flores, and promises 'the best sleep ever'. A second hotel is planned in the same city and a third in Lisbon. In its pursuit of sleep perfection, the hotel has beds by Swedish company Hästens, and bedding by Pato Rico and weighted blankets by Blanky, both Portuguese brands. Guests can book guided tours to taste port and a pastel de nata, listen to fado, visit FC Porto and more.Doubles from £141, opens 1 May, kodawariresidences.com
New holiday cottages have opened on a 19th-century farm in the Ria Formosa nature reserve in the Algarve. Some of Quinta do Pinheiro's two- and three-bedroom properties have courtyard gardens or roof terraces. They share a pool and garden, with an avocado orchard and vineyard beyond. This summer, Amsterdam-based chef Ben van Geelen will cook for guests. The cottages are between the river and sea, with sandy beaches on one side and marshland, salt pans and small islands on the other – ideal for spotting white storks, flamingoes and other birds.From €300 a night for a two-bedroom cottage for four, quintapinheiro.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
35 minutes ago
- Time Out
7 reasons to visit Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai at night
There are plenty of options for Expo evening eats, with pavilion restaurants eagerly promoting the culinary cultures of the participating countries. Our pick of the bunch is the multicourse menu at the Spain Pavilion that offers dishes from 17 autonomous regions and two autonomous cities of the diverse European country for ¥5,500. It's a true trip on your plate, and you can compare and enjoy pintxos and tapas that highlight the characteristics of each region's cuisine. It's a meal that tells the story of Spain's rich history, where races, cultures and religions have mixed together over the centuries. There are dishes from Andalusia, where Islamic rule inspired the culinary techniques and traditions, and the Canary Islands, which are closer to continental Africa than Europe. It goes perfectly with Spanish drinks such as sangria and Cava, a sparkling wine. Run by the famous Osaka restaurateur Etxola, the eatery can be entered from outside the pavilion, making it a convenient place to fill your stomach with an indulgent meal. The night view of the pavilion itself is also a must-see, so don't forget to take in the view of the exterior after your gastronomic tour of the country.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Brexit rules spark ‘clear demand' for more motorhome parking, lobby group says
Boosting provision for these vehicles would generate more revenue for local businesses and increase the number of visitors to tourist destinations outside the peak summer season, the Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) said. Aires is a French word used to describe designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term for motorhomes and campervans – which are much more common in continental Europe than the UK. Post-Brexit rules mean UK passport holders are prohibited from being in the Schengen area – which covers most of the European Union and some other European nations – for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Bournemouth beach compared to French Riviera hotspot
It comes as has explored some of the world's most popular beach destinations and suggested ideal UK alternatives. This way, you can soak up the seaside atmosphere and unwind without having to even board a plane (and skip any airport chaos). Shannon Keary, digital PR manager at said: 'For many people, summer brings the temptation of a beach holiday; however, travel enthusiasts don't have to travel internationally to experience crystal-clear waters and beautiful sandy beaches hidden between towering cliffs as there are many comparable spots in the UK.' Why has Bournemouth beach been compared to the French Riviera? Bournemouth beach was compared to Juan-les-Pins as a UK alternative to a luxurious European holiday destination. said: "Bournemouth Beach mirrors the golden sands and buzzing vibe of Juan-les-Pins. "With lively seafronts, palm-lined promenades, and buzzing beach-town energy, Bournemouth Beach is ideal for anyone looking for that French Riviera feel without leaving the UK." Overall, Bournemouth has seven miles of "award-winning" beaches for residents and visitors to enjoy, according to the town's tourism website. They added: "Nestled beneath a magnificent cliff line, the bay enjoys its own micro-climate, some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK, and stunning views of the Isle of Wight and the Purbecks. Best Beaches in the UK "Whatever you want from a day at the beach, you'll find it all here." What do people think of Bournemouth beach? Overall, Bournemouth beach has been well-received, earning a 4.5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 9,013 reviews. One person wrote: "Beautiful sandy beach, probably the best in the UK! With the sunny weather we are having at the moment it is nicer than Spain! "The kids had a swim and the water was not too cold :). All together Bournemouth is a perfect family seaside escape destination, we plan to return this summer." Recommended reading: Another said: "Great beach to visit. Loads to do including; aquarium, shops, pier and food venues. "Lifeguards available on the beach. Clean and tidy layout, nothing negative that we found. Great facilities close by, would highly recommend." A third posted: "Visit regularly in high and low seasons. Its a wonderful beach, shops close by and life guards in high season to keep everyone safe! We love visiting Bournemouth."
