I’ve always been a big fan of tourist cards for city breaks; they have served us well in many European cities such as Helsinki and Oslo. I contacted the Lisbon tourist office before our...
Solar do Castelo hotel, Lisbon: living like royalty within the castle walls
If you can’t stay in a castle when you’re on holiday then why not do the next best thing and stay in the hotel next door. The Castelo do São Jorge is one of the most...
A high degree of luxury and learning in Coimbra, Portugal
There was one small problem we had with Coimbra, even before we arrived. How to pronounce it. I thought it was kwom-bra or maybe koym-bra. I checked online and various audio files seemed to suggest...
Why Porto is the perfect city for a short break
As a short break destination from the UK, Porto takes some beating. Fly direct from Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Luton, Gatwick and Stansted – phew, so many airports to choose from. With a...
A tale in three cities: literary delights in Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon
Porto This little pink slip of paper is like the golden ticket for Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It gave me access to one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops, Livraria Lello in Porto....
The love story of Pedro and Inês in Coimbra, Portugal
The city of Coimbra in Portugal is known for its ancient university but it’s also the location for the tragic but true tale of devotion between Pedro and Inês, the Romeo and Juliet of Portugal....
On the Waterfront in Portugal with Inntravel
“Come on, just a few more steps,” Dougie encouraged me as we negotiated the narrow cobbled streets of the old Alfama district of Lisbon, heading for our hotel, Solar do Castelo. Positive words, the sort...
Mum’s Gone to Portugal – The Memorable Bits
I suppose it can’t get much more memorable than sharing the first week with a TV celebrity chef (see previous post) but there was a smattering of other bits I’d like to share with...