Pure Portugal Blog

Discover Portugal: Tomar

The historic town of Tomar is set along the banks of the Nabão River and filled with ancient churches, cobbled streets and traditional houses. Rightly known as a jewel in the crown of Central Portugal, Tomar offers a true key destination to visit, bursting with stunning architecture and surrounding lush mountains. The fascinating history of Tomar includes being known as one of the religious centres for The Knights Templar, a powerful and secretive order who once ruled from their ...Read more

Hidden Treasures In Central Portugal

Thanks to our friend and partner Melanie, we share this guest blog post about another Treasure in Central Portugal! The undulated valleys and dramatic, forested mountainscapes of Central Portugal quietly guard a modest and timeless beauty. Sleepy villages, waiting to be discovered, reachable by winding rustic roads, nestle into a landscape laced with idyllic river spots and spectacular panoramic viewpoints. There truly is a sense that time slows here, and that life continues as it always has, with a simple ...Read more

The Best Cities In Portugal For Expat Arrivals

Home to a diverse mix of inspiring cities, quaint cobblestone villages and endless stretches of golden sands, Portugal is a truly attractive destination for both expats and visitors alike. As well as being awarded 6th place out of 68 countries in Internations Expat Insider 2018, Portugal gained fifth place for ease of settling in and second spot for quality of life – further emphasising the country’s alluring power. The cities of Porto, Lisbon and Braga in particular, regularly crop up ...Read more

Carnaval In Portugal!

There is no doubt that being in Portugal for Carnival (Carnaval) is one of the most memorable times to be there, the whole country seems to explode into a big bundle of colour, smiles and music, excitement fills the air even in the weeks leading up to the big celebration. Many cities and towns come to a complete stop while long parades of adults and children in fancy dress, and beautifully decorated carnival floats glitter their way through the streets. ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Expat Story

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already. Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet Faith Canter who moved to Portugal from the UK in 2018. How did you find out ...Read more

Discover Portugal: Serra da Estrela

Our place of the month this month is the Serra da Estrela mountains. This months blog is kindly bought to us by Faith Canter at Project Roots which is located near Vale de Prazerers, Fundao The Serra da Estrela happen to be not all that far from us. This is quite a result for the hiker in me (Faith Canter) and I intend to explore much more of this mountain range over the coming years. Serra da Estrela is the highest ...Read more

Let’s meet in 2019!

Our team members Raquel and Daniel, from the Pure Portugal Holidays website, are finally on the road making connections and visiting partners! 2018 was a great year for us, with big challenges and dreams coming true! Taking care of the Pure Portugal Holidays and Rentals site and starting our vanlife has been one of the most amazing experience in our lives! We are so happy that we can travel more, meet our partners and make new connections! Some of the places ...Read more

My Little Casa – Alentejo Discovery

Thanks to author, Lee Middlenam who mentioned Pure Portugal in his recent book – My Little Casa, as thanks to us for being a part of his journey. Here you can read a little more from Paul about his book which is available to buy on Amazon now! Deep in the rich and diverse agricultural heartlands of the Alentejo region in Portugal, villagers were going about their simple everyday life, with some tending to their farms, while others dine ...Read more

Discover Portugal: Passadicos de Paiva

If you’re anywhere near the Center of Portugal, a fun day outing fit for all ages is to go walk the Passadicos de Paiva. Located in Arouca, 85km away from Porto (a bit under a 90min drive), this boardwalk has won the World Traveler Award every year since 2016. An 8km boardwalk snakes through a gorgeous valley in the Arouca Geopark, running parallel to a river and with access to three river beaches. The walk is linear, so ...Read more

Meet Dan Kruger Of The Merkaba Community

What bought you to Portugal in the first place? Too much work in the UK really, I had jobs coming in from all areas, and lots of customers, I always want to take on so much as I am really passionate about what I do but, it wore me down to the point of feeling like I was having a breakdown. I had already been sick for a while before this with Crohn’s disease and had to have 6 ...Read more

Discover Portugal – Mira de Aire Caves

Our pick of the month this month is the beautiful Mira de Aire Caves, located in the small mountain town of Porto de Mós, Leiria, approximately one hour from Lisbon. The drive there itself is a feast for the eyes, winding through stunning mountain roads with the most breath taking views of the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros National Park. The formations date back as far as 150 million years ago, when the dinosaurs roamed, but the caves ...Read more

Road Tripping in Portugal: Hidden Gems and Sleepy Secrets

While over 20 million visitors a year flock to Portugal, each comes in search of their own unique experience. From delicious wine to cascading coastal cities, Portugal has something to offer everybody, but there is one way to make your experience even better. Driving through a country is undoubtedly one of the best ways to see all of the beauty it has to offer. Exploring Portugal’s beautiful coastal towns and delightful inland villages is best when done by car, and ...Read more

Folha Verde – Natural Education and Community Project

Folha Verde is a project initiated and carried out by the local community of around 150 like-minded adults and 50 children, most of whom have moved to the central region of Portugal to be closer to nature and to live a more sustainable life. The project is situated in a central valley next to the river in Benfeita, which makes it easily accessible for all of those living in the surrounding villages of Luadas, Esculca, Pai das Dona, Pardieiros, ...Read more

Discover Portugal: Mata do Bussaco

We had heard whispers about a magical palace reconverted into a hotel, with a restaurant and wine produced exclusively for that estate. When we finally went to explore, we discovered a lush, green forest full of trails and vestiges of an almost forgotten era, with at its heart a legendary convent turned hotel. Welcome to the fairytale that is Mata do Bussaco (also spelled Buçaco). The Buçaco forest bears two papal bulls on one of its gates, forbidding women from ...Read more

Discover Portugal: Praia da Arrifana, Algarve

The South of Portugal is a popular destination, but it’s a big place. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy the beach, gorgeous views, and fun activities that are family-friendly, you might want to look into Praia da Arrifana. Located 1h30 up the coast from Faro, or a 3h drive from Lisbon, this beach is in the Vicentine Coast Natural Park. With its surprising turquoise waters, Praia da Arrifana is surrounded by dramatic cliffs that provide a stunning view as ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Expat Story

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already. Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet Bruce and Russ who moved to Portugal from America in May 2018! How did you find Pure ...Read more

Festa Time! Óbidos Medieval Festa & Market

One of the most talked about Festas in Portugal is the Óbidos Medieval Festa & Market, which runs Thursday’s to Sunday’s between the 12th of July and the 5th of August, offering visitors the chance to feel as though they have been catapulted in time. Many people get dressed up for the occasion (fancy dress hire is available locally) so you can walk down the narrow cobbled streets, mingling with actors and friends alike, all dressed in historic ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Expat Story

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already. Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet Pam and Mark Tipping who found themselves in Portugal in 2012 after they had left UK ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Expat Story 2

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already.Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet South African Ricky De Agrila who moved to Portugal in 2017! How did you find Pure Portugal? ...Read more

Pure Portugal Podcast Episode 2: June 2018

You can use the links below to find out more information relating to the information shared in this months Podcast Missed it? Listen to the Podcast in full here Our fabulous Podcasts are presented and produced by the wonderful Carl Munson. Carl is a radio presenter, with nearly 30 years’ experience – on pirate, community FM, RSL and Internet stations. He created The Barefoot Broadcast in 2010 to explore and share all manner of spiritual, ecological and inspiring subjects ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Expat Story 1

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already. Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet Randall and Michael who moved from the USA to Portugal in December 2017. How did you find ...Read more

Cressida’s House

Cressida, or Cress for short, featured in a recent episode of House Hunters International in which she purchased a property advertised through Pure Portugal. At the beginning of 2016, Cress left behind her life in London and a corporate job in finance, as she felt it lacked any true purpose. After volunteering in Chile and learning more about permaculture practices she came back to Europe and found herself in Portugal. The landscape reminded her of her childhood home in ...Read more

Portugal is a region full of the wonders of nature

Portugal is a region full of the wonders of nature, where you can find tons of fantastic excursions. The most famous is certainly the Rota Vincentina, a network of walking trails in SW Portugal, totalling 450 km along the most beautiful and best preserved coastline of Southern Europe. However there are a lot of wonderful alternatives we wanted to share here. Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos: located in the extreme south of Portugal in the area of ...Read more

Pure Portugal’s – Must Have Books!

This book list will be added to monthly as each months ‘must have book’ is shared on our facebook community page – Pure Portugal Living The Good Life. You can pop over to this blog page looking for an ever increasing list of essential book inspiration! We will ensure it is a varied selection about Portugal, learning Portuguese and other useful books to enable you to start living the good life. LEARNING PORTUGUESE April 2018 – First Thousand Words In ...Read more

Discover Portugal – Sintra

An easy half hour away from Lisbon, Sintra is a lush valley a stone-throw away from the Atlantic Ocean. With its stunning view of the ocean, it’s no wonder that it was always a favorite getaway and the location of Lisbon’s elite family’s holiday and summer homes. Although the term “homes” is used loosely, because Sintra is in fact full of mansions and palaces, with quite a few open for visits – and well worth the detour! If you’re in ...Read more

7 Reason Why Everyone Is Going To Portugal

If you have been to Portugal before then you must have experienced the warmth and the vibrancy of its culture and the marvel of its abundant nature. Whether you want to experience the tranquility of nature or the thrilling daredevil then you’ll love the quality and unique activities that Portugal has to offer. As a matter of fact, not many countries can offer such a wide range of delights and experiences. Read below to learn about the 7 reason why ...Read more

Place Of The Month – March 2018 – Monsanto

The place that time forgot….Somewhere from out of the Flintstones……The most Portuguese village in Portugal… just some of the ways that March’s Place Of The Month is described by people. credit: visit portugal In actual reality this beautiful and fascinating little village, sat 758 metres above sea level in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, near the Spanish border is called Monsanto. In 1938 it really was dubbed the most Portuguese village in Portugal and in 1955 it was also named as ...Read more

Fabulous Festivals In Portugal – 2018

Portugal knows how to party, this we already know! But if the almost year-round festas are not enough for you, fear not! Festivals are making more and more of an appearance in Portugal each year and 2018 is set to be one of the best yet! We’ve compiled a list of the ones that we and the rest of the Pure Portugal community can think of, if we’ve missed any be sure to let us know and send over a ...Read more

Place Of The Month – February 2018 – Berlengas

Looking for adventure? Wanting to find one of those magical looking islands that looks like its come right out of a fantasy book? Well February’s Place Of The Month is quite possibly for you! With the added bonus of only being an hour or so off the mainland of Portugal, Berlengas (known to British mariners as “the Burlings” ) is one of the 3 archipelagos that Portugal has (the other two being the somewhat better known Madeira and The Azores) ...Read more

4 Days Of Activities In The Algarve For Under 100 euros

We love the Algarve, but often when we head down it’s for work or seeing friends and family. This February we had the chance to head down for some real family time and were surprised at how much we managed to cram in without spending a fortune! We didn’t set out with a 100€ budget but, being only a few weeks since Christmas, and as self employed Tipi makers, winter is usually an especially dry time financially and we knew ...Read more

Carnival In Portugal!

Discover Portugal: The Côa Valley

Looking for a day excursion somewhere different, where nature, culture, and gastronomy intersect? Then this itinerary might be for you. The Foz Côa Valley has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, and is considered the biggest open-air site of paleolithic art in Europe, if not in the world. We recommend starting your day by visiting the Faia Brava nature reserve, right on the border between the Center and the North of Portugal. It is the first ...Read more

Place Of The Month – December 2017 – Benagil Caves

Each month we are picking an unusual and beautiful place in Portugal that you can go and visit, it could be a view, cave, beach or building, either way its sure to take your breath away! Our first ‘Place of the month’ is the stunning Benagil caves, notably some of the most beautiful in Europe, the Benagil beach cave was listed as one of the ‘worlds top 10 coolest caves’ by The Huffington Post in 2014. Based in the Algarve ...Read more

New Year’s Eve In Portugal

Most of us know how well the Portuguese can throw a party, and no better excuse than to throw one for New Year’s Eve, cities all over Portugal come alive with music and fireworks to see in new Year. Often, even smaller towns and villages will have a local celebration in a favourite restaurant that you can go along and join in with! All over the country people will gather and party away long into the small hours. Whether it ...Read more

Pure Portugal’s 10 Days Of Christmas

For the last 10 Days in the lead up to Christmas Day we decided it would be fun to make a Pure Portugal – Ten Days Of Christmas List which we posted on out Facebook page Pure Portugal Living The Good Life each day was a letter leading us to spelling out the words FELIZ NATAL (Happy Christmas) Here it is again in full. F – Fogueiras de Natal – Christmas Fires – Whether it’s a cozy fire indoors or ...Read more

Christmas in Portugal

Some of us are preparing for our first Christmas in Portugal! Some of us are well seasoned stayers for Portuguese Festivities! I have spent Christmas in many different countries over the years which has led to seeing many different traditions to compare to the traditions I was raised with in the UK as a child and I can truly say that none compare to the warmth and love of the Portuguese Christmas time… Towns are adorned with decorations, nativity scenes ...Read more

Team Meeting @ Quinta Madre de Água

Our Team had a meeting in another amazing farm. This time in Vinhó, Gouveia. We started doing a check-up through all Pure Portugal areas and quickly we’ve noticed that Pure Portugal community is growing very fast! And we feel thankful to support, share and help people making connections, as this is our main purpose! And now our priority now is to launch the new french website. So, “Pure Portugal en Français” is coming very soon! We had a great lunch ...Read more

Pure Portugal RoadTrips

Hello Portugal Lovers! This year, the Pure Portugal team members Raquel and Daniel will be doing several road trips throughout Portugal, visiting projects, the Pure Portugal community and partners. In their first trip they will be going from Porto to Oleiros, in the Castelo Branco district. And they would like to interview some of the members of the community about the journey and experiences living in Portugal. So we can promote a stronger community and support each other! If you ...Read more

The Algarve: 5 Reasons Why It Should Be On Your Map For 2016

Here are our top five reasons to visit Portugal’s top holiday hot-spot in 2016! You may well remember the Algarve from blissful childhood holidays in the sun, no doubt involving melted vanilla cornets and fresh sardines by the harbour. But with it experiencing a record-breaking tourism surge in 2015, with Portugal’s National Statistics Institute reporting an increase in its overseas visitors of 12.2 million, we think it’s definitely time to relive holiday memories or create some new ones! As the Algarve is hot for ...Read more

Top Travel Apps for 2016

Post by Zest Car Rental Whether we like it or not, smartphones have become invaluable tools for planning and booking holidays. They’re also fast replacing guide books and maps once we arrive at our destination, thanks to the power of the internet. These days, travel apps are a rapidly growing business and whilst many of them are poor, there are some great ones too. So with that in mind, what are the top travel apps for 2016? Photo by: georgejmclittle/Fotolia ...Read more

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