Pure Portugal Blog

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 4

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 3

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!

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

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 spellin 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

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

Car Hire Tips for Older Drivers

Recent research carried out by Economy Car Hire has shown that a number of car hire suppliers penalise older drivers simply because of their age. And it doesn’t matter how many years no claims or how much experience you have. In one instance, we discovered RecordGo charges drivers aged 70 or older an additional €58 per day up to a maximum of €192, including 21% tax. At current exchange rates, this adds around £136 to the cost of your holiday. ...Read more

Guide to Driving in Portugal

Portugal offers the perfect mixture of traditional villages and lively cities. Why not visit a vineyard, drive along the awe-inspiring coastline, through the spectacular Douro valley (pictured) or immerse yourself in some Portuguese culture. Hiring a car and driving around Portugal is simply the best way to discover it. There are lots of hidden beaches and beautifully set villages hidden in the Portuguese countryside that simply need to be uncovered. Currently, there are some toll roads throughout the Porto and Lisbon ...Read more

Car Hire in Portugal

Get cheap car hire in Portugal and discover everything this wonderful country has to offer at your own pace. Benefit from a fair fuel policy across all locations. Portugal Portugal is a fantastic destination that’s often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbour. It has everything you could look for in a holiday. If you crave golden beaches and sunshine, you can’t go far wrong with the Algarve. Want a culture filled city break? Then Lisbon or Porto will not ...Read more

Lets drink “Café”!

Portuguese people really love to drink coffee and they do it like no one else! In a cooled cup (chávena fria) in summer, or in a heated cup by boiling water (chávena escaldada), drinking coffee (tomar café) is so much more than the obvious act of drinking something! It is in fact, a social and cultural act that promotes socialization and conversation among people, joining friends to spend some time together or it may simply mean that we are going ...Read more

Getting Around Portugal Safely

Portugal is one of the most beautiful places to visit and for good reason. Breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, incredible architecture and delectable cuisine make it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. With so much to do and see, one of the most important things for visitors to do once they arrive is figure out the best way to get around. Whether you choose to rent a vehicle, use public transportation or see the sights on foot, here are ...Read more

Lisboa Menina e Moça

Still reeling from separating from my husband and a subsequent doomed love affair, I needed a break so I went to Lisbon for my first trip away completely alone, to take my independence and newly found language skills on the road! My main concern was that I would be lonely on my weekend away, so I googled the best hostel for solo travellers and found the amazing Travellers House – really funky, quite cheap with loads of things going on ...Read more

Feira Medieval da Caminha

Today I’m off on holidays! We’re going to take the camper van “oop north” and visit the Feira Medieval da Caminha, as well as other places along the way, Braga being one of them – and a visit to Inês in Esposende being another! I’m really looking forward to it, feeling in need of a break, and Portugal’s popular medieval fairs and markets are really worth a visit. Held in towns with medieval castles, the backdrops to the fairs are both ...Read more

The Insider’s Guide to Car Hire

We know car hire can be confusing. It’s not usually something you organise regularly. A once a year booking means that you often forget what things are or how they work. Here we’ve created a bit of an insider’s guide to car hire. The sort of things we treat as standard but our customers aren’t aware of, forget, or are mis-informed about. So follow us through this guide to car hire and fill up the gaps in your knowledge. Who’s ...Read more

Passou Por Mim e Sorriu

Most nights when I go to sleep I dream of Portugal. That I am walking through the forest, collecting quartz crystals from the ground, singing to the trees or talking with the moon. Somehow there was always magic in the air; it’s not quite like that in England….my sparkles have dimmed somewhat as I live in a town, and set to work on material things. It’s hard to explain what it is like to fall in love with something new each day, ...Read more

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