Culture & Events - Olá Daniela

Bottomless wine and secret cellars: Redondo’s tasca and talha trail

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:19:36 +0000

Hidden tascas, endless vinho, and the soulful chorus of Cante Alentejano – was it just another Saturday afternoon in the Alentejo?

When I want to really feel the heart and soul of Portugal, I like to dash out to the Alentejo region. Here in the villages, dotted between olive groves and forests of cork oaks, you won’t find ramen bars replacing tascas, or cafés serving iced matcha specials. Instead these raw and real rural communities come together like they always have, bonding over shared heritage and an afternoon of limitless vinho.

Recently we spent the day in Redondo, a small Alentejo town with an artisanal pottery scene, historic castle, and strong wine roots. I’d found an event that gave us access to historic tascas and private adegas, usually closed to the public, with the promise of wine, snacks, and songs at each stop. It didn’t take much to convince a couple of good friends to join.

An afternoon tavern rally, with a side of Cante Alentejano

On this particular April afternoon we were among the 100 people crawling Redondo as part of an event called A Taberna – Tascas, Castas e Cantigas. At just €20, the six-stop tasca rally with bottomless wine, plenty of petiscos (tapas) and traditional cante Alentejano was an easy sell.

I’m slightly obsessed with tascas, tabernas and historic stores, so the chance to visit usually closed private cellars and a centenary grocer sold it for me.

We gathered at the newly opened tourism office to collect our Redondo-branded wine glass and pouch. From there we set off for the first of six stops….

Redondo rally – first two stops

Stops one and two were a couple of regular Redondo tascas that are open to the public. The first, Taberna O Engaço is super cute inside with a vintage tiled counter and traditional details. I definitely want to return here for lunch one day.

The winemaker behind Manelicos, an organic winery whose family has been producing vinho since the 18th century. The syrah was one of my favourites of the day.

The second, O Vicente, was a regular snack bar, but they had the best spread of snacks with top-quality presunto de porco preto (prosciutto) draped over melon, toucinho (lard) with garlic on bread, pastéies de bacalhau (salted cod croquettes), olives and more.

Hearing cante Alentejano

Cante Alentejano is a deep, powerful and traditional Alentejo style of group singing that echoes the rhythms of rural life. It’s always performed without instruments – just one voice or the chorus singing together in slow, haunting harmonies.

Among the rally were about a dozen local men, including the mayor, dressed in traditional Alentejo capotes (cloaks), boots and clothing. Our cante Alentejano chorus would gather and burst into song – singing of the land, love and hardships.

Recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, this was a raw, real and moving way to mark the end of each stop.

Stop three, a private adega, filled with talhas and ceramics

The third stop sent my jaw to the floor. We entered the inconspicuous door of a private home to find a family’s cellar filled with 14 talhas and dozens of antique terracotta Redondo plates. Down the centre was a long table covered in a red checked tablecloth where a spread of local cheese, charcuterie and salgados lay in wait.

Many wineries Portuguese wineries I’ve visited – which make a point of reviving this style of winemaking – have fewer talhas than this private cellar. These ginormous terracotta vessels have been used to age wine since Roman times in the Alentejo.

I made a short video (below!) about this day, with the main song from when we were in this cellar. Here they were pouring wines from Calhameiro, and I loved the red that blended aragonez, trincadeira and touriga nacional.

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How did I, an estrangeira, find this exclusive tasca rally with bottomless wine and cante Alentejano deep in the interior? I’m on a constant hunt for cool events in Portugal, and I share loads of them in my Portugal event guides.

Plus, Redondo is part of the Serra d’Ossa wine region, which is celebrating being “cidade do vinho” (wine city) for 2025 with loads of events – look at the Instagram for what’s next.

Stop four, a closed century-old grocery store

Mercearia Fim do Mundo (End of the World Grocer) is a historic store that remains preserved behind closed doors. They were swung open for us this day to reveal old wooden shelves, a marble-topped bar and wooden barrels.

A couple of tables were set up with a spread of roasted peppers, charcuterie, croquettes and more. I really liked the wines being poured by Herdade da Candeeira here too.

By this point we’d been spotted as foreigners, which somehow made me a minor celebrity as I was introduced to the mayor, and then the deputy mayor – and then dragged off to give a (terrible) radio interview in Portuguese. (Still no word if what I said was lucid enough to go on air.)

Another private cellar, filled with talhas and homemade booze

Our Rota da Tabernas took us to the private Adega Cova Funda for the fifth stop. This narrow space, lined with huge talhas on each side was more interesting than any regional museum.

Topping every talha, hanging from the cellar, and tucked around the edges were collections of historic farming equipment, baskets, ceramics, textiles and blankets. Plus a never-ending collection of homemade bagaço – a wine-based spirit held in reused jars and bottles and flavoured with whatever the friendly owner could get his hands on.

By this point, the crowd was getting pretty jolly. A couple of accordions had come out, and the music transitioned from cante Alentejano to Portuguese classics that got the people going. Soon enough everyone of all ages was singing the lyrics and swaying with the group, making it feel like a big family celebration or reunion.

Final stop, the enoteca inside the castle

Our final stop was the town’s enoteca, which is Redondo’s cultural space dedicated to wine. In this large hall within the castle walls there was enough space for us to all sit down for a light meal. Tables were spread with even more charcuterie, croquettes, scrambled eggs and bread. Plus we each had a bowl of sopa de cozido, a stew made with smoked meats, potato and cabbage.

At one end was a bar where the wines kept flowing. And once the food was done the music flowed again with extras joining the cante Alentejano group and more songs that bring people together.

It seems like you can visit the enoteca space quite easily to taste dozens of local wines from around Redondo and the Serra d’Ossa paired with cheeses and smoked sausages from the region.

Other things to do in Redondo

Before the tasca rally we explored Redondo’s pottery production, which dates back hundreds and hundreds of years and continues to this day. Redondo once had 40 studios, and now you’ll find six.

You can learn more about the town’s ceramic evolution at the Museu do Barro. This small pottery museum details production from prehistoric times to today (it’s free and worth a look). After, visit the still-working potters yourself.

There are dozens of wineries around Redondo, you just need to call or email ahead to book a tasting. Nearby you can go hiking in the Serra d’Ossa too.

Next time I want to organise a cork safari experience with Corktrekking, a company that offers off-road Jeep tours, guided hikes and wine tastings at a fifth-generation montado – a cork oak forest.

➼ Wish someone could shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls to help cut through the noise and plan your perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.

Where to stay in Redondo

Hotel Convento de São Paulo

I recently stayed at this tile-filled historic hotel set in a 12th-century convent, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The independent Hotel Convento de São Paulo has the largest private collection of tiles in Portugal. Some 54,000 azulejos cover the corridors and staircases, dating back to the first half of the 18th century.

It’s rated 4-star, set within 750 hectares of natural bushland, and has two pools (including one adult-only pool). Basically, enjoy a breakfast buffet in the monk’s refectory, follow a hiking trail across the property, then sit by the pool all afternoon while someone delivers G&Ts to your lounge. There are also four padel courts, a tennis court, bicycles and a restaurant.

It’s a stunning countryside escape in the Alentejo, and just a 10-minute drive from Redondo.

Check availability for Hotel Convento de São Paulo

Other places to stay in town

TurisAlentejo – modern one-bedroom apartments with traditional Alentejo furniture
Rota VMF – contemporary rooms or a two-bed townhouse.

How to get to Redondo

Getting to Redondo is relatively simple if you’re coming from Lisbon or Évora. If you’re travelling by bus, Rede Expressos runs regular services from Lisbon’s Oriente Station. The bus stops in Évora with the journey taking about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

If you prefer to drive, it will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes with tolls.

The Serra d’Ossa wine region, where Redondo lies, has other wine towns. Look up events in Borba, Estremoz, Vila Viçosa and Alandroal!

Keep reading…

The post Bottomless wine and secret cellars: Redondo’s tasca and talha trail appeared first on Olá Daniela.

Best Porto wine tasting tours (that I’ve done) & a list of port wine cellars

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:51:02 +0000

If you’re visiting Porto and have even the faintest interest in wine (or like to learn about how things are made), then you can’t skip the chance to visit a port wine house for a tasting tour. Across the Douro River from Porto lie almost two dozen historic port wine cellars and warehouses, where the humid conditions close to the sea have been part of this fortified wine’s history for centuries.

I live in Lisbon, so each time I visit Porto with friends I try to join wine tours to a different cellar to explore behind the scenes, enter the ageing rooms to see the giant barrels, and taste the most precious port wine at the source. Even though I’ve done a handful of port wine tours, I’ve found each one super interesting and offering something a little bit different. Below I’ll share both my personal experiences of port wine tastings and tours – because I know how intimidating it can be to choose from two dozen port wine tours!

No time to read the whole article? Here’s the essence…

My top pick is Cockburn’s Tawny Tasting & Tour. The tawny tasting is the best introduction to the world of port wine.
My second pick is Graham’s. Go for the premium tasting or essentials tour – or if you prefer private, the super premium t a sting includes a 40-year-old tawny! Epic.

Under that you’ll find a list of all the Port wine tasting tours you can join in Vila Nova de Gaia (across the river from Porto), along with some drop-in tasting rooms. I’ve also included a list of some other port wine producers and brands that don’t have an operating cellar door in Gaia – you’ll likely have to visit them in the Douro Valley.

Why is Porto famous for wine?

Why is this big coastal city famous for wine? Porto is the birthplace of port wine (vinho do Porto), a sweet fortified wine known and loved worldwide. The 400-and-something-year-old story of port wine begins in the Douro Valley, one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions, where sun-drenched vineyards produce exceptional grapes. The port wine made upstream in the Douro Valley, about a two-hour drive from Porto, is always transported to Porto – or more accurately, Vila Nova de Gaia – where it ages silently in the humid, coastal atmosphere in huge wooden casks.

Where are the port wine houses in Porto?

Well, technically they are not in Porto. The port cellars are all in Vila Nova de Gaia, the city set on the southern bank of the Douro River. The river is fairly narrow, so the cellars are easy to reach by foot, Uber, Metro or bus from the city. You also get to enjoy stunning views back to Porto’s skyline.

➼ Want someone to shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls and can plan your perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.

The best port wine tasting tours (that I’ve actually done)

My top pick: Cockburn’s

When my brother came to visit, I decided we’d go to Cockburn’s (pronounced “co-burn”) for a port wine tasting and tour as they have the only cooperage left in Gaia. Verdict? I really loved it.

Book here: Cockburn’s Tawny Tasting & Tour

While the sound of coopers bang, bang, banging oak barrels together used to ring out across Vila Nova de Gaia, these days it’s just Cockburn’s. The skilled coopers are constantly repairing barrels for the Symington family, who own a handful of other port wine brands too. Sadly I visited a couple of days before Christmas, and since the job of a cooper is very physically demanding (hello 19th century tools) they had been given some extra days off (sad for me, not for them!).

Despite the slight disappointment of not seeing the coopers at work, I thought the tour was great. Carolina, our guide, was super knowledgeable and it didn’t feel like she was reading a script. I’m that person on tours asking a million questions (blame my journalism degree), and she had in-depth and interesting answers for anything I threw at her.

If you arrive early you can explore a small museum – in English and Portuguese – to learn more about the brand’s history and some quirky facts (like how a São João balloon set the roof on fire in the 1980s and they lost some stock).

Once ready, we set off into the cellar past a handful of huge wooden casks each with 36,000 litres of ruby port ageing. You’ll learn lots. Cockburn’s is the largest producer of port wine in the world. The oldest wine still on wood is a 1937 colheita. The oldest bottle in the family’s private collection is from 1861.

Carolina showed us a map of the Douro Valley, explaining the specifics of the terroir and what makes the climate what it is. She pointed out the sub-regions and mentioned how Dow’s, a sibling brand grown in the Baixo Corgo sub-region, has a drier profile, while Graham’s and Cockburn’s grapes are grown in the Douro Superior area, deeper in the valley, making them a lot sweeter. She also showed us a piece of schist stone, the special rock found in the valley that holds heat overnight and is essential to grape production in this climate.

Cockburn’s port wine tasting experience

Full of knowledge and thirst, we make it to the tasting room. I’d booked the Cockburn’s Tawny Tasting & Tour on GetYourGuide so we sat down to a tasting mat with the special reserva, 10-year-old and 20-year-old tawny ports. It was good fun tasting the big differences in flavour, scent and even texture.

Cockburn’s isn’t set right on the river in Gaia, which I think is a good thing. I’ve been to others where you feel more like a number as they push through a tour every half hour in a different language. The disadvantage is that the cellar and tasting room didn’t have a view of Porto or the river (but there are loads of riverfront restaurants with views).

Address: Rua de Serpa Pinto 346 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Book here: Cockburn’s Tawny Tasting & Tour

➼ Looking for a non-fortified Douro Valley wine tasting? I can highly recommend this six-wine tasting with a cheeseboard that I did recently at Canto de Luz. You’ll taste two whites, two reds, a rosé and end with a fragrant white port.

Graham’s

The first port wine house I visited, way back in January 2019, was Graham’s – I visited again in June 2025 just to make sure the tour is still good. This port wine brand was founded in 1820 by two brothers – William and John Graham – who started one of the world’s most well-known port wine names.

Book here: Tour with premium tasting, essentials tour, or private tour with super premium tasting

The tour lasted about one hour and time zipped by. You get to explore Graham’s lodge and the old cellar, which was built in 1890, and learn a lot in the process. The guide gave a really detailed explanation about the difference between ruby, tawny and white ports. It’s a great introduction to port wines and an amazing experience to explore the historic cellars.

The other delightful advantage is the location of Graham’s. While it’s not down by the riverfront, the lodge has sweeping panoramic views of both Gaia and Porto’s riverfront from the terrace. It’s a magic place to sit in the late afternoon and take in the scenery. After the tasting we took ourselves out onto the deck to really take in the view.

Graham’s port wine tasting experiences

There are a few different Graham’s tastings you can book, with the major difference often being which ports you’ll have the chance to sample. With the tour and premium tasting you’ll try the Graham’s LBV paired with chocolate, Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos paired with cheese, and Graham’s 20-year-old paired with a pastel de nata.

The essentials tour gives a four-port line-up includes the Graham’s Blend Nº5 White, Graham’s Six Grapes, Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port, and Graham’s 30-Year-Old Tawny.

There’s also a private experience, where you’ll enjoy the tasting in the special vintage room. It’s a little more pricey but not unreasonable – though rather than the most basic private one I’d pay the €10 more for the “super premium” tasting that includes Graham’s Single Harvest 1997, Graham’s 30-year-old Tawnies, and Graham’s 40-year-old. Now that would be a treat!

Address: Rua do Agro 141 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Book here: Tour with premium tasting, essentials tour, or private tour with super premium tasting

Ramos Pinto

I’ve always enjoyed the vintage advertising posters of Ramos Pinto, a port wine house started in 1880 by Adriano Ramos Pinto. Senhor Adriano was a smart guy when it came to marketing. His bold, artistic, and sensual posters brought plenty of attention to his high-quality Port wines.

On the cellar tour we got to explore his old office, learning about how he revolutionised wine marketing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I found it interesting and funny to hear about how controversial their provocative posters and art were at the time.

Ramos Pinto is set in a beautiful multi-storey yellow manor house right on the riverfront. After exploring the antique offices and wine cellars, we were led to a beautiful tasting room on the upper floors, with uninterrupted views of the river and Porto.

Address: Av. de Ramos Pinto 380 – Vila Nova de Gaia

List of all the Port houses opens for wine tastings

So there are at least 18 port wine houses and cellars on the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the Douro River open for a wine tasting.

I’ll list them all below so you can see your options, then under that you can find a map of them all to explore. Some are an easy walk from Ribeira in Porto, others are a little further and you might need an Uber or Bolt!

Historic heavyweights: Port wine cellars with 200+ years of history

Burmester

You’ll find the Caves Burmester, founded in 1750, at the foot of the Dom Luis I Bridge, making it the easiest port wine cellar to access if you’re staying in Porto. Burmester is part of the Sogevinus group.

Address: Largo Dom Luís I – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Book Burmester here

Casa Ferreira

The story of Casa Ferreira stretches back to 1751. Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira was a legendary Portuguese businesswoman well ahead of her time. At the age of 33, the widow took over and developed the family business. The 19th century wasn’t exactly a time for women to be negotiating deals, but there she was investing in new wine innovations. In 2026 Porto will open a bridge named in her honour. Now part of the Sogrape group.

Address: Avenida Ramos Pinto, 70 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto wine tours: Details here

Taylor’s

The Taylor’s cellar is one of the oldest Porto wine houses, founded back in 1692. You’ll likely recognise the name of this popular brand, and it has an ace location with gorgeous views of Porto. You can tour the 300-year-old cellar at your own pace on a self-guided tour using an audio guide. After you can taste three ports.

Address: Rua do Choupelo, 250 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto wine tours: Self-guided tour & tasting, or pair the tour with a visit to the Wine Museum

Did you know… Taylor’s also has a tasting room in Lisbon too. You can book a guided tasting of port wines and learn about this style of wine.

Kopke

Kopke is the Douro region’s oldest port wine house – established in 1638. It started when a German native arrived in Portugal and started a wine exporting business, then in 1781 the family bought vineyards in the Douro Valley. Now part of the Sogevinus group.

Address: Avenida Diogo Leite, 312 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: In Gaia there is a small tasting room – drop in early to get a seat.

Read more… How to spend 48 hours in Porto

Real Companhia Velha

The royal charter of King D. José I led to the founding of Real Companhia Velha back in 1756, and now it’s the oldest Portuguese port wine house. From five vineyards in the Douro Valley, grapes are sourced to create port wine that is stored in the quiet cellars at Gaia. You can visit the casks, giant barrels, and vats where the wine rests for decades, letting time do its work. On a tasting tour you’ll see the private wine cellar of the Silva Reis family, including rare vintage ports, with the oldest dating back to 1765.

Address: Rua Azevedo Magalhães, 314 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto wine tours: Classic tour or Premium tour, both include 4 ports

Sandeman

You might recognise “The Don”, the Sandeman mascot that wears a long black cape and traditional hat. This logo defines the Sandeman Wine Cellars, which opened in 1790. I always love seeing the vintage advertising mural on the Porto side of the river. Apparently the guides take tours wearing capes, which adds to the drama of this top-rated port house. Part of the Sogrape group.

Address: Larga Miguel Bombarda 3 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Half-a-dozen tasting options

Read next… Where to eat in Porto

19th- and 20th-century port wine houses

Poças

Poças is one of the only remaining wine lodges in Gaia still owned and run by a Portuguese family. It’s not on the riverfront – so you might want to take a taxi or rideshare to this cellar. I like that you can choose from tasting three ports, or a mix of two table wines and two ports at the end.

Address: Rua Visconde das Devesas, 168 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto wine tours: Tour with 3 ports, or tour with 2 wines, 2 ports

➼ Wish someone could shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls to help people cut through the noise and plan a perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.

Calém

If you’re in a hurry, Calém’s port wine tour is just a quick 30-minute one, plus you’ll have time to explore an interactive museum and taste two wines. But Calém’s coolest experience is the port wine tasting with a fado show. It’s just once per day – you’ll still tour the winery, but after you’ll taste the two wines while experiencing fado, a melancohlic music style from Lisbon. Double culture tick! Calém is now part of the Sogevinus group.

Address: Avenida de Diogo Leite, 344 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto wine tours: Museum & tour, tour with fado music show (6pm or 6.30pm), or chocolate, cheese & wine tasting

Churchill’s Lodge

Opened in 1981, family-run Churchill’s is the relative “newcomer” to port wine, but it has deep roots. Johnny Graham, son of the famous Graham’s family, dared to launch his own brand to create a drier, different style of port wine. Now it’s the last remaining independent British port house.

Address: Rua da Fonte Nova, 5 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Besides the usual tasting, Churchill’s offers a Tawny Blender’s Session, where you’ll play winemaker and get to craft your own signature 20-year-old tawny port. You’ll taste cask samples and leave with your hand-filled 200ml bottle.

Fonseca Port Wine Cellars

Fonseca is a popular Port wine house, founded in 1815, known for its vintage ports. On the Gaia side of the Douro River you can drop in for a wine tasting and tour the 200-year-old cellars. Or, in the evening enjoy a traditional fado music show with two port wines.

Address: Rua do Choupelo, 54 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Simple tour and tasting, or a cool fado experience and tasting in the cellar (with optional dinner)

Port wine walking tour: I found this really well-priced Port wine walking tour that allows you to sample 10 wines and tour three port cellars with a guide. You’ll visit the cellars of Vasques De Carvalho and Fonseca, tasting five ports before trying Douro Valley table wines too.

Porto Augusto’s

The Augusto family has been involved in the port wine business since the 1970s, but it was only in 2014 that three generations banded together to open their own brand. Now the entirely Portuguese-owned port house opens the Gaia cellar to visits, where you can join a short 20-minute tour to learn about port, then taste port wine made from grapes grown at one of two family vineyards.

Address: Rua da França 10 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Book via the website

Niepoort Wine Cellar

If you like it exclusive, Niepoort is your cellar to tour. Part of Niepoort’s brand is doing things differently – as it has done since 1842 – and each day it only opens to a maximum of 24 people. Since there are more than a dozen other cellars open to visits in the Porto wine district, Niepoort only opened its “temple” in 2021 with the goal to keep the experience authentic (cobwebs and all).

Address: Rua de Serpa Pinto 278 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Book via the website

Port wine tasting rooms in Gaia

The following port wine houses don’t offer cellar tours – instead you can drop by the cellar doors in Vila Nova de Gaia opposite Porto where you can join guided tastings or simply enjoy a drink!

Quevedo

Quevedo is run by two Portuguese brothers and has a really beautiful space in a 200-year-old warehouse that used to be a cooperage. The cellar isn’t open for visits – instead there are a range of experiences and guided tastings on offer, or you can drop in for a drink and food. The friendly staff are super knowledgeable and will explain in detail what you’re tasting.

Address: Rua de Santa Marinha, 77 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tastings: Port wine discovery tasting, Port wine and cheese pairing

Quinta do Bom Dia

Five generations of the same family have been producing port wine under the Quinta do Bom Dia name. It’s a more boutique port house, with just 25 hectares of vines in the Douro Valley. And it sounds like you can drop into the cellar door in Gaia without a reservation.

Address: Rua Guilherme Gomes Fernandez, 54 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Reservations not required, tours leave every 30 minutes.

Vasques de Carvalho

Vasques de Carvalho has an estate in the heart of the Douro Valley where the best grapes become port wines. While the Carvalho family’s story started back in the 19th century, this is relatively new brand and you can drop by the modern tasting room in Gaia to sample ports.

Address: Tv. do Ribeirinho 19 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Drop into the tasting house

Caves Porto Vasconcellos

Back in 1879, founder José Teixeira Pinto Vasconcellos started exporting wines. Fast forward to today, and while the brand is now owned by Christie’s, the Douro wineries produce some 30,000 litres of wine annually from almost seven hectares. From the tasting room in Gaia, you’ll enjoy views over Porto and the Douro River while sipping on your choice of Ports.

Address: Av. Diogo Leite, 8 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Email for a tasting tour

Quinta do Noval

This estate dates back to 1715, but it was only in 1894 that Quinta do Noval gained a reputation for fine Port wines. You can drop into the casual tasting room of Quinta do Noval, complete with waterfront views of Porto.

Address: Av. de Diogo Leite 256 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Drop into the bar

Espaço Porto Cruz

Visiting Espaço Porto Cruz is an experience. This port wine brand has turned an entire five-storey building by Gaia’s riverfront into a space where you can join wine tastings, visit an interactive museum, and take in the sunset from the rooftop bar. There are dozens of ways to experience port wines from Porto Cruz (and sister brand Dalva) within the building.

Address: Largo Miguel Bombarda 23 – Vila Nova de Gaia
Port wine tasting: Drop into the bar

Map of all the Port wine houses in Vila Nova de Gaia

Other port wine brands

I’ve dug deep to find more port wine houses. The below brands do not have cellar doors in Gaia or Porto, so you may have to venture out to the Douro Valley to try these ports, or source them at a bottle shop.

There are a handful of big players in the port game – Sogrape, Symington Family, Sogevinus, Taylor’s Fladgate – that seem to hold the lion’s share of these historic companies. There are a few more not listed here that they own but I’m not sure if those labels still produce port wine.

Warre’s – established 1670
Croft – founded in 1588
Osborne – family run, founded in 1722
Barros – founded 1913, now owned by Sogevinus group
Dona Matilde – founded 2006 by Barros family
Wine & Soul – founded in 2001
Hutcheson – established 1881
Krohn – founded 1865, known for Vintage Ports and ‘Colheitas’
Blackett
Romariz – established 1850
Quinta do Crasto
Barão de Vilar
Maynard’s
Feuerheerd’s – founded in 1815
Andresen

I did this unique Moorish tile-painting workshop in Sintra

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:07:00 +0000

There are a dozen or so tile-painting workshops you can join in and around Lisbon, but I’ve only found one in Portugal focused on Hispanic-Moorish techniques. Aldina’s beautiful creative studio is in Sintra, close to Lisbon, and I joined her tile-painting workshop a few months ago.

In this workshop, not only did we paint a Moorish-style aresta tile – we made a second one with clay, which I got to take home too. Here’s what happened at this unique tile-painting (and making) workshop in Sintra, Lisbon’s most popular day trip destination.

First, a little explainer: Portugal’s tile history & tile-making techniques

There are three main traditional techniques to make tiles – dry cord, edge, and majolica. Most of the tiles you see in Portugal will be the last one, majolica. So, you can imagine how excited I was to join a Portuguese tile-painting workshop focused on the “aresta” or edge technique.

Back in 1498 Portugal’s king took a trip to Seville where he saw beautiful Moorish tiles decorating the city. King D. Manuel I liked what he saw and decided to bring beautiful tiles to Portugal too. He made an order for the National Palace in Sintra (close to where this workshop is held). After this, churches and noble families started ordering tiles for their buildings too.

Dry cord or corda seca

The oldest Moorish technique is dry cord or corda seca, invented in the 10th century in what’s now Spain, but was then controlled by the Moors. A geometric pattern would be outlined with a mix of oil or fat and manganese oxide. As oil and water don’t mix, when the coloured glazes were added they would remain separate when being fired.

Edge or aresta

Later, the Moorish developed the aresta or edge technique in the late 15th century. This is essentially making tiles with textured edges or tiny borders or ridges that stop the colours from mixing. The clay is pressed into a plaster mold to create the edges, and after drying is painted by hand.

Majolicá

The third and final technique is majolica, which appeared in the early 16th century in Portugal. This is a flat tile dipped in white glaze, then you paint directly onto the surface. Most of the early majolica tiles were handpainted, but from the early 20th century semi-industrial tiles using a stencil technique to speed up the process began covering buildings in Lisbon and Porto.

Making our own aresta tile with clay

Estudio Lazuli’s tile studio in Sintra is a bit of an Aladdin’s cave. Taking over the ground level of a house, owner Aldina has made a creative space filled with antiques, pots of paint, ceramics, pottery wheels and more. Our group of three – two Portuguese locals and myself – were sat around a table with Aldina, who gave us an introduction to this tile technique and showed us the special moulds she’d created.

There were maybe a dozen moulds to choose from. Both more classic Moorish styles with intricate geometric patterns that mimic some of the zellige style (hand-cut mosaics), and more organic and flowy ridged tile designs with an art nouveau feel.

I got to choose one of the moulds to form my own “Hispano-Moorish” or “Hispano-Arabic” edge tile, and was handed a chunk of clay to get to work. After rolling it out into a thinner sheet, you lay it out over the mould and hand press it to get every ridge and groove from the plaster mould.

Painting a Moorish-style tile in Lisbon

Since it would take many days for the clay tile to dry, ready to be fired, Aldina let us choose a pre-baked one she had prepared earlier so we had something ready to paint that day. I decided on a more traditional Moorish pattern but I went for bright and modern colours.

The central table was filled with glazes in at least a dozen colours – this was the hard part, choosing the colour scheme. Aldina showed us how to apply the paint using a loaded brush and how to work the colour to avoid any streaks or undesired marks.

The process of painting this type of tile is fairly straightforward and as relaxing as meditation. I know some people worry about needing artistic talent for a tile-painting workshop, but I think even the less artistically inclined would have a blast painting their own tile this way.

If we made any mistakes, Aldina had some tricks to fix spills or errors before the tiles went to be baked. Once we were done, we added our initials to the back of the tiles, waved goodbye and returned to the world.

Now, the tiles needed time to dry and bake. Aldina emailed us as soon as our masterpieces were ready, and since I live in Lisbon I went to collect the two myself – though I’m sure she can arrange postage or a courier to deliver it to your hotel or home address.

Need to know

What: Hispano-Moresque tile-making and painting workshop
Duration: 90-minutes up to two hours
Where: Sintra, 500m (0.3 mile) from the train station

Good to know: Aldina lived in Germany for a long time too, so she speaks fluent Portuguese, German and English.

That’s what it was like to paint a tile in Sintra – you can find more tile-painting workshops in my article.

Planning a trip to Portugal? I can help! Find out more about my Portugal travel calls here.

Keep reading…

The post I did this unique Moorish tile-painting workshop in Sintra appeared first on Olá Daniela.

Meet Portugal’s last cowbell makers: Chocalhos Pardalinho

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:36:00 +0000

Saving the voice of the fields

The Alentejo is a land of slow living, where the beautiful landscape unfolds like a painting. The soundtrack to the ancient olive groves and frozen centennial cork trees is the gentle ding, ding, ding of cowbells. It’s not uncommon to cross paths with a shepherd, letting his flock roam free in the pastures. But not too free; they still need to find the animals and be able to tell their sheep or goats from their neighbours’. Thank goodness for bells!

A tradition passed from father to son

The making of cowbells is a craft traditionally passed from father to son, and it has a long history in the village of Alcáçovas, south of Évora. Here you can visit Chocalhos Pardalinho to explore the art of making cowbells. I was not expecting much – cowbells are just a sheet of metal, right? – but was absolutely mesmerised by the technical and complex process of making and tuning (yes, tuning) these artisanal bells.

At the end of July each year the town of Alcaçovas holds the Feira do Choalho, a fair celebrating the town’s tradition of cowbell making. In 2025 the festivals fall from 25 – 27 July. More information.

Witness the art of making chocalhos

There are only a handful of men left dedicated to the craft, so it felt very special to see the whole process. It starts, as you’d expert, with a sheet of metal, which varies in thickness depending on the size of the cowbell. The master artisan slices it to size then bends it around an anvil with a hammer. Here he bangs in ears, and adds a handle and the céu (heaven), a little loop where the badalo (clapper) will hang.

Into the oven they go

The bell is wrapped in paper, then a few pieces of brass are added before it gets cocooned inside a shell of clay and straw with a hole poked into the cavity. That’s left to dry in the sun.

Once dry, the bells are baked in an oven for about an hour at 1,250°C. While still piping hot, the craftsman removes them with a hook, rolling each on the floor so that the melted brass covers the bells evenly. The chocalhos are submerged in water to cool down, then the shell is cracked off to reveal a glistening golden bell – much prettier than the iron one that went in.

Each bell is then individually tuned

The brass helps make the cattle bells last longer, plus it gives each bell a beautiful sound. Each bell is tuned by a master with decades of experience. The goal is to make each bell create a strong, long and pleasant sound that will travel across the plains. The bells are adjusted to remove any unstable sound waves.

Apparently some shepherds will request a specific note to signify their flock – that might mean making 100 bells for an order of 20 to get the tones right. Once tuned, the bell is polished and the wooden clapper and a leather band are added.

On UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage

The art of making cowbells has been slowly slipping away due to a few reasons – beyond more industrial techniques, there are less shepherds and more farmers with fences (who have no need for bells to identify their flocks).

Portugal’s chocalhos have been classified as UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity to try and preserve this ancient craft. There are just 13 master craftsmen left, and only a handful of those are under 70 and still working.

Where to experience the art of cowbell making

If you’re interested, you can email or call Chocalhos Pardalinho to see this all for yourself at their workshop in Alcáçovas. It sounds like they have a “bell maker for a day” experience too. When I was there the younger apprentice showed us how it was done and he spoke really fantastic English.

Also in the village you can visit the Museu do Chocalho (Cowbell Museum) to see a private collection of more than 3,000 items gathered over 60 years.

If you can’t make it to Alcáçovas, there is another family of chocalhos – the Sim Sim family – in Estremoz who have run the Casa Galileu shop for more than 50 years. Inside you’ll find bells made by three generations of the same family along with other crafts from the region.

I visited Chocalhos Pardalinho with the help of Visit Alentejo.

Portuguese artisans: 11 traditional crafts from the Alentejo

28 best medieval & historic events in Portugal in 2025 & 2026

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:50:38 +0000

Colourful banners flutter above cheering crowds as knights on horseback clash in a tournament for the ages. The air is thick with the scents of roasting meat and red wine, and music from another era fills your ears. Vendors hawk their wares from stalls while theatrical performers bring every corner to life, dressed as noble ladies, peasants and jesters. The atmosphere of a medieval fair in Portugal is nothing short of magical.

I do love a good medieval market, fair or festival, so I’ve scoured the country to find the best medieval events in Portugal in 2025 & 2026. I’ve also included a few historic battle reenactments, some from the medieval era and others from Napoleonic times just for good fun.

Take a step back in time into these pop-up worlds that engulf small Portuguese cities and towns with ancient hearts. These are the best medieval events you can chase across Portugal in 2025.

Music lover? Check out this article with best music festivals in 2026. Culture vulture? Check out these traditional events.. Food is life? It sure is in Portugal.

The Portuguese medieval events are listed in date order, and most fall during the summer months. At the couple I’ve been to you can hire costumes for a small fee to add to the atmosphere. Super fun!

Medieval Fairs in 2025

Paderne Medieval

When: 29 December 2024 – 1 January 2025 (new dates TBC)
Where: Paderne, inland Algarve
This small Algarve village throws a fun medieval fair over the New Year period. In 2024/25 a parade will include a reenactment of when a letter was handed over by the Order of Avis by D. Dinis regarding the donation of Paderne Castle. Expect street food, street entertainment, fights and tournaments on horseback, shows, markets, and plenty of music.
More information

Medieval Fairs in Portugal 2026

Mercado Medieval de Pombal

When: 4-6 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Pombal, central Portugal
Venture to Pombal Castle for three days filled with entertainment, including music, dance, theatre, and various historical characters. In 2025 the theme goes back to the time of D. Gualdim Pais.
More information

Feira Medieval de Castelo Mendo

When: 26-27 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Castelo Mendo, about 2-hours east of Porto
This medieval fair in inland Portugal promises the smells, sounds and stories of the past will come alive with a real village atmosphere. Witness the mischief of the minstrels, the gallantry of the swordsmen and the beauty of the noble ladies while popping in and out of local taverns in this medieval town.
More information

Mercado Medieval de Pero Escouche

When: 2-4 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Castelo de Pirescouxe, on the Spanish border
Just north of Lisbon’s airport lies this ancient castle, in October a festival and medieval market will bring the walls to life with entertainment, taverns, and artisans.
More information

Feira Medieval Ibéria d’Avis

When: 9-11 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Avis, Alto Alentejo – about 2-hours east of Lisbon
For more than 20 years this medieval fair has fallen on the second weekend in May. Deep in the Alentejo, close to Portalegre, the small town of Avis steps back to medieval times for three days. Expect an immersive fair with costumes, traditional games, role playing, taverns, artisans and more. Everything is made better with local wine from the region!
More information

Marialva Medieval

When: 16-18 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Marialva
I believe the tiny village and castle of Marialva itself is almost just a stone ruin, making the perfect stage drop for a medieval fair. Expect all the fanfare from music and markets to taverns and entertainment.
More information

Islamic Festival

When: 22-25 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Mértola, southern Alentejo
The Alentejo town of Mértola recalls its Arab past during its Islamic festival each May. Return to a time between the 8th and 13th centuries when Mértola was the capital of a Taifa kingdom and connected trade with the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Expect Arab dancers, musicians, artisans, couscous and tea.
More information

Feira Setecentista

When: 16-18 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Vila Real de Santo Antonio, eastern Algarve
Go back in time to 18th-century life to mark the founding of the Algarve town of Vila Real de Santo António. Expect markets, banquets, parades, shows and historical recreations true to the years 1774-1776. The program ends with a grand masquerade ball in honour of D. José I, including a lesson in etiquette and dance. Free entry.
More information

Valongo Romano

When: 15-18 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Valongo, east of Porto
Portugal’s Roman Empire rises again in Valongo, with this event bringing the era to life over four huge days with legionnaires, music, dance and more.
More information to come

Mês do Marquês – Festival Pombalino

When: 24-25 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Pombal, central Portugal
Step back in time – but not too far back – with this festival that celebrates the baroque period. Expect the recreation of an 18th-century fairs, with “living statues” giving life to the time of the Marquis of Pombal.
More information

Memórias da História

When: 29 May – 1 June 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Torres Novas, 80-minute drive north of Lisbon
Torres Novas claims it has one of the best medieval fairs in the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to its renovated castle and town square at the heart of the festivities and a strong focus on education in the program. Expect plenty of entertainment over five days with street fairs, parades, music, guided tours, craft workshops and more.
More information

Beja Romana

When: 6-8 June 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Beja, lower Alentejo
Step back 2,000 years to when Beja was Pax Iulia, thought to be the most important city in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Back then the city had not quite shaken off the Iron Age but was fast progressing. Learn about Portugal’s Roman heritage while enjoying street entertainment, music, markets and fun.
More information

Feira Medieval Castelo de Montemor-o-Novo

When: 14-16 June 2024 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Montemor-o-Novo, one-hour south of Lisbon, west of Porto
The castle of Montemor-o-Novo will return to life with the first medieval festival in almost 20 years. For three days the Alentejo town will turn into a medieval fair as the beating of drums and sound of lutes set the scene where artisans, nobles and members of the clergy will mingle. The town is pulling out all stops, and you can expect theatrical performances, artisan demonstrations, knight tournaments, and traditional dances.
More information

Condeixa, o Vislumbre de um Império

When: 14-15 June 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Coimbra’s Roman runs, Condeixa, central Portugal
Celebrate the splendour of the ancient Roman civilisation that once ruled Portugal. This is the biggest Roman history event in the country, and you’ll venture back with costumes, traditional dances, epic battles and more.
More information

Festa da História

When: 27-29 June 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Trancoso, Serra da Estrela area
In late June in 1282 Portugal’s King D. Dinis and Queen D. Isabel de Aragão were married in the remote mountain town of Trancoso. The town celebrates the union with a medical festival, taking over the ancient streets and well-maintained castle. Highlights include the parade and the royal wedding.
More information to come

1664 Battle of Castelo Rodrigo — Historical Recreation

When: 4-7 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
This battle was one of the most important of the War of Restoration of Independence, fought on 7 July 1664. The Portuguese fleet, commanded by Pedro Jacques de Magalhães, defeated Spanish forces in an important victory. Watch a recreation of the final battle in the village of Mata de Lobos, parades through the streets of Castelo Rodrigo, and shows with 17th-century music and dance.
More information to come

Os Piratas

When: 10-13 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, west of Porto
Pirates in Portugal? You bet. A fortification thought to be about 1,000 years old was recently found off the coast, thought to have protected the people from Viking attacks and pirates. The Matosinhos area of Porto has been linked to fishing, shipbuilding and salt production since the 12th century. Step back in time with this pirate-themed festival with markets, falcons, taverns and more.
More information

Related Blog: Best food festivals and events in Portugal in 2025

Festa Templária Tomar

When: 10-13 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Tomar, Central Portugal
Courageous, noble, and feared, the Order of the Knights Templar are legendary in Portugal. The order, founded in 1118 by nine French knights, defended pilgrims from Europe on their way to the holy places in the then Christian kingdom of Jerusalem, and in 1160 the Templars established themselves in the Castle of Tomar. Step through history as Tomar goes back in time to relive the historic events with a medieval fair with all the bells and whistles.
More information

Batalha do Vimeiro 1808 — Historic Reenactment

When: 18-20 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Vimeiro, Lourinhã
In 1808 the battle of Vimeiro unfolded on these lands. On one side Napoleon’s French army had around 13,000 men and 23 artillery, and on the other side the Anglo-Portuguese army had 19,000 men and 18 artillery, It’s said this confrontation put an end to the first French invasion of Portugal. Go back in time with a historical reenactment complete with period costumes, gunfire, drums and all the good stuff. There will also be a 19th-century market.
More information

Leiria Medieval

When: 17-20 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Leiria, halfway between Lisbon and Porto
Each edition of Leiria Medieval is dedicated to a theme, in 2023 it was all about the year 1496 and the theme: “Sob um Céu de Peixes” (Under a Pisces Sky or Sky of Fish!). The 2025 theme is yet to be announced, but as always you can expect a medieval market atmosphere with plenty of entertainment and fun.
More information

Mercado Medieval de Óbidos

When: 17-27 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Óbidos, one hour north of Lisbon
The medieval walled village of Óbidos blasts back in time for 11 days. Music, taverns and period costumes transport the charming whitewashed village to the Middle Ages. Expect a different theme each year with grand banquets, tournaments, fairs, judgments, poetry, theatre and so much colour, fire and light.
More information

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Viagem Medieval

When: 30 July – 10 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Santa Maria da Feira, between Porto and Aveiro
Viagem Medieval (Medieval Journey) is Europe’s largest medieval recreation event, held annually in Santa Maria da Feira. More than 1,600 performers bring the Middle Ages to life over 12 days of festivities. Each year has a different theme and tells a new story of Portugal’s history. There is a small entry fee and you can book costumes.
More information

Silves Medieval Fair

When: 8-16 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Silves, west Algarve
Step back into the Middle Ages with this medieval fair that returns Silves to its golden age. Over nine days see how the Moors and Christians lived in this old city, once the capital of the Algarve during the Arab occupation. We attended pre-pandemic and I was so impressed by the dedication to detail – no plastic cups or plates, all locally made terracotta ceramics – plus there was loads of entertainment including jousting, jugglers, acrobats, dancers and snake charmers.
More information

Aljubarrota Medieval Fair

When: 14-17 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Alcobaça, 90 minutes north of Lisbon
August 14, 1385, is the date Portuguese troops, under command of King João I, won over the Castilian army. This battle took place between the towns of Leiria and Alcobaça and is celebrated in Aljubarrota with a medieval fair. From fortune tellers to tournaments, find all the fun and theatrics of the medieval age. Of course, there’s a reenactment Battle of Aljubarrota on one of the days too. Free entry.
More information

Festas dos Povos em Aqvae Flaviae

When: Third weekend of August – 21-24 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Chaves, northern border of Portugal
Each year the small city of Chaves transforms back into Aquae Flaviae, the name with which the Romans baptised the city. This festival brings three days of a Galician-Roman market loaded with delicious food, feasts, gladiator fights, wrestling games, mythological recreations, music, ballet, circus and fun.
More information

Dias Medievais

When: 27-31 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Castro Marim, east Algarve
This year is the 26th edition of one of Portugal’s best known medieval festivals, held mostly in the magnificent Castro Marim Castle. The fortification overlooks the surrounding town and salt fields. Expect top quality entertainment, battles, dancing, food and fun.
More information

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21st Cerco de Almeida (Seige reenactment)

When: 29-31 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Almeida, near Serra da Estrela
Located on the border with Spain, Almeida is an ancient fortified town with a long history. Venture back to 1810 during the third French invasion and the Siege of Almeida (Cerco de Almeida). This historical recreation takes place late August with three days of battles, combat and military activities between the allied troops and Napoleon’s army. You’ll also find entertainment, workshops and a 19th-century ball.
More information to come

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Muralhas Com História

When: 19-21 September 2025
Where: Sortelha, about three hours from Lisbon or Porto
Sortelha is one of Portugal’s great historic villages, so it would be a delight to see the ancient streets draped in medieval decoration and filled with jesters, dancing, jousting and merriment.
More information

Columbus Festival

When: 18-21 September 2025
Where: Porto Santo Island, Madeira
Each September this annual festival returns to Portugal’s Age of Discoveries and highlights the island’s links to legendary explorer Christopher Columbus. You’ll be transported back to the 15th century with medieval parades, reenactments, traditional music, medieval markets, crafts and more.
More information

Feira Medieval de Palmela

When: 26-28 September 2025
Where: Palmela, about 30-minutes south of Lisbon
In late September the walls of Palmela’s ancient castle transform into a roaring medieval fair. It’s the perfect setting for a market, entertainment and all the usual fanfare you might expect. I’ve been to this one, and there’s a parade that runs through the town, then a huge number of food and drink stalls, and a stage set up for jousting and more.
More information

Festival Al Mossassa

When: 3-5 October 2025
Where: Marvão, on the Spanish border
Venture back to the ninth century when Portugal was not yet Portugal, and the village of Marvão was founded by Ibn Maruan. During this time the Moorish people lived and ruled these lands. You can expect an animated fair with merchants, artisans, knights, musicians, dancers, acrobats, fire-breathers, snake charmers, falcons and circus performers.
More information

Leave a comment if you’ve been to any of these festivals! I’d love to hear what they were like in person.

Keep reading…

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Best music festivals in Portugal: Complete 2025 & 2026 guide

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:27:10 +0000

Each year, especially in summer, Portugal’s music festival calendar is packed with big-name artists, major festival line-ups and smaller boutique events. Expect to find music festivals in Portugal’s big cities of Lisbon and Porto, plus down south on the beaches of the Algarve and in secret countryside locations in 2025 and 2026. I’m a huge fan of events and festivals in Portugal and have always been super impressed with how well organised each major festival event has been.

From mega music festivals to camping by a creek to classic tunes in an unreal setting, here are the best music festivals rocking Portugal in 2025 and 2026.

Note: I’ll add to this list as I hear about more music festivals and big events. Each summer there are often free pop-up music events in gardens too, so stay tuned. This information was accurate at the moment of publishing, but things change so check with individual organisers

The biggest music festivals in Portugal in 2026

In this guide I’ve listed all the big music festivals held across Portugal in date order – but just in case you’re looking for a quick reference for the more general big-name summer line-ups, check out:

Primavera Sound, Porto – 11-14 June (tickets here)
Rock in Rio Lisboa, Lisbon – 20-21, 27-28 June (tickets here)
Nos Alive, Lisbon – 9-11 July (tickets here)
MEO Kalorama, Lisbon – August (tickets and 2026 dates TBC)

What’s it like to attend a music festival in Portugal?

I’ve found the vibe is super relaxed and fun. Comparing music festivals in Portugal to my home country Australia, I find Portuguese ones are smaller and more boutique in feel, which means less overlaps and stage clashes (yay!) and a more chill vibe.

Portuguese crowds are amazing. They are super respectful, everyone gives you space, and there’s always room to squeeze closer to the front. Best of all, if you’re tall like I am, you’re almost guaranteed a great view. Festivals here make you purchase a reusable cup, so the mosh pits usually have very little rubbish on the ground.

I’m usually impressed by the level of organisation of Portuguese music festivals. The bathrooms are plentiful with paper and soap available. There’s often a mix of pop-up container washrooms and those port-a-potties we all hate. Some big music festivals I’ve attended have had hand-washing stations spread across the grounds too, which was helpful when grabbing food.

I once witnessed a girl trip over a concrete gutter, skin her knee and within 60 seconds there were medics there with a wheelchair and first aid. Seriously, the organisation of Portuguese music festivals is top-notch.

Food wise, I can guarantee basic hamburgers, kebabs and fried chicken – but I’ve seen it improve drastically over the past few years. Now there are great vegan options, healthy food stalls, dumplings, ceviche and more.

Related blog: A complete guide to the best festivals in Portugal

The best Portuguese music festivals in 2025

October & November

AngraJazz

When: 2-4 October 2025
Where: Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores
The International Jazz Festival of Angra do Heroísmo has taken place each year since 1999 on the Azorean island of Terceira. It usually falls around the October 5 holiday in Portugal.

MORE INFORMATION

MIL Lisboa

When: 8-11 October 2025
Where: Lisbon
This festival brings a line-up of the best up-and-coming talent from across Europe, especially southern Europe, to Portugal. It’s known for bringing new sounds and emerging talent, and you can expect some artists from other Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, too.

MORE INFORMATION

Guimarães Jazz

When: 6-15 November 2025
Where: Guimarães, north of Porto
Love jazz? Don’t miss this big festival celebrating the genre, which has popped up in Guimarães annually since 1992.
More information

Music festivals in Portugal in 2026

April 2026

Tremor Festival

When: 24-28 March 20256
Where: São Miguel Island, Azores
This alternative music and arts festival returns to the Azores’ largest island with a series of creative residencies. Its aim is to rethink Azorean heritage through the scope of music and art. Expect concerts, surprise moments, performative walks, talks, and more. This cool article from Conde Nast is a fun write-up if you’re curious.

MORE INFORMATION

Sónar Lisboa

When: 11-13 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Parque Eduardo VII, Lisbon
Lisbon’s underground and electronic scene celebrates the spring with this two-day, two-night festivals that brings 45+ acts to the city.

MORE INFORMATION

May

Sotaques

When: 23-25 May 2026
Where: Vialonga, 40 minutes north of Lisbon
Deejay Telio and Wet Bed Gang were on the 2025 line-up for this new festival headed to Vialonga. Entry is free.

MORE INFORMATION

MOGA Caparica

When: 29-31 May 2026
Where: Caparica, 20-minute drive south of Lisbon
MOGA is a festival that started in Morocco and blends electronic music with surf culture and immersive experiences. While it still pops up across the Atlantic in Essaouira, the Caparica edition brings three days of fun to Lisbon.

MORE INFORMATION

June 2026

Coala Festival

When: 31 May – 1 June 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, Cascais – 30-minute train from Lisbon
This new-to-Portugal festival first made a splash in São Paulo, Brazil, back in 2014. The idea was to provide a stage for emerging artists, and it’s since become a huge festival. The Portuguese edition in Cascais, close to Lisbon, has a focus on musicians who sing in Portuguese. In 2025 Ana Lua Caiano, Antonio Azambujo, Bk’, Bruno Berle, Criolo, Djodje, Lena d’Água Liniker, Ney Matogrosso, Silva, Timbalada, and Xande de Pilares will take to the stage.

INSTAGRAM

Primavera Sound

When: 11-14 June 2026
Where: Parque da Cidade, Porto
This major music festival takes over Porto each June, bringing a killer line-up of national and international artists to multiple stages within the Parque da Cidade (City Park). The 2026 line-up includes The XX, Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Idles and many, many more on the bill.

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INFORMATION

Good to know: As one of Porto’s biggest summer festivals, you want to plan ahead. If you need accommodation, book early. This music festival is held near the coast, so it would be better to stay in Matosinhos or Foz do Douro than the city centre (if you can).

Waking Life

When: 17-22 June 2026
Where: Crato, Alentejo
Waking Life describes itself as a week-long midsummer festival, landcare project and invitation to participate in a “new pedagogy of revelry”, and 2026 will be the 8th edition.

INFORMATION

Suncébeat New Horizons

When: 18-22 June 2026
Where: Costa da Caparica, Lisbon
Dance on the beach or on a boat with this four-day festival bringing house, funk, soul, dance and RnB DJs and live acts to the sand dunes of Costa da Caparica.

INFORMATION

Rock in Rio Lisboa

When: 20-21 , 27-28 June 2026
Where: Parque Tejo, Lisboa
Rock in Rio is a mega festival that returns once every two years. In 2026, the early line-up already includes Katy Perry, Linkin Park, Pedro Sampaio, Calema and Portuguese band NAPA.

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INFORMATION

July 2026

The Goat Community

When: 1-6 July 2026
Where: São Pedro do Sul, Central Portugal
This intimate festival blends electronic music and spirituality in the “Magic Mountains” of São Pedro do Sul. Expect music and dance, wellness workshops, art installations and communal dining in a beautiful natural setting.

INFORMATION

Elétrico Festival

When: 3-5 July 2026
Where: Porto
This city festival takes place in a Porto park, blending house, techno and electronica music with art and street food.

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Afro Nation

When: 3-5 July 2026
Where: Portimão, Algarve
Afro Nation claims to be the world’s biggest afrobeats celebration and it’s held on a huge Algarve beach. Yep, you’ll be dancing on the sand to sweet sounds, with some of the 2026 line-up already announced.

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LISB-ON #JardimSonoro

When: 3-4 July 2026
Where: Jardim Keil do Amaral, Monsanto, Lisboa
LISB-ON falls somewhere between chill-out and techno, with a touch of disco, house, jazz, soul, funk, and electronic pop too. Bringing DJs and concerts to Lisbon’s largest park, the urban festival “brings the party into the daylight” with a focus on diversity and quality sounds from national and international artists.

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Festival Jardins do Marquês

When: 28 June – 9 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Oeiras, west of Lisbon
This sophisticated music festival brings a line-up of concerts to the beautiful historic gardens and palace of Marquês in Oeiras, west of Lisbon. Combining food and gastronomy, expect a relaxed series of concerts with food.

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Related blog: 11 best viewpoints in Lisbon

Sumol Summer Fest

When: 4-5 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Praia de São João, da Caparica, south of Lisbon
Combining bands and the beach, 2026 brings the 16th edition of this start-of-summer music festival brought a fun line-up to the coastline south of Lisbon. Better yet, with a festival pass you can enjoy camping and relax into the warm vibes and cool tunes.

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NOS Alive

When: 9-11 July 2026
Where: Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Lisbon
NOS Alive always brings a brilliant and varied line-up to Lisbon, and artists have been announced for 2026 – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Florence + The Machine, Lorde, Pixies, Buraka Som Sistema, Wolf Alice, Matt Berninger, Teddy Swims and many more to come. I find NOS Alive is always super well organised and great to attend.

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Good to know: You can easily stay in Lisbon and take a short train, tram or taxi to the festival grounds on the riverbank west of the city. To be closer to the action, stay in Alges – but know that the music doesn’t really start until 5pm.

RFM SOMNII

When: 10-12 July 2026
Where: Praia do Relógio, Figueira da Foz
Join this massive sunset party on the shores of what, quite frankly, might be the biggest beach I’ve ever seen. Taking place at Praia do Relógio in Figueira da Foz, expect brilliant DJs, sunshine, sand and electronic music.

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Related Blog: 9 best things to do in Figueira da Foz

Boom Festival – every two years, next edition 2027

When: July 2027
Where: Idanha-a-Nova, countryside near Serra da Estrela
Every two years the most famous psychedelic trance festival in the world takes over a small Portuguese town. Since 1997 this festival has grown and now attracts around 50,000 music lovers to the lakeside location. The theme for the 2023 Boom music festival was Radical Love.

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Summer Opening

When: 17-19 July 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Parque de Santa Catarina, Funchal, Madeira Island
This urban music festival brings a sound feast to the heart of Madeira. Taking over Parque de Santa Catarina, expect two days of hip-hop, reggae, funk and soul.

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Marés Vivas Festival

When: 17-19 July 2026
Where: Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto
This urban music festival brings a strong line-up of international acts, and the 2025 line-up included artists such as Black Eyed Peas and Xavier Rudd, and popular Portuguese artists, like Slow J and Os Quatro e Meia, to the shores of Vila Nova de Gaia.

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Ageas Cool Jazz

When: 1-31 July 2026
Where: Cascais, west of Lisbon
Summer nights in gorgeous gardens with the sweet, sweet sound of jazz – that’s Cool Jazz. This festival brings big name artists, contemporary singers and instrumentalists to open-air venues in Cascais.

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Good to know: Cascais is close to Lisbon. You could choose to stay in the coastal town of Cascais, or stay in downtown Lisbon and take the train.

Related Blog: Best food festivals and events in Portugal

ZNA Gathering

When: 15-22 July 2026
Where: Montagil, Alentejo
This biennial psytrance festival pops up in the Alentejo countryside. It’s sol out – but you can sign up for resales.

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Marvão International Music Festival

When: 24 July – 2 August 2026
Where: Marvão, Alentejo region east of Lisbon
If you like boutique festivals follow this one to Marvão, where classical music invades the hilltop fortified village deep in the Alentejo. A thoughtful program brings musicians from across the world and links classical music to other artforms, like dance, in a dream-like setting.

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August 2026

Meo Monte Verde

When: 7-9 August 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Praia do Monte Verde, Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island, Açores
This music festival is bringing its 11th edition to the idyllic Azorean island of São Miguel in 2026. With the line-up still to come, I’ll let you know 2023 featured Steve Aoki, Delfins, Hybrid Theory, Lukas Graham, Rui Veloso, T-Rex and more.

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SonicBlast

When: 6-8 August 2026
Where: Praia da Duna do Caldeirão, North Portugal
This authentic rock and metal festival takes place beachfront in the far north of Portugal. Expect a line-up of heavy underground rock genres like stoner, doom, psychedelic and punk in a chilled out location where you can camp for free.

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Sudoeste Festival

When: 2026 dates TBC
Where: Zambujeira do Mar, Alentejo Coast
This chilled summer festival takes place in the small fishing village of Zambujeira do Mar along the Alentejo Coast. Go for five days of bands and festival fun, with free camping included in the price. Camping opens a few days early so you can have a cheap holiday by the beach too.

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Neopop

When: 6-8 August 2026
Where: Viana do Castelo, north of Porto
One of the largest and best electronic music festivals in Portugal pops up in Viana do Castelo each year – and in 2026 it celebrates 20 years. Get tickets to see international talent and up-and-coming artists.

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Related Blog: How to spend 48 hours in Porto

Vodafone Paredes de Coura Festival

When: 12-15 August 2026
Where: Taboão river beach, near Parades de Coura, north of Porto
This alternative rock festival is a party in a spectacular location. Taking place on the banks of a river beach with a natural amphitheatre, expect a few days of relaxed camping and music while being immersed in nature. In 2025 Franz Ferdinand, Vampire Weekend, Lola Young, Portugal The Man and many more were on the line up.

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Vilar de Mouros

When: 19-22 August 2026
Where: Vilar de Mouros, Caminha – one-hour north of Porto
This is the oldest festival in Iberia, and days often sell out so don’t delay if you’re keen to attend this Portuguese music festival in 2026.

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Festival Maré de Agosto

When: 20-22 August 2026
Where: Praia Formosa, Santa Maria Island, Azores
This international world music festival is set a stone’s throw from the sands of Praia Formosa on Santa Maria Island in the Azores. It’s been around for 40 years and past editions have seen Mariza, Extreme Michael Kiwanuka and more perform.

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MEO Kalorama

When: In 2026 it returns to late August, dates TBC
Where: Parque da Bela Vista, Lisbon
In 2025, Pet Shop Boys, Jorja Smith, FKA Twigs, Damiano David, and many more have been announced on the line-up for this major three-day festival in Lisbon, taking place at a massive park within the city limits.

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Good to know: This festival happens in the heart of Lisbon, so you can book accommodation in the city.

OperaFest Lisboa

When: 7 August – 13 September 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Oeiras, Greater Lisbon
This out-of-the-box festival brings Opera into a new setting. The theme for 2025 is “forbidden love”, a theme that has given rise to some of the world’s most extraordinary operas. Highlights include Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”.

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Azores Burning Summer

When: 28-29 August 2026
Where: Parque dos Moinhos, São Miguel, Açores
The 11th edition of this Portuguese summer music festival combine nature, music and community in the Azores. In 2024 Mayra Andrade and Moullinex headlined the summer festival on the lush Azorean Island, São Miguel.

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September

MEO Sons do Mar

When: 5-6 September 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Avenida do Infante (Parque de Santa Catarina), Funchal, Madeira
The 13th edition of this island festival is back in Funchal in 2025 with Miguel Araújo, Napa, and Calema on the line up.

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Festival F

When: 4-7 September 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Faro, Algarve
This summer festival ignites the historic centre of Faro with several stages in the city and big Portuguese names on the bill. Besides live music, expect cinema and stand-up comedy, arts and literature, street entertainment and food stalls.

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Festival Vapor

When: 12-14 September 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: National Railway Museum, in Entroncamento
With a bit of a steampunk spirit, this Portuguese music festival has a cool musical line-up with everything from rock to folk to eletronic. On the agenda for 2024 was Ana Lua Caiano, Conferência Inferno, Linda Martini, Moonshiners and Scúru Fitchádu.

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Festival Iminente

When: 17-20 September 2026
Where: Escola Industrial Afonso Domingues, Marvila, Lisboa
This very cool and cutting-edge festival has brought an interesting mix of music and art to Lisbon for the past few years. This festival is, surprisingly, free, and offers a really cool lineup with loads of top Portuguese artists to discover.

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DHB Portugal

When: 19-21 September 2025
Where: Irmão, Costa da Caparica, south of Lisbon
Lovers of house music should put this festival on their radar as it returns to Portugal for the third year in 2025. The three-day event pops up at beach club Irmão with a mix of music, community and art against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Have I missed any epic 2025 music festivals in Portugal? Leave me a comment below…

Keep reading

The post Best music festivals in Portugal: Complete 2025 & 2026 guide appeared first on Olá Daniela.

Ultimate Portugal events guide: Best festivals & cultural events for 2025

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 12:46:00 +0000

Portugal knows how to throw a brilliant party, and in 2025 these will be the biggest and best festivals and events to attend. Each year cities, towns and villages across Portugal play host to traditional celebrations, food-focused events and huge music festivals.

From celebrations with sardines and world-class street theatre, to medieval fairs and international music stars, I’ve rounded up some of the top festivals and traditional events across Portugal worth attending in 2025.

Music lover? Check out this article with best music festivals in 2025. Medieval minstrel? Step this way. Food is life? It sure is in Portugal. I have included a few of the events in this festivals guide, but if you want to go deep, check out those articles.

November

Feira Nacional do Cavalo Golegã (National Horse Fair)

When: 7-16 November 2025
Where: Golegã, north of Lisbon
Each November the Feira de São Martinho (or the Feira Nacional do Cavalo slash National Horse Fair) brings bullfighting, horse parades and traditional fun to the town of Golegã. Located in the Ribatejo north of Lisbon, the town is known as the horse capital of Portugal and is famous for the renowned Lusitano breed. Each year around Saint Martin’s Day (11 November) people descend on the town for fun, food and wine (and to buy horses).
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Guimarães Jazz

Festival Internacional Balões de Ar Quente (Hot Air Balloon Festival)

When: 8-13 November 2025
Where: Handful of Alentejo towns, east of Lisbon
A spectacle of hot air balloons takes over a handful of Alentejo towns each November for this festival. Beyond being visually magical to see all the balloons go up, the Festival Internacional Balões de Ar Quente (FIBAQ) usually offers free mini flights (with a charity donation) and attracts balloons from Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and more.
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São Martinho or Magusto

When: 11 November 2025
Speaking of Saint Martin (or São Martinho), November 11 is a favourite day to celebrate in Portugal. Saint Martin was a Roman soldier who cut his cloak in half to share with a cold beggar. Afterwards the sun came out – and it’s why warm winter days in early November are called Saint Martin’s Summer. This time of year the Portuguese enjoy Magusto, a celebration that involves bonfires, wine and chestnuts, especially in the Trás-os-Montes and Beira Baixa areas.

Alkantara Festival

When: 14-23 November 2025
Where: Lisbon
Stages across Lisbon come alive in November thanks to Alkantara Festival, which puts on an international program of theatre, dance, performance and more across the city.
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Monchique Walking Festival

When: 29 November – 1 December 2025
Where: Monchique, Algarve
This outdoor festival will combine nature walks in the hills around Monchique with talks, workshops, performances and talks.
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December 2025

LEME Contemporary Circus Festival

When: 4-7 December 2025
Where: Ílhavo, near Aveiro
This contemporary circus and arts festival pops up in unconventional and unexpected spaces.
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Óbidos Vila Natal

When: 28 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Where: Óbidos, 1 hour north of Lisbon
Óbidos, a small medieval walled village north of Lisbon, loves to throw big festivals and events throughout the year. At Christmas it turns the charming cobblestone streets into a world of light, colour and fantasy. Step through the village walls to find Christmas-themed attractions and amusements, from performances and games to an ice rink.
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Águeda é Natal

When: 15 November 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Águeda, near Aveiro
Águeda is a really cute little town in Central Portugal that’s famous for its umbrella streets. Come Christmas the colourful brollies are taken down and replaced with a festive white version plus other decorations that aren’t so subtle! Most notable is the giant Santa Claus, which is the largest in the world (Guinness World Record holder). There’s also a Christmas market, nativity scene, street entertainment and more.
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Christmas & New Year’s Eve in Lisbon

When: 1 December 2025 until 6 January 2026
Where: Lisbon
The Portuguese capital is alive with Christmas spirit. The main Christmas tree and lights of downtown lit up on November 23 in 2024, so watch out for the 2025 date. aYou can find Christmas markets scattered throughout the city along with concerts, ballet and other Christmas events. In Parque Eduardo VII there’s Wonderland, a huge festive takeover with an ice rink.

For New Year’s Eve, the main party is in Praça do Comércio where free concerts with famous Portuguese musicians start at 10pm. There’s a huge fireworks display at midnight, and a 12 bell countdown.

Christmas & New Year’s Eve in Porto

When: 1 December 2025 until 6 January 2026
Where: Porto
If you’re in Porto at Christmastime, expect to find plenty of festive fun. There’s ice rinks, music concerts, light shows and markets popping up across the city. For New Year’s Eve in Porto, most people will go to Baixa do Porto (Porto downtown) to watch the fireworks.
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Christmas & New Year’s Eve on Madeira

When: 1 December 2025 until 7 January 2026
Where: Funchal, Madeira Island
Madeira takes events very seriously, so unsurprisingly the island capital Funchal is the centre of an extensive Christmas programme with cultural, ethnographic and artistic events. The city is lit with thousands of lights snaking up the steep streets.

Then for the New Year, a massive 10-minute fireworks display lights up the skies above Funchal. Given its location closer to Africa, Madeira is a warmer escape in the depths of winter too.
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Reino de Natal – Sintra

When: 1 -30 December 2025
Where: Sintra, Greater Lisbon
Sintra always has a magic feeling in the air, with its history of kings and queens and palaces, and a microclimate that often leaves it shouded in mist. This Christmas you’ll find a program of concerts and markets and festive theming.
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Penamacor – Vila Madeiro

When: 7-25 December 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Penamacor, 3-hour drive from Lisbon
This small and remote inland village celebrates Christmas with a market, regional food and sweets, Christmas lighting, music and the largest bonfire in Portugal. The highlight is this big bonfire in the Matriz churchyard, which is lit at the stroke of midnight on December 23.
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More Medieval Fun? Best medieval and historic events in Portugal in 2025

January 2026

Festas em Honra de São Gonçalinho

When: 9-13 January 2025 (2026 TBC)
Where: Aveiro, 1-hour south of Porto
One January day I stumbled on this festival in Aveiro, where locals were gathered around a small hexagonal chapel (Capela de São Gonçalinho). The restless crowd, carrying fishing rods, basketball hoops and umbrellas, were hot with anticipation. From the roof of the small chapel, someone started throwing cavacas (basically stale bread coated in sugar) into the sky. I’ve never seen old ladies move so fast, using their elbows to muscle their way into prime position. Jorge managed to catch one of the inexplicably highly prized breads and an 80-something-year-old woman demanded he give it to her, even though she had a whole bagful of them. He didn’t. The festival also has a market, concerts and other fun, with the legendary Quim Barreiro performing on the final night in 2025.
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Read next… 11 best things to do and see in Aveiro

Festa das Fogaceiras

When: 20 January 2026
Where: Santa Maria da Feira, between Porto and Aveiro
A vow made five centuries ago to São Sebastião (Saint Sebastian) to rid the region of plague continues on January 20 each year. Apparently for four years the tradition stopped and the plague returned – so the locals continue this ancient tradition. Children dressed entirely in white with coloured belts carry a cake/loaf of bread on their head, crowned with paper cut in castle shapes, in a procession. There is also a mass, and the modern version has concerts and cultural events all January long.
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XXXIII Feira do Fumeiro (Smoked Sausage Festival)

When: 23-26 January 2025 (2026 TBC)
Where: Montealegre, on the northern border with Spain
The Portuguese take few things more seriously than a good sausage fest. The 33rd edition of this food festival takes place in Montealegre, a small border city deep in the north. Smoked sausages – chouriços, morcela (blood sausage), alheira (smoked bird) – and good ham are a few things I associate with the far north of Portugal. If you can make it, you won’t be disappointed.
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February

Feira do Fumeiro de Vinhais (Smoked Meats Fair)

When: 6-9 February 2025 (2026 TBC)
Where: Vinhais, Trás-os-Montes – two hours east of Porto
Vinhais is a tiny town in the far north-east of Portugal. Having tried the smoked chorizos and meats from Trás-os-Montes, I won’t argue with their self-declared title as the “capital of smoked meats”. They just do it better up there! Expect to find a fair with a huge range of artisanal charcuterie, cold cuts and smoked sausages.
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Carnival 2026

When: 17 February 2026
Where: Across Portugal
Carnaval (or Carnival) is celebrated with bright and colourful parades all over Portugal, from the north to the south. Most locals tend to gravitate towards the Rio-style carnivals and celebrations that are all spandex and sequins, but there are rich carnaval traditions in Portugal that go back to pagan roots. I prefer to chase the strange, quirky pagan carnivals across Portugal. The best falls in the village of Podence where caretos channel the devil in the name of spring fertility. You could also try Lamego or the Xiste Villages.

For modern carnivals with floats, feathers and a touch of Disney, look up Torres Vedras, Sesimbra, Ovar, Madeira Island and Loulé to name a few. In Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, the annual “Batalha das Limas” sees locals engage in a massive water bomb battle.

46ª Feira do Queijo de Celorico da Beira (Cheese Fair)

When: 21-23 February 2025 (2026 TBC)
Where: Celorico da Beira, Serra de Estrela Mountain
Love cheese? So do the Portuguese. Search “Feira do Queijo” in Google and you’ll find dozens of cheese fairs popping up across the country, usually in the cooler months. One of Portugal’s most famous cheeses is the gooey, pungent and buttery Serra da Estrela cheese. As you’d expect, this food festival in Portugal will be full of them.
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March 2026

Algarve Bike Challenge

When: 7-9 March 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Coruche, 70-minute drive from Lisbon
The best of the mountain bike world (and some ambitious amateurs up for the challenge) gather in downtown Tavira for this S2 category event, part of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) calendar. There are two contests – one for elite professionals, and an open race – that you can enter in teams of two.
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Lisbon Half Marathon

When: 9 March 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Lisbon
If you’ve always wanted to run across the iconic red 25 de Abril bridge, this is your chance. The Lisbon Half Maraton takes runners across the famous bridge, offering participates unique panoramic views over the city. Of course, to enjoy those views you have to complete the 21-kilometre race, starting at the toll booths, and ending in front of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, or a shorter 7.2-kiloemtre course.
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Rip Curl Pro Portugal

When: 15-25 March 2025
Where: Praia de Supertubos, Peniche, 70-minute drive north of Lisbon
Watch the world’s surfing elite battle it out at this top professional surfing competition. Part of the WSL – World Surf League Tour – this leg of the contest is held in Peniche at Praia de Supertubos, a beach famous for its large, tubular-shaped waves.
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Festas de São José

When: 19-23 March 2025
Where: Santarém, Ribatejo
This festival celebrates the traditions and icons of Santarém – including the fandango, a very real folk dance. Expect crafts, cuisine and campinos (the traditional herdsmen) at this Ribatejo festival. There will also be a procession and mass for the Feast of St. Joseph on the 19th.
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Talha à Mesa (Amphora Wine Festival)

When: 22-23 March 2025
Where: Vidigueira, Alentejo
This weekend is focused on talha wines – the huge clay amphora vessels that are still used to make some Alentejo wines. At the Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira there will be a bar with only talha wines, invited chefs cooking up a feast, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and a masterclass. Book tickets for the various events ahead of time.
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Feira de São Gregório

When: 21 March – 6 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Torres Novas, 80-minute drive north of Lisbon
This annual fair has been held in Torres Novas since the 16th century, and in the 21st century you can expect a classic Portuguese fair with entertainment and carnival rides, stalls and artisans, and plenty of street food.
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Millennium Estoril Open

When: 26 March – 4 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Estoril, 30-minute drive west of Lisbon
The Estoril Open is Portugal’s biggest international tennistournament, and it takes place at the Tennis Club of Estorial, a short distance from Lisbon. It’s the only Portuguese tournament on the ATP circuit and bring big-names to the city.

April

Contraband Festival

When: 4-6 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Alcoutim, inland Algarve
This festival connects Portugal and Spain over the Guadiana River, with neighbouring towns celebrating border-town friendships and the past thrills of trafficking. The two towns – Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana – build a pedestrian bridge across the river for the event. Expect entertainment, music, and fun.
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Grande Mostra Vinhos de Portugal (Portuguese Wine Show)

When: 10-12 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Albufeira, Algarve coast
This huge wine fair will take over the Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira, bringing more than 100 exhibitors to the space. That makes the 14th edition one of Portugal’s largest wine shows, with more than 9,000 people expected. It’s put on by the Confraria do Bacchus de Albufeira with doors open from 3pm each day.
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Ovar em Jazz

When: 9-12 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Ovar, south of Porto
Learn, experiment, celebrate and listen to jazz for four days this April with concerts, improv workshops, conversations and more in this eclectic program.
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Feira de São Marcos

When: 23-27 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Alter Do Chão, Alto Alentejo
Combining traditions with modern Portuguese culture, this local fair brings horses, handicrafts, regional products and agriculture into the spotlight. There are also concerts featuring big Portuguese names in music, like Os Quatro e Meia.
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Romaria a Cavalo

When: 22-27 April 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Moita to Viana do Alentejo, Alentejo
Over five days hundreds of pilgrims and their horses will travel rural backroads that connect the towns of Moita and Viana do Alentejo. It’s a longstanding tradition and show of faith.
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Ovibeja

When: 29 April – 4 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Beja, lower Alentejo
Agriculture is the focus at the 41st edition of this fair that attracts more than 150,000 people each year and features more than 1,000 exhibitors. Explore themed pavilions, admire livestock and tractors, learn about rural life and enjoy big concerts.
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Festa das Cruzes

When: 30 April – 4 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Barcelos, north of Porto
Expect a feast of colour, culture and Christ at the “Feast of the Crosses” in Barcelos. North of Porto, this festival is considered the first great romaria (basically a big outdoor party) of the northern Minho region and dates back to the 16th century. It’s linked to a legend: apparently in 1504 local shoemaker João Pires was returning from mass when he saw a black cross in the middle of Campo da Feira. While it still has religious roots, there is also traditional folk performances, carpets made of petals, concerts and a procession. It’s a party!
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May 2026

Madeira Festival of Flowers

When: 1-25 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Funchal, Madeira Island
The best spring festival in Portugal isn’t on the mainland at all. The annual flower festival brings three weeks of celebrations to the island of Madeira, with the city of Funchal at the heart of all. Expect exuberant parades, old car shows, folk dance performances, a rare orchard house, pop-up markets and more.
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Lisbon Art & Antiques Fair

When: 9-17 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Cordoaria, Lisbon
Curators, collectors and anyone interested in art or antiques can’t miss this annual fair that gathers 35 antique dealers, jewellers and galleries in Lisbon.
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Feira Setecentista

Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Festival

When: 17-27 May 2025 (always 5th Sunday after Easter) (2026 dates TBC)
Where: São Miguel Island, Azores
This religious festival dates back to the 17th century and is the second largest in Portugal. Locals travel from other Azorean islands, and immigrants return from the US, Canada and Brazil to to see the great procession and make promises for the year ahead. The main parade seems to be on Saturday May 24, and there is a mass in English the following day.
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LISBON By DESIGN

When: 21-25 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Gomes Freire Palace, Lisbon
This annual Portuguese design fair is for lovers of high-end contemporary collectables, craft and design. Go to rub shoulders with Lisbon’s design scene, from collectors and art consultants to interior designers and real estate developers.
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Feira de Maio de Azambuja

When: 22-26 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Azambuja, hour north of Lisbon by train or car
This is one of the most traditional Ribatejo festivals, where you’ll see some of the main streets covered in sand so campinos (traditional herdsmen) can ride horses and lead livestock. Expect equestrian activities, grilled sardines, and some bull fighting traditions.
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Queima das Fitas – Burning of the Ribbons

When: 23-31 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal’s ancient university city, throws a massive party each May for its new graduates. Old students also descend on the city for reunions and it’s a spectacle of parades, dances and serenades to celebrate the end of the academic year. It starts with a traditional serenade in front of the Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), then rolls into a week of madness, cultural events and hangovers. The most important event to attend is the burning of the ribbons in Largo da Feira.
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Imaginarius – International Street Theatre Festival

When: 22-25 May 2025 (2026 dates TBC)
Where: Santa Maria da Feira, between Porto and Aveiro
Circus, theatre and music descend when Imaginarius arrives each May. Portugal’s largest street arts event attracts cabaret, theatre and comedy troupes from across Europe and the world to this Portuguese town. Best of all, it’s free.
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XI Cruzeiro Religioso e Cultural do Tejo

When: 17 May – 29 June 2025
Where: Rosmaninhal to Oeiras, along the Tejo River
Over a month this religious pilgrimage makes its way down the Tejo River, from the Spanish border town of Santiago de Alcántara to Oeiras (just west of Lisbon). This is a journey of almost 300 km, and makes many stops along the way.
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June 2025

Primavera Sound Music Festival

When: 12-15 June 2025
Where: Parque da Cidade, Porto
This major music festival takes over Porto each June, bringing a killer line-up of national and international artists to multiple stages within the Parque da Cidade (City Park). The 2025 line up already has Charlie XCX, Central Cee, Jamie XX, Beach House, Deftones, Fontaines D.C, Haim, Michael Kiwanuka, Turnstile, Floating Islands, Parcels, Wet Leg and more on the bill.

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O Tapete Está na Rua

When: 6-10 June 2025
Where: Arraiolos, 80-minute drive from Lisbon
Arraiolos is a village in the Alentejo that’s famous for its beautiful carpets or rugs. “The Rug is on the Street” brings the artisans and their work out from behind closed doors, transforming the town into a gallery. Expect to see many examples of the local tapestry spread across the streets and squares, and hung on doors, windows and balconies with women working away. Naturally, there will also be concerts in the evening and plenty of food.
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Beja Romana

When: 6-8 June 2025
Where: Beja, lower Alentejo
Step back 2,000 years to when Beja was Pax Iulia, thought to be the most important city in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Back then the city had not quite shaken off the Iron Age but was fast progressing. Learn about Portugal’s Roman heritage while enjoying street entertainment, music, markets and fun.
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Santos Populares – Lisbon’s Sardine Festival

When: June 12, but really all of June
Where: Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods
Every June the smell of sardines and sound of pimba music ricochets through the narrow cobbled streets of the city’s most traditional neighbourhoods during a month-long party. The Santos Populares Festival, sometimes called the Festival of Sardines, peaks with the so-called longest night of the year in Lisbon on June 12. That night we celebrate Santo António with an all-night street party – think drinking, dancing and grilled sardines. I’ve written a guide covering everything you need to know if you find yourself in Lisbon in June during the Santos Populares or Santo António Festival.
More information – read my guide to Santos in Lisbon

Arraial Pride Lisboa & EuroPride

When: 14-22 June 2025
Where: Praça do Comercio in Lisbon
Since 1997 the Arraial Pride has been Portugal’s largest LGBTI+ community and gay pride event – more than 75,000 attended in 2019! June is already a party in Lisbon, and the Arraial Pride steps it up another notch with even more music, food, drink and dancing. The fun is held in the main square, Praça do Comercio, and in 2025 the annual Pride March will be on June 22. At the same time this year the city will host EuroPride – a first for Portugal – with events, parties, debates, workshops and the EuroPride Parade 2025 too.
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Atlantic Festival

When: 6-29 June 2025
Where: Madeira Island
June is a month-long party on the island of Madeira too. The Atlantic Festival is a celebration based around extraordinary pyromusical shows, which take place every Saturday in June in the island capital, Funchal. Watch the sky light up with fireworks and catch concerts, traditional performances and more.
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Festa Corpo de Deus – Tapetes de Flores

When: 19 June 2025
Where: Vila do Conde, just north of Porto
Every four years on Corpus Christi day the people of Vila do Conde create floral carpets across 12 streets, laying a route equivalent to three kilometres long. They’ve done this since 1264, creating detailed artworks using just petals – which make the town small amazing too.
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MEO Kalorama

When: 19-21 June 2025
Where: Parque da Bela Vista, Lisbon
In 2025, Pet Shop Boys, Jorja Smith, FKA Twigs, Damiano David, and many more have been announced on the line-up for this major three-day festival in Lisbon, taking place at a massive park within the city limits.

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Good to know: This festival happens in the heart of Lisbon, so you can book accommodation in the city.

Festa de São João

When: June 23 every year
Where: Porto
For more than 600 years the people of Porto have been celebrating the “Feast of Saint John” on June 23 and 24. Similar to Lisbon’s celebration of St Anthony, in Porto expect a massive street party with traditional music, drinking, dancing and grilled sardines. But Porto’s festivities have a few differences. People walk around hitting each other on the head with plastic hammers (originally leeks), they jump over bonfires, release lanterns into the sky, and there’s a fireworks show at midnight. But the party doesn’t stop there – they go until the sun comes up, with some even walking some 6km Ribeira to Foz do Douro to watch the sunrise from the beach.

Porto isn’t the only place to celebrate São João – the nearby city of Braga also parties on, as does Evora.

Sanjoaninas

When: 20-29 June 2025
Where: Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores
This festival is one of the largest in the Azorean islands, taking place each June around the 23rd. Each edition is a celebration of the city and culture of Terceira, so you can themed parades, special shows and exhibitions, serval stages with concerts, and bullfighting. The night of June 23 is the longest, liveliest evening of all. And the festival is a chance to see Terceira’s tradition “Touradas à corda”, where bulls are released onto the streets and guided with ropes through the city.
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Festival Med

When: 26-29 June 2025
Where: Loulé, Algarve
This world music festival takes over the historic centre of Loulé, bringing the sound and vibe of several countries to Portugal. Expect well-known world music names plus street theatre, artisan markets, dance and an international street food market.
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LISB-ON #JardimSonoro

When: 27-29 June 2025
Where: Jardim Keil do Amaral, Monsanto, Lisboa
LISB-ON falls somewhere between chill-out and techno, with a touch of disco, house, jazz, soul, funk, and electronic pop too. Bringing DJs and concerts to Lisbon’s largest park, the urban festival “brings the party into the daylight” with a focus on diversity and quality sounds from national and international artists.

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Festas Populares São Pedro, Montijo

When: 26 June – 2 July 2025
Where: Montijo, south of Lisbon
Eat, drink and be merry late into the night is the vibe of Portugal’s popular saints festivals – and the same happens in Montijo. Here the streets are decorated with balloons, flowers and basil with a number of events during the festivities. One night there’s a religious procession on the river with decorated fishing boats, and another at night.
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July

In July and August you’ll find festivals and events in every second town in Portugal. There are far too many feiras and festivals for me to list here so I’ve included a few highlights. If you’re travelling in Portugal in either month, keep an eye out for signs locally – many will pop up posters.

FIARTIL – Estoril International Handicrafts Fair

When: 27 June until 24 August 2025
Where: Estoril, greater Lisbon
Since 1964, this open-air artisan festival has popped up in a beautiful garden next to the casino. It’s popular in the evenings, when you can shop dozens and dozens of artisan stalls.
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Festa do Colete Encarnado

When: 4-6 July 2025
Where: Vila Franca de Xira, north of Lisbon
About 20 minutes north of Lisbon, the biggest event in Vila Franca de Xira feels a world away from city life. Festa do Colete Encarnado (or Festival of the Red Waistcoat) is a three-day festival that takes its name from the traditional red waistcoats worn by campinos or cowboys/bull fighters. Day one features a parade celebrating the campino, then the bulls are let loose on the streets and silly young men try to avoid the carnage – there have been casualties in the past.
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Terras da Transumância

When: Various dates between June – September 2025
Where: Castro Daire, Fundão, Gouveia & Seia – four mountain towns near Serra da Estrela
This series of events celebrates the seasonal pastoral traditions and heritage of these four towns. Essentially shepherds move their flocks to the higher pastures in summer, then back to the valleys for winter. This is a big deal and a big celebration with sheep and goats dressed up. You will need to dive into the details, but on some days you can follow the herd to the sound of marching drums and cowbells. On others expect workshops, markets, food and even bonfires.
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Ageas Cool Jazz

When: 4-31 July 2025
Where: Cascais, west of Lisbon
Summer nights in gorgeous gardens with the sweet, sweet sound of jazz – that’s Cool Jazz. This festival brings big name artists, contemporary singers and instrumentalists to open-air venues in Cascais.

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Good to know: Cascais is close to Lisbon. You could choose to stay in the coastal town of Cascais, or stay in downtown Lisbon and take the train.

NOS Alive

When: 10-12 July 2025
Where: Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Lisbon
NOS Alive always brings a brilliant and varied line-up to Lisbon, and artists have been announced for 2025 – Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, Benson Boone, St Vincent, The Teskey Brothers, CMAT, Future Islands and many more to come. I find NOS Alive is always super well organised and great to attend (Ladies, I’m talking next to no bathroom queues at a really, really big summer music festival. Awesome).
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Festival dos Canais

When: 16-20 July 2025
Where: Aveiro, one-hour south of Porto
This festival welcomes around 400 artists from more than a dozen countries to 25 locations across Aveiro. This community and culture event will return for five days this July, bringing the coastal university city to life.
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XXXVIII Festival de Moliceiro

When: 20 July 2025
Where: Vagos, Aveiro, one-hour south of Porto
Celebrate the beauty of Aveiro’s traditional moliceiro boats. The fun starts with a parade of colourful and traditional boats, from the Ponte de Fareja until the Cais das Folsas Nova. Then there’s folk dancing, entertainment, music and more.
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Feira de Sant’Iago

When: 24 July – 3 August 2025
Where: Parque Sant’Iago, Setúbal, 45 minutes south of Lisbon
Apparently the annual fair in Setúbal has been held for more than 400 years and attracts some 400,000 people each edition, making it one of the largest feiras or fairgrounds in the country. Expect a line-up of concerts, street entertainment, artisan markets, food stalls, and plenty of fun.
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August

Viagem Medieval

When: 30 July – 10 August 2025
Where: Santa Maria da Feira, between Porto and Aveiro
Viagem Medieval (Medieval Journey) is Europe’s largest medieval recreation event, held annually in Santa Maria da Feira. More than 1,600 performers bring the Middle Ages to life over 12 days of festivities. Each year has a different theme and tells a new story of Portugal’s history. There is a small entry fee, plus you can book costumes.
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More Medieval Fun? Best medieval and historic events in Portugal in 2023

Festas Gualterianas

When: first weekend of August, 2-4 August 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Guimarães, north of Porto
This grand fair in celebration of São Gualter (St. Walter) has taken place in the “birthplace of Portugal” since 1906. The most unusual event on the line-up of parades, markets, dancing, music and entertainment is the “Battle of Flowers”.
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Ruas Floridas Redondo

When: 2-10 August 2025
Where: Redondo, Alentejo (1h45 from Lisbon)
The charming Alentejo town of Redondo throws a big party at the start of August every two years. The next edition is 2025, so don’t miss the chance to see the historic centre of Redondo dressed up with paper flowers, sculpture and decorations. It wouldn’t be a party without music, so expect entertainment and a big stage with notable national artists.
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Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia

When: 12-20 August 2025
Where: Viana do Castelo, north of Porto
If you’re a fan of filigree jewellery, fishermen and feasts don’t miss the biggest event of the year in Viana do Castelo. There are stacks of events, parades, concerts and celebrations to choose from with everything focused around August 20, a religious day. In 2023 I ventured up on the Thursday to catch the Mordomia Parade where thousands of local women wear beautiful folklore costumes (trajes) and march down the streets with huge quantities of gold around their necks. These are mostly heirlooms dating back centuries, but together it makes the largest outdoor showcase of gold in the world.
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Read my recap… Romaria d’Agonia: The most beautiful traditional festival in Portugal

Semana do Mar

When: 1-10 August 2025 (1st to 2nd Sunday of August)
Where: Horta, Faial Island, Azores
During the first week of August this massive cultural festival pops up to celebrate the sea and the summer on the island of Faial. Expect big street parades, whale boat regattas, hydrangeas, and concerts that go late into the night.
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Silves Medieval Fair

When: 8-16 August 2025
Where: Silves, west Algarve
Step back into the Middle Ages with this medieval fair that returns Silves to its golden age. Over nine days see how the Moors and Christians lived in this old city, once the capital of the Algarve during the Arab occupation. We attended pre-pandemic and I was so impressed by the dedication to detail – no plastic cups or plates, all locally made terracotta ceramics – plus there was loads of entertainment including jousting, jugglers, acrobats, dancers and snake charmers.
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Fazunchar – arts festival

When: 16-24 August 2025
Where: Figueiró dos Vinhos, Central Portugal
This multidisciplinary arts festival gathers creatives who express themselves through sculpture, writing, music, photography, video, and performance art. Expect a program of urban art, exhibitions, workshops, guided tours and more.
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FATACIL

When: 22-31 August 2025
Where: Lagoa, Algarve
Over 10 nights Lagoa’s festival of “artisans, tourism, agriculture, commerce and industry” puts on in a huge nighttime fair with concerts and more. In 2025 Quim Barreiros and Mariza will hit the stage among others.
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Madeira Wine Fest

When: 24 August – 14 September 2025
Where: Funchal, Madeira Island
Madeira wine is a really interesting product, and one that you can explore with this festival that includes many events – from harvesting to tasting – across the island. If you want to join a harvest, you can take part in this tradition!
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381st Feira de Agosto

When: 28 August to 1 September 2025
Where: Grândola, Alentejo
This August fair has taken place in Grândola for nearly 400 years! And it’s as popular as ever with a huge line of concerts, entertainment, food and artisan stalls.
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46th Luz de Tavira International Folklore Festival

When: 30-31 August 2025
Where: Luz da Tavira, Algarve
This folk dancing festival brings together groups from Portugal, Thailand, Czechia and more for a night of traditional dance.
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Feira de São Mateus – Viseu

When: 7 August – 21 September 2025
Where: Viseu
In 2024 it will be the 632nd edition of Viseu’s main festival. Yes, the 632nd annual fair! Wild. This year the feira features 43 days packed with big concerts, delicious food, carnival rides and folk culture.
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September

Festa das Vindimas

When: 4-9 September 2025
Where: Palmela, 30-minute drive from Lisbon
Each year this festival celebrates the local wine harvest and Palmela’s winemaking traditions. A huge party takes place over many days with many events, including the crowning of a festival Queen. Join in grape picking, wine tasting, traditional dancing, and concerts. Taste local traditional dishes and, of course, sample local wines.
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Festival F

When: 4-7 September 2025
Where: Faro, Algarve
This summer festival ignites the historic centre of Faro with several stages in the city. Besides live music, expect cinema and stand-up comedy, arts and literature, street entertainment and food stalls.
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Alma do Vinho Alenquer

When: 11-14 September 2025
Where: Alenquer, 45-minute drive north of Lisbon
Alma do Vinho is one of Portugal’s largest wine festivals, and the program combines tasting top quality wine with huge concerts, grape stomping, chefs, and exhibits. You pay entry and get a wine glass to taste unlimited amounts of wine, then party until the wee hours with live music.
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Art’In Rua Tomar

When: 12-14 September 2025
Where: Tomar, central Portugal
This festival of arts brings performance to the streets of Tomar over one huge weekend. Artists from all over the world will showcase creativity, culture and fun.
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XXX Feira Nacional de Artesanato

When: 19-21 September 2025
Where: Pombal, central Portugal
This huge artisan fair combines with the “Tasquinhas de Pombal” event for a huge weekend of traditional and contemporary crafts plus gastronomy.
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Chefs on Fire

When: 20-21 September 2025
Where: Parque Marechal Carmona, Cascais, about 40 minutes west from Lisbon
Chefs on Fire is the jewel in the crown of Portugal’s food festivals. Set in a beautiful park, beneath towering pine trees, some of Portugal’s most highly regarded and Michelin-starred chefs cook up a feast using only fire. Each day chefs and food changes, along with a line-up of great bands and musicians too. Unmissable.
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Feira de São Mateus – Elvas

When: 20-28 September 2025
Where: Parque da Piedade, Elvas
When festivals have a religious core, more than one town celebrates. Elvas, an Alentejo town on the border with Spain, hosts a grand feira with music, markets and more. The largest in the Alentejo region, this fairground attracts around 200,000 people annually.
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Feira d’Aires

When: 26-29 September 2025
Where: Viana do Alentejo, Alentejo
This big town fair, held since 1751, keeps things more traditional than others, with a focus on local culture and religion. If you want to see folk dancing, cante Alentejano, bull fighting and other Alentejo traditions, this is the one. That said, there are also concerts that kick on into the night.
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October

Birdwatching & Nature Festival, Sagres

When: 2-5 October 2025
Where: Vila do Bispo & Sagres, western Algarve
Portugal’s biggest nature event returns with field trips, boat tours, workshops, talks, environmental studies, hikes, photography courses, bird ringing sessions, history-themed guided tours and dolphin-watching.
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Feira da Ladra

When: 3-6 October 2025
Where: Vieira do Minho, near Peneda-Gerês National Park
This isn’t Lisbon’s flea market of the same name – it’s the biggest event in Vieira do Minho, a four-day festa combining tradition, rural culture and fun with livestock exhibitions, crafts, regional products, an ethnographic parade, equestrian shows and concerts with big names. It always falls on the first weekend of October.
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Feira Anual e Salão de Artesanato (Artisan Fair)

When: 3-12 October 2025
Where: Vila Franca de Xira, Greater Lisbon
This big artisan fair pops up in the Ribatejo town of Vila Franca de Xira, a short train ride from the capital. I visited and found a big pavilion with artisans from across the country, plus a huge fair with rides and street food stalls, concerts and entertainment.
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FIMP – International Puppet Festival

When: 10-19 October 2025
Where: Porto
The artistry of puppets takes so many forms, and this festival in Porto celebrates them all. Expect shows and workshops across theatres in the city, with puppet masters flying in from across the world.
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FÓLIO – International Literary Festival

When: 9-19 October 2025
Where: Óbidos, one-hour north of Lisbon
The 10th edition of this big literature festival in Óbidos brought more than 800 authors and artists (including two Nobel Prize winners) to the little town, with some 450+ events scheduled.
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Pilgrimages to Fátima

When: 12-13 October 2025 (same dates every year)
Where: Fátima
The Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Fátima is the largest Catholic pilgrimage centre in Portugal. The biggest gatherings of pilgrims happen on 12 and 13 May, and 12 and 13 October.
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Feira de Santa Iria – Faro

When: 16-26 October 2025
Where: Faro, central Algarve
In the Algarve, the city of Faro celebrates St Irene every October with a brilliant fair. It’s thought to have been around since 1596 and the fun lasts nine days with a spectacle of food, artisan crafts and fairground rides.
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Feira de Santa Iria – Tomar

When: 16-26 October 2025
Where: Tomar, central Portugal
Since the 17th century, Tomar has celebrated Santa Iria, the city’s patron saint. Usually it lasts for 10 days, falling over 20 October. On that day Santa Iria is carried in procession and children throw petals into the river to evoke her martyrdom. The fair has concerts, events, markets and more.
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Festival Nacional de Gastronomia (National Gastronomic Festival)

When: 16-26 October 2025
Where: Santarém
The smaller city of Santarém tries to represent all of Portugal’s rich regional cuisines in one big showcase. Held for more than 40 years, you’ll find a bit of everything at this food festival, with cuisine from the north to south to the islands of Azores and Madeira. Expect food stalls, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and more, plus confrarias from across Portugal.
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EDP Lisbon Marathon

When: 25-26 October 2025
Where: Lisbon
Lisbon’s 42km marathon sets off from Cascais, following the coast and river until the finish line at Parque das Nações. Expect panoramic sea or river views at all times! The Half Marathon starts at the Vasco da Gama Bridge, crossing one of the longest bridges in Europe on foot while it’s closed to cars!
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Feira de São Simão Alcobaça

When: 30 October – 2 November 2025
Where: Alcobaça
For the past hundred years or so this annual traditional autumn fair has captivated the locals. While other big fairs have evolved, this one stays focused on what’s in season and local traditions – expect folk dancing, corn husking, chestnuts, walnuts, delicious cornbread and more.
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Portugal has so many cool events that showcase the country’s vibrant culture, music and food. Have I missed something worth talking about? Let me know in the comments….

Photo Diary: Guide to the traditional costumes of Viana do Castelo & Minho

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:10:05 +0000

One of my favourite experiences in Portugal was witnessing the Mordomia Parade where more than 900 women proudly marched by wearing the ornate traditional costumes from their village. While the poster of the festival of d’Agonia, which falls every August, usually features a beautiful young woman wearing the most famous traditional red dress from Viana do Castelo, there are actually many variations and styles of traditional dress found across the Minho region.

I took so many photos of the parade, and I wanted to find a way to share them with you here. There was a great exhibition at the festival that explained the different traditional costumes and their purpose, so I’ll do my best to share some details here along with photographs.

I’m in no way an expert on this matter, so I’ve done my best to relay and translate information from official sources on the subject. If you have more information for me to share, or if I have attributed something incorrectly – please let me know.

Two ways to see traditional costumes if you visit Viana do Castelo

The first is simple. Visit the Museum do Traje or Costume Museum in Viana do Castelo. Houses in a grand 1950s building that was once a bank, the museum opened in 1997 and displays a great range of traditional dress for both men and women. It’s only a couple of euros to get in, and I go every time I’m in Viana. A must visit!

The other way to visit in August during the incredible Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia when there is a program of events that brings women out onto the streets in their beautiful hand-made outfits. There are a few parades, folk dancing, and more that means you’ll see women in their “Sunday best” traditional dress across the nine-day event.

Traditional costumes of Minho (Trajes do Minho)

Trajes de Festa de Ribeira – Viana do Castelo’s Fisherman’s Quarter Costume

The traditional Minho costume least like the other traje was from Viana do Castelo. Women from Ribeira, the fisherman’s quarter of the town, paraded down the street in what seemed like shorter, cotton fabrics (not wool or linen). They wore shorter checked skirts with aprons, whose details were “Richelieu” cut-outs fined carved into the fabric. Overall the look was more basic and they have shorter skirts with no socks, which may reflect the fact they would work by the sea or at the docks getting wet.

Trajes de Lavradeira – Farmer’s Costume

The famous red Portuguese costumes were used by farmers on Sundays or when they went to the Friday market in Viana do Castelo to sell produce. These costumes were used between the late 19th century and mid 20th century by agricultural families in this fairly self-sufficient region.

The lavradeira costumes generally included:

An apron (avental) – adorned with embroidered floral motifs and leaves
Scarves (lenços) – colourful scarves often draped over the shoulders and head
A vest (colete) – a cropped vest that is often a work of art, embroidered with ornate floral scenes and folkloric motifs.
A pocket (algibeira) – an external pocket on a long strong that would be tied around the waist. This is often the shape of a heart with very detailed embroidery and beads.
Slippers (chinelas) – slip-on hand-made black clogs sometimes with embroidery, worn with cotton socks.
Gold jewellery – heirloom pieces gifted to the women or passed down through the family. I’ll touch more on the gold pieces at the bottom.

Below I’ll mostly share some pictures, but I’ll also highlight some small differences (where possible!) in the lavradeira (farmer) costumes from different villages or towns.

Trajes à Vianesa das Terras de Geraz (green costume)

While most of the traditional costumes in the parade are red, one region steps out in green. It’s the villages from around Terras de Geraz such as Geraz de Lima, who also don’t use a little side pocket. It’s thought the color came around after a royal visit from Dona Maria II in the early 19th century.

Trajes à Vianesa de Afife

The women from Afife mostly wear the red lavradeira costume, but distinguish themselves with a yellow headscarf and an orange scarf draped on the shoulders. Their red skirts have thin black and white vertical stripes with a red apron, shirts with white embroidery, and a red waistcoat.

Trajes à Vianesa da Ribeira Lima

While there is a huge variety from village to village, this costume is generally characterised by striped skirts with a black bottom that is hand embroidered. It’s common to have floral aprons and shirts with blue embroidery.

Traje de Dó – Pity Costume

Yes, curiously enough when the lavradeira costume appears in dark colours – blacks, dark purple, deep blue – it’s the “traje de dó” which translates to pity dress. This one doesn’t seem to be specific to a certain region, and there are variations on it. It’s mostly a difference of colour, with a black skirt and apron with deep blues, greens, toasted yellow, and purples.

Trajes à Mordoma

The Mordomas were a young women chosen in each village to help raise funds for the church. They would help prepare for the festivities and pilgrimage, sweeping the churchyard and raising money for religious fairs. They would receive cash or goods – such as salted pork, rabbits, beans, corn, rye or linen, which would be auctioned off after Sunday mass.

For whatever reason, wearing this costume was mandatory so the girl (or her family) had to have the money to afford all the details of the dress. The traditional Mordoma dress includes a jacket or vest worn over an embroidered linen shirt. The jacket of vest is embroidered with glass beads and sequins.

Apparently sometimes instead of black the costume could be a rich navy blue. Because the black dress doubled as a traditional wedding outfit, having this Mordoma costume in blue signaled that your family had the means to afford both. The difference between the Mordoma and the bride is the silk headscarf and the use of a palm or decorated candle instead of a veil and bouquet.

During the Romaria d’Agonia you’ll see the Mordomas in the ethnographic parade, the folk performances, and the Mordomia parade.

Traje À Noiva – Bride’s Costume

Curiously, the traditional wedding dress of the Minho region is just the Mordoma’s costume adapted for a bride’s wedding day. I read that from the end of the 19th-century until around 1905 that brides would wear a linen shirt with white embroidery and a black vest or waistcoat embroidered with glass beads.

The skirts sometimes had between seven and nine metres of cloth, with multiple underskirts and a woolen peticoat. The outer skirt was often velvet with glass beads sewn with silk thread, or decorated with silk ribbons embroidered with glass beads. Then there is a black apron with floral motifs and sometimes the Protuguese royal coat of arms in the centre.

Brides also wore white cotton stockings with black leather mules, and a richly embroidered pockets that was tied at the waist known as an algibeira.

And, of course, brides wore an elaborately embroidered veil. The Mordoma costume is almost the same, and apparently some villages would have silk or muslin headscarves for brides too – something now only associated with the Mordoma.

You can see brides parading down the stress in the ethnographic parade, where the spectators yell “beijinhos” (kiss!), and at traditional costume show.

Trajes à Morgada – Heiress Costume

And finally, the Morgada. This costume I find a little confusing as it seems to be worn by elder women who would be the head of the household. The direct translation is heiress, so I guess you could say matriach of the house. I’ve also read it’s an outfit the eldest daughter would wear, who might be the heir is there is no male descendent. I’m working on getting some confirmation on this, but I wanted to publish this traje run down before the festival!

Whatever the reason behind the outfit, the Morgada traditional costume is less flashy than the Mordoma. It’s always black and lightly decorated, which makes the traditional gold filigree jewellery pop against the dark colour. This was a way to display their household’s economic power.

I noticed many women in the parade carried a richly patterned large silk shawl too.

The story and styles of Portuguese gold filigree jewellery

In the pictures you’ll see some women are dripping with gold. It’s said that girls would receive filigree gold pieces when they were born and for their birthdays or special occasions. Filigree gold balls, known as contas de Viana were commonly gifted, symbolising protection and good luck. It started with godmothers gifting girls these beads. One story I hear is that by the time a woman is ready to marry she would have had enough Viana beads to string on a necklace, the other is that a full strand is expensive so I woman would buy herself these beads one by one. I’m not sure if the Minho tradition from the 19th century is still as popular today, but I love both stories.

Filigree has existed on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years, but it really took hold in Portugal in the 17th century. Most traditional shapes represent religion, love and nature. Lots of women also wear the Heart of Viana, a wonky tear-drop-like heart. It was a symbol of dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but now it more generally symbolises life, love, fraternity, and friendship. The heart would be gifted to brides for good luck, who would pass it on to their daughters.

You’ll also see a lot of religious crosses, and sometimes widows will have a tiny picture of their late husband. You might see filigree gold angels, flowers, fish, boats and religious figures. For earrings, you’ll see a style called arrecadas, and another called rainha or Queen earrings.

If you fall in love witt the gold filigree artform, you can find 19ct gold, silver and gold-plated silver filigree jewellery at any jeweller in Portugal. Naturally, there are plenty of jewellery stores in Viana do Castelo, but also in the big cities. Most of it is manufactured in the north around Gondomar and Póvoa do Lanhoso.

That’s my wrap of all the gorgeous traditional traje costumes in the Desfile de Mordomia, which is part of the Romaria d’Agonia – an amazing festival that falls each August.

If you know more about some of the specific lavradeira costumes or have acorrection for me, leave a comment or reach out…

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Romaria d’Agonia: The most beautiful traditional festival in Portugal

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:54:32 +0000

If Mattel was to make a Portugal Barbie, the traje de Viana would be the costume.

After the train passes Porto the hills turn green and we pass vineyards that line the tracks and corn fields at their peak. Stone towns and cabbage patches zip by as we chug north towards Viana do Castelo, the capital of the Costa Verde – the well-named green coast.

When I arrive in Viana do Castelo on a sunny mid-August day, the town is in the midst of its biggest annual festival, the Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia. It’s mid-week so the locals are still warming up for the festivities and fun to come. I’ve travelled five hours from Lisbon by train for one particular event during the nine-day festival – the Mordomia Parade, or Desfile da Mordomia.

Watching 900+ Minho women pass by in the Mordomia Parade

After sitting in anticipation for some time, almost 1000 Minho women start to pass by, each walking tall and proud in perfect rows, with their hands on their hips and a beaming smile. They’re immaculately dressed from head to toe in the beautiful traditional folklore costumes from their area or village.

Beaming with pride, they trot along in uncomfortable slides, thick woollen skirts, embroidered white blouses and intricately designed colourful aprons. Many wear a hand-embroidered pocket on the right hip and a colete (vest) covered in bright floral embroidery. A vibrant tasselled scarf of eastern European origin covers the shoulders and the head.

Read more…. 15 best things to do in Viana do Castelo

The largest outdoor showcase of gold in the world

Finally, the family jewels hang around their necks. Each woman is dripping with great quantities of gold, with some family heirlooms dating back centuries. Necklaces are pinned to fan out across the chest so many appear to be wearing a plate of gold across their chests, with the intricate and traditional filigree jewels catching the light.

It’s said that collectively this parade of mordomas is the largest outdoor showcase of gold in the world. In Viana do Castelo I shared a hostel room with a jeweller, and she said the tradition used to be that women would receive these filigree gold balls at birth, birthdays and Christmas. The idea was that once they were a woman they’d have a whole strand to wear.

The strong and beautiful tradition is something that unites the women of this region. It’s incredible to witness several generations of the same family parade together and show off the beauty of their costumes and stunning gold pieces, which are often only seen in public on these days.

What is the Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia?

The Mordoma Parade is part of a much bigger festival. As with most fairs or festivals in Portugal, Viana do Castelo’s annual romaria is linked to religion and takes place each August. This festival in particular centres on Senhora d’Agonia, the patron saint of fishermen.

Over the nine-day festival there are dozens of events celebrating the local folk culture, including a religious sea procession with decorated boats, ethnographic parades and craft markets. Personally I think it’s one of the best festivals you can attend in Portugal as it is a real show of culture, pride, tradition, and celebration.

When is the Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia?

The festival always falls around the day of Nossa Senhora d’Agonia – August 20. In 2025, the festival dates are from August 12 to 20.

Other notable events at the Festas d’Agonia

There are four more main events during the Romaria in Viana do Castelo but you can expect concerts, folk dancing, fireworks and markets too.

Giants & Big-Headed Puppets Performance (Revista de “Gigantones e Cabeçudos”)

The deafening march of dozens of drums will ring out from Praça da República a few times across the festival. Gather around the central fountain to see the Gigantones (the giants) and Cabeçudos (big-headed puppets) put on a show to the rhythm of drumming troupes.

This tradition seems to be unique to the north of the Minho region of Portugal. The drummers and bagpipers put on an athletic show, giving it their all as different groups battle off against one another. Meanwhile the giants and puppets dance (in a clumsy way) to the beat. The giants are made with an iron frame stretching up to 4 metres high and weighing about 30 kilograms!

Heritage Parade (Cortejo Histórico/Etnográfico)

The heritage parade features more than 3,000 participants, huge floats, and plenty of drama. Apparently it’s like a living museum passing by, with locals showing off traditions and historic ways of life. This parade includes a bit of everything from avós (grandmas) showing off traditional crafts, to the drummers and Cabeçudo puppets.

Along the way, floats will hand out bowls of wine and pieces of cornbread and the crowd will yell at the bride and groom to kiss – yelling “beijinho”.

Flower Carpets (Tapetes Floridos)

From about midday until dawn on the evening of August 19, the residents of the Ribeira neighbourhood cover the streets with coloured salt carpets. Neighbours, friends, and even onlookers help cover the streets with 30 tonnes of colourful salts for the religious processions to walk over.

On the same evening, fishermen are decorating their boats with floral arrangements, decorations, and fishing gear, ready to take the saints out to sea on August 20.

The Procession Out to Sea (Procissão ao Mar)

On August 20, the day of Nossa Senhora d’Agonia, local fishermen give thanks to their patron saint, who protects them in their times of need at sea. After mass at the Santuário de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia, Vianese fishermen dressed in their best plaid shirts carry religious floats – weighing about 600 kilograms – out to the port.

Here the fishing vessels are blessed and loaded with the figures of Nossa Senhora d’Agonia, Nossa Senhora de Monserrate, Nossa Senhora dos Mares (Our Lady of the Sea) and St Peter. Thousands of people line the Lima River to watch more than 100 decorated boats float by and out to sea. When they return, the procession continues on land along the colourful salt carpets to the church.

Read more… Where to eat in Viana do Castelo

Where to stay in Viana do Castelo

I recommend booking ahead for the festival, and you can find plenty of great hotels and small guesthouses downtown.

For me, a bucket-list stay is the 4-star Pousada de Viana do Castelo, which is a heritage hotel with amazing views over the town, famous sanctuary and coast. Up the hill there is also a highly-rated hostel called Albergue de Santa Luzia.

Close to town, the 4-star AP Dona Aninhas is well located. For something different, I’ve heard good things about the 4-star FeelViana Sport Hotel, which is on the other side of the Lima River near Cabedelo Beach.

Find out more about the timing of different events on the official website for the Romaria.

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The best tile painting workshops in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve

Daniela Sunde-Brown — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:08:09 +0000

Among Portugal’s artistic treasures, it’s the azulejos that matter most. Steeped in centuries of tradition, hand-painted tiles adorn the facades of buildings, palaces, and churches, narrating stories of Portugal’s past with vibrant colors and intricate designs.

If you’re visiting Portugal – or live here – you may have an interest in a tile painting workshop or class where you’ll learn more about Portugal’s tile heritage, and take one home as a souvenir. Tile-painting workshops are quite popular, for good reason. A tile painting class is a hands-on way to learn more while making a unique treasure to take home with you.

No time to read the whole article? No worries

My top picks for Lisbon – This two-hour Hispanic Moorish Tile Workshop in Sintra, or a two-hour class at Art of Azulejo in Marvila (Wed & Sun). Or, if your schedule doesn’t allow time for tiles to bake overnight, this same-day tile design workshop is popular.

My top pick for Porto – I did this two-hour class at Gazete Azulejos, and I love that their workshops support their non-profit project catologuing Porto’s unique tile patterns.

My top pick for Algarve – Book this two-hour tile painting workshop

Lisbon’s love affair with tiles dates back to the 15th century with the Moors. Over the years it evolved, incorporating influences from the Baroque period through to geometric patterns. While the days of covering a whole building in hand-painted tiles are behind, azulejos continue to be an integral part of the architectural landscape of Lisbon, Porto and other established cities or towns in Portugal.

Warning! Do not buy tiles or azulejos at a flea market – they are likely stolen from buildings and can never be replaced. Instead of supporting stolen heritage, buy tiles from artisans or make-your-own with one of these tile painting workshops!

How to choose a tile-painting workshop

Tile-painting workshops offer a chance to delve into the depths of this ancient craft with the guidance of skilled artisans. All tile painting classes are different, so I’ve scoured the country to find every tile-painting workshop – and tile-focused tours. I’ve split the article into simple two-hour tile-painting workshops, intensive tile-making courses, family-friendly workshops, and a few alternatives (wine tasting in an insane historic palace? Hello!)

When choosing a workshop think about the style of tile you want to leave with. Some offer freestyle tile painting workshops where you can go wild and express your creativity, others do traditional stencils with no creativity required. The more intensive ones will show you how to mix pigments, while the shorter ones are just for fun.

Simple, two-hour tile-painting workshops

This is the most common format, so most tile ateliers offer this type of workshop. If you’re keen to learn a little bit about tiles, the process, history and take home two homemade souvenirs from your time in Portugal, this is the style of tile workshop for you.

Some run stencil workshops, where you work with the semi-industrial techniques you’ll see across Lisbon and Porto, while others offer free-hand painting.

Lisbon tile-painting classes

Estudio Lazuli close to Sintra train station offers a really awesome two-hour Hispanic Moorish Tile Workshop. This workshop is extra cool as you’ll actually create a 3D Moorish clay tile in a mold, then paint a dried one with colourful glazes. I’ve done this class myself and it is a really fun and unique experience. (You can read about my experience here.)
Near the National Tile Museum, the Art of Azulejo is a top-rated studio where you’ll paint two tiles while learning about tile history (Wednesdays & Sundays).
Cerâmica S.Vicente near Alfama run two-hour or 3.3-hour tile-painting workshops (with drinks!)
Loja dos Descobrimentos in Alfama offer tile-painting classes. Just email them.
Casa do Azulejo in Benfica is a cute local studio in Lisbon with short or intensive courses. Good for those keen to go beyond a simple class.
VisitMylisbon run workshops close to the National Tile Museum too.

Don’t have time to wait for the tiles to bake overnight? For something different, Azulejos’design offer a tile design workshop. You draw your pattern on paper and it gets thermally transferred to a ceramic tile that’s ready to take with you on the same day.

Have all day in Lisbon? Book this top-rated private tile tour includes a visit to the National Museum of Tiles and to my favourite artisan tile factory in Azeitão.

Porto tile-painting workshops

I’ve done the two-hour class at Gazete Azulejos in Bonfim and it’s fantastic. You paint two tiles with (or without) the stencil technique, and they will be ready for collection between 4-5pm the next day. Beyond tile-painting workshops, owners Alba and Marisa research, share and preserve the history of Portuguese tile making in Porto. Workshops support their non-profit digital archive called Os Azulejos do Porto. Very cool!
Tiles AND cocktails? Sign up to this class with (a different) Daniela at Boiler Co-Work Studio.
Domus Arte run two-hour tile-painting workshops.
A local artist runs tile-painting workshops in one of Porto’s most beautiful gardens.
Agostinha, a ceramics studio in Porto that offers tile painting classes.

Love tiles and history? This three-hour “Tiles of Porto” walking tour covers both as you explore the cultural heritage of Portugal’s second-largest city. Book the Porto tile tour here.

Algarve tile-painting workshops

AlgarvianRoots offers a simple two-hour tile painting workshop, or you can join their full-day experience, which combines nature, gastronomy and a tile painting workshop.
In Olhão, in the west, you can join this two-hour mosaic tile class at MosaicOlhão, and create your own artwork souvenir.
Arti Arte Azulejar in Ferragudo fishing village offers tile-painting workshops with classes in both Portuguese and English.
This tile-painting workshop in Silves might include pastries and you can book online.
Monte da Ribeira offers a three-hour tile painting class in São Brás de Alportel.

Intensive tile workshops

Casa do Azulejo in Lisbon is one of the few spots I’ve found that offers both beginner tile painting workshops and more intensive specialty workshops, like a 60-hour complete tile course. If you’re serious about tiles, this might be the place to take your love deeper than a two-hour workshop.

Also in Lisbon, Mariana Sampaio Studio also offer a range of six-hour long workshops covering a single style each time.

Planning a trip to Portugal? I can help! Book a one-on-one video call and get custom help organising your perfect Portugal itinerary, filled with artisan finds, fantastic restaurants, and the best destinations. I can connect you with local artisans and suggest the best workshops. Find out more about my Portugal travel planning service here.

For an immersive tile-painting experience

If you want to go deep, like really deep on tiles, I found this special experience – a private 1-day experience that’s ALL about azulejos.

You’ll visit the beloved National Tile Museum, set within a 16th-century monastery, to explore its collection of tiles from the 15th century until the present. The highlights are the gilded baroque church and the mammoth tile panel that depicts Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of the city. You’ll cross the river south to Azeitão, a cute town where you’ll visit a palace and winery filled with historic tiled panels. Of course, you’ll taste wine too. Finally, visit a small tile factory where you’ll see artisans make and decorate tiles, then join a workshop to make one of your own!

Tile workshops for families

Let the kids get creative with tiles and paint when you book a private workshop designed just for them through Lisbon For Kids. You can choose to meet at the tile museum or at their workshop in Benfica.

For supplies and alternative ceramic workshops

Ceramista, located in Lisbon, Porto and Oeiras (near Lisbon), offers workshops. I get a very local vibe and think these workshops will be held in Portuguese – so if you’re learning the language, this could be a chance to immerse yourself.

Ceramista is also a supplier of tools, clay and ceramic goods. Beyond tile-painting you can join workshops to learn pottery.

For tiles and history (and wine)

This 1-day tile workshop in Lisbon is a full-day experience that combines tiles with history and wine tasting. You venture south of Lisbon, explore the beautiful Palmela Castle, visit a wine cellar for a tasting of local wine and one of my favourite Portuguese cheeses. Then you explore a historic vineyard palace filled with incredible tiles. After lunch you bop over to a small tile artisan that still manufactures and hand paints azulejos using old methods. You’ll learn about the different methods and history. While this day trip doesn’t include a painting workshop, I’m sure you could request it.

That’s the list! If you love tiles, check out my photo-heavy #tileoftheday blogs and read about Where to shop for tiles (azulejos) in Portugal

Planning a trip to Portugal? I can help! Find out more about my Portugal travel calls here.

Keep reading…

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Culture & Events - Olá Daniela

Bottomless wine and secret cellars: Redondo’s tasca and talha trail

An afternoon tavern rally, with a side of Cante Alentejano

Redondo rally – first two stops

Hearing cante Alentejano

Stop three, a private adega, filled with talhas and ceramics

Stop four, a closed century-old grocery store

Another private cellar, filled with talhas and homemade booze

Final stop, the enoteca inside the castle

Other things to do in Redondo

Where to stay in Redondo

Hotel Convento de São Paulo

Other places to stay in town

How to get to Redondo

Keep reading…

Best Porto wine tasting tours (that I’ve done) & a list of port wine cellars

Why is Porto famous for wine?

Where are the port wine houses in Porto?

The best port wine tasting tours (that I’ve actually done)

My top pick: Cockburn’s

Cockburn’s port wine tasting experience

Graham’s

Graham’s port wine tasting experiences

Ramos Pinto

List of all the Port houses opens for wine tastings

Historic heavyweights: Port wine cellars with 200+ years of history

Burmester

Casa Ferreira

Taylor’s

Kopke

Real Companhia Velha

Sandeman

19th- and 20th-century port wine houses

Poças

Calém

Churchill’s Lodge

Fonseca Port Wine Cellars

Porto Augusto’s

Niepoort Wine Cellar

Port wine tasting rooms in Gaia

Quevedo

Quinta do Bom Dia

Vasques de Carvalho

Caves Porto Vasconcellos

Quinta do Noval

Espaço Porto Cruz

Map of all the Port wine houses in Vila Nova de Gaia

Other port wine brands

Other questions about port wine and Porto

Where else can you make port wine?

Is it worth doing a port wine tasting tour in Porto?

How far is the Douro wine region from Porto?

Where do the locals eat in Porto?

Keep reading

I did this unique Moorish tile-painting workshop in Sintra

First, a little explainer: Portugal’s tile history & tile-making techniques

Dry cord or corda seca

Edge or aresta

Majolicá

Making our own aresta tile with clay

Painting a Moorish-style tile in Lisbon

Need to know

Keep reading…

Meet Portugal’s last cowbell makers: Chocalhos Pardalinho

Saving the voice of the fields

A tradition passed from father to son

Witness the art of making chocalhos

Into the oven they go

Each bell is then individually tuned

On UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage

Where to experience the art of cowbell making

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