Lifestyle in Portugal

If you’re hunting for things to do this Halloween in Portugal, think candlelit traditions and cheeky night-outs side by side.

Portugal increasingly embraces Halloween with costumes, parties and themed attractions—especially in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve—while traditional observances like All Saints’ Day and Pão‑por‑Deus remain central to the season.

Getting some winter sun in Portugal comes down to picking the right pocket of coast and timing your day around the light. The Atlantic can whip through, yet you still get calm afternoons for coffee on a terrace, sheltered coves out of the wind, and heated pools for a dip when the sea’s a bit nippy.

Lisbon is friendly and largely low‑risk, thanks to it being the capital of one of the safest countries in the world.

Portugal has climbed into the world’s top ten for clean electricity.

A quieter season suits Portugal’s smaller places: medieval walls without tour groups, fog lifting over terraced vineyards, and cosy taverns serving bowls of caldo verde.

Autumn is one of the most magical times to discover Portugal’s natural beauty. As the warmth of summer fades and the air becomes crisp, Portugal’s forests transform into stunning landscapes of red, gold, and orange.

There’s a first‑of‑its‑kind surf spot taking shape inland near Lisbon, trading tides and guesswork for a more controlled kind of session.

October in Portugal has that first-hint-of-autumn feel. Grape juice on your trainers in the Douro, chestnut smoke in the lanes, soft light on the castles, and a steady run of food and film events in the cities.

As summer comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next holiday.

With National Castle Day on the horizon, picture Portugal’s hilltop fortresses and coastal bastions opening up with special goings‑on behind the gates.

Commemorating the 1910 revolution that ended the monarchy, Portugal’s Republic Day sits at the heart of the national calendar.

As summer draws to a close, the lure of a weekend getaway is still strong, but instead of heading to the coast, why not explore Portugal’s medieval towns?

As the Algarve welcomes cooler September weather, golf enthusiasts are heading to one of Portugal’s most prestigious resorts: Vale do Lobo.

Portugal’s planned airport strikes from September to January 2026 have been cancelled following negotiations between unions and employers.

Portugal airport strikes cancelled: Portugal’s planned airport walkouts by SPdH/Menzies ground handlers have been called off after a court-decreed minimum services order left workers saying there were no conditions to exercise the right to strike.

When a breather from Portugal’s capital is calling, an easy day trip from Lisbon can feel properly local and low‑key. Think short hops by ferry, train or a quick drive, with walkable centres and hardly any tour‑bus presence.

Lisbon has been named the world’s happiest holiday destination for 2025, taking the top spot on the Holiday Happiness Index.

Lisbon’s magic hides in its bairros; for secret places in Lisbon, it’s the backstreets and hilltops where everyday life hums. Stumble across pocket miradouros, shrine‑tucked alleys and family‑run tascas. The focus here is on non-touristy things to do in Lisbon.

Lisbon hides many of its loveliest corners in plain sight. The magic turns up in everyday rhythms: a counter-side coffee in a family-run tasca, a pocket-sized miradouro with seagulls over the River Tejo, a quick ginjinha on streets paved in black and white mosaics.

If you’re swapping a beach day for slides and lazy rivers, Albufeira is nicely placed for easy splash-filled escapes across the Algarve's top waterparks.

The world’s largest women‑only trail event, SheUltra, is heading to the Algarve in 2025, bringing a celebratory weekend of running and walking along Portugal’s sunny coast. SheUltra: what it's all aboutSheUltra is a women‑only trail movement with a clear purpose: bringing women together across