Lifestyle in Portugal

A street in Porto has just been named the 3rd coolest street in the world for 2025 by Time Out.

Portuguese press reports suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez are planning a summer 2026 wedding in Funchal.

When crowds head for Madeira and São Miguel, Portugal's lesser-known islands keep their easy rhythm.

Portugal is home to 11 inhabited Atlantic islands across the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, plus a scatter of wild islets and a few coastal islands near the mainland.  The country’s Atlantic outposts feel remote in the best way, yet are still easy to reach.

Skyscanner’s fare trends put Madeira in Portugal firmly in the frame as one of the best-value destinations for 2026.

This hilltop masterpiece commands the plains around Elvas in the region of Alentejo.

8th December is a nationwide public holiday in Portugal, and it tends to kick-start the festive season.

Portugal’s national trade unions have announced a general strike for Thursday, 11th December, the first time in 12 years.

The region of Alentejo sits in south‑central Portugal, reaching the Algarve in the south, the Atlantic on the west and Spain to the east.

Alentejo spans a vast swathe of southern Portugal, with rolling cork oak estates, olive groves, and whitewashed towns.

Christmas in Portugal runs from the Consoada supper on 24th December through family lunches to Twelfth Night.

CostaTerra keeps popping up in the press, with famous names swirling around the dunes of the Alentejo coast in what's now nicknamed the 'Hamptons of Portugal'.

Are you wondering where to spend Christmas in Portugal? Whether you’re looking for twinkling city lights, a cosy countryside escape, or a sun-soaked coastal getaway, Portugal offers a magical holiday experience.

The Christmas lights in Cascais 2025 turn the old fishing town into a seaside winter fixture on Portugal’s festive map. The town boasts a lively Christmas Village with an ice rink and markets by the water.

The famous Christmas lights in Obidos turn the town into a gentle fairytale each evening, with the medieval walls lit for Vila Natal.

Nestled in the heart of Alentejo, southern Portugal, the charming village of Mértola has earned international recognition from the United Nations as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages in 2025.

Portugal does the festive season with a cosy, neighbourhood feel: twinkly squares, proper artisan stalls, and plenty of warming snacks. You'll get cork crafts, ceramics and textiles alongside seasonal favourites like bolo-rei, roasted chestnuts and cups of ginjinha.

Black Friday in Portugal is almost here, which means the year’s most anticipated discounts are just around the corner!

Madeira is already humming with festive buzz as Funchal's Christmas lights go up. Crews started stringing up the illuminations in early October, so by the time December arrives, the centre feels like a living postcard.

Portugal's northwest city is leaning into the season with a warm glow and a proper sense of occasion this year.

Solo travelling is having a real moment, and Lisbon is right in the thick of it, thanks to being the sort of city that makes going it alone feel easy.

Living in Faro means easing into the laid‑back capital of the Algarve, where a compact old town meets the lagoon. With a population of around 60,000, life feels refreshingly local.

Portugal consistently sits near the top of Europe’s league table for safe travel, and the 2026 ranking from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection confirms it: Portugal is comfortably within the top 15 safest countries worldwide to travel to. BHTP's safest destinations report explainedThe BHTP St

According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s 2026 traveller safety survey, Lisbon is in the top ten safest cities in the world.