What to do in Portugal

With summer already underway, the desire to enjoy the sea for more than just laying out a towel grows.

Portugal will be part of the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, though only a small area of the country will fall within the path of totality. For a few brief seconds, day will turn to darkness and the Sun’s pale outer atmosphere, or corona, may become visible.

Porto is a city best explored at street level. A steep lane can lead to a tiled church, a tiny family-run tasca or a view across the Douro that stops the day in its tracks.

Portugal has a long tradition of thermal bathing that goes well beyond spa weekends and fluffy robes. The country’s termas are often rooted in Roman use, later developed into medical-thermal towns where mineral waters are prescribed for specific conditions.

Alentejo draws travellers in with its wide-open landscapes, whitewashed villages, respected wines and stretches of unspoilt coastline.

Music festivals in Portugal 2026 are already taking shape, turning attention to open-air stages and late nights. The calendar stretches across July, August and early September, with major names landing in Lisbon, the Algarve and smaller northern towns.

As June rolls in, Porto slips into full festive mode for Festa de São João, the city’s much-loved St John Festival and the highlight of the Santos Populares celebrations in Portugal.

The Santos Populares are one of the most important celebrations in Portuguese culture.

Travelling around Portugal in June is often one of the smartest ways to use your annual leave.

The Algarve region has won 3rd place in the "Most Popular Hiking Regions in Europe 2026" award, given by the German magazine Trekking Magazine. The Portuguese region appears alongside historic mountain destinations such as the Dolomites/South Tyrol (1st place) and Brittany (2nd place).

As the days stretch out and the temperatures start to climb, the May bank holidays land at just the right moment for a short escape. It’s often around now that plans for a trip to Portugal in May begin to take shape.Skip Lisbon and Porto, and a different Portugal opens up.

If you want to understand Portugal beyond the beaches and custard tarts, its best museums are where the real story unfolds.

Easter, Páscoa, in Portugal, is one of the most important dates in the food calendar.

You don’t need to fly to Japan to walk beneath clouds of cherry blossom. In central Portugal, thousands of cherry trees transform the hills of Fundão into a sea of white and pale pink every spring — and 2026 could be one of the best years yet to see it.

Portugal has long been one of Europe’s easiest countries for a short break — compact, welcoming, and rich in atmosphere.

Cascais is one of those seaside towns just outside Lisbon that’s easy to underestimate until you actually spend time there. Once a royal summer retreat, it still carries that polished feel.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, holidays in Portugal for couples tend to move higher up the wish list, and it’s easy to see why.

The Azores are one of those places that still feel like a bit of a secret in the middle of the Atlantic.

Carnival in Lisbon isn’t a single huge Rio‑style parade. It’s more a patchwork of street bands, neighbourhood parties and a few big anchor events.

Carnival in Portugal is one of those times of year when the country drops its guard a bit.

Carnival in Portugal 2026 promises a vibrant celebration full of colour, music, and festive traditions.

Portugal is best known for its Atlantic beaches and mild climate, so skiing is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when planning a winter holiday.

A true postcard image, the traditional houses of Santana in Madeira are one of the island’s most recognisable symbols.

The Algarve has a bit of a reputation as wall‑to‑wall resorts and sunbeds, but once you step away from the coast, a different side appears.

Portuguese wine is having a real moment, and the best wine routes in Portugal put you close to that energy. Wine tourism here means slow weekends on the river, drives through cork forests and evenings in small towns where the local taverna still knows every regular.