What to do in Portugal

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.

New Year’s Eve in Portugal, or Réveillon, is one long slow build.

Portugal transforms into a festive wonderland during the Christmas season, offering a rich mix of cultural traditions, regional customs, and delicious food.

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

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.

For things to do in Olhao, early starts and unhurried evenings work best.