Portugal, Actually: Honest Portugal Travel Tips & Reviews

The Lisbon to Porto train: Alfa Pendular vs Intercidades, 2026 fares and times, which Lisbon station to use, booking on CP and getting from Campanhã.

Where to eat the best francesinha in Porto: Porto-style vs Braga-style sauce, the places for each, how to order, opening days and 2026 prices.

How to do a Vila do Conde day trip from Porto on the metro: 2026 times and fares, the Nau, the Igreja Matriz, Santa Clara, the aqueduct, the lace museum and the beaches.

Leça da Palmeira, just north of Matosinhos: Siza's tidal pools, the Boa Nova tea house, the lighthouse, beaches and seafront walks, with 2026 prices.

How to take the train from Porto to the Douro Valley: which station to use, the best stops, ticket prices, the 2026 timetable, which side to sit on, the historic train and a day-trip plan for Pinhão.

Seven of the best beaches in the Algarve, from the arches of Praia da Marinha to the wild west coast and the calm, warm islands of the Ria Formosa, with parking, access, facilities and sea conditions for each.

A first-hand guide to the beaches around Porto: Matosinhos, Foz, Cabedelo and Senhor da Pedra in Gaia, Leça da Palmeira and its ocean pools, Praia da Memória, and our favourites for fish and surfing, Espinho and Azurara.

A guide to Alcobaça: the bare Cistercian monastery, the tragic love story of Pedro and Inês, the giant monastery kitchen, what to see in town and where to eat.