This year, UnTours marks 50 years of helping curious, independent travelers unpack once, settle in and discover what it truly means to live like a local. And for exactly half of that remarkable journey, since 2000, Ellen Peters has been here, keeping the books balanced, the details right and the whole operation grounded in the…
Portugal has captured the imagination of American travelers, and the levels of tourism in the city were rising rapidly before the pandemic began. Even now, Portugal, and especially the cities of Porto and Lisbon, are bouncing back, welcoming growing crowds. Here are 10 tips to help you enjoy Lisbon. 1. When booking flights into Lisbon,…
Recently our colleague Joao, from Sintra, Portugal, was cleaning out some old paperwork and stumbled upon a thank you note from UnTourists whom he had hosted during the tragic events of 9/11, back in 2001. Joao hosted the first iteration of our Sintra UnTour back then (which was simply the Portugal UnTour, as we had…
This far into COVID, I think some of us are tiring of our own cooking and the drabness of our grocery shopping routines. So, a little inspiration from the Mercados Municipais Estefânia in Sintra, a small but popular food hall in town that offers fresh produce and a wide range of foodstuffs. It is a popular…
You’re stuck at home, right? No romantic getaways or imminent departures in sight. No one feels your pain more than we do. (Trust me on this one.) While we are all in a holding pattern for a return to Europe and some of the most romantic places in the world, we have some Valentine’s Day…
Welcome to the world of Portuguese wines! Our Porto UnTour on-site staff person, Marta Ferreira, also serves as our wine expert in Portugal. She has lead our Virtual Weekend in Portugal wine groups with great success. Marta is also widely knowledgeable about Port. She runs our private Port tasting lessons, a fun Zoom event you…
Lisbon is a city that captured my heart. On my first trip there earlier this year, I was impressed with its picturesque streetscapes, its rolling hills and vistas, its remarkable light, and its old world grandeur and beauty. At times, as a street car whizzed by, I was reminded of San Francisco. My favorite neighborhood…
Fado has never sounded so good! The plaintive vocals of this most traditional Portuguese music seem perfectly made for our times. So as we plan our Weekend in Portugal, a virtual trip to Portugal featuring Zoom events, tours and performances meant to offer guests an immersive experience of Portuguese food, wine, and culture, Fado seemed…
There is no sweet treat so distinctly Portuguese as the Pastel de Nata, a simple egg custard tart that has become a Portuguese favorite. The confection goes back over three centuries, to the active days of the historic Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon’s Belém district. The monks and nuns there used egg whites to starch their vestments….
Porto is a new favorite destination for savvy travelers who love food, wine, scenery, and old world architecture. Marta, a proud Porto native, is busy with our popular new UnTour there! She is our UnTours staff person and welcomes UnTourists on this exciting new program in Portugal. Guests enjoy her hospitality and appreciate the knowledge…