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…
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…
As Portugal has become the new “it” destination, is it any wonder interest in Portuguese wines is on the rise? As the days get longer and the temperatures climb their way toward spring and summer, crisp and refreshing Vinho Verde is at the top of our list. Here are seven reasons why this delicious libation…
Catch up with Joao, our local staff person on the Sintra UnTour in central Portugal, and a veteran UnTours staffer. Tell us a little bit about your professional background. What drew you to working in tourism? I began working in 98 when Portugal hosted the last world exhibit to celebrate the maiden voyage of Vasco…
Sintra is our UnTours hometown for Central Portugal. It has so much atmosphere and plenty of things to see and do, but it also makes a perfect base for exploring the wider region. Here are just some of the excellent day trips within easy striking distance. Lisbon This capital city of Portugal has more than…
Sometimes compared to American blue music, the Fado song captures the essence of the Portuguese people more than any other music and offers a window into the country’s soul. This typically sad song is said to descend from African melodies, though there is no trace of the Fado song in African music nowadays. The music…