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- news
World Travel Awards 2026: Portugal Named Europe’s Leading Destination
Portugal has been named Europe's Leading Destination 2026 at the World Travel Awards , winning the title for the second year in a row. Known as the "Oscars of Tourism", the World Travel Awards have recognised excellence across travel and hospitality since 1993.
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Porto Named Europe's Friendliest City by Condé Nast Traveller in 2026
Porto has been named the friendliest city in Europe in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards. Worldwide, only Melbourne in Australia ranks higher. Seoul, in South Korea, completes the podium, and Lisbon follows closely in fourth place. For travelers planning a trip to northern Portugal, it is a welcome confirmation of something visitors have been saying for years.
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Last-Minute New Year's Eve in Portugal: Wine Escapes You Can Still Book
Still no New Year's Eve plans? Discover last-minute wine escapes in Porto, the Douro Valley or Lisbon , with private tours you can still book for 2026/27 . Planning New Year's Eve in Portugal at the last minute doesn't have to mean settling for what's left. At Wine Tourism in Portugal , we help travellers turn a few available days into a complete Portuguese wine experience — from private tours and wine estates to hotels , restaurants , transfers and special experiences. Whether you want to celebrate in Porto, wake up among the vineyards in the Douro Valley, or combine Lisbon with a wine escape to Setúbal or the Alentejo, our team can design and coordinate a private itinerary around what is still available.
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What Makes Fall the Best Season for Wine Tourism in Portugal?
Fall is widely considered the best season for wine tourism in Portugal because it combines milder temperatures, the grape harvest (vindima), golden vineyard landscapes, smaller crowds, and easier availability than during the summer peak. The exact experience varies by region, from the terraced Douro Valley to the sun-baked Alentejo plains, so the "best" fall trip depends on what a traveler is looking for.
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Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2027: Where to Visit the Porto and Douro Winners
The Best Of Wine Tourism Awards are international awards created by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network to recognize excellence and innovation in wine tourism across seven categories. The 2027 regional winners for Porto, Douro and Vinhos Verdes , announced at the end of September 2026, are Casa da Companhia, Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta da Aveleda, Restaurante Cooperativa, the Festa do Tomate Coração de Boi do Douro, Soalheiro and Quinta da Vacaria. All seven can be visited, most by reservation, and this guide explains how the awards work and how to plan a visit to each winner.
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F1 Portugal Grand Prix Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore
When is F1 in Portugal Happening The Portuguese Grand Prix is officially back on the Formula 1 calendar for the 2027 and 2028 seasons , with the 2027 race set for June 18 to 20 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, after a six-year absence. For race fans planning ahead, the Algarve offers far more than a track known for its dramatic elevation changes: it's one of Portugal's most rewarding regions for food, wine and coastal scenery.
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Best MICHELIN Key Hotels in Portugal: 2026 Guide
How many MICHELIN Key hotels are in Portugal ? Portugal has 69 hotels with a MICHELIN Key in 2026 , according to the selection announced on September 18, 2026. Two hold Three Keys, 14 hold Two Keys, and 53 hold One Key. Sixteen hotels are new this year, including Casa da Calçada in Amarante, which entered directly with Two Keys.
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Tiago Macena: Portugal’s First Master of Wine
On 20 August 2026, the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), the London-based body that has certified the wine trade's most demanding qualification since 1955 , announced its newest class: seven professionals who had completed all stages of the Master of Wine (MW) exam. Among them was Tiago Macena, a Portuguese oenologist rooted in the Dão and the Azores , who became the first person from Portugal ever to earn the title.
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How to Visit the New 7 Wonders of Portugal (2026)
What are the New 7 Wonders of Portugal ? On September 12, 2026, Portugal revealed the winners of its New 7 Wonders competition, nearly 20 years after the original 2007 edition. The seven winning sites span the country, from a Roman ruin in the Alentejo wine region to a cathedral in Lisbon .
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How to Visit the Douro Valley in One Day
Yes, You Can See the Douro Valley in a Day Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2001, the Douro Valley is the oldest wine-demarcated region in the world , stretching across more than 40,000 hectares of terraced vineyards. One of the questions we hear most from travelers based in Porto is whether you can actually see the Douro properly in a single day.
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Why Choose Wine Tourism in Portugal as Your Travel Advisor
Who should you trust to plan your Portugal trip : a search engine, a booking platform, or a dedicated travel advisor? By now, you've probably decided you want a dedicated travel advisor for your trip to Portugal: not an overwhelming stack of browser tabs, not a generic mass-market package, and certainly not a gamble with your precious vacation time. That's the easy part. The harder question is: which advisor should you trust?
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Portugal 2027: Why It Should Be Your Next Travel Destination
Some destinations chase trends. Portugal simply keeps proving why it doesn't need to. While travel headlines shift from one "it" destination to the next, Portugal has quietly built something more durable: a reputation that grows year after year , not because of a viral moment, but because travelers keep falling for it and keep coming back .
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Through the Eyes of a Chef: Rui Silvestre
Chef Rui Silvestre leads the kitchen at Fifty Seconds , the two-Michelin-star restaurant perched 120 metres above Lisbon at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower. Born in Valongo and raised in the Algarve from the age of ten, Silvestre became one of the youngest Portuguese chefs to win a Michelin star and went on to lead the kitchen at Vistas by Rui Silvestre, in the Algarve, before taking the helm at Fifty Seconds in 2024.
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Portugal Harvest 2026: The Best Time to Visit Wine Country
There's a particular smell that settles over Portugal's wine regions every September , sweet, earthy, and faintly smoky, as if the whole countryside had turned into a giant fermenting barrel. It drifts through the terraced hillsides of the Douro, settles over the quiet vineyards of Vinho Verde, and lingers in the warm evening air of the Alentejo plains. This is harvest season , and for a few unforgettable weeks each year, it transforms Portugal's wine country into a living celebration.
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Meet Alma: The New Yacht Sailing the Douro
The Douro Valley is where Portuguese wine tourism began . Carved by centuries of hand-built terraces climbing steep granite slopes, this is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, officially established in 1756, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 . The Douro River winds through it all, connecting remote quintas to the city of Porto , and for generations it has been as much a working route for wine as a source of some of the country's most striking landscapes.
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Last-Minute Comporta: Book Your Summer Getaway
The "Hamptons of Portugal" If you're still weighing up a summer escape, Comporta, Portugal, deserves a spot at the top of your list, and the window to book is closing fast. With just weeks left before the season winds down, both August and September still offer a chance to experience this stretch of the Alentejo coast, each with a slightly different rhythm.
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Why Portugal Is One of Europe's Safest Destinations in 2026
Portugal has once again confirmed its place among the world's most secure nations . According to the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Portugal ranks 7th out of 163 countries and territories.
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Best Travel Destinations to Visit in Europe in 2027
Europe never goes out of style, but every year the reasons to visit shift. In 2027 , travelers are looking beyond the obvious capitals and heading toward destinations that blend culture, gastronomy, and authenticity , places where history is still lived in, not just displayed. Three countries stand out for delivering exactly that: Portugal , Spain , and France .
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Wine Tasting Near Me: The Best Wine Experiences in Portugal
Best Wine Experiences in Portugal If you've typed " wine tasting near me " into a search bar while dreaming of your next trip, chances are you haven't discovered Portugal yet. From the terraced hillsides of the Douro to the volcanic vineyards of the Azores, Portugal is one of the most rewarding and still refreshingly uncrowded wine destinations in the world.
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The Ultimate Portugal and Spain Summer Travel Guide
There is a particular kind of light that settles over the Iberian Peninsula in summer , gold over Lisbon's rooftops, glinting off the Douro River, warming the honey-colored stone of Andalusia's ancient cities. For travelers who want more than a single destination, summer is when Portugal and Spain reveal themselves most fully, through open-air fado, lively terraces, and flamenco echoing through old quarters.
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Where to Stay in Comporta: A 2026 Guide to the New Hotels
Just over an hour from Lisbon , and often described as the "Hamptons of Portugal" for its understated glamour, celebrity following, and effortlessly chic beach culture. Comporta has managed to retain a wild, undeveloped charm, featuring pine forests, rice paddies, and endless Atlantic dunes that still feel wonderfully untouched.
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Portugal's Harvest Season: The Best Wineries to Visit
Every September, vineyards across Portugal shift from quiet green slopes into some of the country's most vibrant destinations. This is Portugal's harvest season , locally known as the vindima, and for wine lovers, it's simply the best time to visit a Portuguese winery.
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Wine Tourism in Portugal: 10 Experiences in Douro to Try
The Douro Valley is where wine tourism in Portugal truly comes alive. Terraced vineyards cascade down the hillsides toward the river, centuries-old quintas open their cellars to visitors, and every tasting comes with a view that's hard to forget. Whether you're after a hands-on cooking class, a candlelit picnic among the vines, or a deep dive into Port wine production, the Douro delivers.
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What to Do in Douro Valley in Fall 2026
Planning a trip to the Douro Valley and wondering if fall is the right time to go? The short answer: absolutely. As summer gives way to September, October, and November, Portugal's most iconic wine region transforms into a landscape of gold, copper, and amber, and the pace of travel shifts to something altogether more relaxed and rewarding.