Five of Europe’s best national parks – with all the beauty but none of the crowds
Offering exquisite scenery, rare wildlife and spectacular trails, these under-the-radar national parks are worth tracking down
March 2024
10 of the best European activity breaks with a spirit of adventure
Where people who love good food come to holiday: Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal
January 2024
From historic town houses to rural retreats: 10 great places to stay in Madeira
Where to go on the Portuguese island for lush vegetation, clifftop settings, fine wine and the promise of winter sun
October 2023
A miracle of design: Faro, the Palm Springs of Portugal
Faro is much more than a gateway to the Algarve: fans of modernism are now waking up to the way its sharp, angular buildings shine in the southern sun
July 2023
This may be Ronaldo Island but there’s more to Madeira than the football star’s hotel
Don’t forget Funchal, but explore away from the capital for lush vistas, hiking trails, whale-watching and cocktails to blow your socks off
Off the beaten track in northern Portugal
Ravenous vultures, wild horses and elusive wolves… The joy of nature tourism in the Greater Côa Valley
Valencia tops surprising poll of travellers’ favourite coastal stays in Europe
A new Which? survey reveals that visitors are starting to look beyond the old overcrowded favourites such as Barcelona and Málaga
June 2023
Proper Portugal: six great adventures without the crowds
Rewilding Portugal: the valley that waited 400 years for the cows to come home
Readers' travel tips
‘The sand glistens gold’: readers’ favourite spots in Portugal away from the crowds
Readers' travel tips
Tell us about a favourite trip to Portugal away from the crowds – you could win a holiday voucher
May 2023
Country diary
Country diary: Here, at least, martins and swallows are abundant
Lisbon revealed as best-value location for a European city break
December 2022
Rail journey of the month
Rail journey of the month: Lisbon to Vigo via Porto, past dunes, rivers and the Atlantic
Our slow travel expert enjoys the cross-border Celta train between Portugal and Spain, and not only because it costs just €5.25
November 2022
‘Three times the size of our house’: watching surfers ride Portugal’s monster waves
This small Portuguese town is a mecca for those brave enough to surf some of Europe’s biggest rollers, and gawping at their feats makes the perfect winter break
September 2022
My volunteering trip to help bring a fire-ravaged Portuguese forest back to life
Five years after wildfires tore through its woods, an inland area between Porto and Lisbon is still working to restore its ecosystems – and is open to offers of help from visitors
In and out of Spain and Portugal: a road trip up the Guadiana River
Bristling with castles and old port towns, the river that forms much of the Iberian border is peaceful and characterful – and you don’t have to start off on a zipwire
Athens ranked cheapest location in Europe for city break
Prices have fallen and a weekend in the Greek capital costs £207, compared with £218 in runner-up Lisbon
August 2022
Wish you weren’t here: the photos that show an hour in the life of ‘quiet’ tourist hotspots
Travellers trek to remote destinations in search of Instagram-worthy photos. But at what cost? Photographer Natacha de Mahieu visualises the impact of overtourism
