Gabriela - Porto Expats

Discover Douro Valley Series #1: A Day Trip to Pinhão & Peso da Régua

by Gabrielatrips October 15, 2026October 15, 2026No Comments

The Douro Valley is one of Portugal’s most breathtaking regions, where terraced vineyards, winding roads, and the Douro River create landscapes unlike anywhere else in the country. Just a short journey from Porto, it makes for the perfect day trip, combining stunning scenery, world-famous wines, and charming riverside towns. If you have time to extend …

A Car Day Trip from Porto: Ponte de Lima, Ponte da Barca & Arcos de Valdevez

by Gabrielatrips October 14, 2026October 14, 2026No Comments

If you’re looking to escape the city for a day, the beautiful Lima Valley in northern Portugal makes for one of the most rewarding road trips from Porto. The easiest way to explore the region is by car, with all three towns located within approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of Porto and just a short …

Green terraced fields below the granite peaks near Ameijoeira, Peneda-Gerês

Discover Gerês Series #3: Hiking GR 50 Stage 1 – Ameijoeira to Castro Laboreiro

by Gabrielatrips October 13, 2026October 13, 2026No Comments

In the last article of our Discover Gerês series, we spent a weekend in Castro Laboreiro: crossing the medieval bridges, climbing to the castle and eating Cachena beef at O Miradouro do Castelo. We also mentioned that the village is one of the highlights of the GR 50 – Grande Rota Peneda-Gerês. This time we …

Guimarães: A Perfect Day Trip from Porto

by Gabrielatrips October 5, 2026October 8, 2026One Comment

Often called the Cradle of Portugal, Guimarães is one of the country’s most historic and charming destinations. With its medieval streets, impressive castle, panoramic viewpoints and traditional gastronomy, it makes for an easy and rewarding day trip from Porto. At a glance How to Get to Guimarães from Porto Getting to Guimarães is simple and …

Discover Gerês Series #2: A Weekend Escape to Castro Laboreiro

by Gabrielatrips October 4, 2026October 5, 2026One Comment

After exploring the iconic granaries of Soajo in the first article of our Discover Gerês series, it’s time to go even deeper into the mountains of northern Portugal. Castro Laboreiro sits in the heart of Peneda-Gerês National Park, close to the Spanish border. It’s a remote village where medieval history, dramatic landscapes, unique traditions and …

Best Car Rental Companies in Porto

by Gabrielaservices October 2, 2026October 3, 2026One Comment

Planning to explore beyond Porto’s historic center? Renting a car is one of the best ways to discover the Douro Valley, Gerês National Park, Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães, and the beautiful beaches along Portugal’s northern coast. Before booking, it’s worth comparing offers on platforms such as rentalcars.com, which allows you to check prices, vehicle types, customer …

Enhance Your Portuguese With VocaSpark Flashcards

by Gabrielalanguage October 2, 2026October 2, 2026No Comments

VocaSpark was founded by Gabriel Antunes, a native Portuguese tutor with a degree in Languages and Culture who has been teaching Portuguese to international learners since 2017. After years of hearing the same frustration from students – that Portuguese grammar simply wasn’t sticking, no matter how many hours they spent studying, Gabriel realised there was …

Experience Authentic Portuguese Cuisine with Eat Porto

by Gabrielaactivities, cafes, food, pastries, restaurants, traditions, wine September 30, 2026October 1, 2026One Comment

One of the things I love most about Porto is that there is always another side of the city waiting to be discovered. For me, that journey started with a book written by the founder of Eat Porto (Experience Porto by Luís Remisio). What immediately caught my attention was the carefully curated selection of restaurants …