FOOD & DRINK PORTUGAL DESTINATIONS
RIGHT: Pastries
FAR RIGHT: Mouraria, Lisbon
BELOW: Douro Valley DO
Encourage clients to try
new foods and flavours – even if they decide they don’t like it, at least they can say they’ve given it a go.
DON’T
Forget to tell a tour operator
ASK THE EXPERT
Michael Edwards, managing director, Intrepid Travel “We’ve seen growth across all of western and eastern Europe, and an increase in tourism to the region. While it’s always been a relatively small region for us, we’ve started to put on additional tours, and a food tour is a good way to take advantage of the rising popularity of Portugal. There has always been an element of food in our tours, but in the past five years, it’s been a big part of our development. That’s part of a massive trend, but we’ve also led the way with our Real Food Adventures. It’s one of our fastest-growing products, and there’s still a long way to go.”
the region’s scenic beauty (and the produce itself) is the real draw, best enjoyed by driving through the hills or taking a scenic journey along the river. Like the valley itself, tours offer a unique blend of history and nature, simple food and fine wine.
w CAPITAL GAINS Lisbon flexes its muscles as soon as we arrive, with resplendent sunshine lighting up the gorgeous Praça do Comércio, a photogenic spot from where sailors departed and, if they were lucky, returned to, at the height of the Portuguese empire. Lisbon is much hillier than Porto, so recommend trams for even the fittest of travellers, though it’s nice to walk where possible, if only to avoid the crowded public transport. During a fado walking tour, taking its
well in advance of any dietary
The narrow alleys, dive bars and cobbled streets of Mouraria and Alfama are the trip’s highlight
theme from the traditional Portuguese folk music, we visit the increasingly hip but still hard-edged districts of Mouraria and Alfama; their narrow alleys, dive bars and cobbled streets are easily the highlight of the trip. It’s easy to see why Lisbon is
enjoying a long-overdue day in the sun. While the country at large has witnessed a boom in tourism, the
requirements or allergies – these can often be
accommodated with enough notice.
capital is leading the charge. Paula Oliveira of Visit Lisbon says: “In the past five years, Lisbon has registered significant growth in tourism numbers. From 2011 to 2016, bed nights in Lisbon metropolitan area’s hotels and similar establishments rose from 9 million to 13.1 million. “Lisbon is a cosmopolitan city,” she adds. “It’s a city to be experienced
14 September 2017
travelweekly.co.uk 73
PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK
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