The journal

Stories

Routes, regions and practical notes for travelling with a little more attention.

Jorge walking along a long open sandy beach
Algarve · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 10 min read

Best beaches in Tavira, Algarve

Tavira, at the eastern end of the Algarve, offers some of the most beautiful yet secluded beaches in Portugal. Here, the Ria Formosa lagoon stretches between the ocean and the mainland, so, oftentimes (but not always),…

A woman in pink in the Almourol Castle in Central Portugal
Central · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 8 min read

Best day trips from Tomar

Tomar may be best known for its Templar history and the magnificent Convent of Christ, but it’s also a brilliant base for exploring towns, villages and sights in Central Portugal. Within half-an-hour’s drive you can explore…

Tomar is a beautiful city, as seem from the Bela Vista restaurant where wisteria hangs
Central · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 15 min read

Guide to Tomar: Portugal’s city of Templar legends

I didn’t find any secret chambers, underground tunnels or white messenger pigeons while exploring Tomar – but the legends of the mysterious Knights Templar still inspire visits to this off-beat Portuguese city. Tomar, a 90-minute drive…

Skyline of Porto as seen from Vila NOva de Gaia at sunset
Portugal · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 13 min read

Fall in Portugal: 8 places to visit this autumn

If you’ve ever wished summer could stretch just a little longer, then Portugal might be your autumn answer. Early in the season, while much of Europe is already embracing sweater weather, you can still chase sunny…

Food · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 11 min read

Taste of Porto: A food-filled weekend at Canto de Luz

Canto de Luz invited me to experience their boutique hotel and food experiences as part of this sponsored collaboration. Reflections remain independent. Beyond azulejo-covered churches and cobbled lanes that wind down to the Douro River, at…

A woman looking out from a viewpoint São Miguel, Azores
Azores · Daniela Sunde-Brown · 13 min read

9 islands of the Azores: what you need to know

Set adrift in the North Atlantic, the nine volcanic islands of the Azores offer a mix of raw beauty and quiet charm. Life here moves at an unhurried pace and adventure here means hiking lush trails,…