I spent three weeks in Portugal living among the locals and curating a list of the most authentic finds and hidden gems. Below are a collection of my guides to help with your trip planning. For personalized itinerary or guide planning, please check out my Services shop.

Cascais is nicknamed "the charm of the Atlantic" for a reason. Situated along Portugal's beautiful coastline, this charming town offers beautiful beaches, plentiful shopping, and incredible food. In fact, our favorite restaurant in all of Portugal is here! Cascais is very doable in a day (though, be warned: you'll be tempted to return for much longer!). This guide includes: - Directions from Lisbon to Cascais - Top attractions to explore - Must-visit beaches - Best picks for dining experiences - Where to enjoy drinks with a view This guide includes an interactive map that's both desktop and mobile friendly, so you can have it on-the-go with the Thatch mobile app. Seeking a tailored travel itinerary or personalized recommendations? Explore my planning services featured on my Thatch profile for a personalized touch to your trip.

The pastel de nata, an emblem of Portuguese cuisine, offers layers of pastry that are crisp and flaky, embracing a rich, creamy egg-custard filling, with a dash of cinnamon on top. You can discover pastel de nata in nearly every café across the city, each offering slight variations in crust, filling, and sweetness. The original pastel de nata, Pastel de Belém, can only be found at the Pastéis de Belém pastry shop. The pastel de Belém recipe is a patented secret. Master confectioners sign a confidentiality agreement, pledging not to disclose the recipe to anyone. For our vegan and lactose-intolerant friends, no need to worry! We've made sure to include a pastel de nata shop tailored just for you. Considering the abundance of pastel de nata varieties, it's practically a necessity to sample each one, wouldn't you agree? All in the name of research, of course!