Travel

Renting a Car in Portugal
Renting cars here is much like anywhere else, with a few peculiarities such as restrictions on taking the car out of Portugal, where exactly you’ll be picking up the car, how the rental companies here handle damage coverage, and a very weird, counter-intuitive, and ridiculously overpriced toll system that you’ll have to plan for before you rent.

Uncover Arrábida’s Royal Secret at Palácio da Comenda
Abandoned to degradation and graffiti, Palácio da Comenda was once known as one of the most regal palaces on the European coast, having hosted Portuguese royalty, French aristocracy, and the First Family of the U.S.

Driving through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 1)
This route won’t necessarily show you everything, but it will surely guide you through way more than just the highlights. Start from the capital or jump in at any point in the loop: here’s an idea of what not to miss in each of these stops, but how long you stay or what you skip is up to you.

Macau: Going Both Ways and Coming Out Again
Eighteen years ago, Portugal gave up its role in Macau, leaving practically no political or economic influence and very little saudade among most of the Chinese population.

Abandoned Castle in Alentejo: Montemor-o-Novo
Montemor-o-Novo is situated just an hour outside of Lisbon by car. The town itself is as charming as it is unpretentious, built around a small park at its nucleus and

How to Spend 24 Hours in Athens
Athens might look disorganized but it’s delightfully chaotic. If you’ve only got 24 hours, here’s how you can enjoy the highlights and feel the pulse of the cradle of Western civilization.

A Long Weekend in Scotland
Flying to Scotland is cheap and easy thanks to budget airlines, so Atlas went exploring and have some tips for visiting Skye, the Highlands, and Edinburgh.

Breaking Down Budget Airlines Flying In and Out of Lisbon
If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive holiday, here’s a look at the cheapest airlines in Europe — and what the ticket prices don’t include.

Hitchhiking from Lisbon, Part 2.4: A Day in Two Worlds
The scrutiny with which the border patrrol looked at the IDs of anybody resembling a Middle Easterner was incredible. The man in front of me had his ID inspected with a magnifying glass by three different people.

Hitchhiking from Lisbon, Part 2.3: The Great Dutch Migration, or ‘Gezellig’
We had entered the great Dutch migration. Hundreds upon hundred of holiday-makers were heading from Spain and the south of France back to the Netherlands.

Hitchhiking from Lisbon Part 2.2: Delivering Ice Cream
The stereotype that truckers and prostitutes go hand in hand is absolutely true.

Hitchhiking from Lisbon, Part 2.1: Le Camping-Car Magic
If you have ever been in a camper van whilst the driver takes a hit on a bong going 100km an hour, and not feared for your life, you are a braver man than I.