Archives 2024

Whether you prefer wilderness or dense cities, the call of frogs in the rainforest or the beat of samba drums, Brazil has an experience lined up for you. The country’s status as a natural paradise is impossible to deny. While superlatives simply don’t do it justice, this continent-sized nation is home to the largest rainforest, the most sprawling wetlands, and more known species of plants, freshwater fish and mammals than any other country in the world.

Brazil is also home to myriad indigenous and immigrant cultures, each with their own unique languages, foods and music. Get a taste for Afro-Brazilian heritage by eating acarajé in Salvador, dance samba in Rio de Janeiro, or move to the sounds of frevo in Olinda during Carnaval. The Amazon, too, hosts some of the biggest parties in Brazil. If you think you’ll be ready for another vacation at the end of all that, look no further than Brazil’s tropical islands for some downtime.

Plan your shortlist of must-dos with this guide to Brazil’s top experiences.

1. Admire the view in Rio de Janeiro

Beaches, architecture, museums, waterfalls, nightlife…there are dozens of good reasons to visit Rio de Janeiro. But if this city has one essential thing to do, it’s getting up high to admire the view. From above, Rio’s dramatic topography is revealed in all its splendor – forest-covered mountains plunging down to the ocean with urban sprawl jammed in between.

Visitors jostle for selfie space at two of the city’s most popular tourist spots, the 710m-high (2329ft-high) Christ the Redeemer statue and Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), which both offer spectacular 360-degree views. To avoid the crowds, a splurge on a helicopter tour is worth every real.

A stunning vista is the reward at the end of hikes in the Tijuca National Park, with particularly breathtaking views from the Pico da Tijuca and Pedra da Gávea peaks.

2. Relax on a tropical island

Brazil has thousands of beaches along its coastline, but you can side-step the difficult task of choosing one by escaping to a tropical island instead. Ilha Grande, south of Rio de Janeiro on the Costa Verde, has warm seas and white sandy beaches fringed by the forests of the Mata Atlântica. Ilhabela combines good restaurants for the São Paulo weekenders with hiking trails and guest houses hidden away in dense, jungle-covered hills.

Smaller Ilha do Mel in the south of Brazil near Paranaguá feels more remote, with just a handful of accommodation options, plus a lighthouse, fort and caves to explore. The Bahian coast is a safe bet for sunshine, and Boipeba has more than 20km (12 miles) of palm-lined beaches and a castaway vibe.

3. Spot whales in Praia do Rosa

Once a sleepy fishing hamlet, Praia do Rosa is now a top surf destination, with charming guest houses and hotels tucked into the hillside above a bay. In the winter months (June to November), surfers are joined by another type of visitor playing in the waves: southern right whale calves.

Whales were hunted in these waters as far back as the 1700s and were widely thought to be extinct by the 1970s. Despite making a comeback, they’re still highly endangered. The whales migrate here from Patagonia every year to breed, and a marine reserve stretching 130km (80 miles) along the coast was established to help protect them.

Planning tip: Only masochists will want to swim in the sea this far south in the winter, but the beach is a beautiful destination for windy walks and whale spotting year-round. Boat tours can also be booked for a closer look.

4. Soak up the energy at a soccer game

It’s impossible not to know when there’s a big soccer game playing in Brazil, as every screen in every bar will have it on, with shouts ringing out across neighborhoods when goals are scored. Join in the action by booking tickets to see a game, where the passionate supporters can be as much of a spectacle as the game itself.

The Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro is legendary – it hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. SR Flamengo is the biggest club in Rio and you can expect excited crowds when the team goes head-to-head with any of its local rivals.

In São Paulo, SE Palmeiras and Corinthians both have gleaming modern stadiums, and the latter in particular is famous for its passionate supporters. The city’s Pacaembu Stadium is an art deco jewel, although it hosts fewer games these days. The soccer museum underneath the stadium is a monument to Brazil’s greatest passion.

5. Watch birds in the Atlantic Forest

Bird-watching enthusiasts will want to trek to some of the most spectacular off-the-beaten-path spots in the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest). One of Brazil’s six biomes, the Atlantic Forest is a hot spot for birding – it’s home to nearly 900 bird species, a quarter of which don’t live anywhere else, including three-toed jacamars and kaleidoscopic green-headed tanagers.

You can explore Atlantic Forest habitats in dozens of national and state parks as well as hundreds of private nature reserves. Itatiaia, established in 1937 as Brazil’s first national park, is a birding paradise. Further south, among the mangroves and salt marshes of Superagui National Park and the Sebui private nature reserve, other Atlantic Forest species such as scarlet ibis and the red-tailed Amazon parrot fill the skies at sunset as they come in to roost for the night.

6. Get soaked on a speed boat under Iguaçu Falls

The thunder and roar of 396,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of water pouring over the edge of Iguaçu Falls every second is a thrilling, visceral experience. Dozens of activities in and around the falls will keep visitors occupied for days, from hiking and cycling in the surrounding national park to feeding the birds at the Parque das Aves bird and wildlife sanctuary.

There’s a good chance you’ll get wet at some stage during your visit, so why not submit to the deluge in the most adrenaline-fueled way possible, with a speedboat ride right under the falls? Turbo-dinghies with 500 horsepower outboard motors pass right beside the falls, where it’s so loud no one will hear your shrieks.

Planning tip: The nearby Itaipú Dam – the world’s second-largest – is well worth a visit, too, and accessible via Brazil or Paraguay.

7. Dance during Carnaval

For one hot, sweaty but utterly thrilling day of your life, you can feel like a star as you don an enormous costume and join a samba school to parade down the Sambódromo during Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Broadcast live on national television, with many thousands of spectators cheering from the grandstands, this parade is a fierce competition that’s taken extremely seriously by the samba schools that prepare for it year-round.

But Carnaval is not all about Rio. Each corner of the country celebrates in its own way, and one of the most traditional can be found in the coastal city of Olinda. Instead of samba, the rhythms of frevo, maracatu and afoxé ring out across the hilly streets of this charming town. Local bands playing percussion and brass draw huge crowds of excitable revelers trying to keep pace.

Planning tip: Tickets for the Sambódromo can be bought through the official website, which sells seats for the arquibancadas (bleachers) or camarotes (boxes). However, they sell out extremely quickly. Tickets may be available on resale sites, but expect to pay upwards of US$100.

8. See street art in São Paulo

A maze of underpasses and overpasses, sidewalks cracked by tree roots, and steep hills make walking in São Paulo something of an adventure sport. But the reward is a wealth of murals and graffiti daubed across the city’s urban sprawl, all the more striking against the city’s ubiquitous gray concrete.

The colorful Beco do Batman (Batman’s Alley) is a top spot for street art and a tourist honeypot. In Centro, artist Felipe Yung’s 10,000 sq m (107,639 sq ft) Aquarium covers the facades of 15 buildings. The 3.5km (2.2-mile) Minhoção – officially Via Elevada Presidente João Goulart – is closed to traffic at night and at weekends, making it the perfect place to stroll while taking in artwork by such artists as Speto, Zezão and Mag Magrela.

Cambuci, in the southeast of the city, was the stomping ground for the world-famous duo OsGemeos in their youth, and it’s the best place to see their art outside of museums. In northern São Paulo, the Museu Aberto de Arte Urbana (Open Museum of Urban Art) brings together street art by dozens of creators on the huge columns underneath a metro line.

9. Contemplate the origins of life at Serra da Capivara

The culmination of a lifetime’s work for Brazilian archaeologist, Niède Guidon, the Museu da Natureza (Museum of Nature) opened in late 2018. A spiral-shaped building at the edge of the Serra da Capivara National Park, the museum explores the history of humans and other species from their earliest known existence.

Highlights include saber-toothed cat teeth and a 6m (20ft) life-size model of the giant sloth Eremotherium, fossils of which were found in the park. Serra da Capivara has an astounding 300 archaeological sites where fossils, ceramics, bones and tens of thousands of examples of cave art – the largest collection in the world – have been found over the decades. These discoveries suggest that humans settled here as far back as 50,000 years ago, challenging the mainstream theory about human settlement in the Americas.

Planning tip: An airport was built near the Serra da Capivara in 2015, but the only commercial flights run from Petrolina and Recife; most visitors drive or catch a bus from Petrolina or Teresina.

10. Understand Afro-Brazilian culture in Salvador

Chili, coconut, coriander, dried shrimp, dendé palm oil…the ingredients of Bahian cuisine make for some of the tastiest dishes in Brazil, showing the strong African influences in the city of Salvador.

A popular street food is acarajé, a deep-fried ball of black-eyed pea paste stuffed with a dried shrimp stew and condiments. The dish is traditionally made by Baianos, descendants of the first Africans in Brazil, and it was even given protected cultural heritage status in 2005. Acarajé is just one of the Baiano-made foods connected to the worship of orixás, deities of Yoruban origin.

Planning tip: Salvador is the best place in Brazil to immerse yourself in Afro-Brazilian culture and religion. The Caminho dos Orixás – Oxum is a tour of the city’s sights run by an agency specializing in Afro-Brazilian culture. Viare Travel also organizes tours tailored around Afro-Brazilian heritage.

11. Float down the river in Bonito

An ecotourism boom town near the Pantanal wetlands, Bonito is a giant aquarium and a playground for lovers of nature. The clear waters here spring up through a limestone base that acts as a water purifier, allowing for astounding underwater visibility. Visitors will come face to face with all sorts of fascinating fish while floating down the Rio da Prata. Alternatively, rafting down the Rio Formoso provides a chance to look out for fish and birds while you navigate the rapids.

12. Party on at festivals in the Amazon

Trees, not people, are what dominate the Amazon in the popular imagination. But the world’s largest rainforest is home to more than 30 million people and they throw some pretty spectacular parties (they’re Brazilian too, after all). Bumba Meu Boi is a folk festival held in June in Parantins that recounts the death and resurrection of an ox, with music, fireworks, dancing and glittering costumes.

The biggest Amazonian festival is Círio de Nazaré, a Catholic celebration that attracts more than a million devotees each October. Devout locals file through the streets of Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon River, in a cathartic throng. Some 966km (600 miles) upriver, the town of Maués throws a festival every December to celebrate the harvest of its energy-boosting guaraná fruit. Locals dance on the beaches of the Maués-Acú River until the early hours.

13. Visit a cachaça distillery

Also known as pinga (among dozens of other nicknames), cachaça is an exclusively Brazilian distilled sugarcane spirit that can range from cheap rocket fuel to an expensive, aged artisanal delicacy. It’s also the main ingredient in the unofficial Brazilian national drink, the caipirinha. Bars can provide an easy education in the delights of cachaça – but better still is a distillery tour.

Minas Gerais is the main cachaça-producing region in Brazil and home to the oldest functioning distillery, Engenho Boa Vista, which has been in business for more than 260 years. Overlooking the sea, the Maria Izabel distillery is a must for any visitors to Paraty. Rio Encantos runs a cachaça tour in Rio, taking in the historic center of the city and finishing up with a cachaça tasting.

Planning tip: The Mapa da Cachaça website is a great resource, mapping out distilleries across the country.   

14. Track jaguars in the Pantanal

The largest cat in the Americas, the jaguar is a rare and elusive creature. These famed big cats roam far and wide across Brazil, and despite game hunting being illegal since 1967, jaguars are still poached. Add in habitat loss – exacerbated by recent fires and the expansion of cattle ranching – and the result has been a decline in their population, placing these magnificent animals at risk of extinction.

One of the best habitats for spotting jaguars is the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. Conservation NGO Onçafari was set up in 2011 to help protect the jaguars through research and ecotourism. The group runs jaguar safaris from its base at the Caiman Lodge, a private nature reserve.

Planning tip: A number of local tour operators also run jaguar safaris, and the deeper you get into the wetlands, the better chance you have of spotting one. Chances of sightings are best during the dry season (April to September).

15. Kitesurf off Brazil’s northeast coast

Some of the world’s most respected kitesurfing champions are from Brazil – no surprise given the country’s thousands of miles of windswept Atlantic coastline. Ceará in northeastern Brazil has some of the best kitesurfing hot spots, including Cumbuco (a playground for some of the top athletes) and the coastal hubs of Icapuí and Preá.

A little farther north in Piauí state, Barra Grande is an up-and-coming spot for the sport. In Maranhão, lagoons in Atins offer up wind without the waves and the bonus of being on the doorstep of the desert-like Lençois Maranhenses National Park.

Encircled by mountains of myth and sitting astride the shores of its eponymous lake of bluest blue, Lucerne is every bit as gorgeous as it was back in the 19th century when Goethe, Wagner and Queen Victoria eulogised its beauty.

Slow travel comes naturally here, with boats, trains and cable cars breezing across the lake and up to nearby Alpine heights. From the birthplace of the nation to sky-scraping glaciers, here are our picks for the best days out from Lucerne.

1. Float on the jewel-colored waters of Lake Uri

Travel time: 1 hour 

Switzerland heart in every possible sense of the word, Lake Lucerne’s southernmost arm, Lake Uri, is its most ravishing. At times as narrow as a fjord, Lake Uri’s jewel-colored green-blue waters give way to forested cliffs and peaks that rise sheer and rugged.

Cruise these waters and you’ll glimpse Rütli Meadow, hallowed birthplace of the Swiss Confederation as the spot where the Oath of Eternal Allegiance was signed in 1291. Nearby is the Tellskapelle, a little chapel ensconced in woods, where the apple-shooting hero and Swiss rebel William Tell is said to have leaped to safety from the boat of his Hapsburg captor, Gessler.

Myths abound, too, at the Schillerstein, a near 30m-high natural obelisk jutting up above the lake. Its inscription pays homage to Friedrich Schiller, the author of the play William Tell.

How to reach Lake Uri: Boat is the way to go to really see Lake Uri. Take SGV’s regular ferry service from Brunnen to Flüelen (44 minutes). Trains link Lucerne to Brunnen (46 minutes) and Flüelen (one hour).

2. Hike waterfalls and high-Alpine moors in Meiringen

Travel time: 1 hour

Tucked away in the eastern corner of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region, Meiringen has a phenomenally beautiful backyard, with hiking and cycling trails leading to wild valleys, waterfalls and high-Alpine moors.

Get an early train for time to see both of its big-hitting natural wonders. First up is the 250m-high Reichenbach Falls, which plummets over sheer, wooded cliff faces with a deafening roar. You can see how author Arthur Conan Doyle thought it the perfect backdrop for a dramatic finale: in The Final Problem, he pushed both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Moriarty over the precipice here.

The Aare Gorge is just as riveting, with tunnels and galleries wending past milky-blue torrents and limestone overhangs.

Stay for more than a day to delve deeper into the Hasli Valley – to see the Triftbrücke, Europe’s highest (100m) and longest (170m) suspension bridge, dangling precariously over the Trift Glacier, for instance, or the waterfall-laced glacier gorge of Rosenlaui.

How to reach Meiringen: Meiringen is a 50-minute drive south of Lucerne via the A8. There are hourly trains to Meiringen (1 hour 10 minutes).

3. Climb Mt Pilatus on the world’s steepest cog railway

Travel time: day-long trip

Mountains and valleys seem to ripple into infinity from the 2128m peak of Mt Pilatus, where the restless ghost of Roman prefect Pontius Pilate is said to roam. As the legend goes, his corpse was thrown into a lake at the summit and he has haunted these parts ever since – hence the name.

Reached by the world’s steepest cog railway since 1889, with a gradient of 48%, the mountain is an easy and insanely scenic day trip from Lucerne. Getting here would have been more of an effort back in the 19th century when Wagner waxed lyrical about Pilatus’ views and Queen Victoria trotted up here on horseback. But the exhilarating views on the walking trail are little changed: reaching across the lake, deep into the Swiss Alps and as far as Germany’s Black Forest on clear days.

How to reach Mt Pilatus: From May to October, you can reach Mt Pilatus on a “golden round-trip” day excursion, a combination of boat, cogwheel railway, cable car and bus.

4. Witness a blazing sunrise or sunset from Mt Rigi

Travel time: 1.5 hours

Puckering up between lakes Lucerne and Zug, the 1797m peak of Mt Rigi is well known for its blazing sunrises and sunsets. Turner was so smitten with the outlook and the singular quality of the light that in 1842 he painted the mountain in watercolors at three different times of day (Blue Rigi, Dark Rigi and Red Rigi).

Europe’s oldest mountain railway – celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2021 – hauls you to the summit, where the view is extraordinary, stretching across both lakes to Mt Titlis and the glaciated peaks of the Jungfrau massif. On clear days, you can see 24 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. There’s terrific high-level hiking up here in summer on 120km of marked trails, as well as low-key skiing, snowshoeing and sledding in winter.

If you’d prefer a swim or massage with a sublime view, head over to the Mario Botta-designed Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad.

How to reach Mt Rigi: Frequent trains run to Vitznau (one hour) and Goldau (32 minutes), where you can connect with cogwheel railways to Rigi Kulm (32 minutes and 44 minutes respectively).

5. Head to Brunnen for paragliding, sailing and kitesurfing

Travel time: 45 minutes

Cradled in the folds of jagged mountains, where Lake Lucerne narrows as it turns sharply south, Brunnen’s quayside is quite the Alpine dream. Turner was so impressed by the view while sojourning here that he painted The Bay of Uri from Brunnen in 1841. When the Föhn wind sweeps down from the peaks, conditions are ideal for sports on and above the water: from sailing to paragliding, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Should you fancy a walk instead, hook onto a section of the 35km, two-day Swiss Path around Lake Uri.

Not only the surrounding peaks offer knife-edge perspectives. Victorinox hails from these parts and the Swiss Knife Valley Museum tells you all about it, with a fascinating romp through the history of knives. The highlight, however, is the chance to build your own Swiss Army Knife (a process of just 15 minutes).

How to reach Brunnen: Brunnen is a 40-minute drive south of Lucerne via the A4, or take one of the regular trains (45 minutes to one hour).

6. Try winter skiing or high-altitude hiking at Engelberg

Travel time: 45 minutes

As if cupped in celestial hands, Engelberg (literally “Angel Mountain”) wings you straight to Alpine heaven with its ragged backdrop of glacier-streaked peaks punching well above the 3000m mark. When the flakes fall in winter, skiers and boarders descend on the resort, eager to make fresh tracks in off-piste powder. In summer, these mountains offer mile upon joyous mile of high-altitude hikes.

The icing on the cake is 3238m, glacier-topped Mt Titlis, Central Switzerland’s tallest mountain, home to the world’s first revolving cable car, which soars above the deeply crevassed ice. With Alps as far as the eye can see, views from the top are staggering, especially if you brave the Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge. Get an early start to avoid the glacier is at its busiest.

How to reach Engelberg: Engelberg is a 40-minute drive south of Lucerne via the A2. There are hourly fast trains linking Lucerne to Engelberg (43 minutes).

7. Ride the funicular and summit Stanserhorn

Travel time: 25 minutes

Flinging up to the south of Lucerne, Stanserhorn is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get high above the lake. From the 1898m summit, an intricate tapestry of mountains, lakes, fields and forests unfurls. Getting there is half the fun, involving a quaintly old-fashioned ride in an 1893 funicular to Kälti, where the double-decker CabriO cable car takes over, swinging up another 1100m in just 6½ minutes. This is the world’s first cable car with a roofless upper deck and it can get mighty breezy up top.

At the summit, there are plenty of big-view hiking trails and hang-gliding and paragliding when conditions allow. The Stanserhorn Rangers give the inside scoop on everything from wildflowers to where to spot eagles and marmots.

How to reach Stanserhorn: Stanserhorn is a 25-minute drive south of Lucerne via the A2. Frequent trains make the same journey in 13 minutes. From here, a funicular rises to the summit from mid-April to early November.

8. Join pilgrims visiting Einsiedeln from afar

Travel time: 1 hour

When Lucerne is rammed on summer weekends, Einsiedeln, hidden away at the end of a valley and framed by gentle wooded hills, makes a peaceful day trip. Pilgrims come from afar to this small town, which is Switzerland’s answer to Lourdes. According to legend, the Bishop of Constance tried to consecrate the original monastery in AD 964, but was interrupted by a heavenly voice, declaring: “Desist. God himself has consecrated this building.”

Whether or not you believe in miracles, the 18th-century Klosterkirche abbey church is magnificent, with its opulent frenzy of frescoes, stucco, marble, and gold swirls. Pilgrims pray before the tiny statue of the Black Madonna. For a view over the abbey to the hills beyond, trudge up to the Statue of St Benedikt.

How to reach Einsiedeln: Einsiedeln is an hour’s drive east of Lucerne via the A14. There are twice hourly trains (1¼ hours).

Venture beyond the cool capital Copenhagen and explore more of Denmark. Historic towns, fairy-tale castles, charming islands and sandy beaches are among the many places you could visit, and with relatively short distances and excellent transport links, luckily, that’s easy to do.

Most of Denmark’s cities are compact, walkable and great for biking. Not only is it fun and fast, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in a quintessential part of Danish culture. Meanwhile, public transportation is straightforward to navigate. From electrified trams and metro lines to battery-powered boats and buses, it’s affordable, reliable, and often green. Trains are the best way to travel cross country, but there are also long-distance and local bus networks, as well as convenient but more expensive car rentals.

From bikes to buses, here’s our advice for the best ways to get around Denmark.

Ditch the car for pedal power

It’s often joked that Danes are born on the back of a bike. Cycling isn’t just a hobby here; it’s a way of life. Nine out of ten people own a bicycle, and across Denmark, there are over 12,000km (7456 mile) of cycling routes, with 400km (250 miles) of bike paths in Copenhagen alone. The Nordic nation ranks as one of the world’s most bicycle-friendly countries, with excellent infrastructure such as special cycle superhighways and traffic lights, bike-only bridges, and even trash cans that are angled for cyclists to use while on the move. Half of Copenhageners commute by bike, and in the capital, it’s often the quickest way to get around.

For visitors, pedaling about on two wheels is not only enjoyable but also sustainable, and helpfully much of the country is rather flat.

Bike rental is widely available

Rental shops are plentiful, most of the bigger cities have local bike-sharing schemes and many hotels lend bicycles to guests for free. Meanwhile, the rental app Donkey Republic operates in several locations across Denmark, including Copenhagen, Aarhus and Roskilde, with its distinctive orange bikes that can handily be picked up and dropped off in different places.

Ride the railways for longer distance journeys

Taking the train is recommended for longer journeys and is a great way to travel beyond the capital. There’s a good network of regular train services connecting Denmark’s major cities and smaller towns. Early-bird discounts or “orange” tickets are available when booking well ahead. Note you need to reserve places for bikes and strollers in advance. However, you can take your bike anytime for free on Copenhagen’s S-tog (suburban rail) network.

Tip: It’s recommended to purchase a seat reservation. Trains are a very popular mode of transport, and carriages soon fill up, so it’s worth paying the small extra fee to guarantee a spot, especially for longer journeys.

Download some travel apps in advance

For the best routes, times and prices across trains, metros, buses and ferries, Rejseplanen is a must for travelers. Similarly, Denmark’s train provider, DSB, has an easy-to-use booking app for purchasing digital train tickets. It also now allows you to tap in and out at stations using your phone rather than a physical railcard. The DOT app is another go-to for buying on-the-day tickets.

Get a Rejsekort travel card

To save money on fares, it’s well worth getting a Rejsekort. You can use it across all public transport nationwide, and it’s cheaper than purchasing a paper ticket. Tourists can purchase a Rejsekort Anonymous card for 80kr ($12 USD), which can be topped up on the go. Do remember to both tap in and tap out against the Blue Point at the ‘check ind’ (check in) signs in transport stations. Press your card against the machine and wait until you hear the beep.

There’s a great bus network too

Buses are a convenient option in Denmark’s cities, and even smaller towns and countryside villages are well connected by regular services. Use Rejseplanen to find routes, timetables and fares, and purchase tickets online or use the Rejsekort travel card.

For long distance intercity journeys, FlixBus is an affordable alternative to taking the train.  

Car rentals are convenient but pricey

Hiring a car is a flexible and convenient way to get around, but it can also prove pricey in Denmark. Unlimited mileage often isn’t included, while the cost of fueling up and expensive bridge tolls can soon add up.

All the main airports have car rental desks, and bigger cities also have downtown offices; however, the best deals are usually found through international or third-party booking sites like Autoeurope, Kemwel and Expedia.

In major cities like Copenhagen and Aarhus, you can use car-sharing apps like Green Mobility, which rents EVs by the minute or per hour. For smaller places, GoMore is widely available and works like an Airbnb for car rentals, where you can book and borrow private vehicles directly from their owners.

It is easy to drive an electric car in Denmark

Going electric is a greener and increasingly popular option on Danish roads, especially for shorter distances. These days, plugging in and charging up is a relative breeze, with an ever-growing number of charge points dotted around the country. Most are provided by Eon and Clever, and you’ll need to down their apps for access.

If you do need a cab in Copenhagen, you can reduce your carbon footprint by booking with taxi firm Viggo, which only uses electric cars, or Drivr, which has a zero-emission fleet running on green hydrogen.

Domestic flights aren’t usually necessary 

Despite its small size, Denmark has several airports, but for most journeys, flying isn’t really necessary. Among the most popular domestic routes, SAS and Norwegian fly between Aalborg and Copenhagen, while DAT connects various regional airports with Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic and a popular summer getaway. Taking off from the water right in the heart of Copenhagen’s harbor, Nordic Seaplanes operate the short hop to Aarhus. Meanwhile, the Faroe Islands, a Danish territory in the Atlantic, are two-hours away by air and Atlantic Airways and SAS operate several flights daily.

Explore the Danish coastline by ferry

Denmark’s coastline is punctuated by well over 400 islands. While Zealand, Funen and Bornholm, are large, there are many charming little isles well worth exploring and among the loveliest are Ærø, Fanø, Læsø, and Samsø. Many islands have ferry connections, and sitting on the top deck while enjoying the sea breezes and blissful scenery is truly a delight. Booking could be simpler, though. In most cases, each route has its own individual booking website.

Major routes include fast hydrofoil that links Jutland with Denmark’s main island of Zealand, and the large express boat that sails to Bornholm from Ystad in southern Sweden. International routes also link Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Faroe Islands.  If you’re heading to Ærø, check out the battery-powered ferry, Ellen, which charges up with electricity from wind and solar. 

Tip: Book well in advance if you want to take a car. Spots fill up fast in summer months when Danish and German holidaymakers head to the islands. Getting on board as a foot passenger usually isn’t a problem.

Accessible travel is good on trains and buses in Denmark 

With accessibility improving all the time, Denmark is a destination that shouldn’t hold you back. Trains and buses do cater for wheelchair-users and stations are fitted with ramps and lifts. Conveniently the elevators at Copenhagen’s metro take you straight from street level to the platform. In more rural areas, however, the older ferries are sometimes less well-equipped.

Combining rugged beauty, maritime history and a thriving culinary scene, the city of Portland is one of Maine’s shining stars, showcasing the best of New England.

Situated on Casco Bay, Portland packs a punch across its walkable Old Port district, beautiful working waterfront and historic neighborhoods – and there’s a lot to explore. This small city (even though it’s the largest in the state) is a destination where you can sip craft cocktails in a t-shirt or flannel without judgment, or walk into a dive bar and become friends with some locals over blueberry-pie Jell-O shots (more on that below).

If eating the best lobster roll you’ve ever had at a lighthouse perched on the Atlantic Ocean sounds like your kind of thing, Portland is for you. And while lobster and ocean views are the city’s calling cards, there’s much more to discover here.

Outdoor activities get you pumped up? Lace up your boots to take to the numerous hiking trails nearby. Love the beach? Portland has you covered. Looking for culture? Check out the buzzing art scene. If you’re looking for a weekend of superb eating and drinking, or a few days of wellness, Portland can provide whatever kind of escape you want. It’s a place that encapsulates Maine’s tagline, “The way life should be.”

Relaxed, friendly and fun, Portland never disappoints. If you’re planning your first trip, here’s all you need to know.

When should I go to Portland?

Summer is peak season for Portland (and for Maine), with warmer temperatures ideal for taking advantage of all outdoor pursuits, taking a dip in the chilly ocean and spending Thursday or Friday evenings washing down food-truck fare with local brews, your foot tapping to live music at Thompson’s Point – for free. While summertime is spectacular in southern Maine, it’s also a very popular time to visit, so expect many fellow visitors and higher prices for accommodations. Portland Wine Week in June is an especially busy time.

Portland charms in all seasons – though the weather does turn frigid and snowy in the winter. Yet the snowflakes falling on the cobblestone streets of the Old Port are fetching indeed, and you can always get cozy with a hot toddy in one of the city’s many tucked-away cocktail bars.

The shoulder season in Portland may be the sweet spot, with fewer crowds and more budget-friendly accommodation come fall and spring. Leaf-peepers can enjoy the colorful display anywhere from mid-September to the end of October. Foodies will savor the annual Harvest on the Harbor festival, held in late October or early November.

How much time should I spend in Portland?

The destination works well as a weekend escape – in a couple of days, you can sample a couple of restaurants, breweries and museums – though three to four days will spare you feeling rushed while providing a full taste of the city. You can cover the essentials and tack on a local hike, a sunset sailing trip in Casco Bay or an afternoon perusing local boutiques. However long you visit Portland, consider it recon for your next trip. You’ll want to come back.

Is it easy to get in and around Portland?

We recommend taking a car to Portland for maximum freedom and flexibility. Street parking can be tricky downtown, and in the Old Port; there are a few paid parking garages. I always find a spot if I’m willing to walk a few blocks – just be prepared to circle around a few times.

Portland International Jetport lies just 2 miles from downtown. Alternatively, it’s possible to fly into Boston Logan International Airport and rent a car for the almost 2-hour drive north. Amtrak trains reach Portland at Thompson’s Point, just a touch west of the city: the Downeaster travels along the coast every day south to Boston and north to Brunswick.

With the Old Port as your base, you can easily walk to many popular attractions and restaurants. (It’s wise to seek out accommodation that offers parking, especially in the summer.) Public transport is available for those without a car, thanks to Greater Portland METRO.

Top things to do in Portland

Eat, eat – and eat some more

Portland has earned its reputation as a gourmet’s paradise. Classic diners serve delicious comfort food like pancakes with wild Maine blueberries, while chefs of the highest caliber put their impressive mark on a range of cuisines.

Anyone arriving hungry in Portland will want to start with a lobster roll. A deeper dive will unearth everything from craft donuts to Southern barbecue; Greek, Asian, Mexican and Puerto Rican joints; food trucks; and much, much more.

If you like oysters, sampling treasures freshly plucked from the Atlantic is a must. You can’t go wrong at The Shop by Island Creek Oysters in the East Bayside neighborhood, which has a lively atmosphere and killer Bloody Mary. (Yes, it’s topped with an oyster.)

Portland is known for its buzzing breweries and craft cocktail bars. On the sprawling patio at the city’s most famous brewery, Allagash Brewing Company, you can down another lobster roll from the Bite Into Maine food truck. First-timers shouldn’t skip the hot and crisp hand-cut Belgian frites at Duckfat – a true Portland institution, whose cones of twice-fried duck-fat fries live up to the hype.

Hop aboard a boat

The ruggedly handsome coast begs to be explored, and the perspective from the water is superb. I love the Wine Wise wine sails in the late afternoon or evening for sunset.

Visit at least one lighthouse

Head south to Cape Elizabeth to take in the historic and still-operating Portland Head Light, which dates to 1791. Check out the on-site museum and wander the trail for different viewpoints of the extremely photogenic lighthouse. If you happen to visit on Maine Open Lighthouse Day, you’ll be one of the lucky guests to climb the tower – it’s open to the public exactly one day a year.

Hit some nearby trails

Stretch your legs and work off those donuts with a nearby hike. The 3.6-mile waterfront Back Cove loop trail features views of the city on the city’s northeastern edge. A 15-minute drive from town lies Mackworth Island, where a short 1.25-mile trail traces the shore of this tiny speck, which is a state park of the same name. Birding enthusiasts will love that it’s an official bird sanctuary, where you might spot osprey and other shorebirds. About half an hour north of Portland by car, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is home to six trails of varying lengths that feature scenic vistas of Casco Bay, Googins Island and the Harraseeket River.

My favorite thing to do in Portland

I can’t get enough of the food and bar scenes in Portland. When I visit, I always return to Central Provisions for the Baja fish sandwich and to Gilbert’s Chowder House for a steamy bowl of New England clam chowder. And I always pepper in a couple of new-to-me restaurants and breweries each time. (There are always new places to try.)

I always make sure to get my donut fix at Hifi Donuts (I love the Mexican Hot Chocolate or Calico Glaze flavors). Come evening, while I can never resist a craft cocktail from stylish Blyth & Burrows on Exchange St, my heart is happier at a dive bar like Dock Fore, which specializes in local banter and those aforementioned blueberry-pie Jell-O shots.

How much money do I need for Portland?

It depends. You can take in Portland on a mid-range budget – or easily ascend to the stratosphere. I’ve found that even a late-night slice of pizza here is pricier than in other places. Yet if you know where to go and are willing to travel outside of peak season, it’s possible to visit without draining your bank account.

If you’re on a budget, focus on free activities like wandering the waterfront, visiting lighthouses and beaches, and hiking nearby trails. Get your lunch at a food truck, freeing up money to spend on dinner and drinks in the evening.

• Basic room for two: $200–500

• Self-catering apartments: $170–720

• Luxury hotel: $500–700

• Ferry ticket: $7.20/$14 (off-peak/peak)

• Bus ticket: $2–5 (single ride)

• Coffee: $2.50–6

• Donuts or pastries: $2.75–8

• Brewery beer: $7–9 (pint); $10–16 (flight)

• Lobster roll: $17–38

• Mid-range dinner out for two: $40–75

• Slice of late-night pizza: $4.50–7

• Craft cocktail: $13–20

Frequently asked questions about Portland

How should I pack for Portland?

No matter the season, bring lots of layers. Maine’s weather can be fickle, changing on a dime. The temperature varies quite a bit within the space of one day – think chilly mornings and evenings and hot afternoons in the summer. Year-round, you should always have a rain jacket and windproof layer on hand. In winter, you’ll want to have a solid winter coat and boots, sweaters and thinner wool layers to keep warm and peel off once you’re inside a cozy restaurant.

Do I need to make advance restaurant reservations in Portland?

Yes. Portland is a true foodie hub, and you don’t want to find yourself missing out on a meal at that restaurant on the tippy top of your list. Reserve ahead where you can, especially in peak summer season.

How much should I plan to do in one day or weekend in Portland?

Don’t overprogram yourself. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be tempted to pack in as much as possible on your first trip in order to make the most of your time. Yet I highly recommend forcing yourself to take it a little slower, and truly savor what you are doing, seeing and eating. I always recommend quality over quantity when it comes to travel experiences.