You’ve probably never been to Portugal’s Berlengas: here's why you should go

“Home sales to Americans in Europe keep growing”; “The number of Americans living in European countries is increasing”; “Americans relocating to Europe is a trend.”

A former fishing village that’s become one of the most posh spots in Portugal, Comporta is still gathering steam. Between the rice fields, cork forests, and long white beaches, there has been a slew of new openings this year, as well as upgrades to existing properties (and some that needed no changes at all) and lots of construction in the works. Here’s what’s worth a look—especially now that the peak summertime crowds have started to head home.

Rail travel is all the rage this summer and Portugal is getting on board with a new offer.

Spain’s national rail operator has recently launched new routes connecting to major cities in France.

Portugal’s move to end its “Golden Visa” program and curtail new short-term rental licenses will not impact the vacation rental market in the country — not in the short-term anyway. 

A former owner of Portugal’s flag carrier TAP, David Neeleman, denied on Friday making a deal in 2015 to overpay for Airbus planes after prosecutors said last month they were investigating the complex leasing deal, as well as suggestions he had bought TAP shares with company money.

Portugal’s government has sacked the CEO of the state-owned airline TAP in the wake of a scandal involving an irregular severance payment of €500,000 ($532,945) to a former executive board member, finance minister Fernando Medina said on Monday.

Portugal’s state holding company Parpublica has hired Ernst & Young and Portuguese bank Banco Finantia to determine the value of state-owned airline TAP ahead of its privatisation, it said on Tuesday.

Portugal’s state-owned airline TAP carried 7.58 million passengers in the first half of this year, a 30% increase from a year ago but still slightly below pre-pandemic levels even as tourist numbers have already exceeded those seen in 2019.

The privatization of Portugal’s state-owned airline TAP will take place before October instead of starting in July as the government had originally planned, Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba said.

Editors note: This post has been updated with new information.

Every September, Toronto shuts down one of its busiest downtown streets to roll out the red carpet for actors premiering their films at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). But with the Screen Actors Guild still on strike, there will be a marked absence of celebrities who had scheduled 2023 TIFF premieres, such as Kate Winslet and Robert DeNiro, from the red carpet. Thankfully, TIFF’s foundational value—celebrating independent and international filmmakers—turns out to be its greatest strength this year, as the 2023 lineup features films representing 70 countries around the world. TIFF’s commitment to diversity is emblematic of the city in which its based—Toronto, which boasts one of the most multicultural populations in the world, reflected by the more than 200 languages spoken in the city.