Your Next Production in Portugal: Why It's More Than Just a Film Set (Food, Culture & History Await!)
So you’ve decided to film your production Portugal. That’s a smart choice for a lot of very good reasons. And we talk about those reasons a lot (financials, locations, talent, etc).
But in this article we’re going to focus on something a little different. We’re going to focus on some of the things you can do when you’re in Portugal (besides filming your masterpiece of course), and how Portugal offers filmmakers unique fun and discovery beyond the film set. We want all our clients to know that there’s more to filmmaking in Portugal than just creating an image. There is exploring, culture, activities, history, and culinary diversity. Ready for a work vacation?
Food
Let’s start with a staple. You’re going to need to eat whether you’re on-set or away from it. Craft services is a great way to feed the multitudes during a production, and Portuguese caterers deliver top-quality food that makes you feel good to eat. But instead of the traditional items you usually find in places like New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Atlanta you’re going to enjoy fresh-made pastries, delicious coffees (Portugal is a proudly entrenched in Café Culture), off-the-vine vegetables, regional fresh fruits, seafoods and churrasqueira (Portuguese grilled chicken).
When you’re off-set, take advantage of the foodie culture in the cities of Porto and Lisbon where you’ll find Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, African, American, Mozambican and more, and meat-centered plates in the Alentejo, and ocean-fresh seafood everywhere and, especially, in the Algarve in the south.
Try the Pastel de Nata - a famous Portuguese custard in a crispy shell - that you can find almost anywhere. Just be advised the best ones are rumored to be in the town of Belem near Lisbon. And stop into almost any cafe or pastelaria wherever you find yourself to find a pastry that you won’t see in any other region of the country.
Explore
When people think of Portugal, they usually think of Lisbon. Of course that makes sense because it’s one of the two largest cities in the country. But there’s much more to do and see. Portugal has a fascinating history that can still be seen in its over 200 castles, monasteries, palaces, architecture and even its traditional tiled sidewalks. There are national parks, miles and miles of beaches and small towns with big personalities dotted all over the country.
For the sports fan, there is futbol (soccer), paragliding, ballooning, surfing, fishing, hiking - just about anything you could want to do to be physical.
For more laid-back fun visit a vineyard or two for wine-tastings and pairings, take a boat to the Berlengas Islands for an afternoon, learn how to make your own traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles, tour the cliffs of the Algarve region by boat, or catch a traditional Fado performance while eating dinner.
Getting Around & Planning
To get around, take a train on the well-developed public rail system, a bus, use a tram in Porto or Lisbon, or rent a car. And for help with planning any outing or trip contact our partners at RuaMar Experiences Company who will tailor craft your experience for you whether you’re a party of two, or two hundred.