Made simple
Portugal
The true soul of a place is rarely found in guidebooks, but in the people who call it home.
In an age of crowded viewpoints and over-scheduled itineraries, the most memorable travel experiences are often the quietest ones - a shared meal at a family table, the sound of music drifting through an open doorway, or the gentle rhythm of life in a place that hasn't hurried to change.
This is the philosophy behind My Simple Portugal, a travel concept founded by Valeriia Korolenko that invites travellers to experience the country not through landmarks, but through people.
Korolenko's idea was born from years working in hospitality, where she noticed that even well-travelled guests were searching for something deeper than sightseeing. They had visited iconic cities and famous attractions, yet often felt they had only skimmed the surface of a destination.
What they wanted instead were moments of genuine connection; encounters that felt personal, unhurried and real.
Those encounters began informally. A dinner in the home of a fado singer. A morning spent in an artisan's workshop learning about clay or leather. Walks through neighbourhoods where traditions still shape everyday life. Guests returned from these experiences changed - lingering longer, asking questions, and remembering those moments long after their trip had ended.
From these beginnings, My Simple Portugal was born: a collection of thoughtfully curated experiences across central Portugal designed to reveal the country through its craft, culinary traditions, landscapes and music. The journeys move at a slower pace, guided by local hosts - farmers, artisans, musicians and families - who share their world with warmth and authenticity.
Rather than ticking off landmarks, travellers step into the rhythm of daily Portuguese life.
Where music meets the table: The Fado & Gastronomy Experience
Among My Simple Portugal's signature experiences is the Fado & Gastronomy tour, a journey that beautifully captures the soul of the region.
Set in Ribatejo, just beyond Lisbon, the experience unfolds across a day that blends history, music and the rich culinary traditions of the region. Guests begin by exploring the historic streets of Tomar with a local guide, uncovering layers of Portuguese heritage in a town shaped by the Knights Templar and centuries of culture.
From there, the journey moves into the heart of local gastronomy. Lunch is served at an artisanal farm where regional ingredients take centre stage - a reminder that Portuguese cuisine is rooted in the land, shaped by seasonality and tradition.
But it is the evening that truly defines the experience. Dinner takes place in the intimate setting of a traditional tasca hosted by a local fado singer, where the boundaries between dining room and performance dissolve. Between courses, the haunting melodies of fado fill the room; songs of longing, love and saudade that have been carried through generations. In this setting, the music feels less like a performance and more like a conversation shared between host and guest.
An overnight stay in a family-run hotel completes the experience, offering travellers a chance to linger a little longer in the gentle rhythm of central Portugal before returning to Lisbon the following morning.
Dates: from May 2026
Rates: Starting from €350 per person
Travel as it’s lived
What makes My Simple Portugal distinctive is its philosophy: travel should feel less like observation, and more immersive.
Whether sharing stories with artisans, tasting olive oil at its source, or listening to fado around a dinner table, each experience reveals a Portugal defined by simplicity, generosity and quiet authenticity.
It is a reminder that the true soul of a place is rarely found in guidebooks, but in the people who call it home.