portugal travel netflix

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Top 15 Portuguese Shows on Netflix to Stream Now [May 2024]

São Paulo, the Azores, Rio de Janeiro and even the Amazon rainforest—these are just some of the places you’ll get to see on screen with Portuguese-language shows on Netflix.

Netflix has been beefing up its library of Portuguese series over the past few years, with exciting new additions from both Brazil and Portugal!

From intense crime series to light-hearted coming-of-age shows, here are 15 Netflix series that you can’t miss out on:

1. Glória (2021)

2. invisible city (2021), 3. girls from ipanema (2019), 4. 3% (2016), 5. good morning, veronica (2020), 6. the mechanism (2018), 7. omniscient (2020), 8. nobody’s looking (2019), 9. mystery lab (2020), 10. sintonia (2019), 11. back to 15 (2022), 12. turn of the tide (2023), 13. until life do us part (2020), 14. the endless night (2023).

• 15. Criminal Code (2023)

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Country: Portugal Main Actors: Miguel Nunes, Matt Rippy, Stephanie Vogt

This historical spy thriller is the first Portuguese original made by Netflix.

Set in the 1960s during the Cold War, it revolves around João, who works as an engineer at a broadcasting station that spreads Western propaganda. But what people don’t know is that he’s also a secret agent for the KGB, the Soviet intelligence agency.

He leads an increasingly dangerous double life, taking on operations where the single wrong move is fatal.

It really shows how working as a spy is all about stealth and subtlety. I was kept on my toes the whole time because I couldn’t guess which side João supported!

Country: Brazil Original Title: Cidade Invisível Main Actors: Marco Pigossi, Áurea Maranhão, Julia Konrad

Creatures from Brazilian legends sometimes pop up in children’s shows, but “Invisible City” is the first adult series I’ve seen where they’re such a huge part of the plot.

Eric, an environmental police officer, heads to the Amazon rainforest to investigate his wife’s death from a forest fire. He then stumbles on a hidden world of mythical beings. These include the Cuca, a witch-like figure that kidnaps misbehaving children, and the Curupira , a forest guardian with feet facing backward.  

It turns out that they’re living among humans—and someone wants to attack them. Eric then gets drawn into the battle to protect the forest.  

Country: Brazil Original Title: Coisa Mais Linda Main Actors: Maria Casadevall, Pathy Dejesus, Mel Lisboa 

I love how this series is all about female empowerment in the 1950’s! Also known as “Most Beautiful Thing,” it tells the story of Maria Luiza, a former housewife who moves from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro after her husband disappears with all their money. In Rio, she decides to transform her husband’s abandoned property into a bossa nova club.

However, this is far from easy in a male-dominated society. Back then, it was rare for women to start clubs on their own. Still, Maria Luiza finds close friends and allies in other women, including Adelia, an Afro-Brazilian woman from a more working-class background.

Country: Brazil Original Title: Três Por Cento Main Actors: João Miguel, Bianca Comparato, Rodolfo Valente, Michel Gomes

This sci-fi series reminded me of “Hunger Games” and “Squid Games”—and it’s also the first Brazilian Netflix original.

In a dystopian future, society is divided into two starkly different worlds: the impoverished “Inland” and the affluent “Offshore.” Everyone in the Inland gets a chance to go to the Offshore when they turn 20 years old. But only 3% of the candidates succeed in this rigorous and often brutal selection process.

I found the games intriguing, with plenty of twists. For example, one game involves having to cross through a path of glass panels, and there are intense psychological interviews too.

Country: Brazil Original Title: Bom Dia, Verônica Main Actors: Tainá Müller, Eduardo Muscovis, Antônio Grassi

“Good Morning, Veronica” should come with a disclaimer because it can get very violent. Still, I was engrossed with the story because it focuses on a very relevant topic that deserves more attention: the abuse of women.

Veronica is an underappreciated clerk at a police station. But then she witnesses a young woman committing suicide and eventually finds out the young woman was a victim of severe domestic abuse. Even worse, she reached out to the police, but nobody helped her.

Determined to seek justice, Veronica embarks on a relentless pursuit of the truth, uncovering a series of crimes linked to a dangerous, manipulative predator.

Country: Brazil Original Title: O Mecanismo Main Actors: Selton Mello, Carolina Abras, Enrique Diaz

“The Mechanism” is a political drama that’s based on true events—specifically, Operation Car Wash (Operação Lava Jato) , a large-scale investigation that uncovered one of the worst corruption scandals ever in Brazil.

It’s made by José Padilha, who also created “Narcos” and “Elite Squad,” so expect a gritty, intricate plot and lots of moral ambiguity.

In the series, Ruffo is a federal police delegate who stumbles upon a massive corruption scheme involving money laundering and bribery. Alongside his protégée, Verena, he becomes obsessed with the case, and he soon uncovers how widespread it is, with politicians and business leaders taking part too. 

Country: Brazil Original Title: Onisciente Main Actors: Carla Salle, Sandra Corveloni, Jonathan Haagensen

The setup of “Omniscient” might seem eerily familiar: in a not-too-distant future, there’s virtually no privacy. Every citizen is constantly monitored by small drones that hover around, recording their every move. This is called “the System,” and it supposedly makes crime impossible.

Nina works as a software engineer for the company that controls the System. However, her father gets murdered, yet the System has no record of the crime. This gets Nina to start questioning things, until she finds disturbing exceptions in the System and realizes that the technology she helped develop might be prone to abuse.

Country: Brazil Original Title: Ninguém Tá Olhando Main Actors: Victor Lamoglia, Júlia Rabello, Kéfera Buchmann

I adored “Nobody’s Looking” right from the first episode because it’s trippy and amusing, with a unique twist on guardian angels.

In this show, the angelus are bureaucratic entities who follow strict rules set by a mysterious higher power known as the System. All of them have bright red hair!

Uli, the newest member of the angelus squad, becomes disillusioned with how rigid the system seems. He begins to question the purpose of angelus in humans’ lives. This leads him to break the rules by interacting directly with humans, and other angels even get inspired to follow his cause.

Country: Brazil Original Title: Mundo Mistério Main Actors: Felipe Castanhari, Wender Bezerra, Bruno Miranda

I watched a lot of science reality shows as a kid, and “Mystery Lab” made me nostalgic, all while keeping me entertained even as an adult.

It looks into fascinating science topics like time travel, the Bermuda Triangle and AI superintelligence—with tons of humor from the charming host, Felipe Castanhari. Aside from being a science and history enthusiast, he’s a popular Brazilian YouTuber too.

Each episode lasts for around 30 minutes, and you’ll either see Felipe in his lab or exploring out in the open. He’s accompanied by lab assistants and a supercomputer named Betina too.

Country: Brazil Main Actors: Christian Malheiros, MC Jottapê, Bruna Mascarenhas

“Sintonia” is an eye-opening series because it depicts what life is like in Brazil’s favelas or slums. I was surprised to find out that most of the actors and even the producer grew up in favelas .

It follows the lives of three friends—Doni, Nando and Rita—in the favelas of São Paulo. Doni wants to become a successful funk artist, but his dream seems almost impossible to fulfill. Nando gets involved in drug trafficking and finds himself constantly fighting for survival and power. Rita turns to religion for solace, but her faith often gets tested by her harsh experiences in the favela.

Country: Brazil Original Title: De Volta Aos 15 Main Actors: Maisa Silva, Camila Queiroz, Caio Cabral, Breno Ferreira

“Back to 15” is a fun, lighthearted show with a classic plot: what if you could go back to your 15-year-old self?

At 30 years old, Anita feels unhappy with her life. In a twist of fate,  she’s mysteriously transported back to her 15-year-old self in the early 2000s, and all her memories are intact.

Of course, she seizes this chance to rewrite her past. However, she has to go through being a teenager again, which means dealing with bullies, the pressure of fitting in and crushes. Changing history isn’t as straightforward as she thinks, though—and her actions lead to unexpected consequences.

Country: Portugal Original Title: Rabo de Peixe Main Actors: José Condessa, Helena Caldeira, André Leitão

“Turn of the Tide” is a fast-paced watch that made me want to visit the Azores in Portugal because of all the breathtaking shots!

Eduardo is a young man who tries to secure eye surgery for his ailing father and even move to the U.S. for a better life, but both of these attempts fail.

He gets an unexpected opportunity, though: cocaine washes up on his island after a storm. The cocaine is easily worth thousands of euros, so he and his friends start selling it.

Of course, it’s not for free. The cocaine is owned by the Italian Mafia, and they’re determined to get it back.

Country: Portugal Original Title:  Ate Que A Vida Nos Separe Main Actors: Rita Loureiro, Dinarte Branco, Madalena Almeida, Diogo Martins

Put together three generations of a family in a posh villa in Portugal, throw in some drama and dark humor and you get “Until Life Do Us Part.”

The Paixao family has a wedding planning business, but it’s not doing well. On top of this, the parents—Vanessa and Daniel—are already separated but still living together. The other family members have their own quirks, from the grandparents to their two kids, who are a PhD student and a photographer helping out with the business.  

Their family dynamics can get twisty, and there are plenty of funny lines (especially because of the generation gaps)!

Country: Brazil Original Title: Todo Dia a Mesma Noite Main Actors: Thelmo Fernandes, Paulo Gorgulho, Bianca Byington, Leonardo Medeiros

This mini-series explores one of the largest tragedies in Brazil: the Kiss Nightclub fire in 2013. It killed more than 200 people, mostly university students, and hundreds more were injured.

“The Endless Night” shows the perspectives of the victims’ families and the survivors as they grieve, try to recover and seek out justice. After the fire, there was widespread public outrage and calls for better safety regulations. But until now, nobody who contributed to the accident has been put into prison yet.

Even though it’s a dramatization, it doesn’t sensationalize at all. In fact, it’s very empathetic and moving, with excellent performances from the actors.

15. Criminal Code  (2023)

Country: Brazil Original Title: DNA do Crime Main Actors: Maeve Jinkings, Rômulo Braga, Thomás Aquino, Pedro Caetano

“Criminal Code” is a landmark series because it’s the first Brazilian police show on Netflix. It’s gripping, intense and tackles cross-border crime, with much of the show set in Foz do Iguaçu, a city at the border of Paraguay and Brazil.

A robbery happens in a private security firm in Paraguay. Two police officers team up to solve the case, and when they do an investigation using DNA samples, they figure out that the perpetrators are a criminal organization from Brazil. It’s far from an isolated crime too—this organization has an extensive chain of robberies and other operations and even uses high-caliber weapons.

This list brings together the best Portuguese-language shows on Netflix currently. So head over to Netflix and start checking them out!

For Portuguese learners, TV shows and movies are also a great way to immerse in the language. For instance, you can pick up new Portuguese vocabulary with the TV show clips on FluentU.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized Portuguese lessons.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Click here to check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

• Destinations
• Japan Guides
• Hiking Guides
• Gear Guides
• Wildlife Guides
• About/Contact

10 Best Documentaries About Portugal To Watch

• by Jonny Duncan
• March 12, 2024 March 13, 2024

These documentaries about Portugal show its rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture. From exploring its historic cities steeped in centuries-old traditions to showcasing the breathtaking beauty of its coastal regions, these documentaries offer a lens into Portugal’s past and present.

Documentaries About Portugal

Whether focusing on culinary traditions, architectural wonders, or the daily lives of its people, these films provide an immersive experience, allowing you to discover the unique tapestry that is Portugal.

Lisbon is one of my favourite cities in the world and there are plenty of these documentaries about Portugal that explore the city, as well as many other different regions of the country.

Rick Steves Portugal

Rick Steves is an American travel presenter and author who travels extensively around Europe and the world and is one of the most popular travel hosts out there.

He has many 25-minute episodes on the countries he visits on his YouTube channel about specific destinations and there are normally several episodes on one country. That is true of his Portugal trip where he explored many different parts of Portugal.

Start with this video first where he starts in Lisbon and the rest of the short travel documentaries about Portugal can be found on his channel there.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Portugal

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown was a travel and food documentary series hosted by the late Anthony Bourdain. The series featured episodes in which Bourdain explored various cultures, cuisines, and locations around the world.

In this episode, he explores the culture and cuisine of Portugal giving you a great insight into the country’s food and its traditions around it. This is one of my favourite documentaries about Portugal.

Portugal: Wild Land on The Edge

Portugal: Wild Land on The Edge is a television documentary that aired on BBC Two in 2022. The series explores the natural beauty and wildlife of Portugal, focusing on its diverse landscapes and ecosystems.

It showcases the country’s stunning coastline, mountains, forests, and unique flora and fauna. If you’re interested in learning more about Portugal’s natural wonders, this is a great watch.

You can watch the full episode for free here:

Tren Atlantico | Part 1: In the Heart of Portugal

This is one of the best documentaries about Portugal that explores the nature of the country. Description from their YouTube channel:

Tren Atlantico explores Portugal’s rugged cliffs, surfing paradises, steep vineyards, and villages with centuries-old traditions: the train takes you from Portugal’s west coast to the Spanish border in the northeast, a journey of discovery characterized by a variety of colours, landscapes, and climates.

The FEVE narrow-gauge railroad takes you through the contrasting landscape of northern Spain. From Bilbao in the Basque Country via Santander in Cantabria to Asturias. The train takes a good eight hours to cover 300 kilometres, a journey at the speed of earlier centuries, through a region that has retained its originality to this day.

This is one of my favourite documentaries about Portugal for travelling across the country.

Portugal Travel Documentary: 4×4 Road Trip

This is an epic road trip through Portugal by a travel blogger. Description from their YouTube channel:

Known for its beautiful beaches and scenic cliffs and its variety of landscapes including ice-covered peaks, rainy forests, and granite hillscapes. For 5 weeks, we drove more than 4,800 km around the country, visiting it from north to south and discovering as much of its beauty as we could in our WorldCruiser 2 from Tom’s Fahrzeugtechnik.

The Battle Against The Sea – Coastal Erosion in Portugal

Portugal has a beautiful coastline, indeed I was stunned by its beauty when I was there. However, it is in trouble due to coastal erosion.

This is a good documentary about Portugal to watch from an environmental aspect and to learn more about the Portuguese coast. Description from their YouTube channel:

The pressure on Portugal’s west coast is mounting by the year. In the north, in particular, many Portuguese are fighting a desperate battle against the advancing sea, which is threatening beaches and coastal resorts.

Every year, environmental authorities have to concede coastal homes to the ocean and resettle their inhabitants. The report shows how people in Portugal are battling rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

Locals such as fisherman Vítor Cacheirho can no longer make a living from coastal fishing. He now works as a counsellor in Esmoriz, promoting a resettlement program which provides affected families with secure housing.

Forging an Empire – The Portuguese Empire

This is a documentary about Portugal that explores the history of Portugal in its role in forming an empire. Personally, I hate anything that involves empires as it means subjugating and conquering other people.

However, it’s an important chapter in Portuguese history so should be learned if you have any interest in the history of the Portuguese. Description from their YouTube channel:

Portugal forged a massive trading empire. It was an incredible achievement for a small country that had a very modest population. In this first part, we review the initial stages where Portuguese sailors and explorers launched themselves into the unknown and took the first steps at exploring.

Men like Prince Henry the Navigator who set the ball in motion, Bartholomeu Dias who was the first to round the tip of Africa, and Vasco da Gama who was the first European to find a sea passage to India.

Travel Man: 48 Hours in… Lisbon

Travel Man is a travel documentary series hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade. In this episode, he explores Lisbon which is a very popular tourist destination with its rich history, culture, and vibrant atmosphere.

This is one of the best documentary episodes showing the capital of the country.

Portuguese Food Tour – by Mark Wiens

Mark Wiens is one of my all-time favourite food bloggers and we have been blogging for around the same amount of time so I have followed him on his adventures for 10+ years now.

In this episode on his YouTube channel, he explores some of the food options in Lisbon. Description from the video:

On Day 27 in Lisbon, Portugal, I made up my mind to eat as much Portuguese food and at some of the best local restaurants in Lisbon. It turned out to be a fantastic day in Lisbon with some seriously good Portuguese food!

The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys: Portugal

The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys is a TV documentary series exploring, as the title suggests, some of the most scenic railway journeys in the world.

There is one episode specifically about Portugal that takes you on a train journey through parts of the country such as Portugal’s Quinta de Vargellas, which is a vineyard that is famous for making port for centuries.

There is also a trip to the city of Porto and the city of Aveiro and of course a visit to Lisbon.

This episode is a little tricky to track down worldwide but if you have an Amazon UK account you can find it on Britbox there here .

Read the 20 best castles in Portugal to visit .

As the camera captures the essence of this captivating country, you are transported on a visual journey with these documentaries about Portugal, gaining insights into the country’s heritage and the dynamic forces shaping its contemporary identity.

Whether you plan to visit Portugal or just want to learn more about the country, these will inform you more about it.

For more on the region have a look at the 10 best documentaries about France .

And for more on Portugal have a look at my article about exploring Lagos in southern Portugal .

Share these best documentaries about Portugal:

Related Posts:

Get the occasional email with some awesome new travel articles to check out!

You have successfully subscribed, leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Get the occasional email with some awesome new travel articles to check out.

Pin it on pinterest.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

After movie filmed in Portugal now streaming on Netflix. Here’s what to look for

The spectacular landscape and landmarks of Portugal’s capital and Algarve ’s breathtaking coastal views offer a perfect backdrop for the fifth movie in the popular After  series.

Adapted from Anna Todd’s book series, After Everything: The Final Chapter was released on Netflix on Jan. 11.

The movie follows troubled best-selling author Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), who is heartbroken after breaking up with his true love and suffering from writer’s block. He heads to Lisbon to make amends with Nathalie (Mimi Keene), a woman he wronged in the past, so he can focus on building a future with Tessa Young (Josephine Langford), the love of his life.

The film rewards viewers with amazing views of Lisbon, including the Tagus River and the maze of medieval buildings and signature white stucco homes with red tiles the city is known for.

Hardin can be seen strolling through historic streets and plazas, frequenting typical restaurants, and even trying a ginginha , a traditional sweet liqueur made from sour cherries soaked in a distilled spirit called  aguardente .

Avenida da Liberdade (Lisbon’s most famous avenue), Rossio square and São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint (one of the most romantic spots in the city) are some of the iconic locations Hardin is spotted on.

There are also spectacular views of Algarve’s stunning coastline and beautiful cliff-backed beaches, where Hardin spends some time with Nathalie, enjoying the sun and the region’s crystal-clear waters.

Portuguese viewers will probably recognize Laura Dutra, who plays a flight attendant in the movie. Born in Lisbon, Dutra, 25, is known for her roles in the Portuguese soap operas Sangue Oculto , A Serra and Nazaré .

What other movies were filmed in Portugal?

Portugal has been the backdrop for several movies over the years. Here’s a few:

Fast and Furious 10 (Fast X) was filmed in the Viseu and Vila Real regions and also in the Lisbon area, including Rua da Bica, Bairro Alto and the restaurant Ponto Final.

Hallmark’s A Pinch of Portugal features amazing architecture and stunning panoramas captured in several Portuguese locations, including Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra.

The House of Spirits , starring Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder and Jeremy Irons, features many scenes filmed in Lisbon and the Alentejo region even though the plot is set in Chile.,

The Russia House , starring Sean Connery, features opening and closing sequences filmed in Lisbon.

The Ninth Gate , starring Johnny Depp, was partly filmed in Sintra.

Night Train to Lisbon shows Raimund, the protagonist, in many streets and neighborhoods in Lisbon.

Invisible Circus , starring Cameron Diaz, was filmed on location in Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra and Setúbal.

Heart of Stone , starring Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, was partly filmed in Portugal, including a big chase sequence in Lisbon.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: After Everything movie filmed in Portugal now streaming on Netflix

Recommended Stories

Dolphins owner stephen ross reportedly declined $10 billion for team, stadium and f1 race.

The value of the Dolphins and Formula One racing is enormous.

Under Armour is collapsing — And Kevin Plank has to take the blame

The Under Armour meltdown continues.

PGA Championship: Will Zalatoris says group of players considered asking for postponement after death, Scottie Scheffler arrest

It was a surreal day at the PGA Championship.

Housing experts revise mortgage rate forecasts for remainder of 2024

Experts are revising their forecasts about mortgage rates and home prices for the rest of the year.

Tied for the most bets for No. 1 overall pick in NBA Draft is ... Bronny James?

The co-leader in bets for the No. 1 overall pick is a stunner.

UFC Vegas 92: Piera Rodríguez DQ'd for multiple illegal headbutts vs. Ariane Carnelossi

Rodríguez was warned by the ref to watch her head. She responded by headbutting her opponent even harder.

Report: Fanatics files lawsuit against Cardinals rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. for breach of contract

Marvin Harrison Jr., Fanatics said, “rejected or ignored every request” from the company while refusing to fulfill obligations of their contract that was signed last May.

Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton gets last word after defeating Knicks with Reggie Miller hoodie

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton took one last dig at the New York Knicks with a sweatshirt sporting an infamous Reggie Miller photo.

Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark's regular-season debut is anything but easy

Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.

Vanguard 'nickel-and-dimes Grandma' after 49 years without junk fees

Vanguard has long had a reputation for eschewing the random fees asset managers are known for. But as our contributing columnist Allan Sloan notes, the company has started charging what he calls chintzy fees.

Preakness Stakes 2024 winner, payouts, results: Seize the Grey wins at Pimlico, Mystik Dan finishes 2nd, ending Triple Crown bid

Live updates from the 149th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore

Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren lead NBA All-Rookie teams with unanimous selections

Wembanyama and Holmgren received 99 of a possible 99 first first-place votes.

Auburn RB Brian Battie critically wounded in Sarasota shooting

Battie's older brother Tommie was killed and three others were shot early Saturday morning .

Apple will reportedly offer higher trade-in credit for old iPhones for the next two weeks

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will be offering a little more than usual for some trade-ins starting next week in the US and Canada. That's as long as you're getting one of the iPhone 15 models.

Why Scottie Scheffler won’t be appearing in court this week

Scottie Scheffler’s arraignment on charges stemming from a traffic incident outside Valhalla Golf Club has been delayed until June 3.

The coming Social Security fight could be 1983 all over again

To figure out how Social Security's insolvency debate may play out in the years ahead, it helps to consider what transpired in 1983.

NBA Draft Combine reactions: Edey oh my, Bronny James is ready & whose stock is rising? | On the Clock with Krysten Peek

Yahoo Sports NBA draft expert Krysten Peek is back for another season of On the Clock with Krysten Peek. Krysten just spent the week in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine and kicks off draft season joined by CBS Sports' Kyle Boone.

LPGA monitoring after 10 golfers, including Rose Zhang, withdraw from Mizuho Americas Open

Rose Zhang was one of seven golfers who withdrew from the tournament due to an illness.

A pivotal USMNT summer begins with a roster full of European experience

The USMNT's first roster of the summer is not quite its 2024 Copa América roster — but it's close.

Why Americans are feeling bad about inflation despite a good economy

How do Americans feel about inflation? They hate it. And that colors their perception of a good US economy.

The Best Travel Shows You Can Stream Right Now

By Meredith Carey

Most of us can't be on the road 365 days a year, but that doesn't mean we have to stop exploring. With some of the best travel shows streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, we have the world at our fingertips, with episodes that take us from markets in Mexico to hawker stalls in Singapore to the farthest reaches of the Arctic, back home to BBQ joints in Charleston. Whether you'd rather follow the late Anthony Bourdain, Sir David Attenborough, David Chang, Samin Nosrat , Samantha Brown , Ewan McGregor, or the Fab Five along the way is up to you. Here, find some of our favorite travel shows available to stream right now (fictional and not), involving journeys by land, air, and sea—and lots and lots of eating.

This gallery was last published in March 2020. It has been updated with new information. All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Taste the Nation

With international travel largely on hold, there's no better time to explore our own backyard—which is exactly what host Padma Lakshmi did on her new Hulu show Taste the Nation . The show's first season, released in June, follows the Top Chef host and author as she quite literally tastes the nation , stopping at restaurants around the U.S. to sample the foods of a variety of Indigenous and immigrant groups. Expect to see some familiar faces, like comedian Ali Wong and spearfisher Kimi Werner , along the way. 

Watch now: Free with a Hulu subscription ( sign up for Hulu here )

Planet Earth and Planet Earth II

We had to wait 10 years between the debut of Planet Earth , a groundbreaking natural history show narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and its sequel Planet Earth II , but it was worth it. The first season, which focus on a specific biome and the flora and fauna that live there in each episode, spotlights smooth coated otters in Southeast Asia, Tibetan foxes, critically endangered Ethiopian ibex, and blue whales, among so many others. Our two favorite episodes, though, come from part II. In the sixth episode, the high-def cameras turn to cities to show how leopards in Mumbai, monkeys in Jodhpur, and catfish in southern France live alongside humans. And in what may be the most heart-racing episode of nature television, the islands episode of Planet Earth II follows a lone iguana racing against time—and a horde of snakes. 

Watch Planet Earth now: $3 per episode, $25 per season; amazon.com

Watch Planet Earth II now: $3 per episode, $20 per season; amazon.com

Long Way Up

Believe it or not, actor Ewan McGregor has been in the travel show business for some 16 years. It all started with Long Way Round , a 2004 series that followed McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman on a motorcycle journey from London through Europe, Asia—and then after a flight to Alaska—Canada, and the U.S. all the way to New York City. The show was followed by 2007's Long Way Down, which took the duo from Scotland to South Africa, on motorcycles once again. Now, they've turned their bikes (electric this time) towards South and Central America, with the latest iteration following the duo some 13,000 miles from Ushuaia, Argentina, on the continent's southernmost tip, to L.A. As usual, hijinks, pitfalls, and stunning scenery are all on view. Neither of the earlier shows are available to stream in the U.S. currently (though you can find them on Apple TV+ in the U.K.), but Long Way Up is an Apple TV+ original and on view for all. 

Watch now: Free with an Apple TV+ subscription ( sign up for Apple TV+ here )

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Be sure to watch this show on a full stomach, or you'll be pausing to bake focaccia or cook tahdig along with affable host and Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat cookbook author Samin Nosrat. In the four-part show, Nosrat travels the world, making stops in Mexico, Japan, Italy, and her home in California, to discover the properties of each of the show's title elements. There's cheese. There's olive oil. There's miso. There are tortillas. There's salsa. And just like that we're hungry again. (FYI, she's as delightful in person as she is on screen—and joined us for a Women Who Travel podcast episode soon after the show premiered.) Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Matt Ortile

Kaitlin Menza

Kelsey Glennon

Lauren Burvill

If you're familiar with Anthony Bourdian's The Layover, then the premise of British comedian Richard Ayoade's Travel Man will seem quite familiar. The goofy show follows the comic and primarily English celebrity friends as they galavant around cities like Helsinki, Miami, and Hong Kong over the course of 48 hours. If you're a Great British Bake Off fan, start with Ayoade's trip to Paris with original GBBO host Mel Giedroyc or the season two episode featuring current host Noel Fielding in Copenhagen . Other familiar faces include Paul Rudd in Helsinki and Bridesmaids' Chris O'Dowd in Vienna.

Somebody Feed Phil

This Netflix original follows host Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond , as he eats his way through cities like Bangkok , Lisbon, Mexico City , New Orleans ,   Buenos Aires , Cape Town, and Dublin. The hyper-positive show was called "impossibly optimistic," by former Traveler editor Paul Brady, who spoke with Rosenthal before the first season's premiere in 2018. The fourth season, out October 30, takes Rosenthal from Rio de Janeiro to the Mississippi Delta and the islands of Hawaii to eat even more delicious grub.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Parts Unknown

You simply cannot have a list of the best travel shows and not feature the late Anthony Bourdain. In fact, he's on our list more than once. In Parts Unknown , the chef and travel personality circled the world many times over, in search of music, culture, humor, history, and—of course—really good food. Over 12 seasons (the last aired posthumously), Bourdain visited the indigenous Andes with Eric Ripert, the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Mississippi Delta, and, most famously, Hanoi with then-president Barack Obama. (That's season eight, episode two, if you want to jump right to it.) 

Watch now: $3 per episode, or $10 per season; amazon.com

Technically, Netflix's original show Connected is a science show, but that doesn't mean it isn't filled with travel. Plus, host Latif Nasser told us earlier this year that the show was built in the footsteps of Bourdain's Parts Unknown and No Reservations (with a dash of Bill Nye thrown inn). The show speaks to how the world is interconnected—like how Delaware's birds can offer clues about the Gulf's hurricane season or how sand from the Sahara impacts the Amazon. Throughout, you'll follow Nasser as he hopscotches around the world to speak with scientists to find out more. 

Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Street Food

Made by the same folks behind Chef's Table (spoiler: it's also on this list), this show moves away from formal restaurant kitchens and onto the streets, for a guide to some of the world's best curbside meals and snacks . The show's first season is all about Asia, traveling to nine different countries to meet the people behind the food, like Jay Fai from Bangkok's Raan Jay Fai , a Michelin-starred street stall serving up tom yum soup, and Truoc (pictured left), who serves a variety of snail dishes in Ho Chi Minh City . The second season, which hit Netflix in July, zeroes in on Latin America, with stops at Doña Vale's in Oaxaca for memelas and Las Chicas de las Tres food stall in Buenos Aires, run by chef Pato Rodriguez. 

Lost Cities With Albert Lin

In this National Geographic –produced show, explorer and scientist Albert Lin tracks down some of the world's most famous lost cities. We're talking buried Knights Templar caves in Israel, El Dorado in the jungles of Colombia, and ancient, forgotten island cities in Micronesia. Along the way, he speaks with archaeologists, historians, and other experts to discover the origins of the legends and, in turn, the reality of those places today. 

Watch now: Free with a Disney+ subscription ( sign up for Disney+ here )

Ugly Delicious

The second season of the David Chang –hosted Netflix series debuted in March 2020, taking viewers from Istanbul (pictured), to Tokyo , to Sydney , to… Outback Steakhouse? Along the way, he tackles balancing parenthood with restaurant life, cooks with Top Chef 's Padma Lakshmi , rubs elbows with comedians like Nick Kroll and Aziz Ansari, and gets a lesson in not calling all Indian food curries from Traveler contributor Priya Krishna . (If you want more Chang, try your hand at a recipe from his Momofuku cookbook, or watch Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner , also on Netlfix, where he joins one famous friend on a food tour of a city, like Chrissy Teigen in Marrakech.) 

Produced by Vice , this show is about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In it, actor Elliot Page and their film director friend Ian Daniel travel to learn about what it's like to be LGBTQ+ around the world. They meet with two-spirit Native Americans, head to ballroom scenes in New York City, and visit the gay bars of Tokyo to dive deep into the vibrant gay and queer culture. But the duo also spends time in Rio de Janeiro, Jamaica, and Ukraine, speaking with LGBTQ+ locals to learn about the discrimination and threats they face just by existing. Expect tears, both happy and sad. 

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Gordon Ramsey is involved, so of course this cooking and travel show is extreme. In the National Geographic –produced series, the Hell's Kitchen chef goes out of his element—and out of the kitchen—to learn cooking tips and tricks from locals in unusual locales, culminating in a cook-off of sorts to show off what he's picked up. Here, he heads to Peru's Sacred Valley to learn high altitude cooking, cooks seal with a Tlingit elder in Alaska , and learns about Berber food culture in Morocco. 

Carmen Sandiego

Many of us got our first lesson in geography from this trench coat–wearing master thief, and today's kids can too, thanks to the Netflix reboot of this animated series. This high-flying, Robin Hood–style caper takes kids (and parents) with Sandiego as she jet sets between Rio de Janeiro , Matsumoto in Japan, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and more. There are three seasons available and plenty of educational value here for mapheads—plus pretty stellar animation. This year, an interactive choose-you-own-adventure style show, called Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal, came to Netflix and provides endless entertainment as Sandiego fights off the Villains International League of Evil (V.I.L.E.), with your (kid's) help. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

If Planet Earth and Planet Earth II weren't enough Attenborough for your liking, get your fix on Netflix, thanks to Our Planet . This docuseries, made by the creators of Planet Earth in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund and narrated by Attenborough, is almost a mix of the two, taking armchair travelers from the North American grasslands and the Everglades to the Arctic tundra and deepest parts of our oceans. Once you're done with the nine 50-minute episodes, switch over to Our Planet: Behind the Scenes to see how the 600-person crew filmed the series. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

No Reservations

If you want even more Bourdain, Hulu has you covered with No Reservations and The Layover, two of his travel shows that preceded Parts Unknown . In No Reservations, Bourdain takes us to both familiar—Maine, Prague, the Philippines—and unfamiliar—Kurdistan, Mozambique, and deep into the Amazon—corners and kitchens of our world, introducing us to new foods, cultures, and personalities over nine seasons. The Layover takes that same premise, but shortens the time line drastically, knocking down Bourdain's time to explore to just 24 to 48 hours. Both are must-sees—it's Bourdain after all. 

Chef's Table: BBQ

While you can watch some of world’s most extraordinary chefs (like Dominque Crenn ; Peruvian Virgilio Martínez , the owner of Lima's Central restaurant; and Swede Magnus Nilsson ) as they create impossibly complicated dishes in the original Chef's Table, we've become partial to its latest iteration, which is all about barbecue. The Netflix original docuseries follows pitmasters like Tootsie Tomanetz—the 85-year-old spitfire pictured above who minds the brisket and sausage at Snow's, outside of Austin—and Rodney Scott, known for his Low Country–style pulled pork and ribs. But the show doesn't stick to the American South. You'll head to Rosalia Chay Chuc's Yucatán home and visit the grills of Lennox Hastie in Sydney, too.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Travels with My Father

The first season of this Netflix original, which came out in 2017, follows British stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, across Southeast Asia, tracking the duo as they finish the gap year Jack never got to complete, just a few years late (eight, to be exact). It's everything you'd expect: a Thai full moon party and, of course, a trip to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, but the moments in between are what make the show really worth watching. Now, in the three seasons that have followed, the father-son pair have road tripped through Transylvania , visited Chernobyl , and gotten into drag with Sydney queens. Needless to say, it's a romp.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

Set in a tiny Tokyo diner that's only open from midnight to 7 a.m., the fictional show follows the Midnight Diner's owner and clientele as they share their trials and joys, all while eating whatever the owner, called Master, dishes up. In the diner, pork miso soup is the go-to, but Master will cook visitors anything they order, as long as he's got the goods to make it. Episodes are a little over 20 minutes long, so it's the most bingeable of the bunch. Watch with subtitles and don't—seriously, don't—watch while hungry. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Get your international fix by watching Antoni , Karamo , Jonathan , Tan , and Bobby makeover the wardrobes and lives of everyday “heroes” in Yass, Australia , and Tokyo in their Queer Eye specials. That said, we're partial to the U.S.-based seasons, where the Fab Five hits up Atlanta, Kansas City, and, most recently, Philadelphia to give new life to regular folks. Whether they're making over the sisters behind Jones Bar-B-Q in Kansas City or the small town mayor of Clarkston, Georgia, we're on board. Have tissues on hand, as you're all but guaranteed to shed a tear (who are we kidding, you'll sob). Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Places to Love

For many years, Samantha Brown was the only female host on travel TV , period. And while some, albeit small, growth has been made in this regard (Nosrat and Kellee Edwards are among the new faces), Brown is still one of the few women on the go on our screens. While she made her start on the Travel Channel with Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, and Passport to China , you should really be checking out her latest show, Places to Love. Now in its third season, the show sees Brown discovering off-the-beaten-path spots in some of the world's most loved destinations as far-flung as Seoul and Auckland, and right in our backyard, like Phoenix and Dallas . 

Watch Places to Love now: Free on PBS

Watch Passport to Europe now: $2 per episode, $35 per season; amazon.com

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

Ok, so this isn't as much of a travel show as it is a “what is Jeff Goldblum curious about” show—but it doesn't mean they don't travel all over the U.S. With each episode focusing on the actor's ceaseless interest in the minutiae of one specific thing (like tattoos, or pools, or RVs, or ice cream—it really runs the gamut). Over the course of the show, Goldblum visits Hawaii , Las Vegas , NASA’s neutral buoyancy lab in Houston , and so much more. If you love Goldblum, you'll probably love this show. 

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Two Portuguese series on Netflix create visibility for Portuguese fiction, help showcase country’s history, culture and landscape

Netflix released the Portuguese series "Until Life Do Us Part" Thursday, while its first-ever Portuguese original series "Gloria" is still attracting new viewers and rave reviews worldwide.

For many Portuguese-Americans, these series are not only a great opportunity to bring more visibility to Portugal’s talents in film, but also a great means to showcase its people, landscape, history, culture and language.

“It will not only be an opportunity to show the amazing work of Portuguese actors and the technical teams, but it will also help to promote Portugal, which is a country that some people have heard about but don’t have an idea what it looks like. These series will also promote and showcase the landscape of Portugal and its beauty,” said Ana Miranda, founder of the Arte Institute, a non-profit independent institute headquartered in New York City, which aims to promote the internationalization of Portuguese contemporary art and has brought several musical events and film exhibitions to the Southcoast.

Directed by Manuel Pureza, ‘Until Life Do Us Part’ is a feel-good, eight-episode series that revolves around three generations of the Paixão family living under the same roof and having to juggle with personal crises, the generation gap, clashing ideologies and the challenges of running a family business. It stars well-known Portuguese actors like Rita Loureiro, Dinarte Branco, Madalena Almeida, Diogo Martins, Henrique Maia, José Mata, Albano Jerónimo, Lourenço Ortigão, among others.

“The new series is a good indicator that the public enjoyed and was touched by the present series,” Miranda said. “It shows that Portuguese movies and series have the quality to be present on platforms like Netflix.”

Directed by Tiago Guedes, “Glória” is a historical spy thriller centered on RARET, the re-broadcasting office of Radio Free Europe. Taking place in Portugal in the 1960s, the 10-episode series shows how Glória, a small village in Ribatejo, became an unlikely Cold War stage, where American and Soviet forces fought through dangerous sabotage maneuvers to achieve control of Europe.

Dr. Paula Noversa, a historian and director of the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass Dartmouth, said she really enjoyed watching the tension-filled series, which reveals crucial events in Portugal’s history that are less well-known to the rest of the world.

“I thought it was excellent,” she told O Jornal. “It’s beautifully filmed and the acting was quite good. It’s a series that definitely makes Portugal seem like a sexy place… it has beautiful landscapes, beautiful people. It presents Portugal in a very modern, dynamic way. I think it’s good for Portugal and viewers can get a lot out of it.”

But the series does paint a dark image of Portugal’s past and its brutal Colonial war.

Gloria’s main character, João Vidal, is a young man from a family with connections in the Portuguese Fascist Regime, who gets recruited by the KGB after becoming politicized in the Colonial War. 

“In terms of how it presents Portuguese history at that time, I think what they have done right was the influence of the Portuguese Communist Party within the junior [military] officers,” Dr. Noversa said. “It’s a true portrayal of the influences of the Portuguese Communist Party within the junior office core that in fact initiated the coup that is commonly known as the Carnation Revolution.”

But there are a few depictions which are not entirely accurate in her opinion.

“I think the portrayal of the Portuguese Communist Party in this drama is remarkably violent. It gives the impression that the Communist Party had tremendous agency within Portugal, which I don’t think they really did,” she said. 

An anti-communist regime, Portugal worked with the U.S. during the Cold War.

“Yes, there were CIA operatives in Portugal,” Dr. Noversa said. “But the Portuguese government in this series doesn’t seem to have a good handle on the number of operatives and who they are. I don’t think that’s a clear indication of the Government of Portugal, their understanding and being able to track CIA operatives.”

But since Gloria is not a documentary, Dr. Noversa said she was able to put these small discrepancies aside and enjoy the series.

“It has a lot of layers, and it’s very interesting,” she said. “Will some people be angered by it? Yes, especially with the depictions of the Colonial War. Some people might be angry by what they see, but they have to understand that the purpose of using those really graphic shocking images is to help the viewer understand the plot, create tension and move the story forward.”

Portuguese-American Hollywood actor Tyler Bowe praised the series’ direction, cinematography, acting and soundtrack. 

“I thought it was very well done and very accurate. I would like to congratulate the director, the cast and everyone in the production for a job well done,” said the Azorean-born actor who grew up in Fall River. “It is great to see a Hollywood company such as Netflix put their stamp on this and take it worldwide. It also gives me a great sense of pride in my heritage, knowing that it was all done with Portuguese talent.”

In the 1960s, Portugal was ruled by an authoritarian regime, the Estado Novo (New State), led by Oliveira Salazar. 

Miranda said Gloria’s recreation of the Portugal of the late 1960s in the aftermath of the Estado Novo is impeccable.

“The sets, wardrobe, the characterization, the soundtrack, everything contributes to transport the viewer to that time,” she said. “I can’t also not spare praise for the actors and their interpretations. I am very excited to see what the second season will bring considering that there are several moments that were left without an answer.”

Dr. Noversa said she was particularly happy that Netflix decided to stream Gloria in Portuguese with English subtitles.

“It shows Netflix thinks that there’s a large enough market for a series in Portuguese and that says really great things about the Portuguese language, that bolds very well for the Portuguese language for a company like Netflix to see that,” she said.

Produced by the SPi production company of Grupo SP Televisão and co-produced with RTP, Gloria is the highest budget series in the history of Portuguese production, according to a report by the Lusa news agency.

"Until Life Do Us Part" was produced by RTP/Coyote Vadio/Caos Filmes and picked up by Netflix after being shown in Portugal on RTP. It’s being released in 190 territories worldwide.

“It’s very important that they are shot in Portugal,” Miranda said. “This will create new job opportunities for Portuguese actors and bring more foreign productions to be produced and made in Portugal.”

Netflix is not the only streaming service offering a series featuring Portuguese talent.

On Feb. 25, Amazon Prime Video will be releasing the “Operation Black Tide,” a four-episode Spanish/Portuguese series inspired by the true story of the first narco-submarine intercepted in Europe.

Directed by Daniel Calparsoro, Oskar Santos and João Maia, the series follows the route of a handcrafted semi-submersible submarine that traverses the Atlantic Ocean with three tons of cocaine inside. Its crew, three men, survive storms, currents, breakdowns, hunger, fights and constant police harassment.

The cast includes Portuguese actors such as Nuno Lopes (White Lines), Lúcia Moniz  (Love Actually) and  Luís Esparteiro (Super Pai).

Where was Damsel filmed? Portugal locations for the Netflix film that you can visit

N etflix’s  Damsel  has been a fantastical hit since its release on 8 March, and viewers have been left enchanted by the maximalist medieval kingdom.

The sci-fi adventure stars Millie Bobby Brown as Elodie, a damsel set to marry the prince of the Kingdom of Aurea to save her own. Alas, the happily ever after goes awry when her charming prince (actor Nick Robinson) and his family attempt to sacrifice Elodie to a fire-breathing dragon.

Filming for the fantasy land was split between on-site sets and sound stages, with  Damsel  director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, exploring a feminist twist on the ‘damsel in distress’ trope that’s studded with castles, caves, dragons and magic.

Much of the film was shot in the Troubadour Meridian Water Studios in Enfield. Several sound stages of fake rock in the 155,073 square foot film production plot, combined with visual effects, brought the cave sequences between Elodie and the dragon to life.

Castle interiors in the style of Portuguese post-gothic Manueline architecture in the Kingdom of Aurea and the protagonist’s home kingdom were also filmed in the London studios. Bobby Brown said in a post-production interview: “Everything felt real. We filmed in these warehouses in London. And when you walked in, you truly felt immersed. There was no faking it. There’s no green screen.”

From and English castle to Portuguese wine country, here are the real-life destinations you can actually visit for a slice of the subversive fairy tale world .

Raby Castle, County Durham

The unnamed Faraway Land where Lord Brayford’s castle lies was shot at the 14th-century Raby Castle in County Durham .

Exteriors of medieval towers, terraces and embattled walls set the scene for Elodie’s father (played by Ray Winstone) and stepmother’s (Angela Bassett) stronghold home.

Primarily filmed in Portugal , production designer Patrick Tatopoulos said that the exterior shots were “less dark than what we’re used to seeing. It’s warmer and more flamboyant than the gloomy castles that are typically used for fantasy stories with dragons. And that was the trick: Aurea needed to be a very pleasant place to be on the outside.”

It’s no wonder the patchwork of blue azulejos that scatter the southern European country set the scene for several of Damsel ’s exterior shots.

IMDb lists Batalha in western Portugal as a shooting location for the sci-fi flick.

The ornate real-world castle Capillas Imperfectas and Unesco-listed Batalha Monastery were likely used for a lot of  Damsel’s  external shots.

Batalha, like Bobby Brown’s homeland, has a history of battles with mythology suggesting that the town was constructed for the Virgin Mary as a victory token in the battle against King Joao I.

Colourful Tomar is the maze of rivers, castles and convents that you see on screen as Elodie enters the Kingdom of Aurea.

The Covent of Christ stronghold, the 12th-century headquarters of the Knights Templar, sets the scene for the castle grounds and wedding frames within the Unesco World Heritage Site.

Serra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela ’s snowy mountain ranges backdrop the harsh conditions outside of Elodie’s high-born yet impoverished home where we meet the  Damsel  princess-to-be.

The National Park area on the Iberian Peninsula is home to the highest mountain in Portugal (Mount Pico) and the hotspot for hikers has dramatic landscapes suitable to host sci-fi scenery including the entrance to the dragon’s lair filmed in the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela in the mountain range.

Douro Valley

In northeastern Portugal, Pinhao in Douro Valley wine country and the Côa Valley, in the Vila Nova de Foz Côa region each lend their sloping vineyards to the action-packed scenes of the mythical world.

The World Heritage area on the Douro River has gorges, ancient forests and wildlife habitats to boot.

The mountains surrounding the Renaissance hamlet of Sortelha, one of Portugal’s oldest towns, were reportedly featured prominently in  Damsel .

Elodie is ultimately led to the dragon’s lair through the peaks that represent the land around Aurea.

Damsel is streaming on Netflix now.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

A Guide to TV in Portugal

For those considering a move to Portugal, the country’s television offerings promise a blend of local and international content. Most TV packages, especially when bundled with fibre internet , boast around 150 channels, ensuring a diverse viewing experience. If you opt for a 4G home internet package, you can still expect a respectable lineup of approximately 90 channels. 

Beyond the array of Portuguese channels, viewers will be pleased to find familiar English-speaking channels such as Fox News, Fox Comedy, National Geographic, MTV, select BBC channels, and Sky News. This mix ensures that while you can immerse yourself in Portuguese culture, you can also stay connected to global happenings and entertainment.

Portuguese TV Channels

Portugal boasts a diverse range of national television channels, catering to various interests, from news and entertainment to culture and sports. Here’s a closer look at some of the prominent channels:

• RTP1: Standing as Portugal’s premier television channel, RTP1 is the most-watched in the country. It offers a comprehensive mix of news, entertainment, sports, and both national and international dramas, making it a staple in many Portuguese households.
• RTP2: Launched as the country’s second channel, RTP2 delves into the realms of culture, arts, and documentaries. It showcases international series, sports other than football, and also dedicates segments to minority groups, children, and scientific content.
• RTP3: As RTP’s first thematic channel, RTP3 is dedicated to round-the-clock news coverage, ensuring viewers are always updated with the latest happenings.
• RTP Memória: A nostalgic journey through time, this channel broadcasts treasures from RTP’s archives spanning six decades. Viewers can relive classic movies, shows, sitcoms, talk shows, and more. The content ranges from Portuguese and international productions to the channel’s own current affairs segments.
• ARTV: Also known as Canal Parlamento, ARTV is a legislative television station. It primarily broadcasts events and news from the Assembly of the Republic, operating 10 hours a day from Monday to Friday.
• SIC: Marking its place in history as Portugal’s first private TV channel, SIC has become immensely popular over the years. It entertains viewers with engaging talk shows, game shows, Brazilian soap operas, and international series.
• TVI: Emerging as a direct competitor to both SIC and RTP1, TVI is the country’s second private television channel. It has carved a niche for itself with its captivating reality shows and enthralling Portuguese soap operas.

In essence, whether you’re a fan of cultural documentaries, international dramas, or local reality shows, Portugal’s television landscape promises something for everyone.

Netflix, Hulu, Prime & Other Streamers

Some streaming services are available in Portugal. Netflix, for example, is available in Portugal. However, it’s worth noting that the programs available on Netflix in Portugal will be different to those in the US or UK. As of 2018, Netflix has the same content across the whole of the EU. 

• Netflix: Available in Portugal. 
• Hulu: Not available in Portugal. 
• Amazon Prime:
• Disney Plus: Available in Portugal. 

Getting British TV in Portugal

Getting British TV channels such as BBC and ITV is a little more complicated as programs like iPlayer block IP addresses from outside of the UK. Yes, you can use a VPN to get around this, but most streaming services, including iPlayer, C4, and ITVX are very good at getting IP addresses from a VPN. 

In Portugal, in particular in the Algarve, there are quite a few businesses that specialise in helping expats access British TV. 

Read more about watching British TV in Portugal .

Do I need a TV Licence?

In Portugal, while there are nine free-to-air channels available for viewers, it’s essential to note that public broadcasting isn’t entirely free. The funding for these channels comes from a combination of advertising revenues and a specific tax known as the audiovisual contribution tax (Contribuição Audiovisual, CAV). This tax is conveniently added to the household electric bill of residents. As of now, the obligatory monthly fee stands at €2.85. When you add the 6% Value Added Tax (VAT) or Imposto sobre Valor Acrescentado (IVA), the total comes to €3.02.

However, there’s a silver lining for some consumers. If you qualify for specific social benefits, you might be exempt from this fee or be eligible for a reduced rate.

For those looking beyond the free-to-air channels and seeking more variety, there are other options like satellite and cable TV. However, these come with subscription fees, and the cost will depend on the specific package you choose.

Spotted a mistake? Suggest a correction

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Find Portugalist on Facebook | X | Instagram FR | DE | ES | PT

• Miranda do Douro
• Viana do Castelo
• Corvo, The Crow Island of the Azores
• Faial, The Blue Island of Azores
• Flores, The Yellow Island of Azores
• Graciosa, The White Island of the Azores
• Pico, The Black Island of Azores
• Santa Maria, The Sunshine Island of the Azores
• São Jorge, The Brown Island of Azores
• São Miguel, The Green Island of Azores
• Terceira Island, The Festive Island of Azores
• Central Portugal
• Lisbon and Tagus Valley
• Porto & Northern Portugal
• Portugal Survival Guide
• Entering Portugal
• Guide to Learning Portuguese
• Portugal Holidays
• Average Temperatures in Portugal
• Weather in Portugal
• Portugal Visa Guide
• Golden Visa Portugal
• Portugal Digital Nomad Visa 2023
• D7 Visa Guide
• D2 Visa Guide
• Food & Drink
• History and Culture

All That Jazz: The Bayou Brings the Magic of Louisiana Right to the Heart of Lisbon

What are conventual sweets a guide to portugal’s delicious desserts, countertop dining restaurants: the 28 best counters in lisbon, where to eat on new year’s eve in lisbon, where to eat in lisbon on christmas day, prehistoric animals that lived in portugal – dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and more, portugal from a to z, the battles that shaped portugal, apply for 2024/2025 season tickets in lisbon for the gulbenkian orchestra and choir series – applications only accepted during the last week of may, two days to freedom – april 25th and the carnation revolution, turn of the tide, the portuguese series is netflix’s latest success story.

Here are the extraordinary ingredients for a wild story: a sailboat driven by an Italian man breaks down during a storm and ends up anchoring on the island of São Miguel in the Azores.

None of this would be so extraordinary in and of itself had the boat not been loaded with hundreds of kilos of cocaine coming from Venezuela and heading for the Balearic Islands in Spain. Naturally, afraid that someone would discover the cargo, António Quinci, later known on the island only as “the Italian”, hides all the product in an underwater cave.

However, the tide would spoil his plans, taking with it the product that came ashore and was found by a population primarily of fishermen and extremely poor people. Ignorant of both the actual value of the content and its usefulness, people began to use the drug, thinking it was some kind of “flour.”

The myth that it started being used for baking cakes, or, more foolishly and not really a myth, to use it as lime to make soccer field lines, is established. Understandably, the unbridled consumption of a product that was then everywhere on such a small island transformed the usual and peaceful reality into a chaotic scenario.

Especially when several people started ending up in hospital emergency rooms with overdose cases and psychotic mixtures, both cocaine and tranquilizers, swallowed to try to counteract the energetic effect of cocaine, the so-called speedball.

Immediately after this event, the criminal police get to work, mainly when the first death occurs. A raid starts all over the island, and almost 500 kgs of cocaine are seized, and the Italian man arrested.

“It’s a perfect plot for any Netflix series,” many in Portugal have said. But this mix of ingredients, with, of course, a lot of cocaine in the middle, was not fiction but an actual event in the already distant June of 2001.

But the story of Antonino Quinci would continue to make people talk, from his imprisonment to his strange escape, as well as his ironic find in a land called “Achadinha,” roughly translated as “Found” or “little busted.”

Yes, laugh all you want. 

The voices that have long been calling in Portugal for international producers to look at this story and put it on our television screens have finally been heard. The story of the hundreds of kilograms of cocaine spread, consumed, and trafficked in the poor little town of Rabo de Peixe, continues now, in 2023, in a Netflix bet. 

The series, named after the fishing village, “Rabo de Peixe” in Portuguese, translated not literally as “Turn of the tide” in the English version, premiered only in the last week of May.

Still, its success is already widely recognized internationally, being already the most-watched series in countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, and Greece, and at the time of writing is already the sixth most-watched Netflix series in the world. 

The story adapted for the screens has an extra dose of fiction counts with a group of young friends, victims of the typical poverty of the islands, with dreams of being able to leave both that small town and the misery in which they live. They are the ones who get to keep part of the product for themselves, and the rest, well, the rest, you have to watch on your TV sets. 

Of course, although much of it is fictionalized, the series fantastically transports us to those days when a small town in the Azores, the poorest in Portugal and one of the poorest in Europe, found itself dealing with hundreds of kilos of cocaine. 

With 80% pureness, the drugs of the rich came ashore in the land of the poor. The stories of people who sold cocaine by the cup, by a handful, or in plastic bags without weighing it, in exchange for any money that someone was willing to give is also represented in the series.

It shows a side that we do not like to admit, but that shows that more than fiction, the reality is sometimes even more extraordinary, while showing the poverty of this village, lost in the Atlantic, called Rabo de Peixe and that now is again in the mouths of the world. 

Now some people ask the following: will the series bring some negative stigma to the locality, or will it be the cause of curiosity that will, who knows, lead tourists to want to know this village, which even its name Rabo de Peixe “Fish Tail” is linked to the fact that the poor fishermen sold their fish and only kept the tails for consumption. 

Time and the popularity of the series will give us the answer. For now, the best thing to do is to turn on the television and let ourselves be carried away by this story that is as authentic as it is fantastic. 

Receive the latest news, travel information, stories, offers and more!

Join our FB group  Portugal Travel & Living  for all things Portugal and news updates

Related articles, welcome to portugal (taylor swift’s version), time required to get portuguese citizenship reduced by 12-18 months, spain vs portugal: which golden visa program is best, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Most Popular

Latest articles, portugal’s forgotten islands, a new airport for lisbon in alcochete, lisbon will be 3 hours away from madrid by train.

Portugal.com is an independently owned and operated tourism portal about Portugal. All information should be considered informational and for entertainment purposes. Some content may be promotional and/or have affiliate relationships where Portugal.com earns revenue promoting the content.

Want to advertise on Portugal.com? Would you like to write for us? Something else? Please feel free to Contact Us!

© Portugal.com

• Privacy Policy

Subscribe to our newsletter below to get the latest news, reviews, info and more!

Thanks, I’m not interested

More From Forbes

‘gloria’: netflix’s first original series from portugal is a great spy thriller.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Miguel Nunes as João Vidal in Netflix Orginal Series 'Glória’ (Photo credit: Paulo Goulart ... [+] Photography/Netflix)

Netflix NFLX has released its first Portuguese original series. Glória is on Netflix since November 5. Produced by the SPi production company of Grupo SP Televisão and co-produced with RTP, Glória is an intense historical spy thriller taking place during the Cold War. It is a high-quality series from Portugal with an intricate storyline.

Set in a small Portuguese village named Glória do Ribatejo in the 1960s, the ten-part series follows João Vidal (played by Miguel Nunes), a young man whose family has connections with the leaders of the Estado Novo, the authoritarian Portuguese Regime. João works as an engineer at RARET, a U.S. re-broadcasting office of Radio Free Europe. The series shows how this small village became “an unlikely Cold War stage where American and Soviet forces fought through dangerous sabotage maneuvers to achieve control of Europe,” the Netflix synopsis explains. João gets recruited by the KGB, and will find himself in the middle of the intricate webs of spy games at play in RARET.

An original series created by Pedro Lopes and directed by Tiago Guedes, Glória is a slow-burning series that is a mixture of historical drama based on real events and espionage thriller. The series paints a dark image of Portugal’s past, its violence toward women and its brutal colonial war. It is the highest budget series in the history of Portuguese production, according to The Portugal News .

Netflix's first Portuguese original series (Photo credit: PAULO GOULART PHOTOGRAPHY / Netflix)

The series is based on real events. Situated just north-east of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, the small village of Glória do Ribatejo housed a major CIA-operated broadcasting site named RARET. This shortwave retransmission center of Radio Free Europe became operational in 1951 and functioned until 1996. The CIA used RARET to send anti-communist transmissions to Eastern European countries. In the 1960s, Portugal was ruled by an authoritarian regime, the Estado Novo (New State), led by Oliveira Salazar. An anti-communist regime, Portugal thus worked with the U.S. during the Cold War.

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Best covid-19 travel insurance plans.

This is the historical basis on which this fictional series takes place. Glória begins in 1968, just before the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia, as João starts his new job at RARET. Already working for the KGB, João is on a covert mission to find out what happened to a missing KGB agent named Mia, who worked at RARET, as well as disrupt the CIA’s operations at the broadcasting station.

From the first few minutes of the first episode, the series establishes João as a complex character. A secret agent for the KGB, João though comes from a family firmly established within Portugal’s authoritarian regime. João’s father works in the Estado Novo’s government as Secretary of State and is close friends with the head of the PIDE (the International and State Defense Police), Estado Novo’s secret police.His motive for joining the KGB is at first not too clear. It slowly becomes apparent, through a series of flashbacks, that João was sent to fight in the country’s colonial war in Angola, where he experienced the brutality and extreme violence of the Portuguese army. This is where, the series suggests, João was recruited by the KGB.

Unlike other spy thrillers set during the Cold War, Glória does not paint the U.S. or the Soviets as either the good or bad guys. The series is incredibly nuanced in its depiction of history, showing the complexity of the Cold War, further complicated by Portugal’s own extremely brutal authoritarian and colonial history.

The series creates some great moments of tense espionage sequences. We follow João in the different perilous situations he finds himself as a secret agent for the KGB, retrieving information or trying to save the life of another agent.

Glória is a great espionage series, that reveals crucial events in Portugal’s history that are less well-known to the rest of the world. If you are a history-buff and like spy thrillers, this series is fascinating.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

Magnetic on Netflix: How Nazaré Canyon off Portugal makes some of biggest waves in the world

Magnetic is a new documentary that premiered on Netflix on June 12.

The Netflix series follows a group of athletes who travel around the world to remote and exotic places in pursuit of their passion for extreme athletic activities, including skiing, sailing, base jumping, snowboarding, mountain biking, and surfing.

It also stars freestyle BMX rider Tom Barrer, kite surfer Liam Whaley, mountain biker Xavier Marovelli, speed fliers Jamie Lee and Malachi Templeton, and snowboarders Fabian Bodet and Julien Herry.

In one of the episodes of the series, the surfers test their mettle by taking on monster waves generated by the famous Nazaré Canyon in Portugal.

Viewers are treated to heart-stopping sights of dare-devil surfers riding gigantic waves.

How does Nazaré Canyon make monster waves?

Nazaré Canyon is a deep gorge off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal that produces some of the highest breaking waves in the world. Some are higher than 80 feet.

According to Swellinfo.com CEO Micah Sklut , big wintertime storms in the North Atlantic push huge swells of water toward Europe. Nazaré Canyon accentuates the effect of the storms with its unique underwater topography.

When ocean swells are generated by storms at sea, their size, power, and speed, as they break ashore, is limited by the decreasing depth of the ocean floor toward the coastline.

However, Nazaré Canyon, located close to the Portugues coastline, helps to accentuate the swell.

The gorge, which is about 16,000 feet at its deepest point, exerts an amplifying effect on the waves coming from the open seas as they approach the Portuguese coastline at Nazaré.

To put the depth of the Nazaré Canyon into perspective, Arizona’s Grand Canyon is only about 6,000 feet deep at its lowest point.

According to Sklut:

“Normally, what happens is that the open-ocean swells, as they approach the coastline, they’re going to be slowed down by the ocean bottom as it gets shallower. But at Nazare… the ocean swells get focused in this submarine canyon and have much more energy.”

The upward slope of the gorge in the direction of the coastline, after its deepest point, further exerts an amplifying effect that generates the monster waves.

“As it [the waves] approaches the shore it gets very shallow, and that enables the waves to climb really, really big all of a sudden.”

Other spots around the world with similar conditions include Tahiti’s Teahupoo, Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, the Cortes Bank in the North Pacific Ocean (southwest of Los Angeles), and Mavericks , near Half Moon Bay in Northern California.

Magnetic is streaming on Netflix.

23 Binge-worthy Travel Documentaries on Netflix (2024)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: April 14, 2024

If you enjoy watching travel shows (whether for inspiration or research) you are in for a treat with this selection of the best travel documentaries on Netflix in 202 4

This eclectic list of Netflix travel documentaries and series will take you across every continent to meet the people, cultures, history and geography, natural wonders and wildlife that make up our beautiful planet.

Chosen by travel bloggers this is a selection of the best travel documentaries available on Netflix around the world.

Please bear in mind that not all these shows may be available on Netflix in your location ! If you would like unrestricted access to 15 Netflix libraries around the world (including Germany/USA/UK) we recommend Surfshark VPN. You only need 1 subscription to cover every gadget in your house. Click here for more information about Surfshark

Taco Chronicles

With surfshark vpn you can, dark tourist, down to earth, grand tours of the scottish islands, expedition happiness.

• Chef's Table

Somebody Feed Phil

Extreme engagement.

• Joanna Lumley's India

Chasing Coral

Magical andes, cuba and the cameraman, jack whitehall travels with my father, restaurants on the edge, tales by light, christiane amanpour: sex & love around the world, the serpent, the dawn wall, my octopus teacher, anthony bourdain: parts unknown, street food series (latin america and asia), more tv shows & movies from countries around the world, 23 best travel documentaries on netflix.

If you didn’t love the idea of eating tacos in Mexico City already, Taco Chronicles will make sure you do! In fact, you’ll discover that there’s even more to authentic Mexican tacos than you ever knew about.

In Taco Chronicles, you’ll go on a taco journey to Mexico City and beyond, to discover the unique types of tacos eaten in Mexico’s various regions and states. The show does start off in Mexico City, with the king of Mexican tacos — the taco al pastor.

From Mexico City, enjoy a virtual Mexican culinary food tour to its neighbouring state of Hidalgo, home of barbacoa (BBQ) tacos. Beyond Central Mexico, this food and travel documentary takes you all over Mexico.

In subsequent episodes of this two-season show, you’ll discover cochinita pibil (slow-roasted suckling pig) tacos in the Yucatan Peninsula, fried fish tacos in Baja California state on the west coast, cabrito (goat) tacos in Northern Mexico, and more.

Places/countries featured – Mexico

Chosen by Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo

DO YOU WANT TO WATCH THE GREAT SHOWS LISTED IN THIS GUIDE?

✅ With Surfshark VPN you get unrestricted access to the Netflix libraries of 15 countries.

✅ Access to the US, UK and German Netflix libraries (plus a further 12 countries)

✅ Access 13 Amazon Prime libraries including the USA and UK

✅ 1 subscription covers every gadget in your house

Click here for all the info!

Over recent years, the public’s fascination with dark tourism destinations has boomed. Sites such as Chernobyl and Auschwitz draw in thousands of tourists every year. With so many of the population sharing a fascination for dark history, it is no wonder that so many have tuned into Netflix’s ‘Dark Tourist. 

The show follows journalist David Farrier as he travels around hoping to experience the most macabre destinations that the world has to offer. Farrier’s quest to unearth the morbid takes him to several high profile dark tourism destinations, including the site of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, on a JFK assassination tour and he even witnesses an exorcism in Mexico City.  

Although Farrier sometimes comes across as a mediocre Louis Theroux, this thought-provoking travel show succeeds in its aim and transports you into the unknown. The result is an interesting series that explores the darker side of life (and death).

Chosen by Sheree   of Winging the World

In the Netflix series Down To Earth , actor Zac Efron and wellness author Darin Olien travel across the globe learning about the wellness and sustainability efforts being made in numerous destinations.

Each of the eight episodes focuses on a different location and aspect of sustainability or personal wellness.

In the first episode, you’ll learn all about harnessing the earth’s energy in Iceland. From there, travel to Paris to see their efforts to reduce bottled water impacts, learn about sustainability in Costa Rica, and nutrition in Sardinia.

Also included in the series are food education in Lima, post-hurricane sustainability in Puerto Rico, London pollution reduction efforts, and Iquitos wellness in the Peruvian Amazon.

In one of the most intriguing segments, they learn about tap water differences from a water sommelier. The series lends a glimpse into some beautiful destinations and what locals are doing to keep them beautiful for decades to come.

Chosen by Samantha of PAonPause.com

More to watch!

• Best Scandinavian and Nordic Noir Netflix series to watch in 2021 and beyond
• Best Danish TV series to watch on Netflix
• Best Italian TV series on Netflix
• Best German TV series on Netflix
• Best Australian TV shows to watch before you visit Oz
• 16 binge worthy Turkish series on Netflix

Historian and film-maker Paul Murton brings you on a fascinating journey to many Scottish islands over four seasons. He meets with locals; finds hidden gems; and explores the rich, unique, and sometimes tragic history of each of the islands. 

You may be surprised to find yourself binge-watching this relaxing travel documentary series. You will get caught up in Murton’s contagious curiosity about its people and his great admiration for its beauty. Every episode is filled with stunning scenery. The high production quality and engaging soundtrack heighten the enjoyment of the show. Fans can follow this up with his three other Scottish travel series.  

Queue up, Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands to enjoy some dreamy armchair travel or to gain a deeper understanding of the islands as you plan your trip to Scotland .  

Places featured: Isle of Skye , Islands of Loch Lomond, Hebridean Islands, Orkney Islands, and many more

Contributed by Erica at Trip Scholars

Expedition Happiness is a home movie/travelogue that follows the story of a German couple as they give up their life in Germany to do an epic road trip in the Americas with their dog Rudi.

The couple, whose names are Selima and Felix, purchased a yellow school bus in Florida for 9500 USD. After working on it for three months, they transformed it into their “Loft on Wheel”, a comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped adventure bus. 

The itinerary was to start in Alaska near Denali National Park , drive all the way down to Central America, cross over to South America, and finish in Argentina.

On their adventure, they documented all the incredible landscapes they saw, the people they met, and more.

Whether they were able to finish their epic adventure or not, you will have to find out on Netflix! 

Chosen by Sean of Living out Lau

Chef’s Table

Even if you’re not a foodie but love to travel, be sure to watch Chef’s Table on Netflix. This documentary series features renowned Chefs from around the world who are creating inspired culinary experiences.

Now in its 6th season with 30 episodes, the series doesn’t just showcase a chef’s creations, but takes you on a journey through each of their personal stories that has led to their creativity.

World renowned chefs like Italy’s Massimo Bottura will inspire you with how he came from humble beginnings to being on the world culinary stage. But one chef in particular has inspired us to travel for her food — Chef Ana Rôs, owner of  Hiša Franko restaurant  in Kobarid, Slovenia. 

After initially pursuing a career track in business, she spent years honing her craft and experimenting with the local foods of her native Slovenia. Today, she is now one of the top chefs in the world, Hiša Franko is one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World and newly Michelin-rated — and our dinner there on my birthday might possibly be the best meal of my life.

Watch the series and decide where your next culinary adventure will be.

Chosen by Lori of travlinmad.com

In “Somebody Feel Phil”, the creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Phil Rosenthal, travels the world to indulge in the scrumptious local cuisine and to learn more about the culture of these destinations.

There are currently four seasons on Netflix and each episode features a different city around the world. This documentary does a great job of portraying local customs and traditions and viewers will feel like they’re actually in that city with the locals.

Phil has a childlike wonder to him when he’s learning about the different cultures and he answers basically any potential questions the viewers could have about the destination. One of the best parts about the documentary is watching Phil turn the strangers he meets into his family. 

Places featured – Bangkok, Saigon, Tel Aviv, Lisbon, New Orleans, Mexico City, Venice , Dublin, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Cape Town, New York City, Marrakesh, Chicago, London, Seoul, Montreal, Rio De Janeiro, San Francisco, Singapore, the Mississippi Delta, and Hawaii. 

Chosen by Disha of Disha Discovers

While most people get engaged and then begin planning their perfect wedding, Tim and PJ, stars of the Netflix show Extreme Engagement, do anything but that. Instead, Tim and PJ get engaged and then set out on a worldwide exploration of marital traditions around the world. 

The couple journeys to places such as Mongolia, Brazil, China, Nigeria, and Papua New Guinea facing challenging experiences along the way that has them questioning their relationship and each other. 

You get to see a glimpse inside the cross-cultural challenges associated with a new romance along with an interesting insight into how other cultures celebrate love and marriage. 

Chosen by Michelle Snell from That Texas Couple

International travellers Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach cross the world and push their limits on an expedition to find genuine, unforgettable experiences.

DEPARTURES is an international award-winning and inspiring television travel series that will take you on the journey of a lifetime and beyond. From epic landscapes to unforgettable culture, learn what it takes to make it all happen through personal successes, crushing disappointments and memorable new friendships that could only be made by travelling abroad.

With two episodes for every continent, DEPARTURES will arm and reassure your wanderlust with hours of riveting programming that captures the beauty, drama, wonder and humor of taking a leap abroad.

DEPARTURES covers every aspect of world travel, showing you exactly what to expect at destinations around the globe. From beaches in Bali and cruising in the South Pacific Islands, to trekking on Mt Kilimanjaro and sailing up icebergs off Greenland, DEPARTURES takes you straight into a location’s unique atmosphere… giving viewers insight into a whole new way of life.

Places featured – Nearly 30 countries around the world including Japan, New Zealand and Russia

Chosen by Casandra of Karpiak Caravan Adventure Family Travel

Joanna Lumley’s India

Joanna Lumley is a British actress probably most well-known for her role as the outrageous Patsy of Absolutely Fabulous. What is perhaps less known about her is that she was born in Kashmir, India, in 1946, and the descendent of British colonists in India going back to 1777.

Originally aired in 2017 with three episodes, Joanna Lumley’s India takes viewers on a personal trip across the country where she explores modern India and finds connections to members of her own family and the experience of being and speaking English in India .

Lumley has also hosted travel shows on Japan, the Silk Road, the Caribbean, and the Trans-Siberia express train.

Places featured:  Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Gujarat, Mumbai, Ranthambhore National Park, Delhi, and Srinagar, Kashmir.

Chosen by Mariellen of Breathedreamgo

Chasing Coral is a fascinating documentary about the disappearance of coral around the world. In this chasing coral, a team of divers, researchers and photographers set out on an ocean adventure to document the bleaching of Coral in warming seas. This phenomenon is when corals lose their beautiful and vibrant colors to become white, dying shortly after. 

The point of this documentary is to show that the coral’s death is the result of climate change and the rise in temperatures that are absorbed by the oceans. 

The documentary takes us to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world such as the Florida Keys, Hawaii and the Bahamas. More than that, this documentary also shows the important damage climate change has done to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. 

I definitely recommend this documentary to anyone who wants to really understand the impact of human activity on the ocean’s ecosystem. 

Chosen by Camille from Everything Yoga Retreat

Magical Andes is one of the best travel documentaries on Netflix if you are looking to learn about the natural gems of South America. When searching amongst the 100’s of other documentaries you’ll find this particular docuseries created by Luis Ara and Alexandra Hardorf concentrates solely on the magical landscape of the Andes mountain range. 

This docuseries not only shows you all about the longest continental mountain range in the world, but talks about the wildlife, lakes, and forests, deserts, volcanoes, and other Mother Earth creations that exist in that region. 

Magical Andes focuses on truly stunning imagery and gives you a look into some of the  best places to visit in South America  that you simply wouldn’t see passing through in a car.

Places featured  – In season one, the Netflix documentary features spectacular views from Argentina and Chile. Then from the Aconcagua desert in Bolivia over to some of the more ancient cultures in Peru. The lush mountain of Colombia and Ecuador are also featured.

Chosen by Daniel of LayerCulture.com

If you’ve ever thought of visiting Cuba there are many Cuban movies and documentaries to help you to research your trip, but none are as epic as this one. 

Many people believe that Cuba is a country frozen in time, but this Netflix documentary features Jon Alpert’s travels to Cuba over a span of nearly five decades. 

And while the relationships between the United States and Cuba has been fragmented at times, he visited each time as an American journalist. It starts in 1970s, just over a decade since the Cuban revolution when the country was thriving. 

Instead of giving his perspective on Cuba, he interviews three families who share their own stories of every day life. He continues to visit Cuba to find these families to update their stories. Over the decades the political situation and relationship with the United States changes quite dramatically.

And while he also interviews Fidel Castro, most of the film is really about everyday Cubans and their highs and lows.

Chosen by Ayngelina of Baconismagic.ca

Jack Whitehall is a British comedian who attended private school and has a somewhat disjointed relationship with his father Michael because of this. Jack also never got to take a gap year before going to university so season one of Travels with my Father is all about Jack finally embarking on a traditional ‘gap year’ trip to Southeast Asia. The twist is he takes his father with him so they can strengthen their bond.

The series takes place in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and highlights some of the gap year activities that can be done including full moon parties on the beach and visiting Angkor Wat. By the end of their travels, they reflect on what they have learned about each other and themselves.

The show continues in a similar fashion in the subsequent seasons where Michael takes Jack on a culture and history tour around Europe, Jack shows Michael everything the US has to offer, and both his mother and father join him for a road trip in Australia.

Chosen by Steph from Book It Let’s Go!

If you love travel, design and food, Restaurants on the Edge needs to be on your Netflix list. In each episode, the show highlights a restaurant in a stunning location. 

The restaurants get a makeover from a design expert and the menu often gets an upgrade from the show’s chef, the goal is to take struggling restaurants and make them sustainable for the business owners. 

There are currently two seasons of Restaurants on the Edge on Netflix, with locations throughout the world. 

In season one, you’ll be treated to beautiful ocean views in Malta, as well as stunning architecture. The views continue with a cliff side restaurant in Costa Rica. 

Season two will take you around the world again, with restaurants in Finland, St. Croix and Arizona. 

Not only is it fun to see the upgrades these restaurants go through, but it’s also inspiring to see the impact the changes have on each person’s life making this show a must-watch. 

Chosen by Alenis of seasaltandfog.com  

If you are a fan of Italy, Italian art and History, then watch the gorgeous and surprisingly brutal history of the famous Medici’s of Florence.

The Netflix show is so well done with gorgeous cinematography, beautiful costumes and stage settings. The show includes all the surrounding countryside and historic sites that document the Medici Family and their major influence on Florence, Venice, and even Rome (two popes were related to the Medici family).

It also showcases early Catholic power and greed. The Pope had absolute power and a religious mission that seemed corrupt whichever person was Pope and ruler. 

The Medici focus really hits the major sites of the city and also the start of the Renaissance period in Italy. The crowning of the main dome in the cathedral was a major achievement during this time frame and it was really fascinating to see how this was depicted and shown in development and the struggles of the Medici family to get this undertaking done.

Also, it was interesting to see how easy it was during that time frame to create wealth and also lose it depending on your affiliations and business relationships with the pope and other influential rulers of that time.

Watch the Medici’s on Netflix and if you visit Florence, you’ll gain a better understanding of the Medici fame and fortune in the area.

Chosen by Noel of Oahu Travel Now

Below Deck is a series of reality TV shows. Each show is set on a luxury yacht which is rented out by wealthy charter guests, but the real action is with the young yacht crew, or yachties, who serve them, the characterful captains who lead them and the stunning locations. The original Below Deck was so successful that it rapidly gained two spin offs, Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

The original Below Deck saw the crew sail around Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, followed by seasons in the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Tahiti, Thailand and Antigua.

Below Deck Mediterranean’s locations have included Mykonos in the Greek Islands, Split and Cavtat in Croatia, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Cote d’Azur in the south of France and Mallorca in Spain’s Balearic Islands. Below Deck, Sailing Yacht has only had one series, set in Corfu.

Contributed by Helen of HelenOnHerHolidays.com

The documentary series “Tales by Light” follows renowned professional filmmakers and photographers as they visit worldwide destinations and capture fascinating content which highlights different features of the natural world. 

Every episode focuses on a different subject such as wildlife, the oceans, landscapes, adventure activities, or cultural practices and traditions. The distinct approaches of the featured photographers really help to bring the stories to life and this program presents many less well-known countries and regions in a compelling way using panoramic landscapes and stunning visuals. 

The first season explores multiple destinations per episode, with visits to Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Alaska and Colorado in the United States, Vanuatu, the Himalayas, Antarctica, Ethiopia and Uganda.

The second season covers Kenya, Norway, Brazil, the Bahamas, India and Namibia, and the third season highlights Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Australia.

This series presents a journey across the globe and is sure to inspire travellers who are looking for their next adventure.

Contributed by Claire from  Claire Pins Travel  

In this cultural travel show, CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour (who in the past has covered major stories from countries like  Iran , Rwanda, and Pakistan) travels to six different cities around the world to explore women’s love lives across multiple cultures. She talks to experts in the field as well as everyday people — revealing facts and details that give a very insightful glimpse into the culture and values of women around the world. 

Christiane is a natural at asking just the right questions and at shining a spotlight on the stories of the women in each city.

While this show focuses heavily on love and sex, viewers will get to learn a whole lot about the overall mentality and life approach of each country — making this a perfect travel show that fosters deeper cultural appreciation.

Places featured – Tokyo (Japan), Delhi (India), Beirut (Lebanon), Berlin (Germany), Accra (Ghana), Shanghai (China)

Chosen by Jiayi of The Diary of A Nomad

Released at the beginning of 2021, The Serpent is not a travel show in and of itself, but it will inevitably allure travelers into visiting the many places explored by the main characters.

Aired on Netflix, the series tells the real story of Charles Sobhraj, a French serial killer of Indian and Vietnamese origins who in the mid-1970s drugged, robbed and killed a large number of backpackers travelling between Thailand, India and Nepal. 

Sobhraj and his Quebecoise girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc were finally identified as the authors of the crimes thanks to the work of Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg, who, albeit the many reservations of the Dutch ambassador to Thailand, set to investigate the disappearance of a Dutch couple and through a series of lead eventually managed to uncover the culprits.

Places featured: Over the course of 8 episodes you will be taken to Bangkok, the coast of Thailand, the peaks of Nepal, the streets of several Indian cities and even to Paris .

Chosen by Claudia Tavani of My Adventures Across The World

When Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson free climbed the Great Wall of the El Capitan rock face in the Yosemite National Park in 2018, the news spread like wildfire.

Dawn Wall is a US documentary about this story of perseverance and adventure.

Cameras follow these legendary free climbers as they undertake this nearly impossible task. It took Cadwell 7 years to reach the goal and we are given a detailed look into the events that led to this decision and the struggles that were involved throughout the journey.

There’s one constant theme that runs throughout the story and that is the strength of the human spirit.

This captivating documentary with great visuals should not be missed. The documentary is in English, but subtitles are available in different languages that include Spanish, French, and Chinese. 

Places featured : Yosemite National Park

Chosen by Rai from A Rai of Light

My Octopus Teacher is an award-winning and very heart-touching documentary on Netflix that covers how a filmmaker spent a year trying to capture a wild octopus on camera and also form a friendship with it. 

For about a year, Craig Foster films a wild octopus he came across while trying out free-diving through an underwater kelp forest in South Africa.

Over the period, Craig and the octopus develop a bond with the octopus almost showing Craig around and not being uninhibited by his presence as he follows it.

Craig watches as it protects itself, loses an arm to an attack and then regrows it too. At the end of the documentary, the octopus naturally passes away after mating and trying to protect its eggs. 

Filmed entirely near Cape Peninsula in South Africa, this beautiful documentary is not to be missed as it covers an offbeat relationship between man and nature. 

Places featured – A kelp forest off False Bay near Simon’s Town in South Africa

Chosen by Lavinia of Continent Hop

For the foodies of the world, who travel the world, and are strident realists about the world, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” is an absolute must-watch.

Rugged, painfully honest, internationally renowned chef Anthony Bourdain travelled the globe in search of authentic food, people and life experiences. With no time for nonsense and all the time in the world for simple food done to perfection, he takes the viewer to eating establishments from tiny street food stalls to the finest of fine dining.

In his search for amazing food in amazing places, he guides you from the brutality of the Bornean jungle to the madness of Seoul’s foodie nightlife and the pure joy of a perfectly cooked steak in an Argentinian steakhouse accompanied by a glass of locally bottled Malbec. 

Parts Unknown leaves you an appetite for dinner and a bigger one for travel. Wanderlust is baked into every episode.

Chosen by Rosie of the Flying Fluskeys

The Street Food series is one for foodie lovers around the world to enjoy! Each episode follows the story of a local chef and how they started their now-famous street food shops.

From family restaurants to cultural fusions, you learn about a destination through food from the people who make it possible.

Volume one takes place in various Asian destinations, such as Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Delhi (India), Seoul (South Korea), and others.

The second volume takes place in Latin America, highlighting food in Salvador (Brazil), Bogota (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Oaxaca (Mexico), and more.

It is a delicious docuseries that will keep you salivating and also inspire you to understand how food and travel are one. Street Food will also encourage you to get out of your comfort zone if you normally avoid street food!

It is the ideal blend of travel and food for everyone to indulge in from home.

Chosen by Sojourner of Sojournies.com

📺 If you are looking for more travel inspiration on Netflix check out these posts:

• 39 Very Best Travel Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• Best Spanish Series on Netflix (Binge-worthy TV for 2021)
• 10 best movies about South Africa to watch before you visit
• Best Netflix series set in Denmark
• 15 best Scandinavian & Nordic Noir Netflix series you can’t miss
• Best French series on Netflix

📖 If you enjoy reading about a country before you visit check out these posts

• A Complete Guide to the Best Books from Around the World
• Best books about Croatia (or set in Croatia)

• VPN & Privacy
• Netflix USA in Portugal

How to watch Netflix USA in Portugal with a VPN

Netflix content is subject to copyright restrictions, so some titles aren’t available everywhere. This is why if you try to access Netflix USA from Portugal, you’ll be redirected to Netflix Portugal, and some of your regular shows and movies will be missing. Luckily, it’s easy to watch your home Netflix from anywhere, you just need a VPN with US servers.

With a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the data traveling to and from your streaming device is encrypted, protecting it from snoopers and other security threats. It’s run through a server in the location of your choosing, in this case, in the US, which makes it look like you’re browsing from that location. This allows American users to watch Netflix USA in Portugal (or anywhere while traveling abroad).

Unfortunately, not every VPN works to access Netflix, as it has sophisticated VPN detection methods. So, we’ve put together a list of the best VPNs that work with Netflix US from anywhere, and we’ll explain how to use them. We’ll start with a quick summary, but keep scrolling to find more in-depth reviews of the VPNs we recommend.

Best VPNs for Netflix USA in Portugal:

• NordVPN : The best VPN for Netflix USA.  Nearly 2,000 US servers. Fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. P2P and Double VPN servers available. No-logs VPN with 24/7 support. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Surfshark :  Best value VPN. Servers in 20 US cities. Fastest VPN we’ve tested. Unlimited simultaneous connections and Double VPN servers. 24/7 support and a no-logs policy.
• ExpressVPN :  Servers in 94 countries including the US. High-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth. Works with Netflix and offers 24/7 support. Secure with high-end encryption.
• CyberGhost : 9,000 servers in 90 countries (almost 1,500 in the US). Unthrottled bandwidth for lag-free streaming of Netflix US. Use on up to seven devices. Password manager in beta.
• IPVanish :  Connect an unlimited number of devices at once. Servers in 20 US cities. Good speeds for streaming Netflix US in Portugal. No-logs policy for anonymous browsing.
• PrivateVPN : Works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more. Servers in dozens of countries. Fast speeds for streaming and torrenting. Strict no-logs policy.
• Hotspot Shield :  Servers in 80 countries, including the US, for watching Netflix US. 24/7 live chat and email support. Security includes encryption and a password manager.

Some people are wary of VPNs because they sound quite technical. However, these services couldn’t be easier to use! In fact, you need only follow the simple setup instructions detailed below and you’ll be streaming your favorite content in no time.

Here’s how to watch Netflix USA from Portugal using a VPN:

• Start by signing up with a VPN provider that provides servers in the US (and works with Netflix US!). We recommend NordVPN .
• Next, you’ll need to download one of the VPN’s apps. Make sure you’re installing the correct version for your streaming device.
• Log in to the VPN app and connect to a server back home in a US city. You’ll then be assigned a US IP address so you can watch Netflix USA from abroad.
• Now you can go to Netflix US, which should load without redirecting you to Portugal’s library. All content should now play without restriction.
• Didn’t work? Try clearing your browser’s cookies . Alternatively, try another server, as your current IP address may be blacklisted. Otherwise, get in touch with your VPN’s customer support for further assistance.

GET A 30-DAY FREE TRIAL OF NORDVPN

NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30 day trial  if you sign up at this page . You can use the VPN rated #1 for Netflix USA with no restrictions for a month - great if you’d like time to fully test it out for yourself.

There are no hidden terms - just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund.  Start your NordVPN trial here .

How we selected the top Netflix US VPNs

While there are hundreds of VPNs to choose from, many simply aren’t worth your time and money. We take the guesswork out of it for you by only including those VPNs that meet the following non-negotiable criteria:

• Servers in the US that successfully work with Netflix US
• High-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth
• Security features including encryption and a kill switch
• Customer support via live chat and email (preferably 24/7)
• No-logs policy, so you can browse and stream anonymously
• Minimum of five simultaneous connections per account

Want to know more? Check out our detailed section on our VPN testing methodology section below.

Best VPNs to watch Netflix USA in Portugal

At Comparitech, we personally use and test every VPN we recommend to you (and many more that don’t make the grade). The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences and real-world tests. Let’s dive in.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Netflix USA:

Apps Available:

VPN Ratings:

• Overall score: 9.6 / 10
• Streaming: 9.7 / 10
• Speed: 9.8 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 9.6 / 10
• Ease of Use: 9.6 / 10
• Value for Money: 9.3 / 10

Website:   www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee:   30 DAYS

NordVPN is our top recommended VPN for watching Netflix US from Portugal (or anywhere) . This veteran provider offers more servers in the US than any other VPN we’ve come across. Of its 5,500 plus servers, almost 2,000 are spread across 15 US cities . Of course, this makes it very easy to watch popular streaming services from Portugal, be it Netflix USA, Amazon Prime Video, or HBO. With an average download speed of 115 Mbps (per our latest tests), it’s more than fast enough for lag-free streaming in 4K. Better still, it also offers unlimited bandwidth.

This VPN has an increasing array of security features, making it one of the most secure options on the market. First, there’s 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. Further, this no-logs service even offers Double VPN servers as well as NordPass password manager. With all of NordVPN’s apps, you can secure up to six devices at once. Have any questions? 24/7 live chat and email support are available.

You can connect to NordVPN via apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. If you prefer, browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox. With manual configuration, you can even use NordVPN with your wifi router.

• Impressive number of servers located in the US (nearly 2,000)
• Combines fast server speeds and unlimited bandwidth
• Reliable for watching Netflix US, Amazon Prime, and Disney+
• Includes specialty servers such as P2P and Double VPN
• Independently audited no-logs policy
• Live chat and email support available 24/7
• Desktop app can take some getting used to

BEST VPN FOR NETFLIX USA: NordVPN is our top choice for watching Netflix USA in Portugal. Very fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. Nearly 2,000 US servers. P2P and Double VPN servers available. Includes 24/7 support and a no-logs policy. You can try it risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  NordVPN review .

2. Surfshark

• Overall score: 9.4 / 10
• Streaming: 9.0 / 10
• Speed: 9.5 / 10
• Ease of Use: 9.0 / 10
• Value for Money: 9.9 / 10

Website:   www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark has fast become one of the larger VPNs on the market, offering over 3,000 servers in 100 countries. If you’re looking to watch Netflix US in Portugal, you can choose from more than 500 servers spread across 20 US cities. As such, it’s easy to find a server that suits your needs and offers the fastest possible speeds. There’s no bandwidth throttling, either, so streaming is typically free of interruptions. In fact, our testers around the world have been able to watch over 30 Netflix libraries so far !

With a Surfshark account, you can connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously . You’ll also have access to 24/7 support as well as Double VPN servers. This no-logs VPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so it isn’t subject to any mandatory data retention laws. Internet traffic is routed through a 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel while further security is provided via DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and automatic malware scanning.

Connect to a server in the US by downloading and installing a Surfshark app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, or Android TV. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available while this VPN can be manually installed with select compatible routers.

• Servers across 20 US cities for watching Netflix USA
• Lets you connect an unlimited number of devices at once
• Fastest speeds we’ve tested and also offers unlimited bandwidth
• Double VPN servers encrypt data twice for even greater security
• Customer support available 24/7 via live chat and email
• Switching servers is occasionally slow

BEST VALUE VPN: Surfshark has servers in over 20 US cities for watching Netflix USA and is the fastest VPN we’ve tested. Connect all of your devices at the same time. No-logs service with 24/7 support and Double VPN servers for extra security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  Surfshark review .

3. ExpressVPN

• Overall score: 8.6 / 10
• Streaming: 9.2 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 9.8 / 10
• Ease of Use: 9.1 / 10
• Value for Money: 5.4 / 10

Website:   www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is one of your best bets for accessing geo-restricted websites and services from around the world. The reason for this is that it has an impressive 3,000+ servers in 94 countries. With servers in a dozen US cities, including Los Angeles and New York, you can stream Netflix USA in Portugal or anywhere else. ExpressVPN is also known to provide very fast server speeds and, particularly important for streaming, doesn’t throttle your bandwidth.

This is a VPN service that’s  particularly suitable for beginners thanks to the user-friendly apps and 24/7 support . Its new interactive router setup guide makes it easier than ever to use ExpressVPN with your router and all connected devices. Security-wise, you can expect 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection. Unlike some VPNs, ExpressVPN helps you stay anonymous because it doesn’t keep any identifying logs, runs RAM-only servers, and accepts Bitcoin payments.

Upon signing up with ExpressVPN, you’ll have access to apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. You’ll also find custom firmware for routers as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

• Network of servers in 94 countries, including the USA and Portugal
• Fast, reliable servers for streaming without lag or buffering
• Beginner-friendly apps, as well as browser extensions
• Keeps data secure with the highest level of encryption
• Live chat and email support 24 hours a day
• More expensive than most rival VPNs
• Lack of advanced configuration options

CONSISTENT ACCESS: ExpressVPN has high-speed servers in 94 countries, the US included. Reliable access to Netflix USA. Beginner-friendly apps as well as 24/7 support. Highly secure with encryption and a kill switch. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  ExpressVPN review .

4. CyberGhost

• Overall score: 8.4 / 10
• Streaming: 7.8 / 10
• Speed: 8.2 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 8.4 / 10
• Ease of Use: 8.4 / 10
• Value for Money: 9.4 / 10

Website:   www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee:   45 DAYS

CyberGhost stands out for offering  a network of approximately 9,000 servers across 90 countries . Overall, there are nearly 1,500 US servers available, all of which are optimized for P2P traffic. High-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth mean you’ll be able to stream Netflix USA without any lag or buffering, even in 4K. Once you have a CyberGhost account, you’ll be able to use it to secure up to seven of your devices at the same time.

A strict no-logs policy ensures your privacy while using CyberGhost. Security is further backed up with 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. More recently, this VPN has introduced its CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows. This includes an antivirus for even greater protection. Should you require any assistance, live chat, and email support can be contacted 24 hours a day via live chat.

To watch Netflix USA in Portugal, connect to a CyberGhost server via a Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, or Linux app. There’s also the option of Android TV and Amazon Fire TV apps, as well as Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. Routers require manual setup.

• Roughly 9,000 servers in 90 countries and almost 1,500 in the US
• Unthrottled bandwidth so you can stream as much as you like
• Secure up to seven of your devices at the same time
• Now includes a password manager (in beta)
• Doesn’t work well in China
• Better suited to beginners than power users

1,500+ US SERVERS: CyberGhost has a huge network of over 9,00 global servers and 1,500 in the US. No bandwidth throttling and allows up to seven simultaneous connections. Strong security thanks to encryption and a strict no-logs policy. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  CyberGhost review .

5. IPVanish

• Overall score: 9.1 / 10
• Streaming: 9.8 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 9.5 / 10
• Ease of Use: 6.8 / 10
• Value for Money: 9.8 / 10

Website:   www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is headquartered in the US, where a significant proportion (nearly 1,200) of its servers are located.  You have the choice of some 20 US cities and, as such, can find a server closer to your physical location for faster speeds (WireGuard support is also arriving sometime in 2021, which should boost these even further). IPVanish doesn’t throttle your bandwidth, so you can stream Netflix US from Portugal as much as you like. This VPN is P2P-friendly and allows torrenting on all of its servers.

While most VPNs only allow a few simultaneous connections per account, IPVanish lets you secure as many devices as you want. The service also includes live chat and email support, available 24/7. Data is secured with 256-bit AES encryption, protecting you from hackers and snoopers alike, while there’s also a kill switch and DNS leak protection. The zero-logs policy of IPVanish means that none of your data is collected or shared with anyone.

IPVanish apps are provided for desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile (Android and iOS). There’s also an app for Amazon Fire TV, although use with Linux and wireless routers requires following the manual setup instructions provided by IPVanish.

• Some 1,200 servers in the US in approximately 20 cities
• Unlimited simultaneous connections per account
• Provides 24/7 live chat and email support
• Security includes a no-logs policy and encryption
• Headquartered in the US, which is part of Five Eyes
• No anonymous payment options, such as cryptocurrency

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS: IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections — great for sharing with family. Servers in 20 US cities for watching Netflix USA from Portugal. No-logs service with 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  IPVanish review .

6. PrivateVPN

• Overall score: 7.8 / 10
• Streaming: 7.5 / 10
• Speed: 7.9 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 7.8 / 10
• Ease of Use: 7.7 / 10
• Value for Money: 8.0 / 10

Website:   www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN is one of the most reliable options for accessing region-locked websites and services, including Netflix USA. On top of this, it offers fast speeds, making it a strong choice for streaming as well as torrenting. With absolutely no bandwidth throttling, you won’t have to contend with frustrating issues like lag or buffering. This VPN is only likely to get faster moving forward as it looks to introduce support for the WireGuard protocol in the near future.

This VPN has a true no-logs policy, which means your privacy is protected at all times. Indeed, very little information is required to create an account and you can even pay anonymously in Bitcoin . Security features include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection from DNS leaks, not to mention an anti-censorship stealth mode. Live chat and email support are included, although PrivateVPN is easy to use thanks to its user-friendly apps, which allow up to 10 simultaneous connections.

PrivateVPN apps can be found for the following: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. To use this VPN with your Linux system or home wifi router, you’ll need to configure it manually.

• Consistently works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, and more
• High-speed connections and no bandwidth throttling
• Option to pay anonymously in Bitcoin
• Smaller network of servers
• No browser extensions

USER-FRIENDLY: PrivateVPN works with many popular streaming services including Netflix. Servers in dozens of countries, including the US and Portugal. Good, consistent speeds and strong privacy protection thanks to its strict no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  PrivateVPN review.

7. Hotspot Shield

• Overall score: 7.2 / 10
• Streaming: 7.0 / 10
• Speed: 7.5 / 10
• Security & Privacy: 7.0 / 10
• Ease of Use: 7.2 / 10
• Value for Money: 7.1 / 10

Website:   www.Hotspotshield.com

Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

Hotspot Shield works with a number of popular US streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video , and  Hulu . This is thanks to its many US servers, which are located in over two dozen cities. Overall, this VPN has more than 1,800 servers in 80 countries, making it highly suitable for use from Portugal or while traveling abroad. With a single account, you can connect up to five of your devices simultaneously.

There’s no shortage of security features with Hotspot Shield. Aside from the essentials of 256-bit AES encryption , DNS leak protection, and a kill switch , it offers automatic wifi protection and its own Hydra protocol. Indeed, you can even access a password manager, spam call blocker, and antivirus with its premium plan. Hotspot Shield doesn’t keep any logs by which users can be identified. It also provides subscribers with around-the-clock live chat and email support.

In order to use Hotspot Shield, you’ll need to download one of its apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, or Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, a Chrome browser extension is available. Select compatible routers are supported, albeit with manual setup.

• Servers in 80 countries, including the US
• Use it to stream Netflix US as well as Amazon Prime and Hulu
• Live chat and email support can be accessed 24/7
• Some past privacy concerns
• Doesn’t accept Bitcoin as yet

WIFI PROTECTION: Hotspot Shield offers servers in 80 countries including the US. No bandwidth throttling, and includes 24/7 support. Doesn’t keep identifying logs and offers automatic wifi protection and a password manager. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  Hotspot Shield review .

Methodology: How we found the best VPNs for watching Netflix USA in Portugal

It can be frustrating to discover that while your favorite TV shows and movies are on  Netflix , they’re not available when you travel abroad. Netflix Portugal has fewer titles than that of Netflix USA. Furthermore, Netflix US is region-locked abroad. Below, we’ll explain a little more about the things we looked for in the best VPNs for watching Netflix USA in Portugal, starting with offering servers in the US!

• Servers in the USA: In order for a VPN to be able to access Netflix USA from abroad, it must have servers in the US. Ideally, it will offer servers in multiple US cities so you can find one as close to your location as possible. You’ll then have a US IP address, which will allow you to securely access Netflix US while in Portugal or when traveling abroad.
• Speed:  Without fast server speeds, you’ll struggle to stream Netflix in high resolution without lag and buffering. We regularly speed test all the VPNs we recommend to ensure they have not only high-speed servers in the US for streaming in 1080p HD (and even 4K), they also provide unlimited bandwidth. This means you can stream on their servers as much as you like.
• Network size:  Aside from providing plenty of  servers in the US , it also helps if a VPN has servers in other countries, such as Portugal ! After all, there may be times when you need to access a different website or service, particularly if traveling abroad. Most of the VPNs recommended have thousands of servers in dozens of countries.
• Security:  Browsing the web can come with some security risks, particularly if you are using unsecured  public wifi  networks. In doing so, you may be vulnerable to the theft of your data. However, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, securing it from hackers. In fact, some VPNs even offer  Double VPN  servers for an extra layer of security.
• Privacy:  Some VPNs log your data and sell it to third parties. But any quality VPN won’t keep any identifying logs of its users. You should be able to browse and stream anonymously without anyone (such as your VPN or ISP) knowing what you’re doing. To find out if your VPN keeps logs, take a look at our study of VPN logging policies .
• Ease of use:  The fact that a VPN encrypts your data makes it sound fairly technical. However, it should be easy to use, providing beginner-friendly apps for a variety of operating systems. Furthermore, it’s important that there’s live chat and email support (preferably 24 hours a day) so you can get help as and when you need it.
• Value for money:  One of the advantages of having so many VPNs to choose from is that there are options to suit all budgets. Here, we’ve tried to find VPNs that are affordable without compromising on key aspects such as server speed or level of security. Better still, you can save further by taking advantage of our VPN coupons and the providers’ money-back guarantees.

In order to find out if a VPN offers the above, we have to test it extensively ourselves. Want to know more? check out our article detailing our comprehensive VPN testing methodology .

Watching Netflix USA with a VPN: FAQs

Can i use a free vpn to watch netflix usa in portugal.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! This is certainly the case for  free VPNs , which, while tempting, are simply not worth considering. For starters,  most free VPNs are unable to securely access Netflix US . That’s because they attract many users who, sharing the same limited number of IP addresses, quickly get their chosen servers blacklisted by Netflix. Additionally, the speeds are often too slow for streaming, and free providers will almost certainly  throttle your bandwidth  to stop you from watching as much as you like.

Keep in mind that there are also some security concerns surrounding free VPNs. Some may not properly encrypt your data, while others may lack key features such as a kill switch . In fact, it’s not unusual for free VPNs to make money by bombarding you with ads or even logging your browsing data and selling the information to the highest bidder! In other words, not only will you struggle to stream Netflix USA with a free VPN, but your security and privacy may be compromised.

What can I watch on Netflix USA?

There are plenty of titles you can watch on both Netflix USA and Netflix Portugal. However, here are some examples of TV shows and movies that can only be found on the American version of Netflix (and thus require you to use a VPN to watch them while traveling in Portugal):

• Downton Abbey
• Girlfriends
• Penny Dreadful
• The Great British Baking Show
• Casino Royale
• A Clockwork Orange
• Dances with Wolves

See also: How to change Netflix location

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Roundup - best VPNs for Netflix

Privacy alert: websites you visit can find out who you are.

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy.

We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 72 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

Netflix launches paid account sharing in the United States: How much it will cost you

The Netflix password-sharing crackdown has officially begun in the United States. 

Just months after enforcing new restrictions in Canada, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand, Netflix is rolling out account-sharing limits in the U.S.

Only people who live under the same roof can share accounts , the streaming company says. So you have two options: transfer your friends and family members mooching off your account to a new membership or share your Netflix account for an additional $8 monthly fee.

“Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with – your household,” Netflix said in an email to U.S. subscribers.

The monthly fee is less expensive than the basic ad-free plan, which is $10 a month, but more than the ad-supported plan, which is $7 a month. Standard plans cost $15.49 a month and premium plans cost $20 a month.

Who has your Netflix password?  Check who's logging into your Netflix account and boot them

It's not me, it's Netflix: With password sharing on the block, how to boot your friends

Netflix password-sharing rules

The popular streaming service used to encourage sharing Netflix credentials with friends and extended family. But it has changed its tune as subscriber growth slowed amid growing competition and a return to pre-pandemic viewing habits.

Now it’s looking to squeeze a few more bucks out of freeloaders. 

“This is a way of getting folks who watch and enjoy Netflix to also contribute to the future of content ,” Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, told the Toronto Star on April 6. 

Cowen senior research analyst John Blackledge estimates that Netflix could pick up 2.1 million new U.S. subscribers from the initiative. Netflix accounted for 7.3% of total TV viewing in February 2023, according to Nielsen.

Moody's Investors Service says the password-sharing initiative could cause "short-term subscriber discontent and disruption but presents the company with a material revenue growth and margin expansion opportunity."

Wells Fargo Securities says paid password sharing could be a bigger earnings opportunity for Netflix than people signing up for its ad-supported subscription.

Will you pay for a Netflix account?

New Street Research says its survey of paying and nonpaying Netflix users found that more than half – 54% – would pay for their own subscription if their access was yanked, 70% would choose a subscription that is not supported by advertising and 37% would pay extra for people who don't live in their household.​"While only a small sample of the broader population of U.S. Netflix users, we think results bode well for traction of password restrictions," New Street Research said.

Will you cancel Netflix?

There is some risk, however. Netflix lost more than 1 million users in Spain in the first three months of 2023 after cracking down on password sharing in February, according to market research group Kantar.

However, Netflix told investors that after a wave of cancellations, subscribers began adding "extra member" accounts. In Canada, the number of paying subscribers is now higher than before, the company said.

Why is Netflix cracking down on password sharing?

Forty percent of consumers in U.S. internet households share credentials or use shared credentials, up from 27% in 2019, a Parks Associates survey found in 2022.

Some 100 million people watch Netflix using someone else’s account, the company says.

Citi analyst Jason Bazinet estimated that streaming services lose about $25 billion a year. Netflix accounts for about 25% of that lost revenue.

How does Netflix know who is in your household?

Netflix began testing features in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru that would let accounts pay extra to share access with up to two people outside their household in 2022. About one-third of Netflix subscribers live in the U.S. and Canada.

Netflix uses IP addresses, device IDs and account activity from devices signed into an account to determine who shares a household.

When will Netflix stop password sharing?

The gradual rollout of more limited password sharing has sparked a backlash among subscribers elsewhere in the world, especially families with children in college or long-distance couples.

Netflix says it has no choice but to crack down on “unpaid viewing” as subscriber growth slows. While executives say they know the new policy isn’t popular and some people may cancel their accounts, they hope to lure them back with quality programming.

How will Netflix enforce password sharing crackdown?

When the account owner signs in, they will set their primary location. Netflix will then use device and network signals to determine if other account users are part of the household.

Can I use Netflix in two different houses?

If not, those users will be prompted to start their own accounts or be locked out. The account holder can also pay a monthly fee to add another household. 

Netflix says people who’ve been mooching off of other people’s accounts can transfer their viewing history and other settings to a new paid subscription.

Can I watch Netflix when I travel?

You can still watch while you travel on your personal devices or by logging into a new TV at a hotel or Airbnb.