🪷 Discover Portugal’s Hidden Garden Paradise

Happy Sunday, friends 😎

Portugal turned the heat all the way up this week. At one point on Thursday, my car registered 44°C and for a brief moment... I almost missed winter. Almost.

If you’ve been wondering what to do this summer besides finding the nearest beach (or aircon), we’ve got another brilliant travel feature from our favourite photographer and travel writer at Discover Portugal, Marga. This week she’s taking us to the beautiful Buddha Eden, and trust me, it’s one for the summer bucket list.

Marga is also spoiling our readers with an exclusive 10% discount on a Lisbon photoshoot, so if you’ve been meaning to update the family albums, capture your Portugal adventure, or finally get some professional shots done, this is a great chance.

We’ve also got a special podcast feature this week with Mark Moberg, where he shares more about his new book, The Life Arbitrage, plus a reminder that our giveaway officially closes in just 7 days.

And because we like making things easy around here, we’ve simplified it: refer just one new subscriber to The Expat Hustle and you’ll get your own copy of The Life Arbitrage. Simple.

One week left. Don’t let this one pass you by.

Right, let’s get into it, shall we?

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Today’s local travel tip is brought to you by Marga from Discover Portugal. Last time, she guided us through Portugal’s lively June festivals, from music-filled streets to colourful local celebrations.

This week, Marga is slowing things down and taking us somewhere completely different: Buddha Eden in Bombarral. Tucked away just over an hour from Lisbon, this peaceful garden feels like stepping into another world, with towering Buddha statues, koi-filled lakes, pagodas, and vineyards all wrapped into one surprisingly beautiful escape.

If you’re looking for an easy day trip that combines art, nature, and a little bit of wine, this one might be exactly what your summer needs. And if you’re exploring Central Portugal, Marga also shares how to turn it into part of a bigger adventure through places like Óbidos, Peniche, Nazaré, and Alcobaça.

And if you're anything like me, don’t just read the article, click through. Marga’s guides are always packed with practical details, hidden gems, and those little local tips that make planning your next outing so much easier.

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Some places in Portugal completely surprise you, even when you think you know the country quite well. For us, Buddha Eden in Bombarral was one of those places.

Just over an hour north of Lisbon, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by Buddha statues, pagodas, lakes, koi fish, terracotta warriors, modern sculptures, palm trees, and vineyards. It feels unexpected, peaceful, and a little surreal in the best way.

Buddha Eden is known as the largest oriental garden in Europe, and it was created as a reaction to the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Today, the garden is all about peace, beauty, art, and tranquillity.

What we love about Buddha Eden is that it’s not just a quick photo stop. The garden is huge, so you can easily spend half a day wandering around. You’ll find golden Buddhas, a giant reclining Buddha, lakes with koi fish, pagoda towers, hand-painted terracotta warriors, African stone sculptures, modern art, and even a bamboo maze.

It’s also a great place if you’re visiting with kids, as there are plenty of animal-shaped sculptures and open spaces to explore. And if you love photography, gardens, or slightly unusual day trips from Lisbon, this one is a lot of fun.

The easiest way to visit Buddha Eden is by car. From Lisbon, the drive takes just over an hour, and there’s a large free car park at the entrance.

You can also visit by public transport, but it’s less straightforward. You’ll need to travel towards Bombarral and then walk around 3 kilometres to the gardens, so it’s definitely easier if you have your own wheels. A local taxi might come to the rescue here.

Once inside, you can either walk around the gardens or take the little tourist train. The train is useful if you want an overview first or if you’re visiting with children, but if you’re happy to walk, you can explore everything at your own pace.

Tickets are affordable too. At the time of writing, adult entrance is €7, and the train is an additional €8. Children under 12 can enter the garden for free.

One of the reasons we keep coming back to Buddha Eden is the setting. The garden is part of Quinta dos Loridos, a wine estate connected to Bacalhôa wines. So if you have time, you can combine your garden visit with a wine tasting or a visit to the winery museum.

It turns the day into a lovely mix of art, nature, and wine, which is basically a very good Portugal day out.

Buddha Eden works really well as a day trip from Lisbon, but it’s also a great stop if you’re exploring more of Central Portugal.

You could combine it with Óbidos, one of Portugal’s prettiest medieval towns, or continue towards the coast. Peniche, Nazaré, and Ericeira are all great options if you want sea views, surf towns, or fresh seafood.

Other places nearby include Caldas da Rainha, Fátima, Santarém, and Alcobaça. If you have the time, I’d recommend staying overnight in the area rather than rushing back to Lisbon. There’s much more to this part of Portugal than many visitors realise.

If you’re living in Portugal and looking for an easy trip from Lisbon that feels completely different, Buddha Eden is a lovely one to add to your list. It’s peaceful, surprising, affordable, and easy to combine with other places nearby.

I’ve put together a full guide with practical details, what to expect, ticket information, transport tips, and ideas for places nearby here: → Buddha Eden: The largest oriental garden in Europe

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With thanks to our collaborator for today’s travel article. Marga is a Dutch travel writer, photographer, and Portugal expert who founded Discover Portugal after falling in love with the country during a 2019 visit and relocating to Lisbon permanently in 2021. With over 25 years of travel experience and a background in tourism, aviation, and tech—including nearly eight years as an international flight attendant—Marga combines her storytelling skills, local insights, and photography expertise to help travelers discover both Portugal's famous sights and hidden gems. Through her website and personalized services, she offers travel planning assistance, Lisbon photography sessions, and authentic stories from her ongoing exploration of every corner of Portugal, helping curious travelers experience the country like a local rather than a tourist.

Curious to learn more about Mark Moberg and the thinking behind The Life Arbitrage?

Mark recently joined the Portugal The Simple Life Podcast to talk about the bigger ideas behind The Life Arbitrage, why he wrote it, and how he’s approached building a life abroad on his own terms.

A great follow-up listen if you’re curious to go deeper.

There are still a few spots open, and for this final week, every reader who refers just 1 new subscriber will receive a copy of Mark Moberg’s book.

Kindle or paperback, your choice.

If you’ve been meaning to share your link, now’s the time.

Need to find your way in Portugal? 🧭 Learn a simple and polite way of asking directions in European Portuguese.

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🗣 Want to learn more phrases like this? Check out Mia’s free Portuguese course “Kickstart Your Portuguese - The Basics”.

💡 Mia from Mia Esmeriz Academy is a Portuguese teacher from Porto with more than 15 years of experience teaching foreigners. She helps expats become fluent in Portuguese in a clear and practical way. Alongside her courses, she also shares free content on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Thanks for reading! 💌

Hustle on!

Angelique🧞‍♀️

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