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Holidays in Portugal

Portugal Main Guide | Places to visit | Things to do

Portugal lies on the western coast of Europe, washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Once a great power and the source of many voyages of exploration, today Portugal is a prosperous and modern country which is part of the EC.

The different regions of Portugal have different characteristics. In the north, the Porto region is temperate and sometimes rainy. It is famous for Port, which is made from the grapes of the Douro valley. In the south, the Algarve is very popular with sun-seekers. It has excellent beaches and a hot, Mediterranean climate. Portugal also owns the Azores and the Madeira islands, which are popular holiday destinations in their own right.

The capital, Lisbon, lies on the coast (Costa de Lisboa) and attracts large numbers of visitors every year. Close by are the resorts of Estoril and Sintra. Lisbon is a very attractive city with many public gardens and parks even in the more modern parts of the city. The city is over 2000 years old. Its narrow streets retain much of their ancient character, with historic buildings throughout the city.

Lisbon has many excellent museums. The most famous is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, which contains many art treasures as well as ancient and more recent European artefacts. Other museums cover a range of subjects including art, costume, ethnology and military.

Accommodation in Portugal ranges from the usual hotels to turismo de habitação; privately-owned facilities. Some are farmhouses or fairly ordinary guest houses, while others are grand stately homes offering bed & breakfast in luxury.

Portugal Facts At A Glance

Area: 92,391 square km.

Climate: Temperate. Cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain: Plains in the south, mountainous in the north.

Population: 10.6 Million

Languages: Portuguese

Currency: Euro

Time Zone: GMT

International Dialling Code: +351

Food and Drink

Portugal is famous for two wines in particular – Port and Madeira. Port is made in the north and Madeira originates in the Madeira Islands. There are other wines made in Portugal of course; the climate in the valleys is well suited to wine grapes.

The long Atlantic coastline provides Portugal with plentiful seafood and fish. Grilled freshly caught fish is a firm favourite, as is Bacalhau; dried and salted cod. For dessert, try the pastéis de nata. These custard tarts are a traditional Portuguese delicacy.

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Places to visit

Coimbra was constructed in the 12 th Century, and is home to a university dating from 1290. The city also has botanical gardens, Roman ruins and a sculpture museum.

Evora was built in Roman times and has grown since. The city retains its medieval walls and has an impressive cathedral which contains a religious museum. The Church if Sao Francisco was built with the skeletons of 5,000 monks.

Lagos in the Algarve, boasts excellent beaches and offers boat trips plus exploration of the region on horseback, mountain bikes or mopeds. The city’s museum has a fascinatingly varied array of exhibits.

Porto is the most important city in the north of the country and gave the nation its name. It lies amid wind producing hills and has a long history to discover. Visitors can take a boat trip up the Douro river through the vine-covered hills.

Sintra is a World Heritage Site. It has been a resort for centuries and has several castles. The most impressive was built by the Moors in the 8 th Century. The Pena Palace is perhaps the most impressive historic building in Portugal.

Things to do

If relaxing in the sun is your thing then the south of Portugal or perhaps the Madeira Islands or the Azores would be a good choice. The climate in the south and the islands is ideal for a beach holiday, and Portugal has some excellent beaches to enjoy it on.

Portugal is a land of history and culture. In particular it has many fascinating old churches, some of them very grand indeed, reflecting a range of architectural influences throughout the land’s long history. Country houses and castles also abound; relics of an age of grandeur. Some of them are still inhabited.

Portugal is popular with golfers. There are 16 golf courses in the immediate area of Lisbon alone, and many more around the country. If you are seeking sport and adventure, Portugal has plenty to offer. In most areas you can see the countryside from horseback or explore on foot or a mountain bike. The countryside is very beautiful with varied plant and wildlife.

You can also meet the wildlife in one of Portugal’s many national parks. The Peneda-Geres National Park has Iberian wolves and eagles; at Montesinho you can encounter eagles and wild boar.

Along the coasts, you can enjoy a range of watersports from big game fishing and diving to sailing, canoeing and wind surfing. Portugal’s long coastline has many excellent sites for diving and sailing, each with its own unique attractions.

The cities of Portugal are a charming mix of ancient and modern, with shopping facilities, restaurants, bars and night clubs as good as anywhere else. Whether you want to spend an afternoon browsing for souvenirs or an evening listening to live music over a bottle of local wine, Portugal’s cities have something for everyone. Depending on where you go, the night life varies from sedate to vibrant. Some cities have casinos with entertainment.