Destination Overview
Portugal
If you are dreaming about your next trip to Europe, dare to discover Portugal, located at Europe’s most westerly edge. With a fascinating Mediterranean gastronomy and an appealing climate with an average of 200 days sunny days a year, Portugal offers a wide variety of activities and experiences. A country with a diverse landscape, mountains and amazing valleys and rivers, and the beaches of the Algarve with white sand and beautiful rock formations along the coast.
Capital
Lisbon
Time
GMT +0
Currency
Euro
Language
Portugese
Religion
Catholicism
Population
10 Million
International Airports
Lisbon, Faro, Porto, Funchal
Weather
Portugal is influenced on the coastal region by the Atlantic Ocean, so an Atlantic Climate is to be found along most of the coast. However, the Algarve coast gains with the warm influence of the Gulf current, changing the climate in the region to a Mediterranean one, something that can be felt and seen in the type of vegetation common of Mediterranean countries. Summers are warm, Winters are cooler. It can get stormy sometimes, but the number of hours of sun throughout the country exceeds 3000 in the southern part of the country.
Top Highlights
- 17 Unesco World Heritage Sites
- Riding the Lisbon hills in the yellow tram
- Tasting the local liqueur “Ginjinha” in a chocolate cup
- Board a Rabelo boat in Porto and cruise the Douro river
- Explore sea caves by boat while at the Algarve
- Taste a Port Wine after visiting famous vineyards
- Ride a Toboggan “Carro de Cesto” in Funchal
- View Alentejo landscape from a hot air balloon
- Visit the unique Pena Palace, perched atop a hill, full of wonder and myths while in Sintra
- Climb Mount Pico, a near-perfect cone and the highest mountain in all of Portugal
About Portugal
Portugal occupies the edge of the Iberian Peninsula; its frontiers are the Atlantic Ocean and Spain. A small country with just over 10 million inhabitants, some of its main economic activities is tourism. The islands, Madeira and Porto Santo and the Azores, are part of the Portuguese territory but with an autonomous parliament and government. Tourism is also one of their main activities, along with agriculture and fishing. Independent since 1143, Portugal is one of the oldest independent countries in Europe, it was a monarchy until 1910 when it became a republic.
Food and Wine
The Portuguese love their food and even more so, their wine! From north to south the variety is huge, the north prefers their strong meats and stews accompanied by full bodied red wines from some of the 250 native grape varieties, or a salted cod baked in the oven paired with a reserve white. The coast offers such an array of fresh fish and shellfish, grilled on charcoal accompanied by a cool Vinho Verde. The south is the land of garlic, olive oil, and acorn fed black pigs. The Algarve goes Mediterranean with its oranges, figs, almonds that taste so good in the local traditional sweets.
Nature
Portugal is surprisingly varied in nature, considering how small the country is. From the craters of the old volcanoes in the Azores, turned into beautiful colourful lagoons, to the ravishing tropical vegetation and breath- taking cliffs of Madeira island, the vineyards of the Douro Valley, or the endless plaines of Alentejo just after the highest mountain in the country with its pure springs of water, until we get to the caves of the Algarve, in between the long white sand beaches and sand islands where the birds build their nests when fleeing from the cold weather of norther Europe.
Portugal Journeys
- All Journeys
- 10-Days
- 11-Days
- 12-Days
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- 14-Days
- 15-Days
- 16-Days
- 17-Days
- 18-Days
- 2-Days
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- 7-Nights
- 8-Days
- 9-Days
- Adventure
- Algeria
- Animals
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Auckland
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bali
- Bangkok
- Bangladesh
- Beach Extension
- Beijing
- Bespoke
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Buenos Aires
- Cairo
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chiang Mai
- Chile
- China
- City Explorer
- Colibri Group Journey
- Colibri Travel
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Culinary
- Destination Trip
- Dhaka
- Dolphins
- Egypt
- Family
- Georgia
- Germany
- Highlight Tour
- Hiroshima
- Hoi An
- Hong Kong
- Hotel Specials
- Hurghada
- India
- Indonesia
- Island Hopping
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Journeys
- Kenya
- Kep
- Kyoto
- Langkawi
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Marrakech
- Morocco
- Movie Tour
- Multi Country
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nature
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Phnom Penh
- Phuket
- Portugal
- Private Journey
- River Cruise
- Rwanda
- Safari Tour
- Santiago de Chile
- Saudi Arabia
- Self-Drive Tour
- Siem Reap
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Small Group Journeys
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Stopover
- Tangier
- tanzania
- Thailand
- Tokyo
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Vietnam
- Weekend Getaway
- Wellness
- Whales
- Wilderness
- Zagreb
Enjoy a safari trough the main points of S. Miguel.Create unforgettable memories with a Whale Watching Tour and discover the so famous Furnas where the ”Cozido” is baked.
Visit some of the Portuguese monuments belonging to the World Heritage by UNESCO. Taste typical conventual pastries and learn about the famous Porto Wine. Get to know the history and where this nation was born, Guimarães 'the cradle of Portugal'.
Visit to the most hardworking creatures on our planet, bees. Taste the fresh honey, directly from the combs and be a fishermen and farmer for a da.
Discover Europe’s most famous secret “The Algarve”. Hike in the Vincentina Coast Natural Park and the best coastal trails in the world. Walk along the coast following the paths used by the locals.
Grasp the true essence of the city, in a rich, immersive and memorable way. Enjoy everything Lisbon has to offer and unravel other secrets the city keeps at your own will and rhythm.
Discover the path and rhythm of Porto and the Douro river. Plunge into a magical world of Serra da Lousã and discover the Schist villages. Let yourself be touched by the hands and the soul of those that have lifted…
Discover the pearl of the Atlantic, visit Funchal the capital of Madeira Island. Enjoy a bath in the natural Pools of Porto Moniz and a walk in the levadas (water canals).
Top Places to Visit
Lisbon
Where the old meets the new, it has an incredibly rich heritage whilst being one of the trendiest capitals in Europe. Lisbon is a very walkable city and offer spectacular hilltop views in Alfama or at St. George's Castle. One shouldn't miss a ride in the famous Tram 28, that passes some of the cities must-sees, or a long walk along the waterfront neighbourhood of Belém.
Alentejo
While to the north the pace is set by the green of the flatlands as far as the eye can see, further south the landscape combines with the sun, the heat, and a slower pace of life. The Alentejo, the idyllic heartland of Portugal, impresses with variety: deserted surf beaches and charming fishing villages on the western coastline and picturesque walled towns and forts on the boarder to Spain. An ideal place for those that wish to escape the tourist crowds and dive into the authentic Portugal.
Sintra
Where the old meets the new, it has an incredibly rich heritage whilst being one of the trendiest capitals in Europe. Lisbon is a very walkable city and offer spectacular hilltop views in Alfama or at St. George's Castle. One shouldn't miss a ride in the famous Tram 28, that passes some of the cities must-sees, or a long walk along the waterfront neighbourhood of Belém.
Porto
Be it the millennium-old cathedral or the latest molecular gastropub, the city of Porto is really a living heritage, one that reinvents itself while maintaining its core character. A vibrant and fascinating city, world-famous for the production of Port wine, matured in vast cellars that stretch along the banks of Douro River. But Porto is more than that: rich culture, a buzzing nightlife, captivating tourist attractions and many more is waiting to be discovered.
Obidos
Discover this delightful town of white houses adorned with bougainvillea and honeysuckle, surrounded by its castle medieval walls. Considered as one of the most characterful places of central Portugal it is a symbol of a traditional Portuguese city. The surrounding region is equally fascinating, not far away from Lisbon and ideal for a day trip.
Douro Valley
A dream made of enchanted valleys, unscathed nature, and world heritage sites; in its steep vineyards is where Port Wine is produced. The Douro Valley in northern Portugal is the oldest wine-growing region in the world and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cultivation of wine here dates back to the Roman's. With all these centuries-old vineyards running along the Douro River, the area is a must-visit for gourmets and vine-lovers and shouldn't be missed during a stay in Portugal.
