Portugal Travel Guide
Portugal lies in Southern Europe and shares the Iberian Peninsula at the western tip of Europe with Spain. Portugal has a rich, unique culture, lively cities and beautiful countryside and is one of the warmest European countries, with yearly temperature averaging about 15C (55F) in the north and 18C (64F) in the south.
Although once one of Western Europes poorest countries, the end of dictatorship and introduction of Democracy in 1974, as well as its incorporation into the European Union in 1986, has meant significantly increased prosperity, with Portugal now considered one of the best value destinations on the Continent. Today, Portugal is among the twenty most visited countries in the world, receiving an average of 13 million foreign tourists each year. This is because the country offers outstanding landscape diversity, due to its North–South disposition along the western shore of the Iberian Peninsula. You can travel in a single day from green mountains in the North, covered with vines and all varieties of trees to Rocky Mountains, with spectacular slopes and falls in the Centre, to a near–desert landscape in the Alentejo region and finally to the glamorous beach holidays destination, The Algarve. Many visitors are British, Spanish or German holidaymakers who travel to Portugal not only to seek sun and beaches, but increasingly to search for cultural, gastronomic, environmental or nautical experiences.
The primary tourist hotspots in Portugal are Lisbon, the Algarve and Madeira, and the Portuguese government is continuing to promote and develop new tourist destinations, such as the Douro Valley, the island of Porto Santo, and Alentejo.
Things to do
If you are into visiting beautiful monuments and enjoying extraordinary views, then Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto are the top three places, and all of them are well worth a visit. But don't overlook Viana do Castelo, Braga, Guimares, Coimbra, Tomar, Aveiro, Amarante, Bragana, Chaves, Lamego, Viseu, Vila Real, Lagos, Silves, vora, Angra as they also have wonderful monuments and places of interest.
Beaches
The most popular beaches are in The Algarve, which has stunning coastlines and a wealth of natural beauty and the water along the southern coast tends to be warm and calm. For surfing, or just playing in the surf there are great beaches all along the west coast, near Lisbon and Peniche.
Beaches
For nightlife Lisbon, Porto and Albufeira, Algarve are the best choices as you have major places of entertainment.
Countryside and Wildlife
If you want to spend your holidays in the countryside, you might want to visit Viana do Castelo, Chaves, Miranda do Douro, Douro Valley, Lamego, Tomar, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Portalegre, vora, Elvas or even Viseu.
If you wish to observe wildlife in its natural state, Madeira and Azores Islands are places to remember, not forgetting of course the Natural Reserve of Peneda–Gers, the Douro Valley and Serra da Estrela.
Golf
The climate, combined with investments in the golfing infrastructure in recent years, has also turned the country into a golfing haven. Portugal was recently named "Best Golf Destination" by readers of Golfers Today, a British publication. Fourteen of Portugal's courses are rated in the top 100 best in Europe.
