Douro Valley

The Douro is one of Portugal’s scenic highlights, with some 200km (125mi) of bold, expansive panoramas stretching from the city of Porto all the way to the Spanish border. In the upper reaches, port-wine vineyards wrap around every crew-cut hillside, interrupted in parts by stark white manor houses.

The roads which wriggle along the banks of the Rio Douro can be crowded with day-trippers from Porto, but the river has been tamed by five dams and is now navigable along its entire length, making boat cruises an attractive way to soak up the atmosphere in peace.

Monchique

The quiet highland town of Monchique, dozing on the wooded slopes of the Serra de Monchique, offers a good alternative to the hurly-burly of beach life. Apart from its beautiful setting, the town’s other attraction is the Igreja Matriz church, which boasts an amazing portal - about the closest you’ll get to seeing stone tied in knots.

Of interest just outside the town is the sleepy spa of Caldas de Monchique, and it’s worth driving or hiking through thick forest to Fóia, the ‘rooftop’ of the Algarve. The panoramic views from the top are terrific.

Parque National da Penada-Gerês

This wilderness park in the far north of Portugal has spectacular scenery and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It’s extremely popular with Portuguese day-trippers and holidaymakers, but they tend to stick to the main camping areas, leaving the rest of the park to hikers. There are plenty of good short-distance trails with places to swim along the way, as well as facilities for horse riding, mountain biking and canoe rental.

Sagres

This tiny fishing port is perched on dramatic, windswept cliffs at the southwestern extremity of Portugal. The village’s proximity to Lagos means that it’s not entirely devoid of holiday-makers, but the port is still a centre for boat-building and lobster-fishing.

Legend has it that Henry the Navigator established a kind of nautical think-tank here, priming the explorers who later founded the vast Portuguese empire. Nearby are several pleasant beaches and the barren, throne-like Cabo de São Vicente, Europe’s southwesternmost point.

Lisbon

Lisbon’s position on seven low hills beside a river once lured traders and settlers, and it’s still a stunning site. Add to that its cultural diversity, laid-back feel and architectural time warp, and you have one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe - and also one of the most economical.

Lisbon is the kind of place where you can sit at street cafes - sampling food or fado - and watch the world go by. But for the eager there are also plenty of cultural activities. In addition to architectural masterpieces at Belém, Lisbon has over 50 museums to visit.

Lagos

Lagos, on the south coast of the Algarve, is one of the country’s most popular tourist resorts. Most visitors are drawn to the superb beaches, which include Meia Praia, a vast strip of sand to the east, and the more secluded Praia do Pinhão to the south.

The town has abundant facilities for renting bicycles, mopeds and horses, and there are also boat trips from the main harbour. Apart from the sun and sand, the resort’s other highlight is the Museu Municipal, which has eccentric displays of ecclesiastical treasures and other intriguing curios.

Sintra

The town of Sintra, northwest of Lisbon, was long favoured by Portuguese royalty and English nobility (Lord Byron was mad about it) as a summer destination. Its appeal is still evident today, with its thickly wooded setting, romantic gardens, amalgam of Manueline and Gothic architecture, 16th-century hermitages, and ramshackle glamour.

Évora

The walled town of Évora is one of the architectural gems of Portugal. Situated in a picturesque landscape of olive groves, vineyards, wheat fields and brilliant spring flowers, it’s a charming town whose attractions include a cathedral, a roman temple and a ghoulish ossuary chapel constructed from the bones and skulls of several thousand people.

Douro Valley

The Douro is one of Portugal’s scenic highlights, with some 200km (125mi) of bold, expansive panoramas stretching from the city of Porto all the way to the Spanish border. In the upper reaches, port-wine vineyards wrap around every crew-cut hillside, interrupted in parts by stark white manor houses.

The roads which wriggle along the banks of the Rio Douro can be crowded with day-trippers from Porto, but the river has been tamed by five dams and is now navigable along its entire length, making boat cruises an attractive way to soak up the atmosphere in peace.

Monchique

The quiet highland town of Monchique, dozing on the wooded slopes of the Serra de Monchique, offers a good alternative to the hurly-burly of beach life. Apart from its beautiful setting, the town’s other attraction is the Igreja Matriz church, which boasts an amazing portal - about the closest you’ll get to seeing stone tied in knots.

Of interest just outside the town is the sleepy spa of Caldas de Monchique, and it’s worth driving or hiking through thick forest to Fóia, the ‘rooftop’ of the Algarve. The panoramic views from the top are terrific.

Parque National da Penada-Gerês

This wilderness park in the far north of Portugal has spectacular scenery and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It’s extremely popular with Portuguese day-trippers and holidaymakers, but they tend to stick to the main camping areas, leaving the rest of the park to hikers. There are plenty of good short-distance trails with places to swim along the way, as well as facilities for horse riding, mountain biking and canoe rental.

Sagres

This tiny fishing port is perched on dramatic, windswept cliffs at the southwestern extremity of Portugal. The village’s proximity to Lagos means that it’s not entirely devoid of holiday-makers, but the port is still a centre for boat-building and lobster-fishing.

Legend has it that Henry the Navigator established a kind of nautical think-tank here, priming the explorers who later founded the vast Portuguese empire. Nearby are several pleasant beaches and the barren, throne-like Cabo de São Vicente, Europe’s southwesternmost point.

Lisbon

Lisbon’s position on seven low hills beside a river once lured traders and settlers, and it’s still a stunning site. Add to that its cultural diversity, laid-back feel and architectural time warp, and you have one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe - and also one of the most economical.

Lisbon is the kind of place where you can sit at street cafes - sampling food or fado - and watch the world go by. But for the eager there are also plenty of cultural activities. In addition to architectural masterpieces at Belém, Lisbon has over 50 museums to visit.

Lagos

Lagos, on the south coast of the Algarve, is one of the country’s most popular tourist resorts. Most visitors are drawn to the superb beaches, which include Meia Praia, a vast strip of sand to the east, and the more secluded Praia do Pinhão to the south.

The town has abundant facilities for renting bicycles, mopeds and horses, and there are also boat trips from the main harbour. Apart from the sun and sand, the resort’s other highlight is the Museu Municipal, which has eccentric displays of ecclesiastical treasures and other intriguing curios.

Sintra

The town of Sintra, northwest of Lisbon, was long favoured by Portuguese royalty and English nobility (Lord Byron was mad about it) as a summer destination. Its appeal is still evident today, with its thickly wooded setting, romantic gardens, amalgam of Manueline and Gothic architecture, 16th-century hermitages, and ramshackle glamour.

Évora

The walled town of Évora is one of the architectural gems of Portugal. Situated in a picturesque landscape of olive groves, vineyards, wheat fields and brilliant spring flowers, it’s a charming town whose attractions include a cathedral, a roman temple and a ghoulish ossuary chapel constructed from the bones and skulls of several thousand people.

Currency: Euro
Meals

Budget: €2-6
Mid-range: €6-12
High: €12-50
Deluxe: €50+

Lodging

Budget: €10-12
Mid-range: €20-40
High: €40-150
Deluxe: €150+ (more…)

Portugal abounds with romarias (religious pilgrimages), festas (festivals) and feiras (fairs) that bring whole towns to a standstill. At the core of many are religious processions. The further north you go, the more traditional and less touristy these celebrations get. Carnaval is one of the biggest events, featuring partying, parading and painted faces about six weeks before Easter. There are vast and colourful processions during Braga’s Easter or Holy Week Festival. The Festa de São João in June is biggest in Porto where everyone dances through the streets, amicably hitting each other over the head with leeks. The Feira de São Martinho (Golegã, November) showcases all manner of horses, riding contests and bullfights.

Public Holidays

New Year’s Day - 1st January
Carnaval Tuesday - February/March - day before Ash Wednesday
Good Friday - March/April
Liberty Day - 25 April - celebrating 1974 revolution
Labour Day - 1 May
Corpus Christi May/June - ninth Thursday after Easter
Portugal Day 10 June - also known as Camões & the Communities Day
Feast of the Assumption - 15 August
Republic Day - 5 October - commemorating 1910 declaration of Portuguese Republic
All Saints’ Day - 1 November
Independence Day - 1 December - commemorating 1640 restoration of independence from Spain
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 8 December
Christmas Day 25 December

Peak tourist season is roughly from mid-June to September, except in the Algarve where it really only quiets down in the dead of winter. Carnaval and Easter are two holidays celebrated with gusto all over the country and are worth going out of your way for.

Visas: None required for EU nationals. Nationals of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA can stay for 90 days visa-free. Everyone else needs a visa. Being a member of the Schengen Agreement, business travellers from the Schengen group of nations can obtain a 90 day Schengen Visa when entering Portugal.
Health risks: sunburn (In the tropics, the desert or at high altitude you can get sunburned quickly and seriously, even through clouds. The southern reaches of the continent suffer from scathing ultraviolet, so be extra careful there. Use a strong sunscreen, hat and barrier cream for your nose and lips. Calamine lotion and aloe vera are good for mild sunburn. Protect your eyes with good-quality sunglasses, particularly if you will be near water, sand or snow)
Time Zone: GMT/UTC 0
Dialling Code: 351
Electricity: 220V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric