PORTUGAL TOURISM GUIDE

The Sea, the Romance, the Sunshine

Portugal - Algarve
Beach

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Cities with ancient and contemporary attractions, colorful medieval villages, charming seaside towns; ancient castles, romantic palaces, and a rich architectural and archaeological heritage. Constant sunshine, green natural parks and mountains, grand rivers, and a vast coastline. It all adds up to Portugal's surprising variety of landscapes and cultural treasures -- an astonishing variety for such a small country, which combined with lower prices than in other European destinations, makes it one of the most rewarding travel experiences in the world.

Top 10 PLACES to Visit

LISBON -
The seductive capital
SINTRA -
Enchanting fairytale town
EVORA -
A museum-town
OBIDOS -
A medieval storybook
PORTO -
A majestic port city
BATALHA and ALCOBAÇA -
World Heritage architecture
TOMAR -
Home of the knights
LAGOS to SAGRES -
The waters at end of the world
MARVÃO -
A spectacular site, a spectacular sight
BRAGA -
The Baroque City

Top 10 Portugal EXPERIENCES

Feeling the spirit of the Age of Discovery in Lisbon and Sagres.
Experiencing a fairytale in Sintra and in ostentatious palaces in Mafra or Queluz.
Getting the royal treatment at a pousada in Alentejo.
Traveling back in time in medieval villages such as Obidos, Monsaraz, and Marvão.
Escaping to the coast, from Algarve's beautiful sandy beaches, to the westernmost coastline in Europe.
Taking a cruise down the Douro River for the magical landscapes of the wine country, and ending at the majestic port city of Porto.
Marvelling at the unique ornate stonework of World Heritage monuments in Tomar and Batalha.
Becoming mesmerized by huge tile panels and magnificent gilt baroque art covering rich church interiors, from Braga in the north, to Almancil in the south.
Relaxing at charming fishing villages such as Nazare, Tavira, or Ericeira, and ending the day with a mouth-watering fresh seafood dinner.
Feeling nature at its purest in the volcanic islands of Azores and Madeira.

WORLD HERITAGE Portugal

Portugal is proud of its UNESCO-protected World Heritage Sites, since no other country of comparable size has more. There are currently 14 sites on the list, with several others expected to join soon (Marvão, Lisbon's Baixa district, Vila Viçosa, Arrabida, Mafra Palace, Coimbra University, Buçaco Forest). Portugal's 14 World Heritage Sites are:

Jeronimos Monastery
Belem Tower
Sintra
Evora
Batalha Abbey
Alcobaça Abbey
Tomar's Templar Castle and Convent

Guimarães
Porto's Old Center
Douro Valley
Prehistoric Rock Art of Côa Valley
Angra do Heroismo
Pico Island Vineyard Culture
Laurisilva Forest

The BEST of PORTUGAL

These 3 experiences capture the essence of Portugal

THE AGE OF DISCOVERY

All of Portugal recalls the Age of Discovery -- in ornate stonework inspired by India (Batalha Abbey, Convent of Christ, Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower), in marvelous blue and white tile panels evocative of Chinese porcelain, in the gastronomy influenced by the sea and with the flavors of Africa and the Americas, in the art, Indo-Portuguese furniture, and porcelain that decorate the royal palaces and fill Lisbon's museums, and in the fantastic gilt and baroque church interiors made with the gold discovered in Brazil. And gazing into the horizon from dramatic capes (Cabo de São Vicente and Cabo da Roca) is just as inspiring today as when Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, or Magellan stood on the same spots and dreamed of discovering the world.

MEDIEVAL ROMANCE

It is impossible not to become enchanted by Portugal's perfectly-preserved medieval villages such as Obidos, Marvão, and Monsaraz. It is inescapable falling under Sintra's spell with its bewitching atmosphere of surrealist palaces and lush vegetation. Portugal is a country that invites you to travel back in time and scale walls of ancient castles and wander around extravagant royal palaces, many of them converted into fabulous hotels where you can live like a king amid lavish old furnishings or stylish modern design. It tells tragic love stories and episodes of epic battles as you admire World Heritage monuments in Alcobaça and Batalha. In Portugal it is possible to experience a fairytale.

SUN, SEA, & SAND

Algarve, the southernmost province, has the most annual sunshine hours in Europe and some of the continent's most beautiful beaches. In the island of Madeira, with its exuberant landscape, it is spring all year long. Throughout the country, the climate is mild and the entire coastline offers sandy beaches, many of them deserted, others among the most popular in the world for water sports such as surfing and windsurfing. The islands of the Azores have always been one of the world's best sites for whale-watching. The country's golf courses were designed by the world's most renowned architects and rank among the best in the world. In charming fishing villages it is still possible to feel ultimate relaxation and the breeze and spray of the ocean without maddening crowds. Award-winning resorts such as Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, and Vilamoura are among the best you'll find anywhere in Europe. Best of all, in Portugal you can have a beach all for yourself -- just head to the Alentejo coast or to a secluded cove in Algarve.

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Visiting Portugal

Our information about Portugal is divided into 3 sections:

CITIES AND VILLAGES - All the charming cities, picturesque coastal villages, enchanting medieval towns, mystical sites, and magical landscapes around Lisbon, in Central Portugal, in Coimbra and the east, Porto and surroundings, Minho, Tras-os-Montes, and Alentejo.

ALGARVE - The stunning coastline, golden beaches, and magnificent scenery of Portugal's playground. Some of the best beaches in Europe, crystal clear waters, secluded coves, whitewashed villas, Moorish architecture, fishing villages, glamorous resorts, Europe's largest leisure complex, golfing paradise, "the end of the world".

THE ISLANDS - The wonders of Madeira and Azores islands, scattered in the middle of the Atlantic and easily accessible from the mainland. Madeira and Porto Santo are popular holiday destinations famous for their subtropical flora and some of the world's greatest hotels, while the Azorean archipelago has fascinating volcanic scenery, magnificent landscapes, natural wonders, whale-watching, and a spectacular volcano.