Introducing Portugal
Travel advisory: Following attacks on tourists - and the death of two Britons - in the Algarve, the UK's foreign office has updated its travel advice for the area. Check the latest news and advice before going.
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While it's true that Portugal is no longer the Iberian Peninsula's best-kept secret, it's fairly easy to escape the crowds. Even at the busiest resorts in the Algarve, it only takes a short bus ride or a walk across countryside to reveal rarely visited places that still offer the feeling of discovery - a sentiment close to the Portuguese soul. Portugal has an old-fashioned charm, with medieval castles and picture-perfect villages scattered over meandering coastlines and flower-covered hillsides. From the ancient university town of Coimbra to Lord Byron's favourite Portuguese haunt, Sintra, the country's proud history can be felt everywhere.
Sun-kissed beaches like Cascais and Sagres offer enticements of a more hedonistic sort. Indeed, the dramatic, end-of-the-world cliffs, wild dune-covered beaches, protected coves and long, sandy islands of Portugal's coastline have long enchanted visitors and locals alike. Meanwhile, the country's capital, Lisbon, and its northern rival, Porto, are magical places for the wanderer, with riverside views, cobblestone streets and rattling trams framed by looming cathedrals.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Explore Portugal's wine region on foot
- Experience the best of the Algarve at handlebar level
- Take a day trip from Sintra to Lisbon
Last updated: Feb 7, 2012
Tips & articles
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A galloping gourmet’s guide to Europe
19 January 2012
From Somerset to Sweden, spend a weekend sampling top quality produce and plonk across the continent.1. Feast on gourmet cuisine...
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Fine tune your table manners
19 January 2012
You think that emptying the bottle into your guest’s glass is polite… little do you know that you just designated...
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Guimarães’ culture boost
11 January 2012
What do Guimarães in Portugal and Maribor in Slovenia have in common, apart from that most people cannot find them...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: A little itinerary help?
by Shakyground 14 September 2011
Thank you! What about shortening the stays in Seville and/or Granada by a day and spending one or two nights in Arcos or Ronda? Also,…
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Long term rent?
by lennwac 14 September 2011
Hello! I´m visiting Portugal for a month vacation in January to February 2012. I´m therefore looking for a long term rent of a flat,…
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RE: 1 week in portugal over Christmas
by moonflower78 14 September 2011
Not sure about Christmas...My feeling was that Christianity/Catholocism is still quite strong, so if you're Catholic/Christian (or don't…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Portugal
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AWA Lisbon Hostel Imperial
(2 star Hotel)
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Portugal
Things to do
- All things to do (1,211)
- Activities (147)
- Entertainment (262)
- Restaurants (382)
- Shopping (126)
- Sights (286)
- Tours (8)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Portugal
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1 Parque Nacional da Peneda Gerês
The crown jewel of Portugal’s national parks, with pine forests, boulder-strewn peaks and idyllic rivers
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2 Braga
A lively university town with a magnificent cathedral and dozens of splendid churches
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3 Porto
An enchanting and verve-filled historic city with Roman ramparts, Parisian-style squares and chic clubs
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4 Coimbra
Portugal’s ‘Oxford’, with a hallowed university, fado-singing students and marvellous Roman ruins nearby
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5 Lisbon
A picturesque city of old-world neighbourhoods, tiny fado clubs and myriad layers of untold secrets
Fast Facts about Portugal
- GDP
US$19,300
- Bottles of wine produced per annum
750 million
- Unemployment rate
7.6%
- Inflation
2.6%
- Population
10.6 million
- Per capita olive-oil consumption per annum
7.1kg
Our favourite Portugal Blogs (beta)
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10 Great Lisbon Attractions Forgotten by Guidebooks
Blog: Go Lisbon Blog - 23 January 2012
No matter if you choose Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness Guide or Fodor’s, you won’t be told about these great attractions. But we say you should consider them for your Lisbon itinerary. MEDEIROS E ALMEIDA MUSEUM It’s been open for ten years but apparently no travel writer has found out about it.
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Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra
Blog: Atlas Parasite - 18 January 2012
Did you ever see the movie The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp? If not, have a look at it then, because it will give you the vibe of what it is to visit the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra (it’s featured in the movie). Sometimes I actually mix up the images from that movie with [...]
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Beach Queen in Cascais
Blog: See Simi Travel Blog - 16 January 2012
There is nothing I like to do more than sitting around, staring at a body of water, reading something girlie, and eating the beach equivalent of street food. Cascais, only a 45 minute train ride from Lisbon, pairs an old-town vibe, with the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Plus, it's the easiest beach to get to from the big city. Fresh seafood, white sand and a laid back attitude: Cascais totally delivers!
