Introducing Portugal
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.
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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.
Last updated: Aug 23, 2010
Tips & articles
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Portugal: travel books to read before you go
6 September 2010
This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Portugal guide provides a selection of travel literature to get you in the mood for...
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Lisbon for children
11 July 2010
These recommendations are taken from Lisbon Encounter, which is Lonely Planet’s short trip guide to the city. Little things spark...
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Lisbon: films to see before you go
11 July 2010
This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Lisbon Encounter guide offers a selection of films showcasing the city....
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Cheap ferry from Portugal to Lanzarote
by sunchaser85 1 reply, last post 08 September 2010
Does anybody know which ferry is the best choice from Portugal to Lanzarote? I heared the best choice would cost 280 Euro for 2 persons…
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Canoe or Bike Hire in the Douro (Pinhão / Régua)
by jacobh 2 replies, last post 06 September 2010
I’m visiting the Douro valley at the start of October. Lots of websites say that there is good cycling and canoeing in the region but…
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Portugal - head north or south from Lisbon?
by GMC 4 replies, last post 08 September 2010
Have never been to Portugal before. Will be in Lisbon at the end of November and have two full days to get out of the city to do some…
Portugal
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
Related Groups
Our favourite Portugal Blogs (beta)
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Whale-watching in the Azores
Blog: velvet escape's blog - 6 September 2010
Nine green dots in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores are currently considered one of the best places for whale-watching in the world. Located about halfway between Lisbon and New York, the Azores are a volcanic group of islands that belong to Portugal. Its crystal-clear waters, the abundance of food, the absence of [...]
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“Pedro e o Lobo”: A New Ambitious and Sophisticated Restaurant in Lisbon
Blog: Go Lisbon Blog - 6 September 2010
A former contemporary art gallery not far from Avenida da Liberdade is since a couple of weeks ago, a sophisticated new restaurant. The refinement is in the elegant simplicity of the décor and in the kitchen, presenting an internationalized Portuguese-inspired cuisine with the personal touches of the chefs.
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Out in Lisbon This September
Blog: Go Lisbon Blog - 31 August 2010
Below are the main events that you can look for if you’re in town in the upcoming weeks: COM’OUT LISBON Until the 12th, from Thursday to Sunday, late in the afternoon, you can catch live music, dance and theater in the city’s gardens and viewpoints.
