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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.
Make it happen
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- explore the Azores islands
- journey through the Iberian Peninsula
- take in three countries Spain, Portugal and Morocco
- see Lisbon on a hop off hop on tour
Want more? We can recommend these trips for Portugal
Last updated: Oct 22, 2009
Tips & articles
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The top 10 countries for 2010
6 November 2009
Want a sneak peek into the future? We’ve just released our newest edition of Best in Travel. We’re...
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Europe’s top 10 football stadiums
28 September 2009
Football (soccer) is Europe’s unofficial religion. And when summer turns to autumn, all over the...
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Portugal - tips for travellers
31 August 2009
Ornate, colourful, marinated in tradition – a taste of Portugal can be very filling. Here are some digestible...
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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Lisbon’s Most Charming Shop Now Also in Porto
Blog: Go Lisbon Blog - 24 November 2009
Photo: Filipe Paiva, “i“ Lisbon’s “A Vida Portuguesa” became a favorite of every Lisbon travel guide soon after it opened and is now a shop that no tourist misses.
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The best of Lisbon and beyond - in Portugal
Blog: Heather on her travels - 23 November 2009
My Lisbon Guest post today is by Fiona Hilliard of ArgusCarHire.com. Fiona usually writes about car hire Faro, but after a recent visit to Lisbon and its coastline, she was eager to share her experiences of Portugal’s west coast. The essence of Lisbon in Alfama Santa Justa Elevator: check Bairro Alto: check Castelo Sao Jorge: chee-eck You’ve completed your Lisbon [...]
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“Nova Mesa” – The Flavors of the World in Lisbon’s Newest Restaurant
Blog: Go Lisbon Blog - 20 November 2009
The owner and the chef are both French, but Lisbon’s newest restaurant does not offer French or even Portuguese cuisine. It serves a fusion of world cuisines, particularly from Asia, Africa, and Northern Europe.
