Thinking about travelling to Portugal?

Portugal is a Southern European country. It borders France and is located on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s been famed for its culture, Portuguese cuisine, beautiful beaches and stunning landscape.
Most Europeans are familiar with Portugal because of the warmer climate it has in relation to the rest of Europe. It’s common for European couples, families and solo travellers to visit Portugal as a quick getaway. For the rest of the world, Portugal is being picked up on the international radar because of its accessibility, safety, and wide variety of offerings.
Are you a history buff? Foodie? Beach bum? Culture seeker? Or sports adventure enthusiast? Portugal has something for you.

Top 10 reasons for travelling to Portugal

Proximity

Portugal is located beside Spain and to the South of Ireland. Presenting travellers with a great opportunity to visit other countries on route to their final destination of Portugal. Opt for an extended layover in London, England or pick another destination such as Spain or Morocco to explore before or after Portugal. Whenever anyone is travelling to Europe, we suggest exploring a few of the neighbouring countries because of their close proximity and low-cost flight options.

Climate

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, experiences more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on the continent. It even surpasses sunny Greece at 2,799 hours of sunshine a year.

Safety

Portugal is considered a relatively safe destination. For many travellers, they will be happy to know that Portugal is Zika free. Experience beaches, sunshine and warm temperatures without worrying about those pesky mosquitos. There are no additional vaccines needed when travelling to Portugal; your routine vaccines are all that is recommended.

History

Portugal became a country in 1143; it has a rich history of battles and royal families. This heritage has created some stunning locations to visit, most of which are not far from Lisbon. The beautiful town of Sintra features the National Sintra Palace and other beautifully designed castles. This town is one of the 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Portugal. Visit one or all of them to learn more about Portugal’s fascinating history.

Culture

Portugal is predominantly Roman Catholic and has influences from all over the world. You will find the Portuguese people to be full of life, warm and welcoming. Family is a bit part of the Portuguese culture and is often celebrated with food, sports and festivals.

Architecture

All around the country you will find pastel coloured villages perched on cliff tops. The dramatic landscape lends perfectly to this Mediterranean style of living. Today, Portugal is starting to see many modern style buildings in the larger cities. This includes the Estação do Oriente (Lisbon Oriente Station) which is an amazing blend of modernistic and Gothic architectural styles.

Food

Some of the freshest seafood you will ever eat will be tasted in Portugal. Casual style dining is popular, serving up grilled fish, Sopa de Cação (potato, vegetable and sausage soup), goat cheese, bread, olives and olive oil for dipping. A big part of the Portuguese cuisine is, of course, wine. More specifically Vino Verde (new wine), be sure to try a bottle with your favourite seafood dish.

Surf

Portugal boasts some of the best waves in Europe. The Algarve, in the South of Portugal, is the place to be. The town of Praia do Amado is home to Portugals best-known surfing breaks. If you are looking for smaller crowds and bigger waves, head to the West of The Algarve for some secret, less developed beaches. If you want to watch experts surf some of the biggest waves in the world, be sure to check out Nazare which has made it into the Guinness World Records many times.

Sports

After Portugal won Euro 2016 the momentum behind soccer has grown exponentially. There are many opportunities to watch a game while in Portugal, it will be a lively experience that you will not forget. To experience an extra special soccer game choose a match at the Estádio Municipal de Braga which is a stadium carved out of solid rock. Of course, we have to mention that Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese soccer player and a pseudo-god in Portugal.

Beaches

We saved one of the best for last, the beaches in Portugal are stunning. The Portuguese coastline is over 850km long providing for some magical beaches. The most famous are in the Algarve where warm water meets golden sand and beautiful beachside cafes. Most of the photos you see of beaches in Portugal are in the Algarve sheltered by the dramatic cliffs. You don’t have to walk far to get your own piece of paradise on the sand as Portugal prides itself on making its beaches accessible to everyone.

What questions do you have about travelling to Portugal?

Our experienced travel specialists are well versed in European travel including the ever so beautiful Portugal. If you have any questions or want to start planning your Portuguese vacation, contact us today!