From the craggy cliffs and expansive views afford by Cape St. Vicent on the extreme west coast to Tavira, located 30 minutes from the Spanish border - the region is rich in every way. Superior beaches (free access), ancient architecture, cuisine noted for fresh seafood - like the regional dish "Cataplana" and excellent, inexpensive wines are luring many to explore the Algarve. The Algarve has lovely weather, enjoying about 3,000 sun hours per year.
The Alentejo is the beautiful rural interior of Portugal, and is characterised by gently rolling hills, historic fortified towns and intense summer heat. Is varied region which on the western coastline are deserted surf beaches and charming fishing towns while along the Spanish border are picturesque walled towns and impregnatable forts. In-between fields filled with cork trees, sleepy villages and empty roads – the Alentejo is the idyllic heartland of Portugal.The Alentejo region has always been a major pork-producing region, with the pigs able to graze freely on the acorns that fell from the cork trees. A highlight is a “Porco Preto”, a pork steak from the traditional free-roaming Iberian Black Pig. A unique dish is Migas à Alentejana, a meal based on wheat bread, which is pan-fried in a garlic olive oil sauce and served with chunks of pork.
A historical city full of stories to tell, where the sun shines 290 days a year and the temperature rarely drops below 15oC. A city where you feel safe wandering around day or night, where the cuisine is dedicated to creating over a thousand ways to cook the beloved bacalhau (salted cod), and where you’ll find hotels and restaurants to suit every taste, budget and requirement. Discover Lisbon, a city full of authenticity where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation. Lisbon is steeped in history, but also combines tradition and culture with the excitement of a modern, cosmopolitan city. Lisbon is ageless, but it loves company, as you’ll find out if you meet someone and ask them to explain, with lots of gestures and repetition, where the best place is to listen to Fado. After all, Lisbon is famous for its hospitality and the family-like way it welcomes visitors.
Central Portugal is the green heart of the country, blessed with a diverse landscape from fantastic beaches to enchanting mountain villages and the rugged slopes of Serra da Estrela, the highest peak on mainland Portugal. Cultural attractions in Central Portugal include cathedrals, museums, art collections and Roman ruins, as well as defensive fortresses along the Spanish border dating back to the 11-13th centuries. This region is also famous for its traditional festivals, tasty leitão assado(roast pork) and handmade artisanal cheeses, especially queijo da serra, considered Portugal’s best.
The landscape is dramatic and unspoilt, with fascinating medieval villages, historic castles and spectacular mountain ranges to encounter.Meandering through a verdant landscape of terraced vineyards and grand estates, the Douro river extends all the way from the Spanish border to the charming city of Porto. Famous for its gastronomy and Port wine, the Douro region is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions and a World Heritage site. Take a tour of the Port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia to taste the varieties and learn the special characteristics of each one.Want to immerse yourself in nature? Hike through the mountains of the Peneda-Gerês National Park to enjoy the scenic beauty of the greenest region in Portugal. The adventurous can try white-water rafting down the Minho river, while those interested in history will be awed by the neolithic stone formations and Roman ruins throughout the region. The coastal roads will take you on a wonderful journey through a landscape of rivers and waterfalls.Places to see in the north of Portugal include the enchanting cities of Viana do Castelo and medieval Guimarães the walled citadel of Bragança and the Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga.
The archipelago of the Azores consists of nine islands divided into three groups: Western Group (Corvo and Flores); Central Group (Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge, and Terceira); Eastern Group (Santa Maria and São Miguel). As a tourist destination, it is especially dedicated to nature tourism with outdoor activities, such as hiking, diving, whale watching, among others.Here you can find unspoiled nature, with breathtaking landscapes, incredible lagoons, extinct volcanic craters, hot water waterfalls, fumaroles, and much more! Azorean cuisine, native to the Azores Islands, is a rich, hearty, peasant-based style of cooking. Its flavors sing of seafood, spicy stews, sweet desserts, and rich dairy products, but most people assume that the foods of these islands are the same as Portugal’s—if they have even heard of the islands. While some of the dishes are even the same, Azorean and Portuguese cuisines are actually quite different.
Madeira is an oasis of green within the Atlantic Ocean. This lush island with its permanent spring-like climate, is diverse and fascinating, and one of the truly unique holiday destinations of Europe.Found within the island are dramatic natural scenery, towering mountains and tropical forests, and a people that are welcoming and hospitable, reflecting the laid-back nature of the Portuguese.Madeira is not your typical beach holiday destination, this is a location to go out and explore, immerse in local culture or find solitude while hiking one of the magnificent trails that cross the island. If you are seeking a relaxing holiday, Madeira boasts world-class hotels, a glorious climate and a social atmosphere, while offering exceptional value for money. Local cuisine is based on peasant traditions and, in general terms, the closer you can get to the traditional methods of preparation and cooking, the better it tastes.Although starters are not a high point on the local menus, a warm bolo do caco with garlic butter and parsley (a flat circular wheat flour bread, typical of Madeira) appears on the top of every menu.
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