Discover PT

Portugal sits on Europe’s Atlantic edge with a warm climate, long beaches and an outsized cultural legacy — Lisbon’s Age of Discovery monuments, Porto’s port-wine lodges and azulejo tile facades, and the Algarve’s limestone sea stacks are all distinctly Portuguese. Lisbon and Porto have become two of the continent’s most-visited city breaks without losing their neighbourhood character.

The country runs north to south with distinct personalities: the Minho’s green river valleys and pilgrimage routes in the north, Lisbon’s hills and castles at the centre, Alentejo’s cork-oak plains and walled medieval towns inland, and the Algarve’s beach resorts and surf coast in the south. Year-round flights and mild winters make it a reliable shoulder-season destination.

Top places in PT

• Lisbon — Seven hills, electric trams, fado in the Alfama and pastel de nata — one of Europe’s great city breaks.
• Porto — Port-wine lodges across the Douro, azulejo-covered São Bento station and a world-class food-and-drink scene.
• Sintra — Fairy-tale palaces (Pena, Quinta da Regaleira) in forested hills above Lisbon, a UNESCO Cultural Landscape.
• Algarve (Faro & Lagos) — Limestone sea stacks, golden beaches and a resort coast from Sagres to the Spanish border.
• Coimbra — Portugal’s ancient university city: the Joanine Library, fado universitário and medieval streets above the Mondego.
• Madeira (Funchal) — A lush Atlantic island of levada walks, fortified wine and dramatic peaks, with one of the world’s great New Year’s firework shows over Funchal.
• Douro Valley — Terraced vineyards and river cruises through the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, an easy trip upriver from Porto.