Portugal is undoubtedly one of Europes most forgotten and overlooked gems. Situated along the far west coast of the European continent it is the only warm-weather, European country that has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean as opposed to the Mediterranean. Since the Atlantic Ocean forms waves and the Mediterranean Sea does not, the beaches of Portugal are some of the only ones in Europe with copious, finely ground, powdery sand as opposed to the more rocky, pebbly beaches you’ll typically find along the Mediterranean.
In addition to its warm weather, sandy beaches and turquoise green waters, Portugal is one of those highly authentic places where the culture seems to be largely unspoiled by an over influx of tourists. Sure, you’ll run into a some loud Brits at some of the bigger resorts drinking themselves into a stupor and baking themselves into lobsters on the beach, but for the most part Portugal is a travel destination that truly feels like you’re visiting a foreign land, steeped in its own unique culture. And, as an ancient sea-fairing former world super power, there is plenty of culture to explore.
A quick aside…if you are ever looking to book a hotel in a European beach town and you see a reasonably priced resort with lot of reviews that involve British tourists, this might sound un-PC, but look to stay elsewhere. This is nothing against the Brits in general. They are a lovely group of people. But, the rowdy, get drunk while they belligerently yell at everyone and then pass out on the beach until they’re red as a lobster continent from the UK tends to take cheap flights to the South of Portugal and Spain to get obliterated drunk and extra rowdy on their holidays.
The hotels are very nice, but usually slightly more on the budget side of things and they all seem to flock to the same ones. If you happen to pick one of these hotels that cater to this specific contingent of British travelers you might be hoping for a romantic getaway, but instead find yourself in a British soccer hooligans, spring break Mecca getting incoherently spit on while a bunch of drunk Brit frat bros try to make friends with you. They’re harmless, but if that’s not what you’re looking for…buyer beware. Like I said, they all seem to go to the same 2 or 3 resorts in a given region and they don’t much venture out past them, so if you avoid staying there you’ll avoid being sprayed with drunk spit. Just be wary of booking some all-inclusive where all the reviews are from British people.
Anyways on to Portugal and some general travel advice. Take a look at the very simple map of Portugal below. There are three main regions to travel to in Portugal and we’d recommend you spend time in all 3 on any trip to Portugal. If you are based in Europe and just looking for a quick 4-5 day beach getaway, you can stick to the Southern area around Lagos and Faro, referred to as the Algarve. Both the southern coast and the western coast have fine grain sand beaches made from the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
The three main regions of Portugal are the northern area around Porto, the area around the capital city of Lisbon and the Algarve which encompasses the southern coast around the cities of Faro and Lagos. There are major airports in the cities of Porto, Lisbon and Faro so you can typically fly into any of these cities with relative ease.
The Algarve is known for its quaint beach towns featuring dark orange sand, stunning cliffs and turquoise waters. The climate is arid and sunny with temperatures above 60 in the winter and typically above 80 in the summer. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing beach vacation. Please click on the photo below to learn more about planning a trip to the Algarve region of Portugal.
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city as well as its largest city. This hilly, coastal city is stunningly beautiful, featuring stunning coastlines set against gorgeous hilly countryside. The city itself is beautiful as well with red terra-cotta roofs and pastel-colored buildings. Just outside Lisbon is a string of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean from Cascais to Estoril. Please click on the photo below to learn more about planning a trip to Lisbon.
Porto is yet another coastal city in Portugal, this time in the stunning northwest region. Known worldwide for its port wine production, this is a must stop for any wine enthusiast. In the medieval Ribeira (riverside) District, narrow cobblestoned streets wind past merchants’ houses and cafes. Please click on the photo below to learn more about planning a trip to Porto.