Portugal
A destination of sea, sunshine, vine-filled valleys and remote mountains
Travel Portugal-the sun-drenched beaches of the Algarve, exclusive golf resorts, medieval hilltop towns, colourful fishing villages, a cosmopolitan capital, the vine-filled valley of the Douro, wild remote mountains—this country has it all.
Nowadays Europe's oldest country, has turned its head toward Europe and is undergoing a profound modernization. But still things move a bit more slowly in Portugal, ‘devagar’ as residents say, and some 11 million travellers seem to like the slow pace.
The social contrasts are still bigger in Portugal than in any other country in western Europe. But Europe's former "poor house" is on its way to becoming a nice mansion with a sea view. The young Portuguese still listen to fado, and the students of Coimbra still wear their traditional outfits, but they party in stylish cafes and bars. There is no better way to experience travel in Portugal than to sit down in a street cafe with a bica (espresso) or a glass of port as you watch the world go by. And when you leave Portugal, you will probably feel saudade (a feeling of longing for something that is gone but might return). But unlike King Sebastian, you can always return.
Portugal is a travel destination of sea and sunshine. It has a varied cultural offering, with streets adorned with azulejo tiles, art collections in Lisbon and Oporto, the incredible landscapes of Sintra, the Douro, the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, and the ancient rupestrian engravings in Foz Côa. Travel Portugal is a delight.
Lisbon
Over recent years, Lisbon has experienced the kind of renaissance not seen since the 14th and 15th centuries, when the city was at the heart of an empire that stretched from Brazil to India. The event credited with kicking off this recent rejuvenation was the World Expo in 1998. Improvements included were a new bridge across the River Tagus, a major expansion of the crumbling metro system and the massive redevelopment of the Expo site, the Parque das Naes. Lisbon was quick to seize on the catalyst of Expo 98 and used the worldwide exposure well, to put itself firmly on the map for visitors travelling to Portugal.
Travellers experience twenty-first century Lisbon that is vibrant, cosmopolitan and a creative destination that has managed to successfully marry the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Travel to Lisbon is at its best on languorous summer evenings, when the pavement cafes and riverside restaurants bustle with life. Even in winter, when rain sweeps in off the Atlantic, any brief snatch of sunshine brings the tables back outside, as Lisbon is a city where enjoying life and taking time to appreciate is still paramount.
WHEN TO TRAVEL to Lisbon
Travel to Lisbon during Carnival, in February or March, is a draw card - but prices rise accordingly. Mid-June to August is peak season. If you've come to lie on the beach any month will do as Portugal is blessed with many days of sunshine.
Faro
Faro is a city, municipality and capital of the Algarve region in southern Portugal. A popular travel destination for sun-seekers visiting from northern Europe and the UK, Faro has a reputation as being an overrun party beach town for much of the year.
Visitors often use Faro as a base to travel the more remote destinations of the Algarve in the off-season and experience much more of what southern Portugal has to offer. The Algarve is a beautiful, peaceful corner of Southern Europe with plenty of sun bleaching the white-washed town with colonial and Moorish-influenced architecture. The people are said to be friendlier than other parts of Europe. Many speak a bit of English, but are very appreciative of any attempts at Portuguese.
Many visitors travel to Faro only as an arrival point, rushing through en route to a beach resort. Those who stick around will enjoy the local charm and colour, exemplified by the tranquil fishing harbour of Faro.
WHEN TO TRAVEL to Faro
The best part about the weather in Faro is that the Algarve has year-round sunshine and warm seas. Spring or autumn are probably the most pleasant times to visit, July to mid-September is peak holiday time for most Portuguese and other Europeans, so it is busy and expensive at this time. Faro's southerly position in Portugal gives it more of a Mediterranean type of climate, with balmy winters and summers moderated by the ocean.
