Portugal map & highlights
Beyond the Algarve beaches and city break Lisbon or Porto, Portugal remains a beautiful easily-covered mystery. The Costa Vicentina's deserted golden shores contrast with the ravishing seaside towns of the Costa da Prata. National parks encompass the soaring peaks of the Serra da Estrela, the history-laden Sintra hills and the rural beguilements of Alentejo. Cycle paths and walking trails link distinctive country inns (quintas). Portugal's interior remains charmingly unspoilt yet accessible by improved transport links. Comfortable trains link Lisbon and Porto to inland gems like Evora, Coimbra and Guimaraes (Portugal's 12th century first capital).
Our Portugal Vacations
Azores tour, island explorer
Dolphins, whales and explore fiery volcanic islands!
From
£605 to £798
7 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
Eco-friendly B&B, in Sintra Natural Park near lovely beaches
From
€90 to €120
per room per night
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
From
€460
8 days
ex flights
Portugal cycling vacations, self guided
Tranquility cycling vacations
From
€665 to €729
8 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park retreats & walks in Portugal
Walking, yoga, R&R near beaches, forests, historic sites
From
€600 to €1000
7 days
ex flights
Madeira walking vacation
Small group walking tour of madeira
From
US $1120 to US $1400
8 days
ex flights
Algarve vacation accommodation
Enchanting agrotourism on 6 ha rural estate close to beach
From
€55 to €225
per accommodation per night
Yoga & relaxation vacation in Portugal
Yoga, massage and mud baths in the Portuguese mountains.
From
€960 to €4020
7 days
ex flights
Yoga vacation in Portugal
A stunning Yoga retreat in the Portuguese mountains.
From
€960 to €4020
7 days
ex flights
Porto to Lisbon cycling vacation, self guided
Family Cycling Vacations in Portugal | Self-Guided
From
€1005 to €2005
8 days
ex flights
Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
A leisurely cycling vacation in the Algarve
From
€665 to €729
7 days
ex flights
Coastal hiking vacation in Portugal
The very best walks from the 125km selection of coastal trails
From
US $1799 to US $2049
8 days
ex flights
Blue whale watching in the Azores, Pico Island
Best time to see Blue Whales in the Azores
From
£890
7 days
ex flights
Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Visit the Azores at the best time to see Blue Whales
From
£1190
7 days
ex flights
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
From
£610 to £745
7 days
ex flights
Alentejo & Algarve self guided biking vacation, Portugal
90% asfalt and 10% of the best coastal tracks in Europe
From
€600 to €650
8 days
ex flights
Azores whale vacation, Blue Whale bonanza
Come see Blue Whales in the Azores!
From
£695
7 days
ex flights
Portugal mountain bike tour
Self guided biking tour in Portuguese Historical Villages
From
€1060 to €2060
7 days
ex flights
Family swimming with dolphins in the Azores
A family focused adventure and experience of a lifetime.
From
£690
7 days
ex flights
Yoga & surfing vacation in the Algarve, Portugal
Nourish yourself with yoga, surf & deliciously healthy food
From
€855
7 days
ex flights
Walking vacation in Madeira
Walk through the wild and varied scenery of Madeira
From
US $1099 to US $1349
8 days
ex flights
Algarve self guided cycling tour
Dramatic coastline to picturesque countryside in the Algarve
From
€700 to €1095
8 days
ex flights
Alentejo Coast family activity vacation, Portugal
Family multi-activity week on the Alentejo coast, Portugal
From
£950
8 days
ex flights
Atlantic Coast biking vacation in Portugal
Snowshoe in the heart of Italy
From
US $2249 to US $2749
8 days
ex flights
Azores walking vacation, Portugal
Walk to Cete Cidades and the Fire Lakes
From
US $2649 to US $2799
8 days
ex flights
Yoga retreat in Portugal with Tashi Dawa
A week of nourishing yoga in the forests of Portugal.
From
€960 to €4020
7 days
ex flights
Madrid to Marrakech via Portugal
Experience first-hand Spanish, Portuguese & Moroccan lifestyles
From
US $2700 to US $3285
15 days
ex flights
Portugal walking tour
Self guided walking tour in Portuguese Schist Villages
From
€1060 to €2060
8 days
ex flights
Alto Alentejo cycling tour in Portugal, self guided
Cycle on the Alentejo backroads of Portugal countryside
From
€895 to €1875
8 days
ex flights
Short cycling break in the Algarve
Self guided mini cycling break in Eastern Algarve
From
€390 to €645
4 days
ex flights
1.
Alentejo National Park
2. The Azores
3. Cape St Vincent
4. Coimbra
5. Costa da Prata
6. Costa Vicentina
7. Lagos
8. Lisbon
9. Madeira
10. Porto
11. Serra Da Estrela
12. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
2. The Azores
3. Cape St Vincent
4. Coimbra
5. Costa da Prata
6. Costa Vicentina
7. Lagos
8. Lisbon
9. Madeira
10. Porto
11. Serra Da Estrela
12. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Alentejo National Park
1. Alentejo National Park
The Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina is the largest protected coastal Natural Park in Europe - a rolling sea of verdant hills, river valleys, dramatically eroded cliffs and virgin beaches. This is the haunt of rare fishing eagles, the world’s only shore-living white storks and sea otters, while unique indigenous plants offer botanical treasure.
The Azores
2. The Azores
The Azores - a rugged Portuguese archipelago 1500km out in the Atlantic – are an eco-tourism beacon for walkers and wildlife watchers. On land, active volcanoes and crater lakes vie with moss-draped forest and dramatic lava-shaped shores, while the surrounding ocean teems with A-list sealife – blue whales to the fore. Distinctive island culture and food await back ashore.
Cape St Vincent
3. Cape St Vincent
The Romans considered Europe's most southwesterly point sacred, a view bolstered when 8th century Christians deposited relics of the eponymous saint. Be awe-struck today by a dramatic headland whose towering cliffs - topped by Europe's most powerful lighthouse – provide twitcher nirvana: eagles and peregrines, storks and rock doves. A 6km cliff walk links Sagres and its 15th century memorials to Henry the Navigator.
Coimbra
4. Coimbra
This 12th century university town with its fado-singing black-caped students and ancient alleys twisting moodily between grand architecture is one of Portugal’s four historic capitals, along with Lisbon, Guimaraes and Porto. It’s also an atmospheric base for the nearby Silver Coast sands plus the hills of the Beira Litoral, home to Roman ruins at Conimbriga, the pretty spa town Luso and magical medieval Obidos.
Costa da Prata
5. Costa da Prata
The Silver Coast is far more than beaches. Ravishing historic towns wait just back from the sea – Gothic Batalha, artistic Caramulo, pilgrim Mecca Fatima and the canal-crossed lagoon beauty Aveiro. On shore, Peniche and Nazare are surfer beacons drawing pros from around the world to hang ten – no wonder, when the largest wave ever surfed rolled in here in 2013.
Costa Vicentina
6. Costa Vicentina
The Costa Vicentina enthralls with wild beaches, and the 120km Fishermen's Trail, the shoreline-hugging section of the breathtaking 350km Rota Vicentina. Colours enchant - turquoise sea, honey-hued cliffs, red and blue fishing boats, emerald-carpeted cliff tops. In spring, wildflowers carpet the dunes, while storks perch on precarious cliff nests. Pause in sleepy fishing villages like Azenha do Mar or laidback resorts like Milfontes.
Lagos
7. Lagos
Founded by the Phoenicians, Lagos was an important Moorish port until captured by Christian armies in 1241. Despite summer crowds, it stills feels like a fishing and market town inside medieval walls, where historic mementoes include Europe’s first slave market. Boat trips venture to startling purple-tinted rock formations rising from the Atlantic, complemented by atmospheric sea caves piercing rugged seacliffs.
Lisbon
8. Lisbon
Portugal's capital is one of Europe's loveliest cities, draping contrasting neighbourhoods across historic hills by the wide Tagus estuary. Bairro Alto clusters chic boutiques and bars above the cosmopolitan bustle of Baixa, grandly rebuilt after the city's devastating 1755 earthquake. Alfama is a medieval melange of ramshackle cobbled streets enlivened by fado bars and outdoor markets – the vast Feria da Ladra (Tue/Sat) is a Lisbon institution.
Madeira
9. Madeira
1000km from mainland Portugal, the Madeiran islands – Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited nature reserve of the Desertas - were claimed in 1419 by Henry the Navigator. Today these lush islands are famed for flowers, laurel forests, whale watching and historic viaducts (levadas) - plus New Year celebrations featuring some of the world's biggest firework displays.
Porto
10. Porto
Porto’s multicoloured old quarter tumbles to the Douro riverfront where historic warehouses sell wine from the surrounding Minho region as well as the eponymous port. Porto’s hard-working reputation belies an atmospheric beauty and cultural clout from outstanding modern architecture alongside fine museums. It’s also a springboard for pretty northern coastal resorts like Vila do Conde and inland gems like Guimaraes – Portugal’s beguiling first capital.
Serra Da Estrela
11. Serra Da Estrela
Portugal's highest range mixes craggy peaks (with winter skiing), alpine plateaux, hilly woods and deep-carved river valleys. It's a landscape tinged with history: Neolithic megaliths; Roman bridges; legends of "a lake in which the wrecks of ships floated up to the surface" (from Moby Dick). Look out too for its unique giant shaggy mountain dogs.
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
12. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Full of fairytale 19th-century architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage natural park is 30 minutes from Lisbon. Contrasting towns – historic Sintra and cosmopolitan Cascais – nestle amid lush hills and aristocrat estates such as Castelo dos Mouros, Pena National Palace and folly-ringed Quinta de Regaleira. Wilderness stretches from the Serra de Sintra mountains to heart-stopping Cabo da Roca, Europe’s most westerly point.
Our top Portugal Vacation
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
From
€460
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This independent vacation is available any day of the year except August and the last two weeks of July.
This independent vacation is available any day of the year except August and the last two weeks of July.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Portugal or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Portugal travel times
The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Portugal.
Lisbon - Porto: 2hrs 45 mins by train
Lisbon – Evora (Alentejo): 1hr 30 mins by train
Porto – Coimbra: 1 hour by train
Faro – Lagos: 1 hr 30 mins by train or car
More about Portugal
The best time to visit Portugal is spring or autumn, especially for walkers and cyclists.
Alentejo vacations introduce you to one of Europe’s last unspoilt landscapes.
For such a small island Madeira boasts a stunning range of landscapes.
Sintra is a fairytale tapestry of ancient castles, palaces and grand estates.
The Azores is a volcanic archipelago that’s all about the scenery and cetaceans.
We give Portugal an ‘A’ for cycling vacations: Algarve, Azores, Alentejo, Atlantic Coast.
Discover the breadth of destinations across Portugal where you can hit the trail.
Learn what to expect from a yoga vacation in Portugal as well as where to stay.
Portugal travel advice starts with a few tidbits from friendly folks we know and trust.
Escape Portugal's wildly beautiful coastline and delve a little deeper inland,
Learn responsible tourism tips and what you can do to travel better in Portugal.
Find all of our Portugal guides conveniently in one place to plan your trip.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Ian_woodhead1] [Alentejo National Park: Francisco Antunes]
[The Azores: Ferdinand Stöhr]
[Cape St Vincent: Barni1]
[Coimbra: Jairo]
[Costa da Prata: Rogerio Camboim S A]
[Costa Vicentina: Nuno Silva]
[Lagos: Jerome Bon]
[Lisbon: Andreas Brücker]
[Madeira: Thibault Mokuenko]
[Porto: LEMUR]
[Serra Da Estrela: Luis Fonseca]
[Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: Alina Chan]
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