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
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
Yoga and Thai massage retreat in Portugal
Yoga and Thai Massage retreat in the mountains of Portugal
From
€900 to €1300
7 days
ex flights
Yoga vacation in Portugal
A stunning Yoga retreat in the Portuguese mountains.
From
€800 to €1200
7 days
ex flights
Portugal cycling vacations, self guided
Tranquility cycling vacations
From
€549 to €669
8 days
ex flights
Yoga & relaxation vacation in Portugal
Yoga, massage and mud baths in the Portuguese mountains.
From
€800 to €900
7 days
ex flights
Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
A leisurely cycling vacation in the Algarve
From
€539 to €669
7 days
ex flights
Azores whale vacation, Blue Whale bonanza
Come see Blue Whales in the Azores!
From
£625 to £695
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
Peneda Geres National Park accommodation in Portugal
In the middle of the Geres National Park in North Portugal
From
€80 to €95
per accommodation per night (sleeps 2)
Alentejo Coast family activity vacation, Portugal
Family multi-activity week on the Alentejo coast, Portugal
From
£840 to £950
8 days
inc UK flights
Spain and Portugal vacation, historic cities & villages
Visit cosmopolitan cities, quaint villages & rolling hills
From
US $3635 to US $4160
15 days
ex flights
Portugal mountain bike tour
Self guided biking tour in Portuguese Historical Villages
From
€990 to €1790
7 days
ex flights
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
From
€460
8 days
ex flights
Family swimming with dolphins in the Azores
A family focused adventure and experience of a lifetime.
From
£675
7 days
ex flights
Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Visit the Azores at the best time to see Blue Whales
From
£1240 to £1290
7 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
Portugal yoga & massage vacation
Yoga, massage and mud baths in the mountains of Portugal
From
€900 to €1300
7 days
ex flights
Portugal Vinyasa flow yoga retreat
A week of yoga, music, massage and mud baths in the Portuguese mountains.
From
€900 to €1300
7 days
ex flights
Portugal walking tour
Self guided walking tour in Portuguese Schist Villages
From
€890 to €1080
8 days
ex flights
Yoga & surfing vacation in the Algarve, Portugal
Nourish yourself with yoga, surf & deliciously healthy food
From
€835
7 days
ex flights
Portugal tree house accommodation, Northern Portugal
Treehouse in National Park Peneda Geres, Northern Portugal
From
€110 to €160
per accommodation per night
Algarve self catering eco retreat, Portugal
Great eco accommodation in nature reserve close to the beach
From
€69 to €119
per accommodation per night (sleeps 2)
Alto Alentejo cycling tour in Portugal, self guided
Cycle on the Alentejo backroads of Portugal countryside
From
€1790 to €2390
8 days
ex flights
Madrid to Marrakech vacation
Experience first-hand Spanish, Portuguese & Moroccan lifestyles
From
US $2359 to US $3175
15 days
ex flights
Whale watching in the Azores
Sustainable whale watching in the beautiful Azorean archipelago
From
£610 to £745
7 days
ex flights
Yoga retreat in Portugal with Tashi Dawa
A week of nourishing yoga in the forests of Portugal
From
€900 to €1200
7 days
ex flights
Algarve vacation accommodation
Enchanting agrotourism on 6 ha rural estate close to beach
From
€55 to €225
per accommodation per night
Madeira walking vacation
Small group walking tour of madeira
From
US $1040 to US $1100
8 days
ex flights
Swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
Live a dream and swim with wild dolphins
From
£680
7 days
ex flights
Algarve cycling vacation in Portugal
Western Algarve self guided biking vacation
From
£1249 to £1429
7 days
inc UK 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
Portugal cycling vacations, self guided
Tranquility cycling vacations
From
€549 to €669
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This cycling vacation in Portugal can be arranged at any time to suit your requirements although we do not recommend trips in August due to high temperatures
This cycling vacation in Portugal can be arranged at any time to suit your requirements although we do not recommend trips in August due to high temperatures
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Portugal or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
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 season which starts in February to find hills bedecked in seasonal flowers and almond groves awash with pretty pink blossom.
Our Portugal travel guide will point you in the right direction when it comes to what we rate and what we don't as well as offering a fair bit of insider info regarding the best beaches, walking and cycling trails, and a brief history of Portugal, warts and all.
There's no getting away from Portugal's wild and woolly coastline which is why things to do in Portugal usually start and finish with a day spent surfing, sunning or simply staring at the beach.
There's just something about the warm weather and peaceful countryside that sets yoga vacations in Portugal aside from the rest of the pack with no end of additional activities and well-being therapies also helping to create an experience that's as spiritually inspirational as effortlessly relaxing.
Sintra, a fairytale tapestry of ancient castles, palaces and grand estates set into the wooded hills of the ‘Portuguese Riviera’ is the most popular day-trip from Lisbon.
Finding the right beach is essential for anyone traveling to Portugal with kids as wave sense equals freedom to let little ones run wild amongst the surf and sand along the Atlantic coast.
Portugal travel advice should always start with a few tidbits from friendly folks that we know and trust which is why this page is devoted to tips on how to eat, live and love like a local as well as a handy health & safety section to help you travel with confidence along Portugal's Atlantic coast.
Hard times across the globe haven't helped Portugal's fragile economy although the responsible tourism industry in Portugal is doing its level best to entice travelers away from the resorts of the Algarve as well as encouraging travel outside of peak seasons and into the country's rural landscapes.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Oliver Clarke] [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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