Original text by Michele D'Iseppi for Portogallo.cc, updated and completed by our editors with itineraries and practical tips.
A journey from south to north
Where should you go on holiday in Portugal? And above all, why Portugal? To answer, let us imagine a journey of discovery through this small country. We start in the far south, in the Algarve: this region of hot summers and mild winters was the last Portuguese territory taken from the Moors, in 1249. Traces of Moorish architecture and traditions are still visible in its coastal towns, in an almost Mediterranean landscape. Tavira, Faro, Portimão, Lagos, Sagres and Albufeira are just some of the fishing villages that mass tourism turned into seaside resorts. Seafaring traditions and fashionable clubs meet and clash, with truly breathtaking beaches. And if there is time left, it is worth a detour to the fortress of Sagres, linked to Henry the Navigator.
Heading north along the coast you cannot miss the surf beaches of the Costa Vicentina and the Alentejo: sea, waves and vast beaches set in nature are the perfect habitat for surfers from all over the world, who every year happily endure endless van journeys to surf freely, meet and camp out together. But to truly lose yourself in the silent nature of the south, don't forget the inland Alentejo: sunsets of a thousand colours and roads vanishing over the horizon help the traveller think and get to know themselves. Here you will find Évora, Estremoz and Vila Viçosa.
But travel is not only about getting to know your soul and admiring nature; it is also about meeting other people and cultures and admiring the works of different civilisations. Heading north we come to the great cities of the centre: Setúbal, Santarém and of course Lisbon, the capital, with the palaces of Sintra and the beaches of Cascais. Centuries-old, multicultural cities rich in history, art and entertainment. Further north are the great monasteries, Fátima and Coimbra, with its ancient university.
Leaving the cities of the centre behind, we move further north in search of the nation's origins. We reach the Minho and Douro regions, with cities such as Porto, Guimarães and Braga, the heart of the old County of Portucale, the first seed of what would become Portugal. The wooded hills around Braga, the green Minho countryside, the terraced vineyards of the Douro valley and Porto's old buildings introduce you to the food, stories and traditions at the roots of Portuguese civilisation. Finally we reach Bragança, in the far north-east on the Spanish border: it is time to say goodbye. So as not to leave with tears in our eyes, I would like to sign off with the title of a book by one of the best-known Italian writers, or perhaps simply travellers, of our time, Tiziano Terzani: The End Is My Beginning.
Michele D'Iseppi for Portogallo.cc
Suggested itineraries
One week, first time in Portugal: three days in Lisbon, with a day in Sintra and Cascais, a day among Óbidos, Nazaré, Alcobaça and Batalha, a night in Coimbra and two days in Porto with a trip into the Douro valley. Travelling by train is easy, on the Alfa Pendular between Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto.
Two weeks, the full tour: to the above add Braga and Guimarães, the Alentejo with Évora and Monsaraz and a few beach days in the Algarve, around Lagos, Tavira and Ponta da Piedade. A car is the best option here.
Sea and nature: the western Algarve and the Costa Vicentina for beaches and surfing, or the islands: Madeira for hiking the levadas and the Azores for volcanoes, lakes and whales.
Practical tips
The best periods are April to June and September to October, when the weather is mild and there are fewer tourists; July and August are ideal for the beach but pricier and busier. See the page on the climate in Portugal. Lisbon, Porto and Faro have direct flights from many European cities: see getting to Portugal. To get around you can use trains, long-distance buses or a hire car. For accommodation see the page on hotels and pousadas, and for all destinations the map of Portugal.
To plan your trip, see also when to go, suggested itineraries, the best beaches and useful Portuguese phrases.