“Here… where the land ends and the sea begins,” said the poet Luís Vaz de Camões. Here, in the far west, where Europe meets the ocean. Here, where the climate is mild and pleasant all year round. Here, where natural wonders, refined architecture and the meeting of peoples fuel the passion of countless travellers. Here, where the pressing rhythm, the saudade of a mysterious country envelops all those who cross its borders.

This is Portugal, a country both rugged and gentle, traditionalist and cosmopolitan. A frontier land pushed out towards the Atlantic.

Many call it the California of Europe, in reference to its pleasant temperatures almost all year round. Countless poets, writers and travellers, moreover, have been captivated by its enchanting landscapes, by its kilometres of coastline plunging into the ocean, by its small villages where time seems to have stood still.

In short, Portugal is still a treasure chest of unknown places, ancient traditions, simplicity and elegance.

Between romantic, melancholy cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Braga and Coimbra; endless beaches, from the north to the shores of the Algarve and the Alentejo; great natural parks scattered across the country; and villages suspended in time, well-being for body, mind and soul is a certainty.

José Saramago, indeed, wrote: “In Portugal there is no shortage of villages that seem to have remained on the margins of time, watching the years go by without moving a single stone from here to there, and yet we feel them quickened by an inner life, warm, you can feel their heart beating”.

What to see in Portugal

A fascinating and evocative land, Portugal offers an infinity of attractions for different kinds of traveller, from the adventure on the road among its natural wonders to the evocative charm of tasting good wine on the banks of the Douro, kissed by the sun.

It is no coincidence that Portugal has won the award for the world’s best tourist destination for several years running.

Music, food and wine, saudade, cheerfulness, passion and adventure are just a few of the stimuli for travellers who intend to set out on a tour to discover Portugal.

To immerse yourself completely in this fascinating atmosphere, the first city to visit is, of course, the capital: Lisbon.

Lisbon

The notes of fado, the historic trams, the azulejos, the Tagus at the end of every street, the delicious pastéis de nata and the view of the city from its miradouros: Lisbon is a marvel, a blend of cheerfulness and melancholy, old and new, tradition and experimentation.

An inimitable city which, at the 2018 World Travel Awards, won no fewer than two prizes, as the world’s leading city destination and leading city break destination.

This Lusitanian gem is full of historic quarters alternating with futuristic architecture, such as the MAAT, the museum of art, architecture and technology on the banks of the Tagus, opened in autumn 2016 in the premises of an old early-twentieth-century power station. A splendid example of the perfect blending of genres.

Lisbon, in short, is the headquarters of life in Portugal. An unmissable outpost from which to immerse yourself completely in the culture and traditions of the Portuguese.

Not far from Lisbon are places of great renown such as Cascais and Estoril, and Sintra with its royal palaces and its old town of enchanting little streets, a UNESCO site since 1995.

Porto

Porto, Portugal’s second city and cradle of the nation, is a proud, lively city with a great deal to offer. From the river Douro, in the famous Ribeira district, you can admire breathtaking sunsets and taste excellent port wine. Between splendidly decorated churches, cathedrals that dominate the landscape and cellars where you can learn about the wine-making process, Porto is the ideal destination for those wishing to combine culture with food and wine.

In the surrounding area we find historically eminent places, including Braga, a city of Roman origin, and Coimbra, a charming town with a strong identity that boasts the oldest and most prestigious university in Portugal.

Alentejo

The Alentejo is the least touristy region of Portugal. Located between Lisbon and the Algarve, it has a rich historical heritage. It is considered one of the most authentic areas of the country, with a quality of life at a slow, sustainable pace that has elsewhere been forgotten.

The Alentejo is a territory that occupies a third of Portugal, enclosed between the Algarve and the regions of Lisbon and Centro. In Portuguese it literally means “beyond the river Tejo”, and it is a hidden gem outside the normal circuits of international tourism, which manages to astonish anyone who chooses to visit it.

It is in fact a region that has kept its folk traditions intact, along with the authentic flavours of a people now largely forgotten.

A land rich in history, villages and small towns that intrigue and win over anyone who visits them for the first time.

Testimonies of the past sit alongside local traditions, giving rise to a unique mix of colours, flavours and sounds.

This is why the Alentejo was chosen as the setting for one of the finest novels in contemporary Portuguese literature, Levantado do Chão by José Saramago, a moving, raw story set among the great estates of the Lusitanian region in the twentieth century.

The Algarve

The last Portuguese region to be wrested from the Moors, during the reign of Afonso III, the Algarve is a region rich in history.

Its cities and main towns reflect the mingling of peoples and the ancient charm that only mixed cultures can offer.

Albufeira is the main tourist centre of the Algarve. It is an Arab fortress and a fishing village which, thanks to more recent tourism, has been rediscovered and enhanced in recent decades.

It enjoys an excellent position, on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and offers a lively nightlife.

Lagos is also a small town worth a stop. This popular village of white houses owes its fame to the role it played in the great age of Portuguese voyages towards the New World.

From here not only did Magellan’s famous ships set sail, but also the first Portuguese slave-trading ships. Today, fortunately, it is a lively little town, surrounded by marvellous beaches.

Another unmissable stop in the Algarve is Sagres, a very quiet spot, ideal for those who love nature, excursions and the calm of a small village.

The surrounding area is full of nature trails and surfers’ beaches. From Sagres you can reach Cabo de São Vicente, the westernmost point of the country.

Cabo de São Vicente is one of those places at the edge of the world, where you almost feel you might meet the Pillars of Hercules. After all, it really is a frontier territory: the far west of Europe.

Cabo de São Vicente is in fact one of the westernmost extremities of our continent. The Romans called it Promontorium Sacrum, and only by gazing at the horizon can you sense its power.

On the horizon, in fact, stretches the Atlantic Ocean in all its grandeur. Some maintain that the Cabo was the last point of Europe that navigators saw before turning towards the New World.

Today a lighthouse stands on the 80-metre cliff, and the breathtaking landscapes are well worth the trip.

Visit Portugal with Guiness Travel

For us at Guiness Travel there is a real difference between a journey and a holiday. For us, in fact, a journey is a marvellous frame of life.

Our aim is not to “show” places, but to accompany travellers as they immerse themselves completely in the culture and beauty of the destination they have chosen.

Portugal is an unmissable destination for lovers of travel: this is why our catalogue includes numerous stops and several tours to visit this unique country.

At Guiness we are a tour operator highly attentive to the well-being of travellers, which is why we created the Exclusive Guiness Tour, such as our Grand Tour of Portugal, a unique travel experience, attentive to sustainability, which will give you significant advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • carefully selected services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Thanks to the Exclusive Guiness Tour you will return home with a bag full of new and wonderful memories.

Discover our tours dedicated to Portugal

Team Guiness