Portugal

Portugal is located on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, ideally positioned between Spain and the Atlantic ocean. Its geographic location along the Atlantic coastline is the reason why Portugal quickly became an ocean bound country setting the stage for centuries of sea adventure and discoveris.

Porto e Norte
This is a mountainous area with rivers, natural parks and steep, sloping hillsides covered with leafy vegetation. The granite from its mountains was used to build many of the region’s religious and historical monuments, such as the unpretentious Romanesque chapels and baroque churches.

Algrave
The Algarve has so much to offer. The sea is warm, the climate is wonderful and the holiday villages, hotels and luxury resorts are superb places to stay. And the small fishing villages such as Santa Luzia, in Tavira and the small port of Sagres are idyllic and peaceful.

Alentejo
Inland, the vast golden wheat fields undulate in the wind; along the coast, unspoilt beaches look rugged and unexplored. The open, ample landscape is peppered with cork oaks or olive trees that have withstood the ravages of time. Occasionally sturdy fortress walls rise up from hills, as at Marvão or Monsaraz, or you’ll see just a simple dolmen reminding you of the magic of the place.

Azores
The Azores are nine different islands of adventure, nine delightful surprises. You can see dolphins and whales frolicking in the sea or volcanic landscapes covered in green. Then there are the stunning, lilac coloured hydrangeas that provide hedges for the meadows; the blue and green lakes; the craters of extinct volcanoes and the steam rising from the land. The volcanic activity here means that you can even have your meal cooked under the ground!

Madiera
Madeira is a tropical island. The Laurisilva Forest, in the Madeira Natural Park, is the largest evergreen forest in the world a fact that has earned it classification as a world heritage site.

Centro de Portugal
In the Centro de Portugal you will find a huge variety of nature, history and culture. First there are glacial lakes, spring waters and all kinds of outdoor sports: on land, in the sky or on water.

Activities and Tours

Conimbriga Ruins
The ancient city of Conimbriga is a short drive or bus ride from Coimbra, an attractive university town halfway between Lisbon and Oporto. It's the largest Roman settlement in Portugal and is well worth visiting on any tour of the country's central and northern regions.

Igreja de Sao Roque
In the 16th century, the place where the Church stands was cut off, beyond the city walls. Hence the reason it was chosen for the cemetery for burying victims of the plague. In 1506, a place of worship dedicated to Saint Roch, holy protector from the plague, was built. At that point, the Brotherhood of Saint Roch was founded. It was granted its own statues and supported both by the royal family and nobility as well as by the people.

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is home to a large collection of very interesting works from various different countries. There is a permanent collection at the museum that is assigned in geographical and chronological order which establishes two separate routes in the overall tour of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

Parque Nacional de Peneda Geres
In the extreme north east of Portugal, between the Alto Minho and Trás-os-Montes, the Serra da Peneda and Serra do Gerês constitute the only Portuguese protected area that has been classified as a National Park. It is a world apart, where human activity is integrated in a harmonious manner with nature, preserving ancient values and traditions that can be seen in the community villages of Pitões das Júnias and Tourém.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
The climate in Portugal varies considerably from one region to another and is influenced by the relief, latitude and proximity to the sea, which offers mild winters, especially in the Algarve. In the Porto e Norte area and Beiras region, particularly inland, nearer Spain, the winters are colder, although the temperatures are still mild when compared to the rest of Europe. There is some snowfall. The summers are hot and dry, especially in the inland areas (Trás-os-Montes in north eastern Portugal and Alentejo). Temperatures are slightly lower in the coastal areas, because of the influence of the sea. There are often warm, sunny days in autumn. Nice weather at the beginning of November is often called "St. Martin’s Summer" as this saint’s day is on 11 November.

Population
Portugal has a population of about 10 million. The population density is at its greatest in Lisbon, the capital and its suburbs, where about 1.9 million people live. The second largest city in Portugal is Oporto in the north. Generally speaking, there are more people living in the country’s coastal regions than in the inland areas.

Transport
Getting to and travelling around Portugal is as convenient these days as any other destination in Europe, with good connections facilitated by modern airports and a network of highly efficient transport terminals located up and down the country.

Currency and credit cards
The local currency is Euros. Money can be changed at Banks, "Bureau de Change" (Cambio) or at one of the currency exchange machines in the streets. These facilities will offer a better rate than in Hotels and Receptions. Banks are open from Monday through to Friday, from 08.30 hrs. to 15.00 hrs. Euro Cheque is a cheaper method than a Traveller Cheque in obtaining cash. All well known Credit Cards are usually accepted.

Dress Code
A formal dress is necessary only in banking, government or law, otherwise smart casual attire may suffice, and is often how the host may dress. However, being a fashion conscious country means that it may simply be easier to dress in a conventional formal manner.

Safety and security
Travel to Portugal should be trouble free, but there is a rising incidence of petty theft and pick pocketing in tourist areas, so reasonable care should be taken.