Portugal

Top 5 reasons to visit Portugal NOW!

1 – Portugal is blessed with possibly Europe’s best climate

Portugal has a typical Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cooler (sometimes wet) winters. October through April temperatures range in the 60s-70s, while May through September averages are in the 70s-80s. Portugal also tops the list of european countries with the most sunny days, with over 290 per year! Although a small country, you can find several different “climate zones” here. In there north, the climate is cool and more rainy while moving sound it becomes warmer and sunnier. The far south region of Algarve has a dry and sunny ‘microclimate’.

2 – Delicious, fresh and local food and drink

Portugal has a very proud and serious food culture, making it a must visit for ‘foodies’. Its Atlantic location, along with influences from other countries brought back by the Portuguese explorers, has influenced Portugese cuisine. They proudly grow or harvest most of their food. The national dish is “Bacalhau”, dried salted cod, and the Portuguese are obsessed with it! There are said to be 365 ways to prepare it – one for each day of the year. The freshest fish and seafood can be found all over, even in the tiniest cafes. And, its delicious and very affordable. Portugal also has great coffee, and very delicious pastry! “Pasteis de Nata” are exquisitely rich egg custard tarts that can be found everywhere (and which the Portuguese are very proud). Portugal also has a great tradition of wine making, and has received many awards especially for their Douro valley vintages. And perhaps best known are the Port wines, which are fortified wines produced with distilled grape spirits. Mainly produced in the north of the country (Porto and Douro areas), these are a delicious way to end your vacation day in Portugal!

3 – The 3 A’s

Accessibility. Portugal is easily to get to from both USA and other European countries. There are direct flights from several North American gateways, as well as many inexpensive flights from hub cities in Europe. For example, you can fly from Madrid to Lisbon for $20-$30 each way. Local transportation is also easy and accessible. You can take a train from one end of the country to the other in a day. Its also an easy place to rent a car and drive yourself.

Affordability. Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe, but still offers stunning beaches and fascinating cities. Overall you will find inexpensive public transportation, reasonably priced accommodations, and great food value. Sightseeing excursions also tend to be 30%-40% less than other western european countries.

Affable locals. Portuguese people are very friendly and eager to share their lives with visitors. They are excellent hosts, and will always try to make you feel at home. They’ve all had English language classes in school, and they will make an effort to try and speak your language. They are proud of their culture, history, and food and love sharing it with visitors. Portuguese also love their country and know the best places to go; they will always tell you about the “hidden gems”.

4 – Variety: Something to do for every type of interest

Although Portugal is only about the size of Pennsylvania, its got an impressive amount of variety. From medieval castles, cobblestone villages, captivating cities and golden beaches, you can find it all here! If you love Castles and Palaces, you should definitely plan a visit to Unesco World Heritage, Sintra. An easy 30 minute train journey from Lisbon, Sintra is surrounded by mountains, beautiful forests, exotic gardens and glittering palaces. You’ll feel like you’re stepped into a fairy tale! If you love water sports, nature and gorgeous beaches, you will be in heaven. There are so many wonderful areas to explore – from the pristine and famous beaches of the Algarve in the south, to the Douro River valley and national parks in the north. You can find it all here!

5 – Gorgeous scenery

From the gorgeous cobblestone streets everywhere, to the striking tiled buildings, Portugal will definitely take your breath away! Although throughout the country you will see some similarities, perhaps the greatest thing is that each place feels very unique. So you can literally travel 30 minutes and almost feel you are in a different country. An itinerary that really illustrates this would be: the bustling city of Lisbon, the Old world charm of Porto, and the laid back, spectacular beaches of the Algarve. Over 450 miles of coastline offers so many beautiful places to soak up the beauty. From dramatic cliffs to warm, sandy beaches and steely blue waters, Portugal will make a lifelong impression on you. In addition to the mainland, Portugal has stunning beauty off the coast – the island of Madeira and the Azores. If you are a nature lover, you should definitely consider a stop at one of these islands.