Portugal Travel - Hotels, Sightseeing Tours, Attractions
Portugal has a rich seafaring past, great beach resorts, beautiful towns and a
stunning landscape covered in olive groves, vineyards and world heritage
sites.
Portugal’s bright capital,
Lisbon, is bordered by
river and coastline. The city is littered with monuments, Art Nouveau
buildings and picturesque mediaeval quarters. The seaside resort of
Estoril and hills
of the Serra de Sintra are only a drive away. If you’re looking for a few days relaxation then visit the tropical
island of Madeira. Set within a
spectacular landscape, which includes the largest evergreen forest in the
world - Laurisilva Forest, top-quality hotels and excellent service means
everybody feels comfortable. The
Algarve also has much to
offer, with its beaches among the best in the world. It also hosts
30 golf courses.
Porto, in the north, has a rich and
fascinating history. The mountainous region owes much of its character to
the River Douro whose vine-filled valley is today classified as a world
heritage site. Much of its heritage is based on shipping and trade, making
it a bustling and passionate city.
Actual News
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Portugal a better alternative than Spain An expert has suggested that Portugal is one of the most "robust and stable markets" around at present, offering a better prospect for overseas property investors than either new emerging markets or Spain.
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Lisbon
and Fatima
Combine a sightseeing tour of Lisbon with a visit to one of the most
important places of pilgrimage in the Catholic World - Fatima. Visit the
sights where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, and learn more
about this incredibly spiritual place. This tour is seasonal and operates from April to October only.
Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts,
wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat
fields. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of
Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals, it also remains refreshingly
affordable.
Savoring life slowly is a Portuguese
passion, and much of the best is humble - traditional folk festivals;
simple, honest food drowning in olive oil; music that pulls at the heart
strings, recalling past love and glories; and markets overflowing with fish,
fruit and flowers.
Four decades of dictatorship sidelined the
country from modern progress and Europe's power centers, but like its
neighbor, Spain, it has spent much of the last 20 years trying to move in
from the periphery, forging new ties with the rest of Europe, restructuring
its economy, and struggling to maintain what is best in its national culture
despite the sudden onslaught of international influences.
Travel to Lisbon - Lisbon is best explored on foot, as driving and
parking are difficult, to say the least. Some of the hills can be taxing to
climb, but in most cases a funicular or tram is available. Much of the
appeal of the city is to be found wandering up and down the streets.
Examples of both Moorish and art nouveau architecture are common, as well as
beautiful mosaic pavements. One of the highlights of Lisbon is the Castelo de
Sao Jorge, perched high above the city, and yet quite close by. Originally
built in the 5th century, it has undergone many extensions, and
modifications. It has been used as everything from a royal residence to a
prison. The panoramic views are magnificent. If your tastes are a little
more upbeat, then the area to visit is Bairro Alto. This area has long had
the reputation for containing the best restaurants and nightclubs in Lisbon.
Alternatively, if you want to go upmarket, then the shopping district for
you is Chiado. Lisbon also contains a number of excellent museums. The Museu
Calouste Gulbenkian contains what was originally a private collection of
classical and oriental art. The very generous benefactor left his collection
to the people of Portugal, along with a very generous charitable foundation.
Lisbon is the type of city that you can try to sample in a day, but it takes
much longer to truly appreciate all of its many and varied delights.
more .... Recommended Hotels Lisbon
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Lisbon Hotels -
Last Minute Hotels Lisbon -
Hotels Lisbon Surrounding -
Last Minute Hotels Lisbon Surroundings
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Lisbon Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions
Travel to the Algarve - The Southern coast of Portugal known as the
Algarve is a popular summer and winter holiday destination for thousands of
visitors each year. The Algarve is quite peculiar in that it borders both the
Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. A long fishing, sailing and Moorish history
contribute to the charm and warmth of the Algarve.
Sightseeing tours West Algarve
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Sightseeing tours East Algarve
- Recommended Hotels Algarve
Portugal - a golfers paradise
Easily reached, Portugal is a paradise where the golfer can play almost
every day of the year. Every course offers new and surprising landscapes,
backed up by excellent services and facilities. more ...
Accommodation in Portugal: Hotels, Last
Minute Hotels, Holiday apartments
Full country name: Portugal Area: 92,391 sq km Population: 10.4 million Capital City: Lisbon (pop 535,740) People: 99% Portuguese, 1% African Language: Portuguese Religion: 97% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant, 1% other Government: parliamentary democracy
Visas: None required for EU nationals. Nationals of Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and the USA can stay for 90 days visa-free. Everyone else
needs a visa. Health risks: sunburn (In the tropics, the desert or at high altitude
you can get sunburned quickly and seriously, even through clouds. The
southern reaches of the continent suffer from scathing ultraviolet, so be
extra careful there. Use a strong sunscreen, hat and barrier cream for your
nose and lips. Calamine lotion and aloe vera are good for mild sunburn.
Protect your eyes with good-quality sunglasses, particularly if you will be
near water, sand or snow) Time Zone: GMT/UTC 0 Dialling Code: 351 Electricity: 220V ,50Hz Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
Peak tourist season is roughly from mid-June to September, except in the
Algarve where it really only quiets down in the dead of winter. Carnaval and
Easter are two holidays celebrated with gusto all over the country and are
worth going out of your way for.
Faro Airport Shared Arrival Transfer
If you're staying on the Algarve coast, why not pre-book a transfer and let
all your worries fly away? Worry no more as you are picked up from Faro
International Airport and transferred to your hotel, bags and all! Begin
your holiday without a care in the world, as you relax on Portugal's
stunning Algarve coast! More
Airport Transfers in Portugal
Events
Portugal abounds with romarias (religious pilgrimages), festas
(festivals) and feiras (fairs) that bring whole towns to a
standstill. At the core of many are religious processions. The further north
you go, the more traditional and less touristy these celebrations get.
Carnaval is one of the biggest events, featuring partying, parading and
painted faces about six weeks before Easter. There are vast and colourful
processions during Braga's Easter or Holy Week Festival. The Festa
de São João in June is biggest in Porto where everyone dances through
the streets, amicably hitting each other over the head with leeks. The
Feira de São Martinho (Golegã, November) showcases all manner of horses,
riding contests and bullfights.
Public Holidays
New Year's Day - 1st January
Carnaval Tuesday - February/March - day before Ash Wednesday
Good Friday - March/April
Liberty Day - 25 April - celebrating 1974 revolution
Labour Day - 1 May
Corpus Christi May/June - ninth Thursday after Easter
Portugal Day 10 June - also known as Camões & the Communities Day
Feast of the Assumption - 15 August
Republic Day - 5 October - commemorating 1910 declaration of Portuguese
Republic
All Saints' Day - 1 November
Independence Day - 1 December - commemorating 1640 restoration of
independence from Spain
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 8 December
Christmas Day 25 December
Lisbon
and Fatima 
