Portugal Travel
- Quick Facts
- Country code: PT
- Zone: Europe
- Country local name: República Portuguesa
- Demonym: Portuguese
- Official languages: Portuguese
- Driving on the right side of the road
- Currency:
- Internet TLD: .pt
- Calling code: +351
- Time zone: WET - Summer (DST) WEST (UTC0)
- Population: 10.676.910
- Capital: Lisboa
- Biggest city: Lisboa
Having existed as a country for more than eight centuries, Portugal shares the western tip of the Iberian peninsula with its neighbor (and longtime rival), Spain. Due to its North-South disposition along the Atlantic shore of the Iberian Peninsula, the country offers outstanding landscape diversity, allowing you to travel from the rocky mountains of the North to the fabulous beaches of Algarve.
Interested in monuments and historical sites? Enjoy the prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral, the royal castle of Sintra or the Temple of Diana in Évora. Lisbon and Porto also offer some remarkable views as well as an intense nightlife. If you plan to relax in the countryside, you can chose between Viana do Castelo, Chaves, Douro Valley, or Portalegre, but make sure not to miss Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of mainland Portugal .
Several fairs and music festivals expect you during the summer, especially in the northern part of the country, so there will be plenty for you to do if you get tired of surfing or lying on the beach. While on the coast, try the delicious fish soup (sopa de peixe), or the dried codfish known as bacalhau. Pork is also a choice and many restaurants specialize in roast sucking pig (leitão assado). The Moorish occupation left a legacy of varied breads and sweets, and you can wash everything down with a bottle of red wine - the favorite among the locals.
Interested in monuments and historical sites? Enjoy the prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral, the royal castle of Sintra or the Temple of Diana in Évora. Lisbon and Porto also offer some remarkable views as well as an intense nightlife. If you plan to relax in the countryside, you can chose between Viana do Castelo, Chaves, Douro Valley, or Portalegre, but make sure not to miss Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of mainland Portugal .
Several fairs and music festivals expect you during the summer, especially in the northern part of the country, so there will be plenty for you to do if you get tired of surfing or lying on the beach. While on the coast, try the delicious fish soup (sopa de peixe), or the dried codfish known as bacalhau. Pork is also a choice and many restaurants specialize in roast sucking pig (leitão assado). The Moorish occupation left a legacy of varied breads and sweets, and you can wash everything down with a bottle of red wine - the favorite among the locals.
Below you'll find the list of top airports in Portugal
Sao Jorge Island
(SJZ), Sao Jorge Island
Vila Real
(VRL), Vila Real
Francisco Sa Carneiro
(OPO), Porto , Pedras Rubras, 4470 - 558 Maia
The climate can be classified as Oceanic in the north and Mediterranean in the south.
In Madeira and Azores Atlantic archipelagos spring and summer are sunny, whereas autumn and winter are rainy and windy.
Absolute extremes registered so far have been -23 °C in Serra da Estrela and 48 °C in the Alentejo region.
When to go
Summer months are most crowded, but south regions with their Mediteranean climate (Algarve) can be visited also in spring and autumn.
Ski season is best in January and February.
In Madeira and Azores Atlantic archipelagos spring and summer are sunny, whereas autumn and winter are rainy and windy.
Absolute extremes registered so far have been -23 °C in Serra da Estrela and 48 °C in the Alentejo region.
When to go
Summer months are most crowded, but south regions with their Mediteranean climate (Algarve) can be visited also in spring and autumn.
Ski season is best in January and February.
