There is a growing buzz about Portugal as a travel destination and it has appeared on lists of best places to travel. These reasons continue to attract visitors from all over the world and make it a top destination for travelers of all types. Whether you like art, history, local food, nature, beaches, wine or a variety of other experiences, we think Portugal should be at the top of your travel destination list too. Here are just a few of our reasons why Portugal is the perfect destination for all types of travelers.
We were guests at Visit Cascais, Discovering Madeira and Martinhal Family Hotels and Resorts. All opinions expressed are our own based on our experiences.
1. Museums And Street Art For Art Lovers
Portugal is guaranteed to please even the most demanding art lover. Whether you like to look for local artists in galleries, see extraordinary masterpieces in museums or discover exciting street art, Portugal has got you covered. The Berardo Collection Museum and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum have wonderful exhibitions. Carcavelos is the birthplace of graffiti in Portugal. For art in the beautiful Azores, check out Galeria Fonseca Macedo on São Miguel with contemporary works by both established and up-and-coming artists.
Work at the Berardo Art Deco Museum See the article : 4000 beagles!.
Berardo Art Deco Museum
One of our favorite places to visit is the Berardo Art Deco Museum (BMAD) located in Alcântara, Lisbon (also home to the fun LX Factory complex). Hundreds of pieces of furniture, sculptures, paintings and other decor illuminate Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts and Art Deco movements in a period setting. When you book the curated tour, your visit includes a wine tasting on the lovely secluded garden terrace afterwards.
2. Ancient Sites For History Buffs
Looking into Portugal’s past includes human history. Ancient ruins, historic architecture, monuments and libraries overflow with stories of exploration and experience. The fascinating Azulejos tiles embody Portugal’s Moorish past. See the article : Lifestyle is now top priority for expats when considering moving abroad, survey finds. The mysterious wells at Quinta Da Regaleira in Sintra as well as many buildings in Tomar tell stories about the Knights Templar. Roman ruins, aqueducts, castles, forts and other ancient sites can be found all over Portugal. Coimbra, home to the oldest university in Portugal, has a library of 15th-century books, and the ruins of Conimbriga are an impressive site of Roman ruins.
Évora
For a very close look at an ancient Roman site, the historic center of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a spectacular example of a Roman temple that you can walk all the way around. It is so well preserved that it almost doesn’t look real. See the article : Cameron Diaz on lifestyle change to return to acting. While in Évora, be sure to enjoy the wonderful wine and exceptional local cuisine.
3. Local Cuisine For Foodies
If food is your jam, then Portugal is your cup of tea. Every corner of the country has something local and delicious to discover. From seafood along the coast to the famous porco preto (black pork) inland and fresh produce everywhere, it truly is a foodie’s paradise. Let’s not forget the bread and pastries, especially since almost every city has its own specialities. There are restaurants overlooking the water, places for cityscapes and small local village tascas (family restaurants) offering homemade local food. Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and other cities popular with tourists will provide many international flavors. After living in Portugal for over a year now, we find that our favorite food is fresh local food prepared with care.
Cheeses In Portugal
There is so much good food to discover in Portugal. And we really love the cheese. There are many different cheeses made in each part of Portugal, so you can actually taste the culture of each place embodied in the cheese. Fresh, aged, melted, cow, sheep, goat – there is something for all cheese lovers to discover.
4. Parks And Trails For Nature Lovers
Portugal’s landscape offers a lot of variety. While city dwellers will love the cities, there are plenty of green spaces to visit as well. In northern Portugal, Peneda-Gerês National Park is a great place to explore. In addition to the exceptional diversity of the park, there are also staged hiking trails that you can tailor to your interests and abilities. Closer to Lisbon, the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is a fun place to walk in nature along the coast.
Parque Marechal Carmona, nicknamed “Chicken Park” by the locals
Parque Marechal Carmona
A park we love to visit when we want to go out is Parque Marechal Carmona in Cascais. Nicknamed “Chicken Park” by the locals, it is populated by a variety of birds, including chickens, ducks, geese, wild parrots and even peacocks. The property has grassy areas, picnic tables shaded by trees, a pond complete with sun-lazing turtles and a small cafe.
5. The Atlantic Shores For Beach Lovers
Surfers, sunbathers and those who just enjoy a stroll along the coast are in luck with Portugal’s 832 kilometers (517 miles) of Atlantic coastline. Surfers are attracted by the incredible waves at meccas such as Peniche, Ericeira and Nazaré. Beautiful beaches along Portugal’s west coast support a range of activities from sailing to SUP. Sun worshipers love the hot summer and cold waters of the Algarve to the south.
The Paredão
To walk (or cycle) by the sea, but not in the sand, we love Paredão. This walkway with bike lanes runs along the coast, especially between Cascais and Estoril, and is dotted with some places dedicated to exercise equipment. Technically, you can walk all the way to Lisbon on the 20 kilometer long route, although we don’t know anyone who has.
6. Elegant Stays For Luxury Travelers
When you want some pampering, Portugal has many ways to enjoy life in luxury. For fine dining, choose from 28 Michelin star restaurants. And there’s no shortage of five-star hotels and resorts – in historic buildings, close to major attractions, with golf courses, spa treatments, ocean views and more. Private guided tours, elegant cruises, cooking classes, curated shopping and other VIP experiences can make for a lavish stay.
Palácio Estoril
James Bond fans can follow in the elegant footsteps of Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, where he found the inspiration for the cute secret agent. The Palácio Estoril Hotel was where it all happened. Spies, royalty, celebrities and diplomats mingled in the elegant resort. Stay and enjoy a 007 martini in the spy bar and entertainment at Casino Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera too.
Although Portugal receives more visitors every year, there are many places off the beaten track to discover something different. The fascinating Capuchos Monastery is a former monastery deep in the forest where Franciscan monks lived an austere life and lined the buildings with cork for warmth.
Berlenga is an island paradise for birds and a great place for those who like to watch them. Santana in northern Madeira has preserved unique thatched houses while Fajã dos Padres, also in Madeira, requires a cable car ride to reach. Sitting on the fortress terrace of Setúbal sipping Moscato wine while looking at the view is worth the climb.
Wandering around the stage is about as calm as it gets.
Parque Palácio dos Arcos
It’s great fun finding a special secret spot that’s hidden in plain sight. The wonderful town of Paço de Arcos is located right along the train line from Lisbon to Cascais. Hotel Vila de Gaia overlooks the sea there, and right behind are the lovely gardens of Parque Palácio dos Arcos, just waiting to be discovered. There are sculptures, flowers, a fountain and a beautiful view of the sea. Wandering around the stage is about as calm as it gets.
8. Vineyards For Wine Lovers
Each region in Portugal is a wine producing region. Some areas such as the Douro Valley, Dao, Alentejo and Vinho Verde are very famous for their outstanding wines, so visiting wineries in these regions is at the top of many wine lovers’ lists. But there are also some surprising places that produce interesting wines like Colares, where the vines actually grow in the sand, or Carcavelos, where the sweet fortified wine tastes like salted caramel. Known for their Port, Madeira and Moscatel wines respectively, Porto, Madeira and Setúbal are great places to visit the vineyards. Spend the night at a quinta, or vineyard, to get the full benefit of an education in Portuguese winemaking.
Quinta De La Rosa
We had a wonderful time staying at Quinta de la Rosa, the inn of a family-run winery in the Douro. The accommodation was comfortable with lovely views of the Douro River and terraced vineyards right from our room. Take a tour of the vineyards and do a wine tasting. The Quinta’s restaurant, Cozinha da Clara, named after the proprietor’s grandmother, serves exceptional fresh regional cuisine paired with wines produced by the Quinta.
9. Family Fun For Multigenerational Travelers
There is so much to see and do in Portugal that is great for families and all generations to enjoy together. Aveiro, known as Portugal’s Venice, has fun moliceiro boats that take tours along the canal. A few minutes away is Costa Nova, a beach town where colorful striped fishermen’s houses line the beach. Slate villages made of slate offer an interesting view of the past.
Quinta do Pisão is a family-friendly natural area for walking, exploring, learning many things and visiting the Portuguese indigenous burros. The medieval village of Óbidos offers fun festivals and activities for all ages. The typical village of José Franco in Mafra is fun to explore with the family, and the unique Aldea de Mata Pequena is a restored village with a small group of livestock to visit. Harry Potter fans will not want to miss Livraria Lello in Porto, an inspiration for the famous Hogwarts school. Portugal also has several zoos and aquariums.
The interior of Martinhal Lisboa
Martinhal Family Hotels And Resorts
Finding a place where multiple generations can all feel comfortable is no easy feat. This is where Martinhal Family Hotels And Resorts comes in handy. Designed for visiting families in Portugal, these properties are designed with the comfort and convenience of families in mind. Lisboa Chiado Martinhal offers apartment-style accommodation, a kids’ club, a baby concierge and a gin bar for parents on site. With locations in the Algarve and Cascais too, everyone in the family can have a good time.
Whatever your interests, we think Portugal is the perfect destination for all types of travelers.
