There are countless reasons to visit Portugal. Some of them are obvious. For example, world-class wines sold at local grocers are no more expensive than a tram ticket in Lisbon. But Portugal is also famous for its libraries, museums, beaches, gorgeous landscapes. In addition, it is one of the safest oldest and most picturesque countries in Europe.
Undoubtedly, each tourist pursues his goals in his travels and is looking for different places. Here are the best places in Portugal for every type of traveler.
1
For solo travelers: Porto
Both the capital of Portugal and the second largest city are perfect for single travelers. People in Porto are very smiling and friendly. The beautiful city on the banks of the Douro River has a slightly calmer pace of life than Lisbon with the perfect combination of culture, nightlife and cuisine. Here, any traveler feels at home.
English is quite widespread here, and local youth is almost always ready to communicate, make new acquaintances with foreign guests. In any cafe you will be treated to a glass of brown port and franceschina (a local sandwich stuffed with meat, covered with cream cheese and coated with tomato and beer sauce). You are expected to walk along the well-groomed alleys decorated with flower beds. In addition, the prices in Porto hotels are much lower than, for example, in Lisbon.
2
Gourmet: Evora
Good food in Portugal you definitely can not escape! From succulent seafood in the south, to deli meats in the north. Nevertheless, the Alentejo region (where the town of Evora is located) stands out as a culinary superstar. But first of all, prepare for an hour and a half trip from Lisbon to Evora.
Taste local wine with pickled pork, fattened with acorns, try the best national dishes of salted cod and olive oil. The editors of most-beauty.ru advises shellfish (unless, of course, you are not afraid of the abundance of garlic). Then stroll through the ruins of a Roman temple in the center of a UNESCO listed city.
3
For tourists: Coimbra
Coimbra is a famous student city of Portugal due to its university, the oldest and most prominent in the country. This town is less visited than Porto and Lisbon, so the prices are affordable. A vibrant city is especially energetic when students begin sessions.
Budget travelers can choose between quiet nights, with fado music, or loud carnivals that spill onto the streets until the early hours of the morning. Hostels merge with historical sites, festivals are held throughout the year, and there is an endless supply of delicious, delicious dishes.
4
For wine lovers: Douro Valley
Porto is a city on the Douro River, known for its fortified port. But there is a large wine region, listed by UNESCO, one of the oldest in the world, outside the second city of Portugal, and it deserves a visit.
Not only for lovers of sweet, dessert wines, the Douro Valley opens its arms. Her well-groomed vineyards dotted with fifths or estates will make you stay here for a few days to try all sorts of wine drinks.
5
For extended stays: Lisbon
The drawback of Lisbon is the huge number of travelers who fill the city in the midst of the tourist season. Everything else in the city is great! Many are so blinded and impressed that they decide to stay for a while, so the Portuguese capital is the main place for business trips and other long-term trips.
It has everything you need for life and work - many cafes and bars, libraries and museums. In addition, tourists will enjoy the uncontrollable nightlife in Bairro Alto, music festivals in Alfama.
Accommodation here is varied in price - from expensive fashionable world-class hotels to cheap hotels. Choose you.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru you can find a list of the most beautiful capitals in the world.
6
For water sports: Peniche
Surfing is the most popular pastime in Peniche, a small fishing town with huge waves. Medan Grande Beach is one of the best places to conquer the waves on the continent. Some call it Top wave Supertubos - the European pipeline.
Competitions such as the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal are held here annually. Peniche is also popular for windsurfing, kitesurfing and bodyboarding. A 30-minute boat ride away is the Berlengas Island Nature Reserve, where you can go diving and enjoy sunken ships.
7
Fans of vibrant nightlife: Albufeira or Portimão
Known for sunny beach days, most of the Algarve region in the south of Portugal turns into a center of alcohol and dance after dark. This is a popular place for young travelers who want to let off steam during spring break, a place. Albufeira is the best choice for tourists at stag and hen parties. There are many options for leisure activities - from quiet cozy cafes to clubs with dancing at the bar.
If you like late night and good alcohol, but are not interested in noisy parties, then it is better to prefer the city of Portimão. Here you will sit on the sun loungers of the long Golden Sands of Praia da Rocha and Tres Irmaos, where you can enjoy the peace and the sound of the surf. Jazz is played in local coastal bars, casinos are open and pretty cheap cocktails are pouring.
8
For a romantic getaway: Sintra or Aveiro
Sintra is a fabulous city located a little less than an hour from Lisbon. This proximity to the capital makes it an ideal weekend for couples in love. From the cozy city center you can walk to the bright red and yellow Pena Palace, which successfully combines different architectural styles.
Spend your day (or several days) visiting the Quinta da Regaleira palace grounds garden, the peaks of Castelo dos Mouros hill and the Moorish National Palace of Sintra. Later you can go to the wooded mountains of Sintra and Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of mainland Portugal. Before you leave, try the local sweet cheese and aerial pastries from the Piriquita bakery.
Aveiro is a calm city about an hour's drive south of Porto. It is often referred to as “Venice in Portugal” because of its canal system, although the iconic boats here are long, colorfully painted. They are called moliceiros (moliseros). Fall in love with the city center as well as your partner, fluttering between the Art Nouveau houses and historical, religious sites.
You can also at any time convenient for you to go to the beach, which works around the clock. The cities of Sintra or Aveiro are ideal places to confess your feelings or make a sweetheart marriage proposal.
9
For peace, tranquility and culture: Geris
Travel north of Portugal to discover this magnificent country before the tourist boom. Most tourists stay in Porto without reaching the magical town of Geris. But it is here that you will find picturesque waterfalls, thermal springs, ancient Roman ruins, which are suitable for a quiet family vacation. There are many museums, national parks and reserves.
What many locals call simply Gerês is actually Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only fantastic place to spend a few nights away from civilization.
10
For families: Tavira
Tavira is a resort in the Algarve. It is ideal for those who do not like noisy megalopolises, but prefer quiet sleeping areas. Sandy open spaces and warm, calm waters of Praia do Barril have long attracted vacationing families from Portugal and neighboring Spain. In the city you will find white Moorish architecture filling the cobbled streets, and more churches than hotels. However, finding good housing, a villa or a guest house is unlikely to be a problem.
11
For history buffs: Guimaraes
Guimaraes was the birthplace of the first king of Portugal and is considered by many to be the cradle of the whole country. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2001 for its role in developing Portuguese identity as the earliest capital in the 12th century. The historic city consists of well-preserved architecture, decorated with characteristic azulejo tiles dating from the 15th century. Everything is designed in this style - from monasteries to mansions.
Take a trip from Porto to a small area of Braga. Do not miss the famous Guimaraes castle, the gothic church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the Alberto Sampaio Museum.
Do not miss on our site most-beauty.ru a fascinating article about the most beautiful castles in the world.
12
For unity with nature: Azores
The fast-growing popularity of an archipelago of nine islands in the Mid Atlantic, known as the Azores, is associated with the beautiful scenery of these places. Here lovers of outdoor activities gather.
San Miguel is the largest, most developed island with an impressive number of lagoons and crater lakes, hiking trails, caves for exploring, waterfalls and hot springs, where you can soak in the purest water of a comfortable temperature.
The second place in attendance is occupied by the three-hundred-year-old settlements of Terceira, Pico and Fayal, and Flores is an underrated outsider in the town.
Here, in nature, you can also attend many cultural events, such as the annual festival of the Holy Spirit.
Sustain your energy at local national cuisine restaurants — stews with smoked sausages or freshly caught seafood (such as mackerel and octopus) are definitely worth a try. Do not forget about the confectionery products of Portuguese bakeries.
Summary
In Portugal, every tourist, regardless of their preferences, will find a place for themselves. Feel free to go to this amazing charming country and do not forget to bring souvenirs to your relatives. And if you were in this country, write to us in the comments what the most beautiful places in Portugal would you add to this list.