Portugal

Albufeira | Algarve | Alvor | Armacao de Pera | Faro | Funchal | Lisbon | Vilamoura

Portugal offers a rich variety of landscapes and historic towns. Visiting the undulating plains of the south, the dramatic mountain ranges, or the lush valleys of the north to take you far away from the crowds.

Portugal is great for kids - and the Portuguese are especially welcoming to them with lots of special kid-things for them to do. And Portugal offers great value for money!

How much does it cost?

At time of writing, you can expect to pay from £350 for a week self-catering in a villa in the Algarve in September (four sharing). Flights from £110 return. A double room in a mid-range hotel will cost you about £40 in high season and can drop as low as £25 in low season.

When should I go?

The Algarve is popular year-round and pleasant in the temperate winters (average temperature 16C/65F in Faro) as well as the scorching summers (28C/90F in July-August).

Portugal-wide the weather is good from April to October. The wettest season is November-March; the soggiest regions are in the extreme north and the central mountains.

The ski season runs between January-March and the only really good skiing is in February.

Braga's Easter or Holy Week Festival features colourful processions, and the Festa de Sao Joao in June is biggest in Porto where everyone dances through the streets. In Albufiera the Festa da Ourada on August 15 has a beach procession and party.

Where's best for beach holidays?

There are two main areas for beach holidays: the Algarve and the Lisbon coast around Estoril and the Caparica peninsula.

The Lisbon coast has an abundance of former palaces, mazes of cobbled streets, the cosmopolitan Estoril and sophisticated Cascais resorts. On the Setubal Peninsula you can get to hidden beaches by narrow-gauge railway during the season.

The main resorts in the Algarve surround Albufeira, which stretches 10km taking in many smaller villages. Ferragudo, Alvor and Praia do Vau are more peaceful resorts centred on tiny fishing villages.

Vilamoura is a purpose built resort with excellent sports facilities, which also serve nearby Almancil prettily nestling in olive and citrus groves. Cabanas has a beautiful beach and is 5km from the prettiest town in the Algarve - Tavira.

What else can I do?

Visit Lisbon. The laid-back capital has time-warp architecture, seven hills, waterside views, funiculars and trams.

See the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Museu do Azulejo, the Castelo Sao Jorge, the Capela de Sao Joao Baptista.

The lovely town of Sintra high on a hilltop, surrounded by lush woods and verdant valleys, has a beautiful medieval palace and grand mansions.

In the Algarve, visit Portimao's pretty squares and streets and Lagos' fortress and harbour. Take inland tours of the mountains and valleys, stopping at the tiny villages with their churches and squares.

Portugal is often seen as a more sophisticated alternative to the Spanish Costas. The great combination of culture and beaches offers a cosmopolitan feel to a beach holiday. One of the biggest growth areas for Portugal has been through the golf industry, the diversity and choice of golf courses has undoubtedly made Portugal a firm favourite for golf breaks. This in turn has attracted more families and couples to explore other regions.

One of the great things about Portugal is the way it has developed as a tourist destination whilst maintaining its tradition and charm, a key point to keeping the high numbers of visitors who return year after year.
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Albufeira offers a resort of contrasts. There is the old town and its characteristic cobbled streets perched on the cliff top, hours can be spent perusing the shops or relaxing in a cafe or restaurant watching the world go by. There is also a beach for the sun baskers, the main section of which is accessible through a tunnel cut into the picturesque cliffs. At one end of the sandy beach you will find some fishing boats, a gently reminder of the town's history. A fantastic resort, the large number of repeat visitors every year proves this.

The Algarve has been a favourite destination of a number of people for a few years now. This is not by coincidence, it is a lovely destination. Unspoilt by the influx of holidaymakers the resorts have been able to maintain their Portuguese style and characteristics whilst catering for the tourists. One of the key attractions of the Algarve has to be the traditional cuisine; many of the resorts have been developed from small fishing communities with many of the fishermen still going out on a daily basis.

Alvor is a traditional Portuguese fishing village which has developed into a small quaint resort; it remains unspoilt but offers everything needed for a relaxing holiday. The main sandy beach is located at Praia de Alvor and has been recognised for its standard of cleanliness and peaceful surroundings. Water sports are available for those who wish to do more than laze on the beach. There are numerous excellent fish restaurants serving local cuisine - all taking advantage of the daily catch.

A charming fishing village the resort of Armacao de Pera has one of the longest beaches in the Algarve. A promenade lined with bars and restaurants provides an excellent place for a relaxing drink or meal during the day or in the evening. Praia de Rocha has developed into the thriving resort. The wide golden sandy beach is spacious and surrounded by amazing limestone cliffs. Promenade cafes and restaurants give a great view of the beach and sea from the top of these cliffs. There are many water sports on offer during the daytime as well as tennis, sailing and horse-riding. At night there are numerous busy restaurants, bars and nightclubs and a casino to keep you entertained until the early hours.

Vilamoura has become the most stylish and chic resort in the Algarve. Its purpose- built Marina is surrounded by excellent bars and restaurants serving locally caught fish specials. The surrounding narrow streets are home to some expensive designer boutiques and cafes. The resort has also become popular with sports enthusiasts due to the three championship golf courses, tennis, fishing, sailing, and horse-riding. Apart from the restaurants and bars, the casino also attracts a large proportion of people during the evenings. This is an excellent resort to sample the lifestyle of the rich and possibly famous.

Off the coast of the Algarve the tiny island of Madeira. The scenery is stunning, overwhelmed by the array of flowers and blooms which scent the air incredibly. The mountainsides are dramatic with plunging waterfalls. In addition there is an incredible amount of 16th Century architecture which gives a great insight to the history of the island.

As with other Portuguese resorts, Lisbon offers an abundance of history and the perfect location from which to explore the mountains, coastal resorts as well as the capital city of Portugal. Just 30 minutes from the beach Lisbon provides a great combination for cosmopolitan and beach break. The resorts of Cascais, Estoril and Ofir offer golden sandy beaches for a relaxing day in the sun as well as a good selection of restaurants to enjoy the evening and local cuisine.