Beach Holiday

All beaches in the country are municipal. As a rule, the beaches are equipped with small shops, bars and water equipment rentals, where you can also rent umbrellas and sunbeds. See toppharmacyschools for geography, climate and cuisine in Portugal.

The Lisbon Riviera and the Algarve region provide vacationers with beautiful sandy beaches to suit all tastes.

The beaches of Madeira are often pebbly or artificial.

Before swimming, you must carefully study the special flags set on the beach. Red flags – no swimming, yellow flags – you need to be extremely careful when swimming, green flags – safe swimming.

Leisure

Most resort areas in Portugal offer a variety of water activities: windsurfing, surfing, boating, water skiing, fishing, snorkelling, catamarans, water cruises and much more.

Diving fans should visit Madeira Island, whose coastal waters are home to many different mollusks and fish, as well as several sunken ships and underwater caves.

For fans of outdoor activities in major cities of the country there are many golf courses, popular of which are Estoril and Quinta de Marinha, located near Lisbon, Royal Golf Course – in the Algarve.

There are many cycling routes in the country, traveling along which you can get acquainted with natural attractions and beautiful landscapes.

Hiking is also fairly common in Portugal. Many short hiking trails can be found in the Peneda-Gerês park.

Horse riding is possible in some resorts and in the national park of the capital. The Algarve mountains will offer stunning views of the surrounding areas.

One of the extreme sports in Portugal is paragliding, which is widespread in Madeira.

Tours

Portugal is a fairly small country with a rich historical heritage. Most cities keep the most ancient monuments, which annually attract millions of tourists.

Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city has many old buildings, funiculars, steep stairs, old quarters, and parks.

Popular tourist spots in the city are Rossio Square, Reshtauradores Square, Marquis de Pombal Square and Praça do Comércio Square.

In the Belen area, there is the Jeronimos Monastery, built in 1502, in whose pantheon the relics of Manuel the First and Vasco da Gama are kept, the Torre de Belen lighthouse and the Belen Palace, which today houses the Carriage Museum.

Also in the city it is worth visiting the fortress of Sao Jorge, the Cathedral of Se, the Church of Our Lady, the Mitra Palace, which houses the Museum of Lisbon, the Palace of the National Assembly, the Municipal Palace, the Church of San Domingo, the Church of St. Vincent do Fora, the tower of Elevador de Santa Justa and others.

There are many excellent museums in Lisbon, among which you should definitely visit the Museum do Chiado, the Calosta Gulbenyan Museum, the National Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Ceramics, the Ethnographic Museum, etc.

Sintra

Sintra is a beautiful city, formerly the summer residence of the kings of Portugal. Over the long history, many excellent castles, fortresses and palaces have been built in the city. The city has been declared by UNESCO as a “patrimony of mankind”.

In the city, one can observe the Pena Palace, the Moorish Palace, the Cleche Palace, the Paco Real Palace and other architectural monuments.

Porto

The city of Porto, founded in the 6th century BC, is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. Notable in the city are the Cathedral, the Church of San Francisco, the Clerigos Tower, the Bishop’s Palace, the City Hall, the Sao Bento Station, the Botanical Garden of Porto, etc.

Braga

The city of Braga is the oldest city in Portugal. Today the city is the religious, cultural and industrial center of the country.

5 kilometers from the city is the country’s shrine – the Church of Christ on Golgotha, built in 1811. Near the church there are many fountains, small chapels and ponds.

It is also worth visiting the “Old Town”, notable for its variety of churches, palaces and streets decorated with fountains, City Hall, Cathedral, Santa Cruz Church, Miserecordia Church, St. Mark’s Chapel and much more.

San Miguel

Sao Miguel is the largest island in the Azores archipelago. The main natural attractions of the island are the Sete Cidades crater, Fushnas and Agua de Po calderas, Lake of Fire, Vale dos Furnas valley and Terra Nostra Park.

In the city of Punta Delgada – the capital of San Miguel, it is worth visiting the church of San Pedro, the house of Kalush Bikudu, the church of San Sebastian, the palace complexes of Santa Ana and Fonte Bela, etc.

Terceira

Terceira was the third island discovered in the Azores archipelago. The main attraction of Teiseira is Angra do Heroismo, the capital of the island, which was included in the UNESCO list.

In the city, it is worth visiting Colegio dos Jezuitage, Fort São João Batista, Capitais Generaes Palace, Sant Sebastian Fort, Betancourt Palace, etc.

Faial

Faial Island, located in the heart of the archipelago, is one of the most picturesque islands in the group. The capital of the island is the city of Horta, where you should visit Porto Pim Fortress, Levada Alley, San Francisco Church, San Salvador Church, Museum of Ecclesiastical Art, etc.

Holidays and festivals

A large number of various festivals and holidays are held in the country, often arranged in honor of the commemoration of saints, pilgrimages, fairs, etc.

Each settlement in the northern part of the country is rich in its own festive traditions, which are accompanied by fireworks, music, dances and various rituals. Each holiday of the country is accompanied by a traditional bullfight – a favorite sight of the Portuguese.

In Porto, from July 23-24, a festival dedicated to the Apostle John is held in Praça da Liberdade. In Braga, at the end of June, the Sant Joan festival is held, which lasts two days. In October, the Early Music Festival is held in Óbidos.

Every year at the end of April, Madeira hosts a colorful Carnival of Flowers and a bright Grape Harvest Festival in September. In winter, Madeira hosts luxurious carnivals, fairs, various rural festivals and fireworks.

In San Miguel, after Easter, the “Procession of the Sick” is held annually, which passes along a flower-strewn road. In the Azores on June 24, the most popular and biggest holiday is held – the Feast of St. John, which is accompanied by colorful processions and festive bonfires.

The last week of August in Lajes do Pico is Whalers’ Week. The first Sunday of August in Faial is referred to as the Week of the Sea. At the end of August, Santa Maria holds the Mare d’Agosta, a music festival. In São Mateus, Bon Jejus is celebrated on 6 August.