Portugal
Endorsed by the families wiling away hours frolicking on its beaches, the cruise connoisseurs drifting languidly up the Douro Valley and the privacy-seeking pairs sipping coffee in Madeira’s sleepy villages, it’s all about the take-it-easy ways in Portugal.
Endorsed by the families wiling away hours frolicking on its beaches, the cruise connoisseurs drifting languidly up the Douro Valley and the privacy-seeking pairs sipping coffee in Madeira’s sleepy villages, it’s all about the take-it-easy ways in Portugal.
In the far south, the ever-popular Algarve attracts sun seekers to its one hundred mile coastline. By the gently shelving beaches, tame waters wash romantic coves that beckon a dip and the open ocean is a playground for watersports; while on the limestone cliffs rests a legacy of Portugal’s Arabian past – evident in crumbling fortresses and fare laced with spices tempered by a glass of rosé.
Further north, Fado music rings out from the open doors of Lisbon’s late-night bars, conjuring a sense of the Portuguese soul. And a little way along the coast, the beach resorts of the Riviera sweep into view. Meanwhile, out to sea, the island of Madeira tempts year-round. With a mild Mediterranean milieu, it's the place to bask in natural beauty. Swapping golden sands for greenery, hike the Levadas, or wander through kaleidoscopic botanical gardens.
In pursuit of…
The speedy travel to these parts keeps the time restrained returning again and again, especially when it comes to the Algarve – you can wake up to grey skies and be reclined on a beach by late lunch. Ordinarily when somewhere appeals to the masses in that way, you’d expect a distinct lack of space, but that’s simply not the case. Visitors are soaked up by sprawling resorts even easier than they themselves soak up the sun, allowing whatever the inclination to be pursued fuss-free, whether it be finding a hidden spot on the renowned beaches or dabbling in a bit of local tradition with pottery classes or wine tastings.
A sense of place
Get to know our favourite spots in Portugal, from the differing beaches of The Algarve to Madeira’s idyllic landscapes.
Its essence...
The leading line-up
Portugal
Europe
Where chronicles go beyond the confines of the classroom; it’s the history that is rooted so deeply within its celebrated cities, sun-soaked coasts and bucolic countryside that makes Europe utterly timeless.