 Portugal is one of the most inexpensive and fascinating destinations in
Europe. It has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful
towns and cities, and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards
and wheat fields.
For such a small country, you have many options from which to choose: A
San Francisco-esque city, spreading over seven hills which descend into
the Rio Tejo (Tagus River)- Lisbon is
perhaps Europe’s most pleasant and affordable city. Its fantastic
architecture, diverse population, delicious seafood, intriguing
tile-work and non-stop night-life bring together the best elements of
Portuguese life. Don’t miss an evening bar-hopping in the Barrio-Alto
listening to African music and Portuguese blues-fado!
Tour beautifully restored towns and well-preserved architecture of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in
Evora , Batalha and Alcobaça . If you are interested in monuments,
Evora and
Coimbra are must-sees.
The most beautiful natural areas lie in the Minho , Lima, and
Douro valley. You can explore the verdant beauty and rural customs of
the Minho Valley, or check out the spectacular gorge in the Douro valley.
The city of Oporto is located at the end of the Douro Valley, on
the sea, and is famous for its port wine. It is an excellent base for
exploring the region.
If it’s the beach you are after, the
Algarve
coast offers highly developed stretches of beach. The rest of the coast
(with the exception of the area near Lisbon and Porto) remain relaxing,
totally Portuguese and isolated. Great stretches of sand are there for
the relaxing, especially along the northern Costa Verde , near Viano do
Castelo . The beaches near southern Alentejo are the most remote and
least populated.
Transportation and accommodation are excellent and very
reasonable, perhaps the cheapest in Europe. The wine is excellent and
don’t forget to try some vinho do Porto (port), Portugal’s most famous
export. If you are interested click here.
This article is written by contributors of world66.com, modified by travelers-online.com editors and licensed under a Creative Commons License .
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