Highlights
Festivals
Traditional festivals with dancing, drinking and feasting occur throughout the year, including Lisbon's festival of St Anthony in June and the Madeira Flower Festival at Easter.
Beaches
With an enviably mild year-round climate, The Algarve is the perfect place for a family holiday. For tranquil seas perfect for all ages, head for the Sotavento region. And if celebrity spotting and stylish sunbathing is your thing then the beach of Ancão, between Quinto do Lago and Vale de Lobo is the place to visit. The beaches of the Ria Formosa are also supremely popular, dotted with islands and lagoons, this picturesque nature park is home to miles and miles of sandy beaches. Choose Armona beach for the awe-inspiring sunsets.
Culture
Portugal's heritage is fascinating, its history and culture can be seen everywhere, still influencing its landscapes, cities and people. Moorish legends, traditional houses, castles and roman ruins all vie for your attention whilst local handicrafts, artworks and cuisine still retain much of their historical significance.
Golf
As well as being a superb holiday destination for all the family, Portugal is also renowned for being a golfer's paradise and the Algarve stands out as a highlight due to its thirty or so high-class courses. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice to the great game, there’s a course that’s just right for you, many of them designed by legends such as Henry Cotton, Rocky Roquemore and Arnold Palmer. Many are also home to International competitions, so if practicing your swing where the professional’s play is your thing, then head to courses such as San Lorenzo or the Old Course at Vilamoura.
Cuisine & Fine Wine
Excellent cuisine is at the heart of any Portuguese holiday. Plentiful delights caught fresh from the sea will grace many a table, whether it be simple grilled fish, succulent and mouth watering, or a more elaborate seafood dish awash with juicy shellfish. While port is naturally associated with the country, it also boasts some very fine wine such as Douro and Alentejo reds.
Islands
Madeira has to be one of the most beautiful islands in the whole of Europe, noted for its stunning gardens filled with dazzlingly beautiful and exotic flowers, it’s a must for all nature lovers. It also boasts a spectacular New Years Eve firework display ranked as the biggest in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Be sure to sample some of the delicious Madeira wine – the perfect end to any meal. And the best place to stay while on the island has to be the classic Belmond Reid's Palace.