Luxury Portugal Holidays

Sometimes referred to as ‘Europe’s west coast’, Portugal is a country of picturesque vineyard-filled rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and year-round sunshine. Add to that stunning hotels, and it’s no wonder Portugal is such a popular luxury holiday destination. Whether you want to relax on a beach, go trekking through the hills, discover the remnants of the country’s far-reaching history, or discover new flavours on a vineyard tasting tour, pretty much all tastes and interests can be catered for in Portugal.

Speaking of tastes, Portuguese cuisine is another great reason to visit. With 1,700 kilometres of coastline, seafood features highly on most menus. From the Algarve specialty of cataplanas – a flavourful local dish of seafood named after the special shallow-sided Portuguese pot it’s cooked in – to Porto’s delicacy of tripe stew, dishes tend to be fresh and light, but packed with flavour. Being neighbours with Spain, these meals are usually served up as small plates, similar to tapas, so you can sample as many different dishes as possible.

Portugal has a temperate climate, which varies slightly throughout the country. The north tends to be cooler, getting progressively warmer and drier as you go south. Portugal is a great destination any time of year. From June to August, the sun is reliable throughout the country, and even during the winter months temperatures in the Algarve average highs of 17°C, making it a great option if you prefer to avoid the cold.

Top Portugal beaches

The Algarve region is where Portugal’s most well-known and popular beaches can be found, and with good reason. Praia da Marinha and Benagil are two idyllic coves on the stretch of coast between Armação de Pêra and Centianes. There’s just one seasonal beach restaurant on Praia da Marinha, meaning the rest of the beach is just fine golden sand and a warren of coves backed by imposing cliffs. Take a cliff-top walk and you can wind around to the next beach, Benagil, where you can take a boat to the huge nearby sea cave that’s as big as a cathedral.

There are pretty beaches away from the Algarve, too, and as they’re more off the beaten track, they’re likely to be quieter. Foz de Minho is Portugal’s northernmost beach, located on a wooded peninsula one hour from Porto. Take a walk along the sand, and you’ll find that this sheltered river beach leads to an amazing Atlantic beach with an offshore fortified islet and mainland Spain just opposite from where you stand.

An hour’s drive from Lisbon, there’s Galapos beach, which is near the tiny harbour village of Portinho da Arrábida on the coast of the Parque Natural da Arrábida. The park has been protected since 1976, and is home to wildcats, polecats and eagles. Galapos is considered the most scenic of the coves dotted along this part of the coastline, with its calm waters and sandy beach backed by rocky outcrops and greenery.

Find dinosaur footprints

There are many areas of natural and historical interest around Portugal, many of which make for a breath-taking treat after tackling a long trek. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is one of 13 natural parks in the country. It covers the westernmost point, and includes the Serra de Sintra mountain range, which provide amazing vistas. There are also several sites of archaeological interest, such as consolidated fossil dunes, dinosaur footprints and fields of calcareous stone eroded by the seawater. You can even get a diploma to prove that you’ve visited.

See the cliffside caverns

There’s more rock-related fun to be had at the caverns of Algar Seco, in the Algarve. The white cliffs feature several archways and caves, which have been formed by being thrashed by waves over thousands of years. You should get up close to get a sense of the scale of these formations, so it’s best to book a boat trip to see them from the water, or scale the cliffside steps, which will take you down to the grotto pool.

Take in a round of golf

Making the most of so much scenic landscape, Portugal is also home to some world-class golf courses. Many of these can be found in the Algarve region, particularly in the luxurious town of Vilamoura. But there are also outstanding courses in the north of the Algarve, such as Monte Rei, which has sweeping views of the Serro do Caldeirão mountains to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

Go ghost spotting

For a taste of ghostly history, Castelo de Silves in the Algarve is a grand Islamic building, and was reportedly built in the 8th century, when the town was the Moorish hub of the region. Scale the ramparts, and you’ll be able to look out across the lush surrounding countryside, as well as being able to see the huge stone soldier who is forever standing guard. The castle walls are also said to be haunted by a Moorish maiden, so keep your eyes peeled.

Portuguese cuisine

With so much of the country being coastal, seafood and shellfish feature heavily in Portuguese cuisine, which tends to be rustic and hearty. There are variations throughout the regions – sardines and mackerel are the specialities in the Algarve, whereas Porto, in contrast, is known for its tripe stew. Spanish influences are clear to see, as a lot of dishes are served up as small plates, much like tapas. Be sure to try national dish, Bacalhau, which is dried and salted cod. There are many variations on how to serve it – one popular way is with onions, olives, parsley, egg and chips, also known as Bacalhau à Brás.

Wine is also big business here, much of which will have come from the many vineyards in the more rural areas of the country, with many full-bodied reds and the delicate white wine, Planalto. And, of course, lots of port wines from around Porto.

Top Portuguese resorts

Lisbon

Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon is on the south-west coast of the country, built on the mouth of the River Tagus, just around the corner from the Atlantic Ocean. More understated than your average capital, Lisbon is an elegant, picturesque city that combines mountains, sea and city, so there’s plenty to see and do. There’s a medieval quarter, an area filled with museums and a cultural hub, which juxtapose with the more modern high-tech entertainment park, Parque das Nações, and the shopping area of Baixa. As you’d expect from a large city, there’s plenty of great nightlife options, too. The district of Bairro Alto is where most of the action takes place, as the streets come to life with the city’s best restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Porto

This riverside town is commonly photographed as having quaint, brightly-coloured buildings lining the banks of the river, but it’s anything but sleepy. The birthplace of port, the city is surrounded by acres of vineyards, the wares of which can be found in the many port wine lodges. There’s a great mix of architectural styles to be seen, ranging from a 12th-century cathedral to the incredibly modern Casa da Musica. There’s been somewhat of a food renaissance here of late, resulting in Porto becoming the home of several fine dining restaurants.

Algarve

This region along the south of the country has 150 beaches – all of them sandy, beautiful and with lots to do. Albufeira is a bustling city known for its nightlife, as well as family-friendly attractions such as waterparks. Vilamoura has a taste of luxury coastal life, with lots of high-end spas and hotels, as well as four championship golf courses. Plus, the expanse of estuaries, lagoons and sand islands is home to an array of tropical birds and other wildlife.

Estoril Coast

Located to the west of Lisbon, the Estoril Coast is also known for its excellent beaches, some of which are in the town’s sheltered bay. The town of Cascais can be found in this area, which has winding streets full of boutique shops and alfresco cafés perfect for people watching. Once the home of the King’s summer residence, which was copied by other members of nobility around the town, traces of aristocratic architecture can still be spotted, giving a rather grand feel.