Portugal travel

For a combined cultural and active holiday in the heart of unspoiled nature, a stay in the Alentejo is ideal! Amid beautiful landscapes dotted with olive trees, vineyards and holm oaks, the Alentejo preserves a breathtaking historical and archaeological heritage. From the “museum city” of Évora, whose sumptuous medieval and Renaissance palaces have earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, to the ruins of the Roman city of Miróbriga, evidence of its rich past is ever-present. A trip to Alentejo will also allow you to discover protected natural areas such as Serra da Estrela and to enjoy an eco-friendly travel experience close to nature.

While their name inevitably evokes the anticyclone, the nine islands of the Azores, in the heart of the North Atlantic and forged by volcanoes, have become a cherished destination for travellers seeking an unspoiled environment, numerous outdoor activities, and a welcoming setting away from the main tourist flows. Every stay in the Azores is unique, as the nine islands are so different, from Flores with its ever-present flowers, to the iconic conical silhouette of Pico volcano towering over the archipelago at 2,300 metres (7,546 feet), from the gentle, welcoming hills of Santa Maria to the cliffs of São Miguel. A trip to the Azores, combining hiking and water sports, will also be a truly fascinating cultural discovery.

There is a Portugal between Porto and Lisbon, a Portugal between the two jewels in the crown. Less well-known but rightly waiting to be discovered, the Centre is not short on protected treasures. Its heritage is first and foremost built of stone, seen in the monasteries of Tomar, Batalha and Alcobaça, the ramparts of Óbidos or the University of Coimbra, the oldest in the country. Next, discover natural heritage with the beaches of Nazaré and Peniche where you can surf, the canals of Aveiro where traditional boats glide by, or the dense Buçaco Forest, reminiscent of a jungle and home to 700 plant species. And finally, human heritage, where you discover a people with their feet firmly planted in the land but their gaze turned towards the horizon, deeply attached to their history yet eager to share it.

As the departure point for the ships of the Age of Discovery, Lisbon is resolutely turned towards the ocean. Discovering this city steeped in history, dynamic, lively, and welcoming, during a stay in Lisbon and along its coast is a journey through time, from the Castelo de São Jorge, conquered from the Moors in the 12th century, to the Jerónimos Monastery from the Manueline period, passing by the baroque church of São Roque and the classical Baixa district. After exploring the city, your trip to Lisbon and its coast will offer you wonderful moments of relaxation, with surfing, swimming, and discovering the parks of Sintra-Cascais and the Tagus estuary, just a few kilometres or miles from the city centre.

Off the coast of Morocco, swept by the long swells of the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese island of Madeira is a world of a thousand facets. A journey to Madeira will lead you to the steep cliffs with red and black volcanic rocks at Ponta de São Lourenço, to the calm, crystal-clear waters of the natural pools of Porto Moniz, into the heart of the lush vegetation that flourishes everywhere, and to the magnificent botanical gardens of the capital, Funchal. A stay in Madeira is also an opportunity to explore hundreds of kilometres or miles of hiking trails along the famous levadas, those irrigation channels that water the entire island and traverse fascinating landscapes.

Eternal rival of Lisbon, Porto, the country’s second largest city, overlooks a region with exceptional natural and historical heritage. From Porto’s medieval and Baroque monuments to its hillsides under vine, almond and olive trees terraced above the Douro, from the Roman remains of Chaves to the Cidadela de Bragança, from the castles of Guimarães to the Northern Littoral Natural Park, your journey to Porto and northern Portugal will lead you from one surprise to another, from discovery to wonder, all with a complete change of scenery. A stay in Porto and northern Portugal is a kaleidoscope of sensations and images, where the warmth of the locals’ hospitality and the gentle pace of life prevail.