9 of the best Portugal holiday destinations

Though a relatively small country, Portugal has a culture, history and landscape that can rival anywhere in Europe. The continent’s westernmost country has several enviable features, from a mild climate and a privileged location on the edge of the Atlantic to incredibly varied natural landscapes alongside characterful towns and cities. Capital is a perennially popular choice, while second city is gaining ground as more people visit for a weekend by the waters of the Douro. The ‘s magnificent beaches remain a draw for many, but tourists are starting to explore pastures new further into the Atlantic as the wild beauty of the autonomous islands of and the Azores begins to attract more visitors. With such a range of destinations, it can be difficult to choose exactly where to visit on your Portuguese getaway, so we’ve rounded up some of the best towns, cities and regions to get you inspired. A view over and the Sao Jorge Castle The country’s cosmopolitan capital is a great place to start a trip to Portugal. Its rising hills and cobbled alleys hide hundreds of years of history – from the Jeronimos Monastery to the imposing Sao Jorge castle that overlooks the city – while its vast port and waterfront areas mark a fusion of the city’s modern personality and maritime past. Landmarks such as the 16th-century Belem Tower are juxtaposed with rows of bars and restaurants lining the city’s historic squares. The central areas are easy to explore on foot, though the city is a large one; use the iconic Tram 28 cross the city in quintessentially style while seeing some of the sights; the route takes you through the characterful districts of Bairro Alto and Alfama. Near the waterfront, the LX Factory provides the hipster dream blend of shops and eateries housed in industrial warehouses, while Time Out Market is ‘s culinary heart, a large indoor market with stalls that showcase a variety of the city’s best restaurants, from steak-only stalls to the famous pasteis de nata (custard tarts). For great weather and fewer people, head to in the shoulder seasons. June and September have the best weather (think highs around 25C); May and October are likely to be cheaper while still bringing average temperatures around 17C. Found between the Chiado and Baixa areas, LX Boutique Hotel is an excellent base for exploring the city. Sitting near the waterfront, it has spacious rooms and an on-site sushi restaurant for an evening of slightly different cuisine. Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.length}} {{#amenities.foodDrink}} {{.}} {{/amenities.foodDrink}} {{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.internet}} {{.}} {{/amenities.internet}} {{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}} {{#amenities.services}} {{.}} {{/amenities.services}} {{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.parking}} {{.}} {{/amenities.parking}} {{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}} {{#amenities.health}} {{.}} {{/amenities.health}} {{/amenities.health.length}} {{/amenities}} Read more on Europe travel : The Ribeira district is ‘s finest waterside location Portugal’s second city has character to rival the capital. Located on the banks of the Douro River, the city is centred around its waterfront district, the Ribeira. Here, you’ll find grand old hotels and a proliferation of waterside bars and restaurants, many at excellent value – a relaxing drink by the waterside doesn’t often come this cheap in a major European city. Walking away from the water, stretches up the hills, first to the district of Vitoria, the old commercial centre of the city. In this Unesco-certified district, you’ll find excellent viewpoints (such as the Miradouro da Vitoria) and some of the city’s most important landmarks, including the Carmo church and the university. Venture further up and you’ll come to the districts of Cedofeita, Bolhao and Baixa (the grand Downtown area that contains many of the city’s best attractions, such as Bolhao Market and the Clerigos Tower). Early June is an excellent time to visit . The summer crowds will not have descended on the city, and temperatures average a pleasant 17C (with little chance of rain spoiling your day). The Carris Ribeira is in the district of the same name, overlooking the Douro. Its contemporary rooms offer city and river views; book a room with a terrace to make the most of the scenery. Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.length}} {{#amenities.foodDrink}} {{.}} {{/amenities.foodDrink}} {{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.internet}} {{.}} {{/amenities.internet}} {{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}} {{#amenities.services}} {{.}} {{/amenities.services}} {{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.parking}} {{.}} {{/amenities.parking}} {{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}} {{#amenities.health}} {{.}} {{/amenities.health}} {{/amenities.health.length}} {{/amenities}} Aveiro has been nicknamed the ‘Venice of Portugal’ Little over an hour south of lies Aveiro, a charming city lined with canals. Portugal’s answer to Venice is a less grand but similarly elegant city, where tourists gather to admire the Art Nouveau architecture and ride moliceiros (the Portuguese equivalent of gondolas) across the intricate network of waterways. The centre is filled with colourful facades and buildings adorned with azulejo tiles (typical of old Spanish, Portuguese and some Moorish buildings), while the promenades of the beaches at Barra and Costa Nova are lined with striped beach houses reminiscent of the stereotypical British seaside huts. Other attractions in the city include the Se Cathedral and the Aveiro Museum, and you can also enjoy the city’s nature, from birdwatching at the Ria de Aveiro lagoon to walking the four-mile trail around the Sao Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve. The weather is unlikely to get sweltering even at the height of summer, so a visit in July or August isn’t a bad option. Alternatively, to best avoid crowds while still enjoying the sun, June and September are the best months, with average temperatures around 17C. Located right in the centre of town, the Aveiro Palace has welcomed guests since 1937. Rooms here are modestly sized with minimalist decor, in contrast to the large, stylish common areas (and their impressive views across the canals). Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.length}} {{#amenities.foodDrink}} {{.}} {{/amenities.foodDrink}} {{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.internet}} {{.}} {{/amenities.internet}} {{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}} {{#amenities.services}} {{.}} {{/amenities.services}} {{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.parking}} {{.}} {{/amenities.parking}} {{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}} {{#amenities.health}} {{.}} {{/amenities.health}} {{/amenities.health.length}} {{/amenities}} The possesses some of the best coastal scenery in the country The country’s famous southern coastal region is home to an array of delightful golden beaches which have made it vastly popular. The main city is Faro, where visitors can explore a cobblestoned Old Town. Other cities in the region include Albufeira – known as a popular seaside resort with extensive nightlife options on the Monte Choro strip – and Portimao, with a lovely promenade and its own quaint Old Town, filled with tree-lined plazas and winding pedestrian streets. But a series of strikingly beautiful coastal towns is what sets the apart from other destinations. They all have distinctive features: Lagos has its walled town and the extraordinary Ponta da Piedade rock formations; Tavira its castle and the white-washed houses of the historic centre; Silves its Moorish influences and russet-tiled roofs; and Carvoiero an eye-catching bay area that’s perfect for water sports. One thing they all have in common, though, is a series of remarkably pristine beaches, where white sands disappear beneath emerald waters and golden cliffs rise high above the shore. Temperatures rise quickly in the region, with average highs already at 23C in May – these temperatures also last until October. These two months are the best time to come for warm rather than scorching weather while swerving the roughly three million tourists that visit each year. Carvoeiro makes a good base for exploring the , as it sits in the middle of several of the best towns. The Tivoli Carvoeiro is on the coast near the town, with incredible views over the cliffs and out to sea from its pools, terraces and some of the rooms. Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.length}} {{#amenities.foodDrink}} {{.}} {{/amenities.foodDrink}} {{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.internet}} {{.}} {{/amenities.internet}} {{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}} {{#amenities.services}} {{.}} {{/amenities.services}} {{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.parking}} {{.}} {{/amenities.parking}} {{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}} {{#amenities.health}} {{.}} {{/amenities.health}} {{/amenities.health.length}} {{/amenities}} ‘s temperate climate makes it a popular year-round destination An archipelago that sits 600 miles away from the mainland, has volcanic landscapes and a sub-tropical climate that make it a great year-round holiday destination. Its capital is Funchal, an expansive port city of labyrinthine streets set among verdant hills. Here, visitors can walk among the Santa Catarina Park and the tropical gardens at Monte Palace, or take the cable car to the Botanical Gardens after exploring the Old Town. is known for its captivating coastal towns and villages – of which Camara de Lobos and Santana are two of the most picturesque – but don’t miss an opportunity to explore the island’s natural beauty. From beaches such as Alagoa and the black sands of Prainha to peaks such as Pico Ruivo and the island’s numerous levada walks (along old irrigation channels), lovers of the outdoors can spend plenty of time exploring. Average highs don’t drop below18C in , and even in August you can expect a pleasant 26C. For cheaper prices, choose any month in the shoulder seasons; average temperatures in May, June, September and October are around 17C, 21C, 24C and 22C respectively. The self-styled ‘Hedonist Design Resort’ of Saccharum sits on Calheta Beach, around 30 minutes away from Funchal. It’s centred around a fantastic rooftop infinity pool overlooking the ocean, complemented by two restaurants, four bars and summer terraces. Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.length}} {{#amenities.foodDrink}} {{.}} {{/amenities.foodDrink}} {{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.internet}} {{.}} {{/amenities.internet}} {{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}} {{#amenities.services}} {{.}} {{/amenities.services}} {{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}} Please check hotel for more information on amenities {{#amenities.parking}} {{.}} {{/amenities.parking}} {{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}} {{#amenities.health}} {{.}} {{/amenities.health}} {{/amenities.health.length}} {{/amenities}} The region is famous for its rural landscapes and wineries Bordering the to the north and Spain to the east, the region is an area that mixes the alluring Portuguese coast with northern marshlands, flat countryside and sunny areas to the south. Covering huge areas of forest, wheat fields, olive groves and vineyards, the provides a different kind of tourism that gives visitors a taste of rural Portugal. This is true in every sense of the word; gastronomy and wine tourism play an important role in the experience, from dishes such as acorda (a bread- and egg-based soup) and codiza stew to the famed red wines of the region. The regional capital, Evora, is worth a visit to see its Roman Temple and various 16th-century monuments (including a town square and aqueduct), though many of the region’s best attractions are in natural areas, including the Arribada National Park (an attractive mountainous area with amazing coastal sections) and the Serra de Sao Mamede (a natural park that is perfect for hiking and mountain biking). Weather in the region can vary slightly from north to south, so it is best to stick to the warmer months. Anything between June and September will bring good weather; crowds here will be far more sparse than more popular areas, so even in peak season it shouldn’t be overrun. The Octant Evora is found in the countryside just 20 minutes away from Evora. A simple yet stylish hotel, its white buildings contain spacious rooms decorated in muted tones, while the outdoor areas include a terrace, spa and two outdoor swimming pools. Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}}{{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}} Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com {{#amenities}} {{#amenities.foodDrink.l