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From the great city of Lisbon, to golf in the Algarve, Portugal rarely fails to deliver. We work with several specialist tour operators to Portugal to bring you a selection of top quality hotels specifically hand-picked for their location, sophistication and superb service. Just let us know your likes/dislikes and we can put together the perfect tailor made holiday for you to Portugal. See our separate section for Madeira.
Stretching for 100 miles along the southern coast of Portugal the Algarve offers glorious year-round sunshine, countless sandy beaches and warm waters.
As the last territory to be captured from the Moors by the Portuguese King, Dom Afonso III in 1292, the traces of Moorish influence are evident in the region's unique terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses. Today, as the meeting point between Europe and Africa, the Algarve is still a fascinating mix of Moorish, Portuguese and European cultures.
As well as beaches, gentle countryside and charming, unspoiled old-fashioned villages a major attraction of the Algarve is its towns. Faro, Lagos and Tavira have evident Moorish influences, Silves, Salir and Alte are quiet mountain towns and a throwback to a time when life moved at a gentler pace.
Faro
Faro, capital of the Algarve, is attractive and easy to explore on foot as it fans out from the small harbour to encompass the compact historic old city. Intricate homemade lace, a variety of leather goods, terracotta pottery and the outstanding Atlantis lead crystal make ideal souvenirs and you can while away hours browsing the shops and relaxing in the cafés by the harbour or in the park bythe waterfront.
Lisbon
As European capital cities go Lisbon is as understated as it is elegant. And should a beauty contest of European cities ever be held, this Portuguese capital would be assured of its place on the podium. Built on many more hills than Rome along one bank of the River Tagus and with the Atlantic Ocean firmly in its sights, the combination of mountains, ocean and city makes Lisbon immediately likeable and enchantingly attractive.
Although a modern cosmopolitan capital, Lisbon likes to wear its heritage on its sleeve creating an entertaining marriage of past and present. Commercial fishing boats sport an undeniably Phoenician profile, modern shops vie for attention amidst medieval streets and bustling squares, whilst designer goods go head-to-head with hand-painted Moorish tiles and ceramics.
Formerly the world's greatest maritime power, the city has retreated from its turbulent 3000 year history and is content nowadays to assume the mantle of a lovely but laid- back provincial capital. The catastrophic earthquake of 1755 might well have denied the modern city a plethora of world class palaces, churches and monuments, but this is more than compensated for by a graceful charm and easygoing friendliness.
Estoril
Stretching for over 30km to the West of Lisbon is the Estoril Coast. During the 1930s and 40s Estoril became the chosen place of exile for a number of deposed European monarchs and a hedonistic playground for the glitterati and idle rich of the inter-war era. Beyond the grandiose villas and luxury hotels, testament to this period in its history, there are excellent beaches, golf courses, a casino and even a motor-racing circuit. Its transformation into a resort had started a few years earlier owing to the existence of thermal springs, at that time much in vogue, although now closed. The centre if this luxury resort is the magnificent Parque do Estoril, the Casino, located within the park, and golf course.
Cascais
In the second half of the 19th Century, when sea bathing became a popular activity, Cascais was given he impetus which transformed it from a busy fishing port into a monarch and the King's example was immediately copied by the nobility, who built palaces and extremely beautiful villas inthe town.
Nowadays, Cascais is a lively and cosmopolitan town that still preserves a great deal of its earlier aristocratic atmosphere. Particularly recommended is a stroll through its streets, where you will find luxury boutiques or perhaps you might prefer to enjoy a few moments' rest at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants scattered about the town. The beaches continue to be one of Cascais' greatest attractions. Choose from those situated in the town's sheltered bay or those a little further away in the area around Guincho, part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. The Boca do Inferno (literally the jaws ofhell), an inlet along the coast that is surrounded by steep rocks and caves, is a natural curiosity attracting many thousands of visitors to appreciate the brute strength of the sea.
Sintra
Enjoy an unforgettable trip to the coast of the sun and its beaches. The cosmopolitan village of Estoril is famed equally for its mild climate, hrse racing, casino and golf as for its beautiful beaches of white sand. The fishing village of Cascais, with its colourful bay, extends as far as Guincho before losing itself to dunes. Pass by the picturesque cliffs of Boca do Inferno before stopping at the westernmost point of continental Europe to admire the beautiful landscape.
