Reasons to fall in love with Portugal.
The sunny climate, beautiful scenery and the Portuguese culture are just a few reasons.
If you are planning to visit this European gem of a country. here are just some reasons to fall in love with Portugal...
beaches
Portugal has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. It is the perfect location for sunseekers, whether you like to relax with a book and sunbathe, go for a swim, go sailing or take a surf class. With Portugal’s extensive Atlantic coastline of nearly 1700km, the beaches are very varied. From Algarve in the south with its orangey-yellow cliffs and warm golden sands, to Nazare further north with its marvellous vistas and big wave surfing, there is a beach for everyone. Our recommendations include the secluded, calm beaches or Arrabida, just south of Lisbon; the white-sanded, unspoilt vast beaches of Comporta and the wild, windswept beaches of the Silver Coast. Just some reasons to fall love with Portugal.
wine
To many wine experts Portugal is the final frontier in Europe as in recent years there has been a surge of interest in Portuguese wines. There are many wines and wine regions to discover here and Portugal is in fact the 11th largest wine producer in the world! From the Douro Valley down to the Algarve many of the grape varieties in Portugal do not grow anywhere else in the world. The best way to experience Portuguese wines is via wine tourism and visiting wineries and the rural and boutique hotels in prime wine locations. Some have very modern hotels attached with impressive wineries and cellars that have invested in advanced technology. Check out some great wine tourism locations at Quinta do Vallardo and Quinta de Casaldronho.
lifestyle
With over 300 sunshine days a year, the Portuguese lifestyle is very much outside. One of our favourite reasons to fall love with Portugal! The Portuguese are very social and love spending time with family and friends. Sport is super popular, either playing or watching. At the weekends you will see a busy cafe culture, with many Portuguese sipping espressos outside a cafe, or taking a walk along the beach or through the city parks. The amazing weather gives you so many opportunities for getting out and about all year round! Plus the friendly and welcoming nature of the Portuguese also makes it a great country to feel at home in fast. We love eating lunch at the beach or taking a hike in the mountains.
nature
Portugal’s nature is beautiful at every turn. This country really has it all – sandy beaches, rugged coastline and sea caves; rural areas of scattered cork trees and rolling meadows; steep mountains with waterfalls, rock pools and blue lagoons; vineyards, rice fields, river beaches, lakes, forests and hilltop highs dotted with lost ruins and sacred sites. Amongst the nature there are so many actives and experiences to be had including wild swimming, hiking, birdwatching, caving, climbing and foraging. Portugal offers a vast selection of good campsites, including wild camps for stargazing and yurts for more luxurious stays. Are favourites experiences include Dark Sky Alqueva near Evora and tracking wolves in Côa Valley.
food
The tastiest reasons to fall love with Portugal is the food. Portuguese food is pretty diverse with a variety of different flavours and spices, all discovered on their travels around the world in the 15th and 16th century. Fish remains a strong dish in Portuguese food, with sardines and bacalhau (cod fish) being widely popular. Pork and beef are always used extensively due to farming methods in Portugal. Most interestingly many desserts were developed in the monasteries and convents. These religious orders were responsible for the creation of such delights as Pastéis de Belém (a special recipe of Pasteis de Nata egg custard tart); Papos de Anjo also known as Angels Double Chin; Sericaia, an egg-based dessert from Alentejo and Toucinho do Céu, an almond cake make with pork lard.
monuments
Portugal rich and colourful past can be seen through the diverse monuments positioned across the country. Over time Portugal was inhabited by the Celts, the Romans and the Moors, all adding to the unique structures, architectural styles and monuments which remain today. Some of the most famous Portuguese monuments include the colourful fairytale palace in Sintra, Palacio da Pena, the spooky Chapel of Bones in Evora, Knights Templar Castle and Convent of Christ in Tomar, Clérigos Tower & Church in Porto; Alcobaça Monastery in Alcobaça, Guimarães Castle in Guimarães and Paço das Escolas at the University of Coimbra.
classic portugal
Classic Portugal is a luxury tours and bespoke tours agency. As travel designers we thrive on curating private tours and custom travel across Portugal. We design intimate experiences to make your trip to Portugal especially memorable. Uncover a unique journey though Portugal and its wonders: gastronomy, art, culture, wellness and more all await you. From prestigious wineries to chic beach clubs; from sleepy, hidden villages to dazzling city nights; from luxurious spas to Michelin star restaurants, your bespoke tour will include all the best Portugal has to offer.
Portugal is a European gem, with distinct locations and beautiful scenery. We seek out Portugal´s best, curating tours for our clients which they will carry in their hearts forever. Our specialities include luxury wine tours, luxury bespoke tours, luxury travel in Portugal, private travel and tours, luxury mini-breaks, luxury stays and luxury holidays. We partner with some of the most acclaimed luxury hotels, wineries and restaurants in Portugal. All of our bespoke travel itineraries are private and personal. We publish your itinerary in our travel app, giving you constant visibility and access to your luxury trip. Our professional chauffeurs and certified tour guides guarantee you are taken good care of and have the most wonderful experience of this beautiful, warm and charming country.
Our vision as a company is to offer world-class client services, with meticulously designed travel itineraries and the most luxurious experiences. We will take care of all your needs and desires in Portugal. Our concierge service is available on all luxury bespoke tours. From private cars, to fine dining to tickets for concerts and sports events, we take care of it all. Our values are important to us. We are inclusive and culturally aware. We believe in social change and equality for all. Inclusion and diversity ignites our creativity, bringing us closer to our clients and our communities. We are experienced in working with global clients, always working in a transparent and communicative way, seeking out new ways of engagement and innovation. Our mission to be the leading lifestyle experts and travel specialists for luxury journeys across Portugal. Please see our full tour programme. If you enjoyed this blog post you may also like Gift Guide for Portugal Travellers and Famous Monuments of Portugal.
