You Are Here: Holidays > Portugal

Portugal Holidays

2010 Holidays and more...

Jump to » Portugal Holiday Offers - Tourist Videos - Map of Portugal

Portugal Overview

Portugal Holidays from CheapHolidays.com. Portugal's lively capital, Lisbon, and its northern sibling, Porto, are magical places for the wanderer, with picturesque neighbourhoods, broad plazas and old-fashioned trams still rattling through the streets. Both cities have their share of enticing urban life, with eclectic restaurants, colourful boutiques, bohemian cafes and stylish nightclubs that make good use of the waterside setting. Smaller towns offer their own enchantment, with well-preserved medieval quarters that invite exploring in towns like Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga .

Portugal is a very popular destination due to the weather, facilities and family-friendly hotels. Families and couples are favourites in Portugal as there is so much to do for everyone. Golfers also enjoy the country as there is are brilliant golf courses for them to enjoy. There are over 100 sandy beaches just in the Algarve and many are backed by the limestone cliffs and the unique rock formations. The sands on the beach vary from white to gold but all are attractive and perfect for sunbathing on. You will find plenty of sunbeds and parasols for hire on many of the beaches as well a lifeguards and water sports. You will find hotels, apartments and villas in Portugal. There are properties ranging from 2-5-stars. The accommodation ranges from budget prices to quite expensive so there is something for everyone. You well find everything from self-catering to all-inclusive in Portugal and all of the accommodations have all of the services and facilities available that you would expect them to have.The narrow lanes of Lisbon's Alfama are a mazelike district of steep staircases, hidden churches and traditional taverns, with an old tram still rattling through the streets. The Algarve is the perfect place to visit to relax on the beach or try some of the water sports on offer. Scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing are all popular activities to try. Horse-riding is also popular in Portugal and lessons are available. Portugal has championship golf courses in the south (over 20 in the Algarve alone). One of the oldest clubs in the country is Quinta de Marinha in Estoril.

Portugal - lots of activities to keep you occupied

In Portugal, there are hundreds of activities for you to try. Water sports are very popular as most people spend a lot of their time at the beach anyway. You can try windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, jet-skiing or even parasailing. Golf is one of the most popular activities in the Algarve as there are over 20 courses. Everyone from beginners to experts can play on the courses. Tennis is also popular and there are a number of courts around. Horse-riding is a good way to get around Portugal and see the sights and the resorts. It is also a very relaxing experience. Sailing and fishing are popular, especially among families. This is a great way to see some beautiful sights and enjoy the coast. If you are travelling as a family, then there are many family days out to enjoy as well such as visiting the Zoomarine, going to a theme park or water park, go-karting or even boat trips for dolphin watching. Lisbon is a brilliant place to see with lots going on and a variety of different places to visit. Lisbon is home to a variety of museums, with lots of historical features and strange art. Sintra is a world heritage site and is a beautiful town, surrounded by wooded hillsides. Évora is a virtual museum of a town that reached its golden age in the 15th century. The walled old centre contains a Roman temple, a looming cathedral and picturesque plazas for taking in the architectural splendour. Portugal's spiritual heart, Braga is a lively little city with an exquisite assortment of baroque churches, a sprawling cathedral and Roman ruins. It hosts traditional religious festivals throughout the year, including Portugal's most colourful Holy Week. The Knights Templar castle in Tomar contains intriguing medieval relics. The Convent of the Order of Christ at the heart of the castle complex is one of Portugal's premier artistic and historical structures.

Portugal - plenty of places to eat and drink

There are many restaurants in Portugal, all with different cuisines, different number of courses and different specialities. You will find Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, British, Chinese, Indian and a lot of seafood. There is also a lot of fast food available. Prices tend to be quite reasonable within the restaurants and the quality of the food is very high. There are many different types of nightlife in Portugal. If you are looking for a strong party holiday being out until dawn then you will find it with nightclubs, bars, discos, pubs and beach parties. Albufeira is a favourite party spot. Praia d' Oura is also a popular place for nightlife. If you prefer quieter, relaxing evenings then you will find that as well. Shopping in Portugal is quite good, particularly in Albufeira and Faro. Some resorts may just have a few souvenir shops, however others have more with clothing, souvenirs, jewellery, shoes, bags, crafts and electronics. Public transport is good in most of the resorts with regular buses and taxis taking you all over Portugal.

Portugal Weather and Climate

The weather in Portugal is what attracts to many people each year. The summers in Portugal are long and dry with winters continuing to stay mild with limited rainfall. July and August are the hottest months in Portugal with average temperatures reaching 30Â°C. You will also find up to 12 hours of sunshine a day meaning you have plenty of time to enjoy the day. The coastal breezes tend to keep the temperatures slightly lower to enable you to feel more comfortable in the heat. The spring and autumn is still warm with temperatures at 17-19Â°C. The coldest winter months are January and December although the temperature is till at around 15Â°C. There is also still around 6 hours of sunshine a day. From November to March is when most of the rainfall comes however on average there are only around 50 days of rainfall a year. The next 5-days weather for Algarve. The next 5-days weather for Faro. The next 5-days weather for Funchal. The next 5-days weather for Lisbon. The northwest has mild winters with high levels of rainfall and fairly short summers. The northeast has longer winters and hot summers. In the south, summers (May to October) are warm with very little rain except in early spring and autumn.