Portugal

Popular places in Portugal

• Lisbon
• Porto

Cityscape
 Explore Lisbon, from Moorish Alfama to modern Alcântara, then take a train north to see Coimbra’s 13th-century university, Porto’s medieval Ribeira district and ecclesiastical Braga’s religious artefacts. Head west for Évora’s Roman ruins and south for the traces of Faro’s Moorish past. Stay in swish contemporary hotels in Funchal in Madeira.

Landscape
 Climb the peaks and bathe in the thermal springs of Gereda-Perês National Park, or cruise through the lush valleys along the Douro River. Play golf or bask on the sandy beaches of the Algarve and ride the waves in the craggy bays of the Alentejo. Walk the levada (waterway) trails through Madeira’s steep green mountains. The unspoiled Azores are prime for exploring, from hikes on volcanic São Miguel to whale watching off Faial.

Take Home
 Seek out ornamental cockerels in Barcelos, azulejos (tiles) in Sintra, embroidered tablecloths in Madeira and handmade lace in the Azores. Stock up on Alentejo olive oil, Algarve almonds and honey and try the supermarket for presunto (cured ham). Drinkable souvenirs include Madeira wine, Port and vinho verde (green wine).

Eat & Drink
 In the Algarve, stop for coffee and custard tarts (pastel de nata) or nibble on almond and fig sweets. Favourite meat offerings include suckling pig in the north and Porto’s trademark tripe. In Lisbon sample 101 recipes for bacalhau (salt cod fish), sardines and stuffed squid or tuck into spicy peri-peri chicken. Accompany your meal with vinho verde (a young red, or, more usually, white, slightly sparkling wine), or fruity vintages from the Dão region.

New Perspective
 Fly in to Porto’s ultra-modern Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, take the shiny new metro system into the city centre and then catch a classical concert at Rem Koolhaas’ angular white concrete Music House (Casa da Música), opened in 2005.