Aveiro is a city on the west coast of Portugal set along a lagoon called Ria de Aveiro. Occasionally dubbed the Venice of Portugal, it’s distinguished by its canals navigated by colourful boats (barcos moliceiros), traditionally used to harvest seaweed.
Not far from its core, known for art nouveau buildings, is the Cathedral of Aveiro, and the Museu de Aveiro.
There are several beaches within easy striking distance and the nearby São Jacinto nature reserve provides walking and birdwatching.

The Bussaco Palace was one of the most luxurious royal retreats. Commissioned in 1888 by King Charles I of Portugal whose vision was to build a new Belem Tower (the Lisbon tower which symbolises Portugal’s age of discoveries) surrounded by a tranquil sea of green forest. The 250 acres of woodland was originally planted by Carmelite monks. This is well worth a visit and you can combine it with a trip to Luso [see on this page]

Coimbra, a riverfront city in central Portugal and the country’s former capital, is home to a preserved medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. Built on the grounds of a former palace, the university is famed for its baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina, and its 18th-century bell tower.
In the city’s old town lies the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral Sé Velha.
Add to the above that Coimbra is great for shoppers and restaurants.

It was during the Arabian occupation that this settlement was named. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, the Templar knight Gonçalo Hermingues, fell in love with Fátima, a captured Moor.
Reciprocating the love, the young woman converted to Christianity and adopted the name Oureana.
Fatima’s subsequent development dates from the events known as the Apparitions of Fátima, in the early part of the twentieth century. It has become one of the key centres for the Cult of the Virgin Mary in Portugal and has been recognised world-wide by the Catholic Church.

Its nickname, Rainha das Praias (Queen of Beaches) leaves us in no doubt as to the main attraction at Figueira da Foz. True to form, the summer months see its long stretches of golden sands attract swarms of beach lovers who come to swim, surf or simply soak up the rays of Figueira’s apparently above average amount of sunshine.
The name Figueira da Foz itself, which translates as ‘fig tree at the mouth of the river’ has inspired many a local legend, and informs us of the town’s location where the River Mondego spills into the sea.

A small village located on the banks of the Pônsul River Idanha-a-Velha is unique because of its beauty and antiquity. 
In Idanha-a-Velha, you should visit:
*   The Cathedral and its baptistery, and the Episcopal Palace.  *   The common hoven and the lagar de varas (olive oil press).   *   The Templers Tower   *   The Roman bridge over the Pônsul   *    The chapels of São Dâmaso, Espírito Santo and São Sebastião   *   The archaeological station of Egitânia

Assemble a city-break destination from a wish-list of components and you get Lisbon: a wide glittering river, limpid skies, steep cobbled streets, palaces, churches (and a castle, of course), tiles in pink, mint and indigo, and cheap, fresh, grilled sardines to eat outside a tasca (bar) in the sun. Alternatively swim or surf on the beaches of Estoril, Cascais or the Costa da Caparica.
Don’t just fly in or out of Lisbon, stay awhile and enjoy this beautiful city!

This small town is famous for one thing in particular: water. Agua de Luso is synonymous with good quality mineral water in Portugal, and thousands of bottles of this precious liquid are consumed daily across the nation. It flows freely from fountains and springs in the town and is also renowned for its healing qualities, hence the fact that Luso is one of Portugal’s most important spa towns.
This is well worth a visit and you can combine it with a trip to Bussaco Palace [see on this page]

Dominating the valley where the Mondego River runs, the town of Montemor-o-Velho is characterized by its imposing castle, the main fortress of Low Mondego during Medieval times.
This extensive land has been successively occupied since Roman times and when the Arabs first settled during the 8th century, the Mondego lands became a constant stage of intense fights between Muslims and Christians.

The canyon of Nazaré is a puzzling geological phenomenon which is 5.000 meters deep and about 230 km long.
It is the cause of such incredibly monster waves, attracting top surfers from all over the world. The big wave season begins in November and ends in February.
Since 2011, the Big Wave Challenge in the iconic Praia do Norte has caught the eye of the world and Nazaré became a world-famous surf destination.
But only for the brave!

At Beira Baixa, just a few miles away from Spain,  and possibly built during the reign of King Sancho I to help to protect the Portuguese border, the Penha Garcia castle returned to the possession of the crown during the 15th century.
It is worth your while to climb to the top of Penha, stroll through its majestic walls and observe the stunning landscape which surrounds the town.

The home of Port, Porto is one of the oldest cities of the country and, as such, its path is sinuous and picturesque. Besides history and culture, Porto is also leisure, fun and night life!
Don’t just fly in and out of Porto – stay a day and enjoy this beautiful city.

Serra da Estrela Natural Park is an exceptional place. It expands over 101 thousand hectares distributed across six municipalities and it was the first natural park to be created in Portugal, also holding the record for the largest protected area in the country.
Here, you will find the highest spot in continental Portugal, the only ski course in the country, the spring of two important rivers and an unexpected “alpine type” landscape abounding in glaciation traces.