Portugal

The country where black is color

With its white villages, azulejo-covered walls, colorful palaces and lacy stone churches, Portugal is a treasure trove of art and architecture. Here, history and modernity rub shoulders and respect each other without overshadowing each other.

Bathed in Atlantic light, Portugal is all about the ocean. An ocean that has opened the doors to other worlds: Madeira, the Azores and other small portugals born beyond the seas. Portugal is thus a plural country, with multiple influences, but one that remains anchored in its traditions and fascinating art of living. Set back from the rest of Europe, the country has managed to preserve its treasures. You'll love the former capital of the Lisbon empire, the colorful palaces of Sintra, the other flagship city of Porto, the sun-scorched lands and powerful wines of the Alentejo and, of course, the diversity of the coasts, sometimes bristling with high cliffs and battered by waves several meters high, sometimes fringed by immense beaches of fine sand.

Ideal for

Seaside, golf, photo, oenology, language courses, cultural, pilgrimage, trekking, cookery courses, water sports, honeymoon.

Did you know?

That Portugal extracts most of the world's cork from one variety of oak.

The must-haves

Stay in Lisbon, one of the only European capitals open to the ocean, and cross it on board streetcar 28.
Marvel at the extravagant palaces of Sintra.
Discover the pretty city of Porto, then follow the Douro upstream through its vineyards.
Take on the Atlantic waves and then enjoy a break in a beach bar.
Stop off in the perched white towns of the Alentejo.
Stop off at Coimbra, one of the oldest university towns on the planet.

Between us

In Portugal, if you opt for traditional dishes, you can eat for a modest sum.
Because of the Atlantic, bathing waters here are a little cooler than in the Mediterranean, but offer waves that are prized by surfers the world over.
Portuguese not an easy language? Don't worry, many Portuguese people are fluent in French or English.
Village festivals, religious celebrations, touradas (bullfights without killing), in Portugal, people never miss an opportunity to get together: don't hesitate to join them.

When to go?

From spring to autumn. Bear in mind that August is a very busy month, especially on the coast and even more so in the Algarve.

Packing

Light clothing in summer, but also a sweater for the evenings. And don't forget a rain jacket. Warmer clothes in winter, especially if you're visiting the interior and the north.