Portugal is known by the Portuguese people as a garden by the sea. Come and fall in love with this immense garden full of beauty and diversity.
Portugal is the ideal country to live. It has a mild climate throughout the territory, with an average of more than 8 hours of sunlight each day of the year. A line of diverse and beautiful beaches stretches along 850km, from north to south. The landscapes are overwhelming, with the green mountains to the north to the extensive south plains. Green floods all cities.
To the center we have Lisbon as the capital of Portugal, followed by Santarém, Leiria and Coimbra. To the north Oporto is surrounded by Braga, Viana do Castelo and Aveiro. On the way to the south we have Setúbal, Sines, Odemira and Aljezur, entering the coast of Algarve through famous Sagres. In the “Barlavento” line of Algarve we have Lagos, Portimão, Quarteira and Vilamoura, going to “Sotavento” with Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
Of course that we must not forget Portugal beautiful countryside.
To the north we have Chaves, Bragança and Vila Real with their majestic mountains painted in green. In the center we have Viseu, Guarda and Castelo Branco where the Mountains start giving space to the valleys. On the way to the South, Portalegre, Évora and Beja show us their valleys and plains that extend till the Algarve coast.
In the Portuguese interior winter temperatures are more severe, with snow on the north and center and dry cold in the south. But when the cold travels away the intense heat arrives, giving access to the numerous fluvial beaches that exists in the north and center and to the shadows and tranquility of the cork oaks in the south.
Madeira and Azores are the Portugal archipelagos, with all its natural beauty and temperate climate all year round. If for a few day you decide to abandon the beauty and diversity that Portugal has to offer, all the European capitals are a few hours away.
If till now we have mentioned the landscape and the climate, we cannot forget the immense unique cultural heritage of each area, city and town, where tradition, customs and history combine in perfect harmony, always allied to the modernity facilities at your disposal to reach these places.
The vast highways network that extends throughout the country in conjunction by means of transport such as train and plane, create proximity from the north to south. A journey by car or train between Oporto and Lisbon takes 3 hours, or a mere 30m flight. To enjoy stunning beaches and sea water with moderate temperatures, reaching the Algarve coast from Lisbon is just another 2 hours and 1 hour flight from Oporto. It will take about 2 hours flight to reach Madeira and Azores from Oporto or Lisbon, so a weekend travel to the islands should not be neglected.
Apart from the climate and landscapes, Portugal is known worldwide for its cuisine. All different country regions have their typical dishes, and although there are many options, those who live in Portugal everyday praise the quality and diversity of Portuguese food.
Of course, fantastic cuisine is always complemented by great wine. Portugal is a world reference for winemaking, from the Minho region, the famous Douro area, the Setúbal Peninsula and the vast Alentejo, all of them of excellent quality and for different tastes.
And finally, we have the Portuguese people. Friendly people, always available, cheerful, nostalgic, people who likes people regardless of their origin, beliefs or religions. Portugal is a country of multifaceted people, modern but not forgetting to be traditional and very tolerant. With a very low crime rate, being the third safest country in the world, providing a wellbeing and quality of life rarely found in the European continent and in the continents around it.