Portugal Holidays 2022/2023 | Holidays to Portugal

What Portugal Holidays Look Like

When you think of holidays to Portugal, dramatic coastlines and long sandy beaches come to mind. But the country has so much more to offer – Portugal’s history can be felt everywhere, from the ancient university town of Coimbra to Lord Byron's favourite Portuguese haunt, Sintra. Not forgetting the Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto, full of riverside views, cobblestone streets and rattling trams framed by looming cathedrals.

Portugal's wild dune-covered beaches, dramatic cliffs, protected coves and long, sandy coastline, especially when holidaying in the Algarve, make for a popular year-round holiday destination. It’s high temperatures mean it’s perfect for a winter sun holiday too! So whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday to Albufeira or Praiha da Rocha in Algarve, or a city break in Lisbon, holidays to Portugal have something to satisfy everyone.

Things To Do In Portugal

Along the Algarve, the beach features at the centre of daily life along with watersports and waterparks galore. Golf is also a popular choice on the Algarve coastline. For some culture on your holiday to Portugal, head to the cities of Lisbon and Porto. Shopping is a popular pastime too with everything from upmarket shops in the cities to the local markets along the coastline best buys include lace and embroidered linens, ceramics, leather goods and handcrafted gold and silver jewellery. Take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour in Lisbon, where you can also visit Fatima, a popular place of pilgrimage in the Catholic world where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. Enjoy a Portuguese wine tour and discover how the local wines are made from harvesting the grape to bottling the end product. Visit Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, housing the ruins of a Roman Temple, the Romanesque Gothic Cathedral, the Bones Chapel and the University.

There are many ways to enjoy an evening out on your Portugal holiday, getting to know locals and fellow tourists in bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Don't miss the traditional Fado, which is most popular in Lisbon and Coimbra, and can be heard in many restaurants and music venues late into the night. Along the Algarve coast, Albufeira has a lively nightlife with venues featuring everything from themed bars and clubs with games, DJs, drinks promotions and live acts to Jazz and Brazilian music bars.

Food & Drink In Portugal

Seafood is a speciality, especially in Lisbon and along the coast, so it’s not one to miss on a holiday to Portugal. Regional specialities include grilled meats and Bacalhau (dried cod) with Pastel de nata (custard tart) the national dessert. On the Algarve, British favourites of a cooked breakfast or Sunday roast feature on many a menu along with burgers, spaghetti and pizzas. International restaurants serving Chinese, Mexican, Indian and Italian fare put in an appearance too. The house wine (vinho da casa) in white (branco) and red (tinto) is always good value and you can also opt for vinho verde which is a young 'green' wine, slightly sparkling, light and refreshing or ros Mateus rosé being the best known.