9 reasons why Portugal is the perfect travel destination for every type of traveler

There is a growing buzz about Portugal as a travel destination, and it is appearing on lists of top places to travel. Those factors attract visitors from all over the world and make it a top destination for all types of travelers. Whether you enjoy art, history, local cuisine, nature, beaches, wine, or any number of other experiences, we think Portugal should be at the top of your travel destination list. Here are just a few of our reasons why Portugal is the perfect travel destination for every type of traveler.

We were strangers. Visit Cascais, Discovering MadeiraAnd Martinhall Family Hotels and Resorts. All opinions expressed are our own based on our experiences.

1. Museums and street art for art lovers

Portugal is sure to please even the most discerning art lover. Whether you enjoy checking out galleries for local artists, seeing masterpieces in museums, or finding interesting street art, Portugal has you covered. The Berardo Collection Museum and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum have impressive exhibits. Carcavelos is the birthplace of graffiti in Portugal. For art in the beautiful Azores Islands, check out Galeria Fonseca Macedo on Sao Miguel, featuring contemporary works by established and up-and-coming artists.

Berardo Art Deco Museum

One of our favorite places to visit is the Berardo Art Deco Museum (BMAD) in Alcantara, Lisbon (home of the funky LX Factory complex). Hundreds of pieces of furniture, sculptures, paintings, and other decorations illuminate the Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco movements in chronological order. When you book a group tour, your tour will include a wine tasting in a beautiful secluded garden afterwards.

2. Ancient sites for history Buffs

A look at Portugal’s past includes human history. Ancient ruins, historic architecture, monuments and libraries are full of stories of exploration and experience. The stunning Azulejos tiles embody Portugal’s Moorish past. The secret caves at Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, as well as many buildings in Tomar, tell the story of the Knights Templar. Roman ruins, aqueducts, castles, fortresses and other ancient sites can be found throughout Portugal. Coimbra, home to the oldest university in Portugal, has a library with 15 books.^Th century and the ruins of Conimbriga are an impressive site of Roman ruins.

Evora

For a closer look at an ancient Roman site, Évora’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has an impressive example of a Roman temple that you can walk around. It is so well preserved that it almost seems unreal. While in Évora, be sure to enjoy the wonderful wine and unique local cuisine.

3. Local food for food

If food is your jam, Portugal is your cup of tea. Every corner of the country has something local and delicious. From the seafood on the beaches to the famous Black pig (Black Pork) Local and fresh produce everywhere, truly a food lover’s paradise. In particular, we must not forget about the bread and pastries, since almost every city has its own specialty. There are restaurants with water views, cityscapes and a small local village. Activities (Family restaurants) that serve home cooked food. Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and other cities popular with tourists offer many international flavors. After living in Portugal for over a year now, we find our favorite food to be carefully prepared fresh local food.

Cheese in Portugal

There is so much good food in Portugal. And of course we love cheese. There are many different cheeses made in each part of Portugal, so you can really taste the culture of each place that is embedded in the cheese. Fresh, aged, melted, cow, sheep, goat – there is something for all cheese lovers.

4. Parks and trails for nature lovers

The landscape of Portugal offers many species. Cities love cities, and there are plenty of green spaces to visit. Peñeda-Geres National Park in northern Portugal is a great place to visit. In addition to the unique diversity of the park, there are also graded hiking trails that can be tailored to your needs and abilities. Close to Lisbon, the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is a lovely place to wander in nature on the beach.

Marechal Carmona Park

Our favorite park to visit when we want to go outside is Parque Marchal Carmona in Cascais. Nicknamed the “Chicken Park” by locals, it is home to a variety of birds, including chickens, ducks, geese, wild parrots, and peacocks. The grounds have grassy areas, tree-shaded picnic tables, a pond full of sunning turtles, and a small cafe.

5. Beach lovers Atlantic beaches

Surfers, sunbathers and beachgoers are in luck with Portugal’s 832 kilometers (517 miles) of Atlantic coastline. Surfers are drawn by the spectacular waves at meccas such as Penich, Ericeira and Nazre. The beautiful beaches on Portugal’s west coast support a variety of activities, from sailing to SUP. Sun worshipers love the warm summers and cool waters down south in the Algarve.

Paredao

For walking (or cycling) along the beach but not in the sand, we love Paredao. This cycle path runs along the coast, mainly between Cascais and Estoril, and has some areas designed for exercise equipment. Technically one could walk the 20 km (12 mi) route to Lisbon, although we don’t know anyone who has.

6. An elegant stay for luxury travelers

When you want to indulge a little, Portugal has plenty of ways to enjoy a life of luxury. Choose from 28 Michelin-starred restaurants for fine dining. And there’s no shortage of five-star hotels and resorts—in historic buildings, near major attractions, golf courses, spa treatments, beach views, and more. Privately guided tours, scenic cruises, cooking classes, gourmet shopping and other VIP experiences can make for a great stay.

Estoril Castle

James Bond fans can follow in the iconic footsteps of Bond creator Ian Fleming, who found inspiration for the suave secret agent. It was all at the Palacio Estoril Hotel. Spies, royalty, celebrities and diplomats mingled at the posh resort. Stay and enjoy 007 Martini in the spy bar and entertainment at Casino Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera.

7. Hidden gems for tractors

Although Portugal receives many visitors each year, there are many places off the beaten path to find something different. The magnificent Capuchos Monastery is a former monastery deep in the forest where Franciscan monks lived austere lives and lined the buildings with cork for warmth.

Berlenga is a bird island and a great place to watch them. Santana in northern Madeira offers unique thatched cottages, while Faja dos Padres also requires a cable car ride over Madeira. It’s worth it to sit on the Citadel of Setubal while sipping moscato wine while taking in the view.

Palace of Arches Park

It’s so much fun to find a special secret place hidden in plain sight. The charming town of Paco de Arcos is located on the train line from Lisbon to Cascais. The Hotel Villa de Gaia overlooks the sea there and behind it are the gardens of Parque Palacio dos Arcos, which await discovery. There are sculptures, flowers, a waterfall and a beautiful sea view. Moving around in the painting is like a stillness.

8. Vineyards for wine lovers

Every region of Portugal is a wine producing region. Certain regions, such as the Douro Valley, Dao, Alentejo and Vinho Verde, are well known for their superior wines, so visiting vineyards in these regions is high on many wine lovers’ bucket lists. But there are also some amazing places that produce interesting wines, like Colares, where the grapes grow right in the sand, or Carcavelos, where the sweet fortified wine tastes like salted caramel. Porto, Madeira and Setúbal are famous for Port, Madeira and Moscatel wines respectively, and make great places to visit vineyards. The night in a KuntaOr a vineyard, to take full advantage of the education in Portuguese wine production.

The fifth of the rose

We had a great time spending the night at Quinta de la Rosa, a family-run vineyard in Durro. The accommodations were comfortable with beautiful views of the Douro River and terraced vineyards from our room. Visit vineyards and sample wine. Quinta Restaurant Cozinha da Clara, named after the owner’s grandfather, serves excellent regional cuisine paired with wines produced in Quinta.

9. Family entertainment for multi-generational travelers

There are plenty of things to see and do in Portugal that are great for families and all generations to enjoy together. Known as the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro enjoys. moliceiro Boats on the canal. A few minutes away is Costa Nova, a seaside town with colorful terraced fishermen’s houses lining the beach. The ashlar villages offer an interesting glimpse into the past.

Quinta do Pisao is a family-friendly natural area for hiking, exploring, learning and visiting with Portuguese Burros. The medieval village of Óbidos offers fun festivals and activities for all ages. The typical village of José Franco in Mafra is fun to explore with the family, while the unique Aldea de Mata Pequena is a restored village with small farm animals to visit. Harry Potter fans won’t want to miss another Livraria in Porto, inspired by the famous Hogwarts school. Portugal has many zoos and aquariums.

Martinhall Family Hotels and Resorts

Finding a place where multiple generations feel comfortable is no easy task. That’s where Martinhall Family Hotels and Resorts come in handy. For families visiting Portugal, these properties are designed with family comfort and convenience in mind. Lisbon’s Chiado Martinhal offers apartment-style accommodation, a kids’ club, a baby club and a gin bar for parents on the premises. With locations in the Algarve and Cascais, all members of the family can have a great time.

Whatever your interests, we think Portugal is the perfect travel destination for every type of traveller.