Sleepy fishing villages, sandy Algarve beaches, Madeira wine and freshly caught sardines – Portugal offers plenty of unforgettable holiday moments.
Golf, Gardens and Beaches
Championship golf courses, miles of sandy beaches, freshly caught sardines – holidays to Portugal have it all in store. Sleepy fishing villages, world-class botanical gardens and 300 days of sun a year, Portugal’s assets are on display.
The Algarve
The sandy beaches that line the coastline – from long sweeping stretches to hidden coves – are the main draw in the Algarve. But you can also explore traditional Portuguese villages like Sao Rafael, Olhos d’Agua and ever-popular Albufeira.
Porto Santo
North of Madeira sits the tiny, off-the-beaten-track island of Porto Santo. Here you can discover sweeping sandy beaches, typical Portuguese villages and dramatic volcanic mountains.
Places To Stay In Portugal View all places to stay »
Algarve
Portugal’s southernmost strip isn’t just about ribbons of golden sand and world-famous golf courses. It’s also got an edgy mix of modern, got-it-all resorts and traditional towns. Plus, families are more than catered for with a superb line-up of waterparks, theme parks, and restaurants where little ones are always welcome.
AT A GLANCE
- Feast your eyes on tropical flowers on the ‘garden island’ of Madeira
- Spend the day on a sandy Algarve beach
- Visit typical Portuguese fishing villages
Weather
TEMPERATURE (°C)RAINFALL (mm)
WHEN TO GO
Weather in Portugal varies quite a bit from one region to the next. In the Algarve you can count on generally good weather year-round, with temperatures climbing up to 30°C during the summer months, and with mild days, featuring six hours of sunshine, in the winters. On the island of Madeira the mercury hovers around 24°C in July and August and sits at about 13°C during the winter months – even in February. What rain the island gets, falls mainly in November and December, which helps to make the spring blooms so spectacular. In Porto Santo, the sun shines around the calendar, with average temperatures between May and November ranging between 19°C and 26°C. From December to April the mercury can rise as high as 21°C. As for rain, in the winter the monthly average is only about seven-day’s worth, while in the summer there is virtually none.
Things To Do View all »
-
Seville The Golden City Of Culture
The Algarve nudges right up against Spain’s western border, so it’d be a shame not to sample its bigger neighbour duringyour…
View details » -
Lisbon 1 Day
Lisbon - beautiful and historic, it’s no surprise that most visitors are smitten by it. And this day trip provides the perfect…
View details » -
Trek through Ria Formosa National Park
This national park covers more than 60 kilometres of Algarve coastline. To put that into perspective, that’s about length…
View details » -
Venture underground at the Sao Vicente Caves
Volcanic stalactites, lava drips and an underground lake might sound like the perfect hideout for Gollum. But they’re also…
View details » -
Go back in time at Milreu's ruins
Around 12,000 people a year stop off to explore these famous remains just outside Estoi. A national monument, the site has…
View details » -
Head out on a whale-watching trip
Holidaymakers aren’t the only ones drawn to Madeira’s warm waters. Whales and dolphins enjoy a trip to this part of the world,…
View details » -
Learn about vino at the Madeira Wine Institute
This place in Funchal houses the official HQ for Madeira wine quality control, and the Museum of Madeira Wine. In the museum,…
View details »
Loading