The days of Portugal being the continent’s undiscovered gem are long gone. Young, exciting, colorful, and full of energy, this is Europe’s trendiest country and it’s starting to get attention. Portugal, whose name appears to be on everyone’s lips, is just getting started. It has a rich, centuries-long history, exceptional hospitality, and a growing industry of upscale hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments. These are five reasons to include Portugal on your travel wish list.
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1. A trip to Portugal is certain to be bright, engaging, and energetic due to the climate and diversity of scenery.
Lisbon is a visual feast for the eyes, with its high hills, yellow trams, and blue-and-white tiles. To the north is beautiful, tranquil wine country. The coasts are spectacular and rocky. Porto exudes a deep, vintage appeal. Vast olive orchards, farmland, and hiking-friendly national parks may be found outside of the cities. Portugal is home to a variety of landscapes that provide expansive views and lend itself to a wide range of pursuits. Furthermore, because of its position on the southeast coast of Europe, days are consistently bright and temperatures seldom fall below 60º Fahrenheit. In fact, Lisbon has been ranked as one of the continent’s top five sunniest cities.
2. Independent visitors can enjoy a comfortable and easy motor trip throughout the nation.
Portugal is small; you can’t go from one place to another in less than a half-day by car. Traveling alone enables you to stop whenever you choose to see small communities where people continue to live mostly as they did decades or even centuries ago. Roman bridges, aqueducts, roadways, and manor buildings are just a few of the numerous examples of ancient architectural and technical marvels that may be seen while meandering through the winding streets. Our top picks for places to visit between Lisbon and the Douro Valley include the quaint towns of Ñbidos, Tomar, and Coimbra.
3. The nation is reachable, secure, and safe.
Fortunately, Portugal has avoided the recent assaults that have affected other European travel hotspots, such as Paris, London, Brussels, and Barcelona, and traveling around the nation seems quite safe. Portugal also provides visitors with a rather leisurely and tranquil pace, even in the face of vibrant and dynamic cities like Lisbon and Porto. Both domestic and foreign citizens of the nation are actively establishing and expanding enterprises as a result of the economy’s recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, with the tourist industry accounting for a sizable portion of this activity. Since the British have been visiting Portugal for extended weekends for many years, the majority of those working in the hospitality sector are proficient in English. These days, Lisbon, sometimes referred to as the “City of Seven Hills,” is a great weekend getaway destination for East Coast Americans because of the simple, quick flights (a direct trip from New York to Lisbon takes six and a half hours) and the short time difference (only five hours).
4…. as well as genuine and comparatively unexplored.
Portugal may not provide as much luxury as other European nations, but this is more than made up for by the chance to see a culture that hasn’t been unduly commercialized. When visiting a fado bar and listening, with locals, to a singer performing traditional songs that are at once heartbreaking, hopeful, and nostalgic, travelers who control their expectations and are willing to put up with occasionally mediocre hotel amenities will find that the experience is worth more than not having high-thread-count sheets. The few indications of globalization are another benefit of the nation’s relatively new tourism, even though Lisbon is getting more and more congested during the busiest months. For instance, it would be difficult to find too many McDonald’s or Starbucks locations in Lisbon, the second-oldest city in Europe (after Athens).
5. Portugal is the most affordable country in Western Europe.
Portugal, one of the least developed nations on the Continent, has extremely low minimum salaries and rents. Dinner at the most formal places seldom costs more than fifty euros per person, and drinks, even glasses of really fine Portuguese wine, are rarely more than two or three euros. In low season, nightly prices at the most spectacular hotel in the nation, the Six Senses Douro Valley, start at about 325 euros.
6. Both domestic and foreign young creatives are prospering.
Attracted by the cheap rents, the Golden Visa program (which expedites the process of permanent residency permits for non-EU citizens who make significant investments in the country), and Lisbon’s status as one of the world’s most desirable cities, professionals such as chefs, designers, entrepreneurs, and the like have been pouring money into Lisbon and Porto. Since cooperation is ingrained in the culture, group projects involving several craftsmen are appearing on a regular basis alongside new eateries, boutiques, and ateliers. Embaixada concept store, a stylish mix of cafes and stores, and the fashionable LX Factory are a few of our faves. Food halls with an array of pubs and restaurants honor different chefs and culinary traditions. Palacio Chiado, Mercado da Ribeira, and Bairro do Avillez (18 Rua Nova da Trindade) are three of the trendiest locations.
7. It’s astonishing how family-friendly the entire nation is.
Portugal boasts an abundance of public castles and palaces that are a delight for children to explore. Because Portuguese people love children and take them everywhere, even “nice” restaurants have high chairs available so that little children may dine with the grownups. In summary, regardless of age, all visitors are often made to feel quite welcome. The Martinhal Chiado Family Suites, located in Lisbon’s Chiado area, is one of the hotels that is especially family-friendly. It offers rooms with bunk beds, suites with kitchens and washing machines, and kids’ groups for kids of all ages.
8. The Six Intuitions Douro Valley is a top-notch resort location.
Many people expected the first European property of the well-known Asian spa brand Six Senses would be located in southern Spain, the Italian coast, or the south of France. When the newly established resort, housed in a renovated 19th-century manor home in the less-known north of Portugal, opened its doors in 2015, they were taken aback. The Douro Valley is one of the most picturesque wine regions in the world and is thankfully free of tour busses and mass-market tastings, so the choice of location is not all that unexpected. And visitors to the Six Senses Douro Valley know exactly why it has been so successful thus far. Perched on a hill overlooking the Douro River, the salmon-colored castle features traditional external details and modern, minimalist interior design. Beautiful views of the 19-acre property and surrounding scenery, including the river and nearby vineyards, may be seen from each of the 57 guest rooms.