by Tom Gannon, Travel Advisor and Blogger, Lynn Travel Inc
Not only are more and more Americans traveling to Portugal, but a significant number are moving there. Essential Business gives us a peek at some of the reasons: friendliness of the people, fine wholesome food, great wines, beach lifestyle, history, and culture. Just prior to the Pandemic in 2019 travel to Portugal by Americans was up 25%. For 2023 the prediction is for a new record of visitors.
Portugal is about the size of Maine and offers the traveler the opportunity to experience most of what the country has to offer in under two weeks. Visitors to the island of Madeira, off the African coast, or to the Azores in the Atlantic will have to limit mainland exploration or add a few days to the itinerary. I have been to Portugal twice, once in the early 1970s and again in 2013. The only major difference, excluding things like pricing, was the addition of some major expressways. My favorite experiences mirror what Rick Steves, Arthur Frommer, and several travel blogs relate to. These included: the antiquities, the physical beauty of the coastal region, especially the Algarve, staying in a Pousada (the historic palaces, monasteries, and castles that have been converted to hotels), the food, the wine and in my case a side trip to Madeira.
The island of Madeira is a “must-visit” on any trip to Portugal. Located 526 miles from Lisbon, and 605 miles off the coast of Morocco. It features in miniature, the best Portugal has to offer tourists
From the typical US gateways, the flight to Lisbon is just over seven hours. Cascais, located on the Portuguese Riviera less than 30 minutes from the airport and is a great location for visits to Lisbon, Obidos, and Sintra. In Lisbon, the most important sites are the Belem Tower, the Monument of the Discoveries, and the 16th-century Jeronimo’s Monastery. Obidos offers a medieval walled city and Sintra is home to the Sintra National Palace, the residence of Portuguese royalty for six centuries, and other world-class antiquities. Cascais, once a tiny fishing village, now offers beaches, nightlife, and even a casino.’
From the greater Lisbon area the next stop on your tour should be the medieval city of Evora called, “The Museum City of Portugal” where one can view the 2nd-century Roman temple to Diana and the mysterious 16th-century Chapel of Bones. Next on your trip may be to the southernmost tip of Europe. The Algarve features stunning coasts, full-bodied wines from the Alentejo region, and abounding Moorish and Renaissance influences in resort towns such as Lagos, from where one may take a day trip to nearby Tavira and Lagos. Faro is known for its 9th-century city walls and tranquil fishing harbor. Tavira is an ancient Moorish city featuring narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, and a seven-arched Roman bridge. To properly enjoy this region’s renowned coastline, with its amazing sea caves and schools of dolphins, a sightseeing cruise is recommended. Most tours return to Lisbon from Lagos, with a stop in Azeitao, in the heart of Quintu country. According to Frommer, the term refers to a mansion with great architectural style filled with art, and Azeitao “boasts some of the finest Quintus in the country.”
If time permits, plan on starting your visit to Portugal in Porto, the second largest city, which some say is the most interesting. It is the home to port wines which may be sampled in Villa Nova de Gaia, just across the river. The city boasts to three exceptional churches: Igreja de Santa Clara completed in 1416, Igreja de Sao Francisco dating from 1383, and Se (Cathedral) in the Romanesque style. The restaurant scene is considered the best in Portugal with restaurants such as the moderately priced Aquario Marisqueiro popular for shellfish and grilled sea bass. The Portuguese consume the most seafood per capita in the world. Many tourists spend a day cruising the Douro River to visit some of the many wineries located along its banks. It has been compared to a non-touristy version of Napa Valley or Tuscany.
If this is not enough to convince you to visit, the weather is comfortable and sunny all year long. On the west coast, one can expect a month or two of temperatures in the mid-50 degree range with the rest of the year between 60 and 80. Madeira and the Azores have constant temperatures between 63 and 75 all year. The Algarve enjoys summer temperatures in the low 80s and in winter is warm enough to attract sun worshippers from Europe and North America.
For most people, taking an excursion is the best way to visit Portugal, in terms of cost and comfort.
Here are some recommended tours:
Collette
Sunny Portugal with Porto and Madeira extensions possible
Portugal & Its Islands featuring Lisbon, Madeira and the Azores
The Flavors of Portugal and Spain
Odysseys Unlimited
Discovering Portugal
Paradores & Pousadas
Tauck
A Week…Portugal
Insight
Country Roads of Portugal
