Portugal Holidays

Golf holidays in Portugal:

The Algarve is the best region for a golfing holiday. Enjoy resorts like Vilamoura, Lagos or Tavira. You can also enjoy luxurious golf courses along the Lisbon Coast as well as Madeira. There are plenty of hotels to choose from where you can enjoy your favourite sport. Choose from the Penina Golf Resort, the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort or As Cascatas Golf Resort and Spa.

Surf holidays in Portugal:

Portugal has long been a surfer’s paradise with huge waves rolling into its sandy shores. The whole country’s coastline is perfect for the sport including resorts like Porto, Cascais, Alentejo and Sagres. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find a beach which is just right for your skillset and even a surf school where you can learn.

Things to do in Lisbon:

• Belém Tower – One of the city’s most significant sights, you’ll be able to witness wonderful views from this point.
• Alfama – This famed area of Lisbon is best-known for its hilly streets and also being the oldest district in the Portuguese capital. You’ll find Lisbon’s famous trams in the area too.
• Jerónimos Monastery – This Gothic piece of architecture is a stunning sight to see. What can you expect inside? Fascinating museums and archaeology!

Things to do in the Algarve:

• Zoomarine Algarve – Have fun on the waterslides and the swimming pools whilst also catching a glimpse at the dolphin or seal shows.
• Benagil – This small village right on the coast is home to some of the most unique rock formations you’ll ever come across, including its famous cave.
• Castle of Silves – A Moorish castle which has a number of towers. As well as its historical significance, there are amazing views to be had here.

Best beaches in the Algarve:

For guaranteed sunshine on the beaches head to the Algarve. Many of the beaches in the Algarve are lined with bars and cafés so you are never far away from a refreshing drink or bite to eat in the sun.

• Praia da Rocha – Not far from Portimão, Praia da Rocha isn’t just a picturesque beach, it is also a great spot for surfing or hopping on a jet-ski.
• Falesia Beach – Boasting dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waters, what’s there not to love about Falesia Beach?
• Praia Dona Ana – Golden sands and huge rock formations make Praia Dona Ana one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal.
• Praia da Marinha – Yet another beach which boasts the Algarve’s signature look, a beach day here is more than worthwhile.

Best beach resorts in Portugal:

If you fancy cutting out the journey and placing yourself right on the beach, luckily Portugal has tons of top beach resorts. Whether you’re travelling with the whole family or your loved one, you’ll be sure to love these top beach resorts.

• Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort Hotel
• The Cliff Bay Hotel
• Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort
• Pestana Porto Santo
• Grand Muthu Oura View Beach Club

Fancying a family holiday in the sunshine, but after something a little more exotic than Spain’s sunny shores? Why not just hop over the border and into Portugal? From the capital Lisbon and the city of Porto to the sun-drenched beaches of the Algarve, there’s a whole host of activities, restaurants, places to see, and family-friendly accommodation that will keep every age group happy.

Blue Flag beaches dot the Portuguese coastline (why not try the beaches in Vilamoura or Albufeira?) and there are plenty of water parks to treat the kids to: Aqualand, Slide and Splash, and Aquashow are three of the best. For slightly older children, a boat trip to the stunning Azores - Sao Miguel being the largest. Alternatively, Funchal in Madeira is an exotic city break with beaches, stunning Portuguese history and excellent hotels.

Top resorts for families:

• Eden Resort
• Aquashow Park Hotel
• Paraiso de Albufeira Aparthotel
• Alfagar II Aparthotel
• Muthu Club Praia da Oura

Calling all couples! Portugal is a holiday haven for holidays a deux. Whether you want to enjoy the sunshine on the beach or explore volcanoes and wander cities to your hearts’ content. Madeira, the island off of the African coast, is a charming island to explore, home of the delicious so-named wine, and bedecked in flowers, it’s no surprise Madeira is nicknamed the Floating Garden. Funchal is a beautiful city with remnants of the island's illustrious past.

Where else could be more romantic than Lisbon's winding streets? Climb to one of the many miradouro and enjoy a beautiful sunset with a loved one. Or you could enjoy the sunset on one of the Algarve beaches, there's so many to choose from you're sure to find a secluded spot to enjoy each other's company. Busy beaches at Albufeira or the quiet resort of Alvor, the Algarve has a beach for you.

5-star hotels for couples:

• Savoy Saccharum Hotel
• Dona Filipa Hotel
• The Vintage Lisboa
• Lawrence’s Hotel
• Tivoli Marina Vilamoura

Inject a dose of culture into your Portugal holidays by staying in the beautiful cosmopolitan city of Lisbon. Discover numerous historic sites and old districts harbouring a wealth of history or explore the ruins of the Royal Palace and enjoy fabulous views of the city. Portugal itself is packed full of UNESCO heritage sites – from grand gothic-style monasteries to stunning natural beauty spots. For a cultural trip with a twist, head to the Alto Douro Wine Region, the traditional home of port wine –an ideal souvenir for any budding wine connoisseur.

Many of the towns in the Algarve still retain their old-world Portuguese charm - even Albufeira, the most bustling resort town in the Algarve, has its own charming old town.

Food in Lisbon:

The coastal capital of Lisbon enjoys lovely fresh dishes made from fish and other seafood. Try the delicious bacalhau dish for a true Portuguese experience, which consists of cod fish. Of course, you can’t finish off a meal without a taste of pasteis de nata, a sweet custard tart.

Food in Algarve:

In Portugal’s southern region, you can expect loads of fresh fish as well as other seafood favourites. This is particularly due to its coastal location where fresh seafood is easy to come by. Sardines are always a hit in the Algarve, especially when they’re grilled. Plus, you can’t leave the region without sampling the famed Portuguese piri piri chicken.  

Food in Madeira:

In Madeira, you can find much of the same as in the Algarve. Choose from oysters, grilled calamari and tasty shrimps. On top of that, the island is also known for its wine, so you’ll have the perfect combination of food and drink in Madeira.

Food prices:

Eating out in Portugal isn’t the cheapest but it’s not the most expensive either. You will find many local cafes where you can enjoy some cheap eats. But in other restaurants, you may find the prices are slightly more expensive.

Lisbon - The cultural capital of Lisbon is the perfect destination for a fun night on your Portugal holiday, with plenty of bars and clubs lining the cobbled roads you are sure to have a great night out. Porto, not far from Lisbon, is even more laid-back, and you'll find it even cheaper!

Algarve – Albufeira is perhaps the most popular nightlife hotspot in the Algarve region. Providing great nights out with regular themes such as foam parties and glow parties running through the summer, there is always something going on in the resort. Plus, Faro, as the capital of the Algarve region, also boasts its own nightlife.

Madeira – The Portuguese island isn’t known to be the liveliest of places once the night falls. In fact, it is often renowned for being a chilled and laid-back destination. However, you will come across nice little bars where you can enjoy your night with a couple of drinks. However, if you are interested in visiting a nightclub, Funchal does have a few where you can party throughout the night.

How long is the flight to Portugal?

The flight time from the UK to Portugal depends on whereabouts you’ll be visiting. Typically trips to Porto take 2 hours 10 minutes, Lisbon takes 2 hours 35 minutes, Faro takes 2 hours 50 minutes and Madeira takes 3 hours 50 minutes.

Is there a time difference between the UK and Portugal?

There isn’t a time difference between the UK and Portugal.

What is the hottest place in Portugal?

The Algarve is the hottest place in Portugal thanks to its sunny and warm weather throughout the year. However, the Atlantic winds help to keep the region from getting uncomfortably hot.

When is the best time to visit Portugal?

In the summer, the sun shines non stop in Portugal, making it a great time to visit the country. There will be of course loads of tourists during this time. So, it is better to travel outside of the summer months if you wish to avoid the crowds. The majority of the winter time means a lot of rainfall for Portugal, this period stretches from November to March. Although the south of Portugal generally experiences sun all year round.The best time to visit Portugal would be in the spring. Between February and June you can experience decent weather which is still warm, but not too hot. At the same time there won't be too many crowds.

Average high and low temperatures for each month:

• January: 15° / 8°
• February: 16° / 9°
• March: 19° / 11°
• April: 20° / 12°
• May: 22° / 14° 
• June: 26° / 17° 
• July: 28° / 18°
• August: 28° / 19°
• September: 27° / 18°
• October: 23° / 15°
• November: 18° / 12°
• December: 15° / 9°