Portugal

Portugal is a country with something for everyone. From historic cities such as Porto and Coimbra to the rich cultural centre that is Lisbon, Portugal is crammed full of museums, monuments and stunning architecture. If cities aren't your thing then there is stunning countryside a plenty on offer. Perhaps best known are the national park in Geres or the Douro Valley near Porto. For something in the middle try the magical town of Sintra with its hilltop, fairy tail palace and ancient castle.

Holidays in Portugal usually conjure up pictures of beautiful Algarvian beaches. With the highest amount of sunshine in Europe it is easy to see why the Algarve remains such a popular holiday destination. Portugal's beaches vary widely in both appearance and the range of activities they offer. From the weird and wonderful rock formations of the Algarve's coves to the exposed, windswept expanse of Guincho near Cascais all are endowed with an unquestionable natural beauty.

Mainland Portugal
The climate in Portugal varies considerably from one region to another and is influenced by the proximity to the sea, which offers mild winters, especially in the Algarve.

In the Porto e Norte area and Beiras region, particularly inland, nearer Spain, the winters are colder, although the temperatures are still mild when compared to the rest of Europe. There is some snowfall. It occurs most in the Serra da Estrela mountains where it is sometimes possible to ski.

The summers are hot and dry, especially in the inland areas and there are often warm, sunny days in autumn.

Azores
The climate in the Azores is influenced by the islands’ latitude, and temperatures are mild there all year round. The same factors also influence the sea temperature, which is very pleasant both in winter and summer and ideal for nautical sports all year round.

Madeira
The climate in Madeira is exceptionally mild, with average temperatures varying between 24 ºC in summer and 19 ºC in winter. The sea temperature is also very pleasant all year round, thanks to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream. It varies between 18 ºC in winter and 22 ºC in summer.

Surfing
Until relatively recently few people outside of Portugal realised the huge surf potential of the Portuguese coastline. With around 600 miles of Atlantic coast in mainland Portugal, much of which is sandy beach, it is not really surprising that some of the best surf spots in Europe can be found here.