The perfect duo. The portuguese poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen said: “Sea, half of my soul is made of sea breeze”. We think the Portuguese have the same feeling as the poet. And with this perfect duo, all the good things that come along like kilometres of deserted beaches to explore, the waves to surf, the great fish to eat in any restaurant, close to the sea, grilled, with salt & olive oil, a boiled potato, and a salad. Simple, just as life should be.
With Mediterranean and Atlantic influences, and with more than 1,000 miles of coastline, Portugal is strongly connected to the sea and therefore to the fish and seafood. There is also a great legacy from the past (coming from different people that marked the country’s history like the celts or romans), making the Portuguese cuisine rich and unique. Don’t miss some specialties when in Portugal like croquetes, ameijoas à bolhão pato, the portuguese soup (canja de galinha, açorda alentejana, caldo verde), grilled fish, seafood, cozido à portuguesa, bacalhau com grão, polvo à lagareiro. Bread, cheese, and olive oil at the table, always, together with a Portuguese wine to choose from 14 wine regions. For dessert, try pão de ló, a tribute to simplicity, also taught to Gordon Ramsay while he discovered the pure flavours of Portugal. And of course, a pastel de natal & a bica (coffee). Additionally, in the last couple of years, there is a food scene going on in Portugal with a new wave of enthusiastic new chefs. If you are a Food Lover, Portugal needs to be your next destination.
Portugal is rich in natural wonders, with lush nature, rivers, waterfalls, sleeping volcanoes, ponds, mountains, deserted beaches. Some unique places to explore by walk or bike are Parque Nacional Peneda Gerês, Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Douro Valley, Arrábida Natural Park, Azores, Madeira, Ria Formosa with some other incredible sites to mention a few like Ponta da Piedade in Lagos, Pico Mountain, Pico do Arieiro, Laurissilva Forest, Sete Cidades Lagoon. From the mountains to the vast plains, from the white sandy beaches to the fresh river beaches, together with a mild temperature all year round, plus 300 sunny days per year, Portugal is perfect for nature lovers & outdoor activities.
Portugal, one of the oldest nations in Europe, with a long history of invasions and fights over since prehistoric times, from the romans, the Visigoths, the moors, the Christian reconquest and the epic period of the Portuguese discoveries. This historical legacy brings an enormous impact in terms of culture, history, architecture, customs and traditions. Some unique sites, to name a few are, Torre de Belém, Castelo de São Jorge, Palácio da Pena, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Convento do Carmo, Convento de Mafra, Convento de Cristo, and of course, incredible historic cities to explore like Tomar, Lisboa, Coimbra, Guimarães, Porto, Sintra, Braga, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo, with several UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the country. In towns and villages in Portugal, year-round cultural activities and events occurs like the celebration of Santo António or São João. A small country with historical villages to walk and its monuments and traditions, unique landscapes to explore and authentic experiences to live.
Welcoming and friendly, authentic, open to the world, hardworking and always ready to grab a cup of coffee. The connection with the national football team is unbreakable and when Portugal plays the country stops. On Sunday, families like to gather around the table at lunch time. Finally, “saudade”, the word that best describes this feeling of being Portuguese, it’s something that comes from within, connected to the Portuguese culture and soul, leading us to Fado, an anthem to the portuguese sentiment. Fado and saudade are the two most difficult words to translate, so you must come to Portugal to feel in your heart this feeling. Try the Most Authentic Foodie Tour to connect with the local people.
Considered one of the safest countries in the world, Portugal ranked 3rd out of 163 countries in the world on the Global Piece Index. That’s why Portugal is also on the radar of solo travellers. Also there’s no need to know Portuguese as English language is spoken across all country. You can easily walk or bike or take the train. But for the ones that prefer to rent-a-car, the roads are very good and some are great scenic drives that you can do like Lisboa to Sintra, Pinhão to Régua, Comporta to Costa Vicentina, Faro to Lagos, the national 2, known as the portuguese route 66 and of course the incredible 800km of coastline to indulge.
You should never run out of ideas, so visit other Custom Made Tours in Portugal and find the most suitable for what you are looking for. We can also personalize your experience, as we are here to help and welcome you. Contact We Love Small Hotels.
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