Home to 800km of Atlantic coastline lined with countless beaches, Portugal is irresistible.  It’s a colourful country with a huge amount of history, fabulous countryside, cosmopolitan cities and sunshine hotter than the famous piri-sauce Portugal is famed for.

Portugal is a country that has the oldest borders in Europe and has an exceptional range of varying landscapes yet is just a short flight from the UK. Plenty of leisure activities and a unique cultural heritage have tradition blending with modernity in total harmony. The superb cuisine, fine wine and extremely hospitable people make it an ideal location for a getaway.

Located at the south western tip of Europe, Portugal also includes the Madeira and Azores archipelagos out in the Atlantic. The 9 islands of the Azores are around a 2 hour flight from the mainland whilst the 2 inhabited and 2 uninhabited nature reserve islands of Madeira are around 90 minutes flight. Both are verdant jewels in the Atlantic ocean with dramatic cliffs and landscapes.

The coastline stretches from the wild Atlantic coast north of the city of Porto and the Douro river, past the western most tip of mainland Europe at Cabo de Roca to the cosmopolitan city of Lisbon.  Further south is the Cabo de Sao Vicente where the coastline then turns to head eastwards along the famous Algarve with its’ beautiful sandy beaches and along to the land border with Spain.

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.

Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians all left their mark on the Iberian nation. Here, visitors can gaze upon 20,000-year-old stone carvings in the Vila Nova de Foz Côa, watch the sunset over mysterious megaliths outside Évora or get lost in the elaborate corridors of Unesco World Heritage Sites in Tomar, Belém, Alcobaça or Batalha.  Next, ponder the rise and fall of ancient civilisations in the Celtic Citânia de Briteiros or the ancient Roman Cidade de Ammaia, and explore Portugal's most enchanting settings in palaces set above mist-covered woodlands, craggy clifftop castles and stunningly preserved medieval town centres.

Outside the cities, Portugal’s beauty unfolds in all its startling variety. Hike amid the granite peaks of Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês or take in the pristine scenery and historic villages of the little-explored Beiras. Alternatively, simply gaze out over dramatic end-of-the-world cliffs, surf stellar breaks off dune-covered beaches or laze peacefully on sandy islands fronting calm blue seas.

Portugal’s winning combination of beautiful beaches, rugged coastlines, dramatic scenery, world class golfing and historic cities has kept the country on the map for many years. This combined with impressive weather credentials – averaging over 300 days of sun per year, makes it the perfect choice for holidays.