PORTUGAL: PLAN YOUR SELF-JOURNEY

Portugal

Portugal is the least affected European country from mass tourism development and its consequences. Here you will feel the national flavor, yet not greatly affected by globalization,you can enjoy rest in hotels in old buildings, take a car and ride along the Atlantic coast, exploring reserved bays.Rest in Portugal can be safely recommended to fans to go to Europe, which many where were and are waiting for new discoveries. Here, and architecture, and seascapes,And a gastronomic holiday every day. Portugal is ideal for those who do not like large rezort hotels, all inslusive and other elements of communism;Portugal is a country for free travelers. And if you prefer to start your travels from a visit to car rental - this country literally waits for you Our articles are written by Russian-speaking authors who live in Portugal and will help you plan your trip around this country,Relying on a competent opinion, and not on "reviews of tourists." 

5 REASONS TO GO TO VACATION IN PORTUGAL

Scenes from everyday life and ebullient activity in the cities of Portugal are themselves sights. Add to this a lot of historical and cultural monuments and you will get a real tourist paradise. For a relaxing holiday, the best beaches of the Algarve coast in the south of the country are best suited, they are considered to be one of the best in Europe and are very popular. This region,Dotted with picturesque fishing villages and quaint cities, such as Eshtoi, Faro and Monte Gordo,Is the basis of the tourism industry in Portugal. On the east coast of Estoril there are many casinos and luxury hotels - This exotic and expensive place Lisbon - the capital and the most modern city in Portugal,An ideal mixture of antiquity and a multinational atmosphere. Since then, as in 1994 Lisbon was named the cultural capital of Europe,The city attracts a lot of attention. In the former territory of the exhibition "Expo" and nearby squares there are many coastal restaurants, concert halls,Open cafe, as well as the Lisbon Oceanarium. In the central part of the city there is a Roman triumphal arch.

The boundaries of the city smoothly merge with the coastline and its wooden buildings, which only adds to the city's attractiveness.Narrow, paved streets of Porto, Portugal's second largest city, leading to the famous vineyards,On which grapes are grown for port wine, also deserve your attention.The university town of Coimbra in northern Portugal is very popular with young people, and its charming outdoor cafes are a great place to sit here in the evening.

HOW TO GET TO PORTUGAL

However, it is better to immediately tune in to a ticket with a transfer in some European city. Choose a short transplant, for example,In Zurich, if you are limited in time and want to quickly get to Lisbon. Long parking, on the contrary, gives a chance to visit the city, On which you are bored, but there is no time to go there specially. For example, there are 12-hour connections in Amsterdam.Those who travel around Portugal at the wheel, sometimes fly to Malaga, take a car there and already on it go to Portugal.

LISBON

Lisbon is the starting point of travel around Portugal. Stop in it for a couple of days on the way there and back. Although, there are fans who come to Lisbon for the duration of the trip, and from there they travel around the country.

In most of the country, the tourist season lasts from March to October, which is perhaps the best time to visit Portugal in terms of weather conditions.Prices for hotels in Lisbon are pretty high all year round, so that when you do not come here, the prices will be roughly the same.In other cities of the country, the hotels have discounts from November to February. If you want to visit the beaches of the Algarve,When there are no crowds of tourists, come in the winter. In this region, the sun shines at least 3000 hours per year,So there is never a lot of cold, even in the so-called winter, from November to February.Officially, the swimming season begins on June 15 and ends on September 15. However, our people are already in full swim and on May holidays. Ut need to understand one subtlety: the beaches of Portugal is not on the sea, but on the most that neither is the ocean, With all that it implies. So if the rest is critically warm and calm sea - it is better to choose another country, For example, Greece. Portugal is ideal for those who love the sea, but not fixated on bathing.

WHERE TO STAY. BEST HOTELS IN PORTUGAL

One of the main tourist attractions of travel around Portugal is to stay in historic buildings converted for hotels. For example,The Cidadela Historic Hotel, opened in Cascais in 2012, is a vivid representative of the historical design pozadzad.Pouzada is located in a fortress that served in the 16th century as an outpost for defending the entrance to the Tagus estuary and protecting Lisbon from attack from the sea.

ROUTES FOR PORTUGAL

The main route of the first trip through Portugal is to get to the most western point of Europe, on the Cape of Cabo da Roca. In order to get there, it is not necessary to rent a car, you can just buy a ticket from any tour operator in Lisbon.However, even for this rather simple route it is more comfortable to rent a car. The movement in Portugal is right-sided,The intensity is low, only those who are on two wheels are afraid. The traffic police in Portugal are indulgent to tourists,But this kindness is best not to abuse. Use our comparison of prices for car rental from different suppliers:

MADEYRA

Somehow it happened that this island with a unique nature, located in the Atlantic Ocean, for some reason considered "a resort for wealthy retirees."First, if you combine a trip to mainland Portugal with a beach holiday in Madeira (which in itself is an excellent idea), then the budget of the trip will not be cosmic:Lisbon-Funchal tickets are standard money. And there is no need to be a pensioner:

Bars and nightlife are enough in Lisbon, and on Madeira you need to enjoy the silence and unique flora; Staying in Madeira is like being in a large botanical garden.