Sun, Sand, Sea; Top Best Beaches in Portugal

Portugal, sun, sea and sand; Most Popular Portugal Beaches and The beach Resorts/Hotels
Portugal has long been a popular holiday destination. A visit to Lisbon is very popular, but the most popular are still the coasts of
Portugal. In particular, the Algarve is a popular destination…

General Information:
Capital: Lisbon
Language: Portuguese
Currency: Euro
Religion: Roman Catholic
Climate: Moderate climate (coastal) Mediterranean climate (Algarve)
Best time: Summer months and winter destination
Time Difference: – 1 hour
Flight time: Approximately 3 hours

To Portugal includes the Madeira archipelago and the Azores archipelago.

Worth seeing places and areas
In Portugal, almost exclusively the coastal towns visited. The capital Lisbon lies on the coast. A distinction is made between:

Costa Verde – from the Spanish border in the north to Espinho
Costa de Prata – from Espinho to Ericeira
Lisbon Coast – Ericeira in Troia
Costa Dourada – Troia to Cabo de Sao Vicente
Algarve – Cabo de Sao Vicente to the Spanish border in the south

Costa Verde
The Costa Verde (green coast) has a nice climate. In the summer it is hot and dry, in winter there is much precipitation, but it’s still quite warm. This coast is not yet spoiled by mass tourism, many Portuguese are therefore to this coast. Beware of swimming, there is often a strong current.

Known resorts in the area are:

Espinho
Viana do Castelo
Povoa de Varzim
Esposende
Ophir
Miramar

The largest city in the Porto area, renowned for its port. This city is also the approach harbor for Costa Verde. Inland, some
interesting towns such as Braga with its 300 churches, with many Guimaraes Barcelos and palaces, the city where the roosters logo comes from Portugal.

Costa de Prata
The Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) has no mass tourism. There are only two great resorts: Figuera da Foz and Aveiro. Nazare is a popular place an excursion. Women are here in costume and the boats on the beach (there is not a port) are a nice attraction. In we know the interior Coimbra, a university town and Fatima, one of the most famous pilgrimage places in the world. In 1919, Mary showed here on three children. Also worth seeing is the Floresta do Bussaco, a sort of walled forest maintained by monks.

Costa Lisboa
The name says it all: this coast is the capital Lisbon. A nice, lively city that is worth a city trip. Of course you can also Lisbon
visit as an excursion from various surrounding towns. The city is bisected by the River Tagus and, like Rome, built on seven
hills. Lisbon is a city with many faces: it is the most important port from Portugal, the old town with its historic buildings have a
picturesque character, and the new town has a modern face. A real attraction is the tram, which climbs the steep hill as if nothing
is. The district is known Alfalma, the fortress of Sao Jorge and the narrow streets that can only be reached on foot. In the district of Belém do one botanical gardens, Torre Belem and Jeronimos Monastery. The Baixa is the downtown, this many shops. Would you visit a museum, then the Museum of Calouste Gulbenkian a must, more than 6000 art nouveau pieces, including much jewelry.

Resorts to the north and west of Lisbon (Costa del Sol) are:

Ericeira – wide beach but strong currents
Sintra – the former royal palace and the Castelo da Pena
Estoril – steep but wide sandy beach, popular entertainment place
Cascais – old fishing village charm, there are three beaches

Seaside resorts south of Lisbon (Costa Azul) are:

Sesimbra – fishing village with wide promenade and beach
Setubal – port city, famous for the fish-canning factory
Troia – a seaside resort with beautiful beaches and dunes
Costa de Caparica – popular resort on the Portuguese themselves

Obidos
Many tourists make a trip from Lisbon to Obidos. This city is
fortified by the Moors, on the wall one can walk (1km) around the city
, taking a beautiful view over the city and the surrounding area. The
city ​​is a great castle of the 15th century. It is also possible to
this overnight.

Evora
About 140 km southeast of Lisbon, Evora, a protected city. In this city is not a stamp, you can see here the remains of the Moorish
culture, as well as Gothic and Renaissance. In the center of the Gothic Cathedral and the Church of Dos Loios a visit. There are also the ruins Roman Temple of Diana (2nd century!) to see.

Costa Dourada
This ‘Golden Coast’ is pricked by mass tourism. He is also not very developed. Vila Nova de Milfontes is the famous resort. Evora find
an oriental atmosphere.

Algarve
The Algarve is the most visited coast of Portugal and of mass tourism interspersed. There are also beautiful sandy beaches. East of Faro The Algarve is a very suitable place for families with children because it very gently sloping beaches here. There are also several attractions for children: a dolphin aquarium and several water parks. West of Faro are the beaches adorned by high cliffs with bright colors. Although the Algarve mass destination, it is sought to be not to look. You’ll find a lot of good accommodations in the form of hotels, apartments, bungalows and villas. There are even some luxury towns have grown, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. The latter has beautiful golf courses known throughout the world. The Algarve is the approach harbor for the city Faro, a great seaport where you can shop and visit museums.

On this coast are numerous seaside resorts, the most popular are:

Monte Gordo
Olhao
Quarteira
Olhos de Aqua
Vilamoura – mundane with golf courses, casino and marina
Albufeira – lively resort with beautiful beaches
Armacao de Peira
Carvoeiro
Portimao
Praia da Rocha
Praia de Alvor
Lagos

For people not the whole day at the beach like there are some excursions. Cabo de Sao Vicente is the most southwestern point
Europe. Silves is the former capital of the Algarve, you’ll find here many fine buildings. Loulé is a walled town with a market on Saturday.