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Portugal

Overview

Introduction

The westernmost country of Europe is a beautiful land of marked contrasts whose bold, sea-faring people pushed forward the frontiers of the ancient world. Evidence of that glorious heritage can be seen everywhere: in fascinating cities, extraordinarily lovely scenery and warm, unaffected people who keep alive their age old traditions and ceremonies.

This country, with its unexpected contrasts, is a most stimulating and rewarding one to tour. The white holiday beaches of the Algarve give way to the green Monchique hills, then to the cork tree-covered plains of the Alentejo stretching to Lisbon, among the loveliest of all European cities, and beyond to wooded and vine-covered hills encompassing vibrant towns before finally reaching the Spanish border.

Portugal is ideally suited for touring holidays. The distances are not great and the roads, although sometimes winding, are in good repair. Very comfortable accommodation in character hotels, historic manor houses and Pousadas is readily available. We also feature the Algarve area, but not the standard hotels or apartments now common in the overcrowded resorts. The holidays presented here, as you will see from the following pages, are rather different. Try one – you will discover a side of Portugal you least expected, and you will not be disappointed.

Our Portuguese programme is designed to be as flexible as we can make it – the itineraries being little more than suggestions with accommodation chosen whenever possible as much for its character as its location. Non standard holiday durations, a week in a city or resort and a week’s fly drive, flying into and out of different airports within Portugal; all are possibilities. It is also possible to combine a stopover in mainland Portugal with one of the nine islands of the Azores. Please see our suggested tailormade itineraries. If you have a holiday idea that is not priced in the brochure, please call us and we will soon tell you if it is feasible and realisable at an acceptable cost.

As all our holidays are tailor-made, we have adopted a flexible pricing policy based on individual airline net fares which now, as a result of the changing airline industry, fluctuate on a regular basis. Our new computer system enables us to give up to the minute quotes on all properties. The price will reflect the latest flight prices and any offers from hotels.

Read more

About the climate

Portugal has a maritime temperate climate that varies according to elevation and proximity to the ocean. The average temperature ranges from 13 to 24 degrees centigrade in the north and from 16 to 28 in the south. Portugal has a good selection of beaches, mostly sand, from north to south with the best known stretches being in the Algarve (average sea temperature is 16 degrees centigrade in winter and 23 in summer).

The Lisbon coast has well sheltered beaches of the Serra de Arribida, great expanse of dunes south of the River Tagus and the popular beaches of Cascais and Estoril favoured by Lisboners. From the Douro towards Spain, on the Costa Verde, there are fine sandy beaches backed by rolling green countryside. Costa Dorada has a more rugged coastline with sandy bays at the bottom of high cliffs (average sea temperature is 13 degrees centigrade in winter and 17 in summer).

Flight information


Flights with TAP Portugal to Lisbon and Porto
Full flight details available on request
London Heathrow -  Lisbon -  Daily
London Gatwick -  Lisbon -  Daily
London Gatwick - Porto -  Daily

Flights with British Airways to Lisbon and Faro
Full flight details available on request
London Heathrow -  Lisbon -  Daily
London Gatwick -  Faro -  Daily

Regional flights to Portugal
Direct flights from regional airports using charter and no frills airlines, are available on request. We have produced a list of possible routes to date. Please note that these flights are subject to change. Please telephone us for the latest information on routes, prices and any new destinations. 

Faro -  Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gatwick, Glasgow, Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool, London Southend, London City, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle & Stansted
Lisbon -  Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted & Manchester
Porto - Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Liverpool, Manchester

Further Reading

For further inspiration on a trip to Portugal, read our blog.

Pousadas of Portugal

The Pousadas form a network of hotels throughout mainland Portugal. They offer a rich variety of choice and include historic castles, former monasteries, palaces and modern buildings - always in idyllic locations whether it be historic cities or rural areas of outstanding natural beauty.

 
Northern Portugal

1    Pousada de Alijo, Alijo
2    Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, Santa Maria de Bouro
3    Pousada de Braganca, Braganca
4    Pousada de Canicada-Geres, Canicada-Geres
5    Pousada Mosteiro de Guimaraes, Guimaraes
6    Pousada de Marao, Sao Goncalo
7    Pousada do Porto, Porto
8    Pousada de Valenca do Minho, Valenca do Minho
9    Pousada de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo

Central Portugal

10     Pousada Convento de Belmonte, Belmonte
11     Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova, Condeixa-a-Nova
12     Pousada da Ria-Torreira-Murtosa, Torreira
13     Pousada Castelo de Obidos, Obidos
14     Pousada de Ourem, Ourem-Fatima
15     Pousada da Serra da Estrela, Leiria
16     Pousada Convento de Vila Pouca da Beira, Vila Pouca da Beira
17     Pousada de Viseu, Viseu
          
Lisbon Region

18     Pousada de Cascais-Cidadela, Cascais
19     Pousada de Lisboa, Lisbon
20     Pousada Castelo de Palmela, Palmela
21     Pousada Palacio de Queluz, Queluz
          
Alentejo


22     Pousada Castelo de Alcacer do Sal, Alcacer do Sal
23     Pousada Castelo de Alvito, Alvito
24     Pousada Convento de Arraiolos, Arraiolos
25     Pousada Convento de Beja, Beja
26     Pousada Mosteiro do Crato, Crato
27     Pousada Castelo de Estremoz, Estremoz
28     Pousada Convento de Evora, Evora
29     Pousada do Marvao, Marvao
30     Pousada Convento de Vila Vicosa, Vila Vicosa

The Algarve


31     Pousada Palacio Estoi, Estoi
32     Pousada Sagres, Sagres
33     Pousada Convento Tavira, Tavira

Winter and Spring Pousada Fly-drives in Portugal

Temperatures across Portugal in January and February range between 14 and 16 during the day and in the region of 5 in the evening.  The Algarve and the Alentejo have more sunny days than further north but, even during these months, when in the sun you need no more than a shirt. The light is bright, the weather crisp and the crowds nowhere to be seen.  Once into March and April, temperatures will be several degrees higher, reaching 21 in the Algarve and the Alentejo and spring, especially in the Alentejo, is spectacular.

Portuguese Pousadas are full of character, are always in locations of particular significance and reflect local culture and cuisine.  We have negotiated very special rates on the Pousadas featured below.  We outline four suggested itineraries, each for a week but the length of stays can be varied and one Pousada substituted for another as long as you keep to the selection of Pousadas listed below.


Properties to choose from:

  • Pousada de Canicada Geres
  • Pousada Mosteiro de Amares
  • Pousada de Viseu
  • Pousada Mosteiro do Crato
  • Pousada do Marvao
  • Pousada Convento de Vila Vicosa
  • Pousada Convento de Beja
  • Pousada de Sagres


Itineraries:

Discover the Alentejo on our luxury short break

The Telegraph (08Jan16) has recognised Portugal's excellent value as a holiday destination. The newspaper highlight our 4-night luxury break to Evora to their readership. The package includes a stay at the Convento do Espinheiro Hotel, one evening meal, a 30-minute massage, wine tasting and complimentary use of the hotel's extensive spa facilities.

Foreign Office advice

We’ve partnered with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Aware campaign to help provide top tips and advice for planning for your trip abroad. It’s important to do some research before you travel to learn about any necessary visas and vaccinations required for entry to your destination, understand any unusual laws and customs and to be aware of the latest travel advice for the region. Click on the link below for more information on what to prepare for your trip overseas. You can also sign up for email alerts and follow @FCOtravel on Twitter for alerts whilst you are away.

Visit gov.uk/travelaware for more information

Useful information

Talk to one of our experts

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Rosanna Melaragni
Rosanna Melaragni
Best time to go
  • JAN
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Time Difference

GMT + 0

Currency

Euro

Language

Portuguese

Average flight times

2 hours 35 minutes

  • Average temperature

    Average rainfall

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Rosanna Melaragni

Talk to our Portugal expert

Rosanna Melaragni
Rosanna Melaragni

Rosanna is the head of our Discovery Department which covers tailor made holidays to Portugal and the Azores, Italy and Sicily, Scandinavia and the new programme to Spain. She is our longest serving member of staff having joined in 1994 after completing an honours degree in French and Italian and subsequently working for a tour operator in Yorkshire. She is responsible for brochure writing, contracting accommodation, programme costing, computer inputting and generally troubleshoots where necessary. She has global knowledge of our tailor made programme.

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Milfontes, Alentejo, Portugal

Portugal

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We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774

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If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774

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