Here at His & Hers, we’re counting down to being able to book a holiday again, and Portugal is on our wish-list!
Travelling as a couple is a great way to enrich your relationship and the shared experience of travelling is something that will stay with you forever. The more colourful the destination, the more vivid those memories will be and that’s what makes Portugal such a great choice for couples. You don’t have to take a long haul flight to some far-flung paradise because in under three hours from the UK you can be in a country which offers a rich variety of dramatic landscapes, centuries of cultural history, great wining and dining and in the south, year-long sunshine.
When to go
The summer months are of course the busiest time to visit Portugal and temperatures, particularly in central Portugal, can be uncomfortably hot. The shoulder seasons, spring and early autumn are much less busy, up to 30% cheaper and with temperatures that will enable you to take part in a much wider range of activities.
Where to go
Most visitors to Portugal head for the stunning beaches of the Algarve and if you enjoy water sports and nightlife you will not be disappointed, but this is the most expensive and most commercially developed area of Portugal and it would be a shame not to experience more of this country’s rich variety.
Lisbon, Portugal’s coastal capital, set on seven hills, is one of the great capital cities of the world and its rediscovery by travellers has meant that in recent years it has undergone something of a renaissance. A city of unique charm, full of history and architectural delights, Lisbon has something for everyone. Dominated by St George’s Castle this is a city of ancient buildings, outstanding museums, boutique shops and wonderful restaurants. Vintage trams wind their way up the ancient cobbled streets to the Bairro Alto where you can dance the night away to traditional fado or the latest dance music. Lisbon also makes a great base for day trips into the country to visit the beautiful local towns, such as the World Heritage site of Sintra.
Porto is situated on Portugal’s northwest Atlantic coastline and is famous for its port wine production and stunning bridges. Cooler and rainier than Lisbon, Porto is a fascinatingly beautiful city with a distinctive character and charm of its own. Something of a well-kept secret this city is very much in the process of being ‘discovered’.
There are scores of great Portuguese villages, towns and cities to discover and of course, you will be limited by time and location. Rather than booking a single destination hotel, consider booking self-catering accommodation in several different locations so that you can enjoy as much variety as possible.
Getting around
Travelling around should be part of the experience not just a means to an end. Hiring a car will give you the most freedom and you could arrange things so that you pick the car up in one location and drop it off in another. Alternatively, Portugal has a great public transport system and travelling by train is a wonderful way to appreciate this country’s varied landscape.
For more features, please pay a visit to our lifestyle page.
