Portugal

Portugal is blessed with a warm climate year-round and is a popular destination with backpackers due to that. Apart from the weather, Portugal has a naturally diverse landscape, filled with mountaintops, plains, and celebrated shorelines. Although it is a destination that is off the main tourist trail, its beautiful beaches, numerous vineyards, and ancient UNESCO World Heritage sites give the traveller a taste of what is truly Portugal.

Getting Around

There are three ways to travel through Portugal — by air, train, or bus. It is costly to to keep going on flights to tour the whole country, and it is more budget-friendly to travel by train or by bus. The state railway is called Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses; various bus companies also operate throughout the country and are considered faster than going via train.

Things to See

Portugal is famed for its beaches. The Silver Coast (Costa de Prata) has over 200 kilometers of beautiful shoreline and includes small villages. Its best-known area is the Algarve, site of the country's top beaches. The region of Montanhas (mountains) is where you will find vineyards, ancient castles, and idyllic countryside. Portugal's Green Coast (Costa Verde) is the place to see verdant hills. The city of Sintra is a classified UNESCO World Heritage Site complete with architectural jewels such as old churches, palaces, and gardens.

Where to Stay

For a typical Portuguese experience, try the Residencial, which are numerous in the cities and have a home-like atmosphere. For more luxury, Portugal offers the Pousadas de Portugal, a network of hostels that use beautiful and historic buildings.