Destination articles

Picture-Perfect Portugal

lubowitz

Portugal

It's common knowledge that the peak travel times are during the school year's most festive periods: summer, winter, and spring breaks.

However, more and more wise vacationers are opting to take their trips during the shoulder or off seasons, when rates are lower, crowds are smaller, and there are fewer families with young children present.
They may be looking for a place with good weather, culture, gorgeous scenery, and good food and wine in the fall and early winter (before the holiday excursions begin) to spend their vacation time.

Think of Portugal, the country in the southwestern corner of Europe that stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean and incorporates the islands of Madeira and the Azores.

Warmer than average temperatures
Tourist hotspots Summers are lengthy and warm in Lisbon, Madeira, and Algarve. Many Douro River cruises begin in Porto, which is often cooler and wetter than the rest of the country.

Portugal, with its more than 525 kilometers of beaches, is believed to have an average of 3,000 sunny days each year, making it one of the sunniest countries in the world.

The director of Visit Portugal in the United States, Celina Tavares, remarked that the country's temperate winters and scorching summers made it an ideal vacation spot throughout the year.

Summer is peak tourist season in Portugal because that's when most Portuguese and Europeans have time off work. U.S. visitors do prefer to travel to Portugal in the off-peak months, when hotels are cheaper and crowds are thinner.

Statistics on Tourist Arrivals to the United States
More than 1.2 million Americans traveled abroad this year. After almost two years of closed borders, "these numbers reduced substantially" during the pandemic, Tavares added. We got back on track in June 2021, and the U.S. market has been increasing at an exponential rate ever since.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, "Travel & Tourism in Portugal will fuel the national economic recovery and could possibly exceed pre-pandemic levels next year with a forecast growth of 4.8% compared to 2019. There is no doubt that the U.S. market is following suit, as we have seen a notable uptick in visitors and lengths of stay.

Luxury Tourists
Who from the United States would go to Portugal? Wealthy tourists in search of adventure, history, culture, delicious food, and a good time! Ultimately, it was Tavares who chimed in. That Portugal has such kind and friendly people is one of the country's greatest selling points as a tourist hotspot.

Since these are the two largest cities in Portugal, first-time visitors from the United States often prioritize seeing either Lisbon or Porto. Lisbon and its surrounding areas are home to over 1.9 million people.

"Currently, we are observing an increased interest in Portugal-only tours," Tavares added, "combining Portugal's main cities of Lisbon and Porto with lesser known parts in the nation, such the islands of Azores and Madeira, or coastal regions with excellent surf spots."

Douro Valley, often known as the Valley of Wine
Douro River cruises from Porto in Portugal have expanded as the popularity of river sailing has risen, drawing attention to the entire Douro Valley.

Given that it is only about a 212 hour drive from Porto, "the Douro Valley has expanded rapidly as a destination for U.S. travelers, not just for cruises but also as a touring location in Northern Portugal," Tavares noted.

Braga and Guimares, both roughly 40 minutes from Porto, are only two of the many interesting cities in the country's northern region. When Upper Paleolithic rock art was discovered in the relatively unknown regions of Miranda do Douro and Foz do Côa, they received a great deal of attention from archaeologists throughout the world.

The little villages of Vila Real, such as Viana do Castelo, Bragança, Caminha, Ponte de Lima, and Casa de Mateus, are not to be missed for their traditional architecture, cuisine, and celebrations.

"Alentejo is a fantastic alternative for those of your clients who are interested in wine tours but who aren't set on seeing just the Douro Valley. Tavares remarked, "Most of the wineries in the area are located in the attractive and historic areas of Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Vidigueira, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora, and Beja, where some of the best Portuguese wines are produced." "Alentejo is one of the top olive oil producing regions in the world, as well as the largest table wine producing region in Portugal."

Inviting Coast and Islands of Portugal
The Azores are a group of nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America, and getting there takes around two hours by plane from Lisbon. The Azores experience an average summer high of 77 degrees and a winter low of 60.

Because of its favorable climate and abundant marine life, the Azores has become a popular destination for scuba divers, particularly between June and September/October, and active vacationers; in fact, the World Travel Awards named the Azores Europe's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination for 2020.

Your customers can also go whale and dolphin watching or paraglide (either alone or in tandem). Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and surfing are some other examples of active excursions.

About 1.5 hours from Lisbon, the Madeira Archipelago includes the populated islands of Madeira and Porto Santo as well as the uninhabited nature reserves of Desertas and Selvagens. The temperature in Madeira is usually between 55 and 79 degrees all through the year.

The highest point on the island of Madeira is 6,109 feet above sea level.

Traditional basket toboggans, which were initially used for speedy transportation, have become a major tourist attraction in Funchal, the island's capital. The descent is led by two runners in straw boaters, and it's a rip-roaring good time.

The outdoors also offer opportunities for hiking, canyoning, mountain biking, and Jeep tours, among other pursuits.

Possibly what's needed now is a glass of Madeira wine to relax with after all that. When you think of wine, think of Blandy's Wine Lodge. There are opportunities to take geometry dash tours and partake in tastings.

The southernmost part of Portugal, known as the Algarve, boasts a whopping 125 miles of coastline and at least 300 sunny days annually.

The Algarve is well-known for its location near the water, as well as its numerous prestigious golf courses, protected natural areas, quaint towns, and historic forts and castles. Tours can be taken on foot or by bike, and boats can take visitors out to spot marine mammals like seahorses and dolphins.

Jewels of the New Museum
Lisbon's newest must-see landmark, the Royal Treasure Museum at Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, opened to the public just recently.

For the first time ever, the Portuguese Crown Jewels are being seen to the general public, according to Celina Tavares of Visit Portugal. To say that this is one of the world's most significant collections would be an understatement.

More than a thousand items of unique and precious jewelry, insignia and decorations, coins, and pieces of civic and religious art reflect the tale of Portuguese royal goldsmithery.