On the unforgiving edge of the Atlantic where a windswept coastline was once thought to be the edge of the world, Portugal is an intrepid frontier. The southern European country is a masterclass in timeless appeal, with the best places to visit in Portugal ranging from beaches with roaring 100-foot-waves to countrysides blanketed in impossible shades of green. On any given day, one can taste wines within steeply terraced vineyards, feast upon mouthwatering pastel de nata (an addictive egg custard tart pastry), or discover allegorical scenes painted on Portugal’s iconic blue-and-white azulejos tiles.
And the beauty of it all? Portugal is a year-round destination. “In summer, you can go to the beaches in the Vicentina Coast or the Algarve; in autumn, there’s the harvest in the Douro; during winter the weather in Madeira is warm; and spring ushers in flower season in the Azores,” say Virginia Irurita, a preferred partner of luxury travel advisor, Virtuoso. “It’s a small country, but big in diversity.”
Ahead, discover 13 of the best places to visit in Portugal that highlight this diversity, and what to do once you’re there.
Ride a Historic Train Into the Douro Valley
Photo: Getty Images
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