Blessed with stunning natural beauty and year-round sunshine, Portugal offers crystal clear seas and a wealth of activities to suit even the most discerning world traveller.

The Portuguese coastline is a holidaymaker’s dream. Frequently hailed as one of the best golf destinations in the world, high-end resorts and world class courses sit side by side with an abundance of health and wellness spas that make the most of the scenery and tranquility on offer.

For the adventurous, Portugal offers some of Europe’s best deep-sea fishing as well as every kind of water sport an enthusiastic tourist could dream of. But it’s where the ‘rolling plains end in unspoilt beaches’ that’s the real attraction.

The Portuguese coastline boasts nearly 200 Blue Flag beaches, many hidden from the main tourist trails by sheltered coves or decorated by countless colourful boats in picturesque fishing villages like Sesimbra – which also doubles as the fashionable weekend retreat of ‘well to do’ Lisbon families.

Alongside all the sunshine, beaches and activities – not to mention the glorious climate – Portugal’s history and heritage can almost be overlooked. Almost. From its Moorish legacies to modern day Lisbon, Portugal combines the past and the present with a timeless elegance. Whether you’re a history buff or simply in need of some old world culture, you can choose from UNESCO World Heritage sites like the magical cliff top village of Sintra or simply take in the quiet charms of historic towns like Guimarães, Évora or Angra do Heroísmo.

More than anything, it’s the pull of a more sedate and relaxed pace of life that bewitches visitors and keeps bringing them back for more. Perhaps it’s no wonder that over a third of Portugal’s tourists hail from the UK with many choosing the laid back lifestyle of evening strolls on the promenade at Sesimbra or the café terraces of Porto as ideal holiday home destinations.

Given all that Portugal has to offer it’ll come as no surprise to know that tourist figures have risen dramatically over the last decade – extending well beyond the traditional Algarve destinations. So what now for the future?

The world wide economic woes of 2008 have hit tourist figures in Portugal as they have in many other destinations – although gross guest numbers for the first eight months of 2008 are actually up on the same period last year. It’s clear that the hey day of cheap flights and even cheaper properties has gone; but while hotel stays from international tourists have fallen by around 4%, the home grown market has blossomed – attracting almost 4% more overnight stays from Portuguese citizens in 2008. It seems that the Portuguese are increasingly discovering Portugal for themselves and helping to keep tourism as one of the country’s most important industries.

Portugal is almost uniquely blessed by the perfect climate and stunning natural beauty but it offers much more than just golf resorts and beach holidays. Even the government’s plans for the promotion of tourism in Portugal realise what makes ‘Europe’s west coast’ so special. They are promoting four things: ‘climate and light,’ ‘history, culture and tradition,’ ‘hospitality’ and ‘diversity.’

Four great reasons to visit any country.

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Sintra is located on the craggy northern slops of the Serra de Sintra, and is surrounded by lush vegetation and stunning mountain top views. Poets and mystics have sung Sintra’s praises for many centuries, and even Lord Byron overcame his general dislike of Portugal to praise Sintra’s natural beauties. Sintra is within the bounds of the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, so there are plenty of walks and day trips you can take in the general area.

If you like sunbathing or just strolling along the beach, then visit the sandy beaches of Costa da Caparica, a glorious 8 kilometer long stretch of coastline. Perhaps you prefer to challenge the surf, in which case you will prefer the local surfing spots at Praia do Guincho, Praia Grande and Ericeira. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to spot some dolphins in the Sado Estuary.

For those with a more historical bent, Sintra’s historic center is part of a Unesco World Heritage Site, and provides plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful old buildings and streets. Known as Sintra-Vila (old town), it’s also closely linked to the Castelo dos Mouros. The battlements of this ruined castle, built by the Moors close to 1,000 years ago, you can get fabulous views of both Sintra and the surrounding area.

One building you definitely should visit is the Pena National Palace. This is an extraordinary mix of architectural styles, with turrets, battlements and embellishments enough to satisfy the most fervent enthusiast. The interior is just as incredible, having been left untouched when the royal family fled just before the revolution in 1910. There are fascinating treasures crammed into every room, with furniture, chandeliers, murals and wall decorations that have to be seen to be believed. You enter the Palace through the Parque da Pena, and it’s easiest to buy a combined entry ticket. Make sure you allow plenty of time to enjoy the lakes and exotic plants in the park as well.

For the young at heart, take a look at the Museu do Brinquedo. This is a fascinating toy museum, with a collection that draws on toys from around the globe, both historic and modern. This collection was begun more than 50 years ago, and is a wonderful way to relive your childhood, as well as discover new joys.

There’s a great deal more to be discovered in and around Sintra, so if you’re planning to visit Portugal, make sure you book some time in this charming and relaxing town.

If you want to read more about traveling to Portugal, click over to Gordon’s site at http://www.travelportugalinfozone.com

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Portugal Car Hire Tip – When in Portugal, you should drive on the right. Be aware unlike in the UK or Ireland for example, where flashing your headlights means “Thank you” or “You first”, in Portugal it means “Get out of my way”.

Once you have seen the best of Porto a day trip to Guimarães might be in order. This city is located just to the northeast of Porto and is the oldest city in the country. It’s said to be where Portugal was founded, as it was the birthplace of Afonso I, the first Portuguese king. While here you can visit the old castle and the palace.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – The speed limits are 120km/h on motorways, 90km/h on main roads, and 50km/h in towns and cities.

Heading back you can easily make your way south on the main North-South motorway, the A1. After passing Porto you will eventually come to the turn off for Aveiro, on the right. The town is sometimes called the Venice of Portugal and while there are a large number of canals in the city, the comparison is overly generous. There’s plenty to see here and it is also a university town so has a lively nightlife, but the real attraction of the city is the many sandy beaches located on the nearby coast.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – The motorways A1 and A2 reach the entire length of the country. You can drive From Porto to Faro without getting off the highway. The motorway is tolled however; the Portuguese’s word for toll is portagem.

Continuing down the A1 you will eventually come to the turn off for Coimbra on the left hand side. This inland city is the most important non-coastal city in the country and it serves as administration capital for much of the nearby countryside. This is no ordinary university city, the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, is one of the oldest in the world! There are many other historical sites of interest in the city as well, so take your time and explore.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – Some Portuguese roads are 3 lanes across. That is one lane for travel in either direction and one lane for overtaking in both directions. You should plan your overtaking maneuvres very carefully.

Located about half way between Coimbra and Lisbon you’ll pass close by to the village of Fatima which is a very important pilgrimage to the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you are anyway religious then it’s worth a visit.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – In rural Portugal there’s still some use of animal drawn carts. While a novelty to see during the day they are a terror at night, as they won’t have any lights on them.

Carrying on further south your next stop may be Lisbon. This is the capital of the country and home to many of its most interesting attractions, both architectural and cultural. Some of the more interesting sights include the Hieronymites Monastery, the Gulbenkian Museum and Saint Jorge’s Castle which overlooks the whole city.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – Driving in Lisbon is a hazardous experience so it might be an idea to leave the car outside the city. Lisbon has a brand new and efficient tram service that you can avail of. If you do decide to drive into town, remember that if you encounter a tram, it has right of way.

If you want to slip out of the city a good place to visit and not too far away is Sintra. This UNESCO World Heritage village is home to a large array of 19th Century buildings. Other attractions of this area include the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and the Palácio Nacional de Sintra.

Portugal Car Hire Tip – When parking your car, make sure the car is pointing in the same direction as the traffic. If you fail to do this the car may be clamped.

Once you’ve finished with this part of Portugal, you can head south along the A2. This is the main route from Lisbon to the Algarve, Portugal’s sunny rivera province. The primary city on the Algarve is Faro, a very popular destination for people looking for some sand, sea, surf and above all else some sun. The town has a reputation for being a party town that isn’t entirely undeserved but if you’re looking for some culture you can head into the city and explore the Old Town which has very definite Moorish influences.

Portugal Car Hire Tip- Faro has its own airport which is handy for return trips home. You may want to drop off your car hire here and fly back to one of the other cities.

Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit http://www.Novacarhire.com for all you need to know before you take to the roads in Portugal, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Portugal now.

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Portugal is the most westerly country on the European mainland, so the nearest to the USA after Ireland and the UK. Your flight destination will be the capital, Lisbon, sitting on the River Tagus. Portugal is historically the closest country to Britain with regard to political alliances (their 1373 alliance is the oldest standing in the world). It supported Britain during the Peninsular and Napoleonic wars, and they still regard themselves as being closer to Britain than to Spain.

So much for the history lesson: now for the vacation. The oldest part of Lisbon is the Alfama district, at one time actually comprising the whole city when it was ruled by the Moors, and now a labyrinth of small squares and narrow streets. It contains Lisbon cathedral, and many excellent restaurants that you must try.

Portuguese cuisine is centered on fish, although they also offer many fine meat dishes including piglet sandwiches. Portuguese pastry is renowned the world over, and their wines have been associated with Bacchus since the days of ancient Rome. The main wine area is Douro, although the country is probably most associated with the fortified port wine.

As Jerez in Spain is associated with sherry, so Oporto in Portugal is associated with port, and no Portugal vacations would be complete without a taste of a fine vintage port. Incidentally, the crusted port is not the best, and is generally known as the ‘poor man’s vintage’ port.

The National Palace of Portugal sits atop a hill on Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due its architecture of the 19th century. It offers fabulous views of the Sintra-cascais Natural Park that includes the Serra de Sintra mountain range and the most westerly point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca), also known to the Romans. You will find some craft and antique shops at Sintra, well worth a visit for some Portuguese souvenirs. The Palace itself is also worth visiting, and contains rooms with strange names such as the Room of the Sirens and the Magpie Room. If you like a flutter on the tables, the casinos of Estoril are on the return journey to Lisbon.

Oporto is also known as Porto, and as already mentioned, is the home of port. It is made from red Douro wine which is then fortified with brandy. The brandy stops the fermentation, leaving unfermented sugar in the wine, giving it its sweetish taste. The port is then stored, mainly in barrels, and aged in cellars. Tawny port must be aged at least 7 years, and after that the label can state the wine to be 10, 20, 30 or over 40 years old. Vintage port is the flagship port, being produced from grapes grown in a declared ‘vintage’ year when conditions are favorable for good wines. Crusted port is of lower quality than vintage.

Under European Union guidelines, only port made in Portugal can be labeled ‘Port’, though for reasons of their own (probably due to their own ‘port’ industry, the USA has stated that port from Portugal must be labeled ‘Porto’ or ‘Vinho do Porto’. You must pay Porto a visit, although here, as elsewhere in Europe, you will find only wine made in Portugal to be labeled ‘Port’.

Apart from the wine, Porto offers the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and many traditional bars and restaurants in the narrow streets close to the waterfront. If you like fish, then this is for you because the fish dishes here are fresh and delicious. There are several port companies in Porto, although one of the better ones is Taylor-Fladgate who market the Dow, Croft’s and Sandeman brands among others. Taylor-Fladgate will offer you a tasting, and they also operate a fine restaurant that is well worth a visit for lunch or dinner. Their cellars are cross the River Douro at Vila Nova de Gaia. Just ask – everybody knows it.

Another excellent wine region is the Minho region, famous for its Vinho Verde, named after the fresh green color of the vine, not the wine (I have never seen green wine!). Like many Portuguese wines, it is excellent to drink with fish, although it is a very young wine, without any significant aging. The albarino grape is ideal for this type of wine, and has a slight sparkle to it a bit like the Franken wines of Germany.

In fact you are not far from Sesimbra here, a small fishing village where you can enjoy some deliciously fresh seafood along with a glass of vinho verde. What a fabulous way to spend a hot summer afternoon! Some perfect squid and fish stew and a glass of chilled wine. Or perhaps the cuttlefish or fresh tuna – that might be even better!

Close to Sesimbra is Coimbra that used to be Portugal’s capital, at least until 1256, and the Duke of Wellington stayed here during the Iberian campaign against Napoleon’s forces. It also boasts one of the oldest universities in Europe, dating back to 1290. This part of Portugal is really beautiful, and the entire country is small enough for you to drive around – particularly if you are not doing the driving! It’s around 350 miles x 135 miles, and you can drive the length of it in around 7 hours at an average of 50 MPH – the speed limits are much higher here than in the USA. However, the rail system is also very good.

That’s Portugal, and Portugal vacations are available in all shapes and sizes, ranging from wine tours to sightseeing. However, by far the best idea is to combine both, and the best way to travel is a combination of rail and road. Particularly if you have somebody to do the driving or have first class rail travel.

If you are seeking a luxury Portugal vacation, you can’t beat the personal service offered by Ultitude with business class flights and first class rail travel. You have no need to drive: Ultitude provides the car and the driver for a fabulous Portugal vacation. Also be sure to visit Ultitude-Travel.com,

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One of the most popular museums in Portugal is the National Azulejo Museum or Tile Museum in Lisbon. Housed in the former Convento da Madre de Deus, the Tile museum offers more than just a spectacular collection of more than 7,000 tiles. It also displays other ceramic works and 18th century baroque ornaments.

While in Lisbon, you might also want to stop by the Calouste Gulbenkiam Museum. Here, you will be able to see a vast collection of art and antiquities, such as famous paintings, medieval manuscripts, Japanese prints, Chinese ceramics and other treasures from Syria, Egypt and Greece.

From Lisbon, you can take a trip to Sintra, a charming town which has its share of the museums in Portugal. Aside from the Sintra Museum of Modern Art which houses the famous Berardo collection, the Museo do Brinquedo or Toy Museum is well worth a visit. This museum prides itself on a collection of over 20,000 different toys – a collection built during a span of more than 50 years.

Evora is another enchanting destination located several miles east of Lisbon. It is here in this walled medieval city that you can find the historical Evora Cathedral, which has a museum of its own. This museum offers a display of various ecclesiastical treasures, such as a 13th century statue of the Virgin Mary and a 17th century cross.

Further up north is the 12th century town of Coimbra, which is also the site of the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro. Named after a famous Portuguese sculptor, the museum is one of the most important art museums in Portugal and is best known for its collection of sculptures from the 10th to the 18th century.

If you want to truly discover the history of Portugal, you’ll have to go to Guimaraes, which is considered the nation’s birthplace. This is because Guimaraes is the town where Afonso Henriques became the first king of Portugal. It is also the site of the Museu de Alberto Sampaio, a museum of religious relics, ceramics and ancient jewelry.

Finally, pay a visit to the Frederico de Freitas Museum in Madeira, which is one of the best antique museums in Portugal. It is a trove of antiques, including trophies, religious sculptures and ancient woodwork from China and North Africa. Don’t forget to visit the other attractions in Madeira, as well, such as the Sao Vicente Caves or the fishing village of Canical. This way, you will truly enjoy your stay in the beautiful country of Portugal.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has toured global tourist destinations by car. To book your car rental Portugal or learn more about car rental worldwide, visit http://www.zencarhire.com.

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