The southerly Algarve is Portugal’s sand-flanked footnote. An ever-mild climate and broad beaches lined with shallow bays make it the country’s postergirl for seaside family holidays, with a smattering of surfers attracted by its Atlantic rollers.
If Cadaval is on your holiday-destination radar, you’re likely after an albariño or have a taste for touriga (just two of the region’s famed wines). An hour north of Lisbon, Cadaval’s tucked into the picturesque countryside of the Serra de Montejunto.
Go with the flow in effortless Ericeira; the surf mecca where Lisbon’s cosmopolitan weekend crowd mingle with barefoot bohemians along miles of unspoilt beaches.
Home to artful azulejo tilework, the Age of Discovery and a custard tart that spawned a movement, Lisbon is a city as soulful as the fado tunes that soundtrack its streets.
Laced with lush vegetation and set over 6,000 feet above sea level, Portuguese island Madeira impresses with its rolling landscapes, terracotta-tiled towns and breathtaking black-sand beaches.
Let the days slip away in Alentejo’s red-roofed region of São Teotónio, where ripe blueberries bloom in nearby farms, locals totter about afternoon tasks and golden-sand beaches fill with flocking sunseekers.
Though you’re only two hours from the coast, Portugal’s stark Serra da Estrela mountain range is far off the beaten tourist track. Visit for the hiking routes that take in the Zȇzere river valley, glacial lagoons and Dali-esque granite boulders.
This rugged coastal region of northern Lisbon plays three roles, each of them well: respected wine region, aquatic playground, and historic stronghold.