Travel

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal.

Portugal Transportation
A rental car in Portugal can often be found at a very reasonable rate. Since the Euro was introduced, prices have risen slightly but they are still good. Portugal is a small country which makes it great for road trips and getting off the beaten path. To get the most out of the country many visitors take advantage of a rental car in Portugal which then allows for even more things to do. One thing which could be a concern is fuel prices. Fuel is quite pricey in Portugal but these days it”s pricey everywhere! The benefit to a rental car in Portugal is that the country is small. Perfect! This keeps costs down and travel time shorter.

Places to visit in Portugal
Faro is a great destination for a summer vacation. A huge amount of visitors during the summer does not take away anything from a visit to the warm beaches and great food of Faro, in the southern Algarve region of Portugal. The fresh seafood sold by outdoor restaurants right on the beach during the warm summer nights are a must visit.
Porto is a major city in northern Portugal. It was very memorable for me because of the river, the Douro, and the wine from the region. The Douro flows through the center of the city and I took a few tours up and down it during my stay. Neat, colorful houses line the hills around the banks and many remarkable bridges pass overhead. Also, tasting the wine at the many wineries that are in the city was a highlight since I love port wine and, of course, this is where it originated.
Visiting the Castle of Sao Jorge, which dominates the center of Lisbon, is the highlight of any trip here. First built way back in the 6th century BC, the castle was of major importance protecting the city of Lisbon from raids throughout history. To visit it now, right smack in the city, reminds one that the middle ages were not so long ago in this part of the world.
Estoril is a great seaside beach town. Close to Lisbon, Estoril is a great mix of both warm beaches and the archeological buildings of the capital to the north. One neat highlight, outside of just relaxing on the white sand here, is the Forumla One racetrack nearby. It used to be on the race car circuit but you can now go visit it for other, smaller events.

Food in Portugal
The food of Portugal is inspired by the Atlantic and thus many of the dishes contain fish, especially salted cod, and because Portugal is not a rich country a lot of its food is the simple fare of fishermen and farmers. Expect to find fish, meat, rice and potatoes (usually fried) and other calorific staples, combined with olive oil, wine and friendship (the older the better, as the proverb goes). Portuguese food is generally inexpensive and served in large quantities, with €8 buying you a hearty meal in a café and under €25 enough to get you a meal in most of the restaurants in Portugal.

Shopping in Portugal
Lisbon’s charming and historic streets present excellent opportunities for the savvy shopper. Atmospheric stores sell leather and hand made goods, antique and contemporary ceramics, and hand-painted tiles. You’ll also find some of the largest shopping malls in Europe which offer a seemingly endless array of goods.