Portugal, a hike in the wonders of this country!
Ranked as the best travel destination for 2018, Portugal is a country that has a lot to offer: if you like history, walking and cycling surrounded by a beautiful landscape, culture, exquisite weather and beaches, without forgetting its friendly people, this is the place for you! A Portugal walking holiday or a Portugal cycling tour might just be your next travel destination!
What makes Portugal an exciting destination for hiking tours?
1. Porto and the northern region
Porto, the second most important city in Portugal, was an industrious and buzzing city. Now that the industry has faded, the city is a wonderful city to stroll through. This opulent city is quite a magical city: depending on the day and the time, the view over the Douro river next to the Dom Luis bridge is quite a sight: depending on the light, it becomes one of the most romantic cities in Europe!
Thanks to the rich history of this city, known in the country as the economy driving city of Portugal, and the richness of it, the city centre is home to many monuments and thanks to that, it has become a UNESCO World heritage site in 1996. The Maria Pia and Dom Luis bridges, the Torre dos Clerigos and the Porto Cathedral are site to look out for when in wandering in the city.
Also famous for the Porto sweet wine, produced in the valleys of the Douro river, the city has become famous worldwide thanks to it! Enjoy a hike in the valley to enjoy a Porto wine tasting is an exceptional activity.
If you are into football (soccer for our American friends), Porto has one of the biggest football team of the country - the F.C. Porto - their arch-rivals being Lisbon’s team, Benfica Lisbon.
2. The Algarve, the beautiful southern region
The white sandy beaches of the Algarves and the many creeks and cliffs that make up for its coastline is a beautiful protected region, perfect if you are looking for “far niente”. Even if you don’t want to stay on the beaches all day, there are many hikes possible: between the Ponta da Piedade, the Ria Formosa, the Cabo Sao Vincente and the many quaint and picturesque cities of Faro, Tavira, Lagos and Silves, there are many hikes possible to discover in depth the beauty of the region of Portugal. We can only recommend a Portugal walking stay or Portugal cycling holiday is this region of Portugal!
3. Lisbon, the capital city
Lisbon, the cosmopolitan capital city of Portugal, is certainly one of the most beautiful European capital. Thanks to its immense past influence in the Portuguese empire, the city is considered as the most picturesque of Portugal, thanks to its Alfama neighbourhood, its many monuments and the iconic tramway that links all the parts of the cities together. To get lost, by foot or cycling through this city, is probably the best way to discover this city!
More than hiking, it is also a cycling destination!
From the plains of the Alentejo, the jagged coastline of the Algarves, the deep valleys of the Douro and its Capital city, Lisbon, Portugal is definitely a country in which you can freely roam on a bike. Cycling is easy when you are surrounded by such beauty. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, enjoy a Portugal cycling tour all year round!