Portugal is a country with an amazing historical and cultural tradition.For such a small country Portugal, you have many options from which to choose: A San Francisco-esque city, spreading over seven hills which descend into the Rio Tejo (Tagus River)- Lisbon is perhaps Europe’s most pleasant and affordable city. Its fantastic architecture, diverse population, delicious seafood, intriguing tile-work and non-stop night-life bring together the best elements of Portuguese life. Don’t miss an evening bar-hopping in the Bairro Alto listening to contemporany hip music and Portuguese blues-fado!Tour beautifully restored towns and well-preserved architecture of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in Evora , Batalha and Alcobaça . If you are interested in monuments, Evora and Coimbra are must-sees.

The customs and traditions in Portugal are amazingly varied for such a small country. The famous Parque das Nacoes (Park of nations) in Lisbon (Portugal's capital) remains a big draw for Lisbon's visiting families. The park houses many attractions, including the Lisbon Oceanarium, which showcases the eco-systems of the world's oceans. The ancient Sao Jorge Castle and Santa Justa

The most beautiful natural areas lie in the Minho , Lima, and Douro valley. You can explore the verdant beauty and rural customs of the Minho Valley, or check out the spectacular gorge in the Douro valley.

The city of Oporto is located at the end of the Douro Valley, on the sea, and is famous for its port wine. It is an excellent base for exploring the region.

Lisbon's nightlife is probably the most diverse of any city in Portugal. You'll have the opportunity to take in open-air cafés, bars, tavernas and nightclubs. You could also sample a slice of the city's fado culture. Fado is Portuguese folk music with a blues and soul edge. Fado houses can be found all around the city.

The Algarve also gets interesting when the sun goes down. The standout towns are Albufeira, Vilamoura, Praia da Rocha and Lagos. Albufeira is best known for its streets, markets, restaurants, cafés and discos. The area nicknamed 'The Strip' is home to some of Portugal's liveliest clubs. Vilamoura is just as lively and has the added incentive of extensive sport and leisure facilities. Praia da Rocha is more refined with an old-style promenade-lined with modern bars. For the best restaurants in the region, at reasonable prices, head for Lagos.

If it’s the beach you are after, the Algarve coast offers highly developed stretches of beach. The rest of the coast (with the exception of the area near Lisbon and Porto) remain relaxing, totally Portuguese and isolated. Great stretches of sand are there for the relaxing, especially along the northern Costa Verde , near Viano do Castelo . The beaches near southern Alentejo are the most remote and least populated.

Transportation and accommodation in portugal are excellent and very reasonable, perhaps the cheapest in Europe.For a relatively small nation, Portugal has surprising variety when it comes to food. It's often confused with Spanish food but it is in fact, quite distinct. Portuguese food uses simple ingredients beautifully prepared. Based on regional produce, emphasising fish, meat, olive oil, tomato, and spices, it features cured sausage, homemade bread and cheeses, as well as unexpected combinations of meat and shellfish.