Portugal Tours

On the Iberian Peninsula in the extreme southwest of Europe, Portugal is bordered on the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean--which means plenty of coastline for beach resort vacations in the warm-weather months! But Portugal has plenty more to offer than its temperate Mediterranean climate, quaint fishing villages and oceanfront resorts.

Consider, for example, the capital of Lisbon, typically included as an overnight on most Portugal tours. It's Europe's westernmost and sunniest capital, and it enjoys a striking location: it hugs high cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean, where the River Tagus empties into the sea. A popular sightseeing stop here include the Monument to the Discoveries, which is a detailed concrete sculpture in the shape of a ship's bow dedicated to the many Portuguese seagoing explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. Snap photos of the marvelous 25 de Abril suspension bridge across the Tagus; red in color, it resembles the famous San Francisco Golden Gate bridge (though the Lisbon bridge is about 900 feet shorter). Tour the Alfama district, Lisbon's oldest area of the city, still comprised of narrow streets, tiny squares, churches, and whitewashed houses with wrought-iron balconies adorned with pots of flowers, drying laundry, and caged birds.

During your Portugal tour, you'll likely have the opportunity to eat plenty of seafood; cod is the most common fish served here, but you'll also find crab, lobster, scallops and sardines. A soup called caldo verde, made from potato puree, collard greens and chorizo sausage, is a staple, and cheese is often eaten before or after the main course. Save room for traditional rice pudding or egg custard for dessert!

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