The Algarve’s beaches. Madeira’s botanical gardens. Porto Santo’s off-radar charms. When it comes to holidays, Portugal covers all the bases.
Beaches and bunkers
Platefuls of just-caught sardines, world-class golf courses, 300 days of sun a year… Portugal certainly isn’t short on assets. Add in the Algarve’s famous beaches and you’ve got a patch of the map that holidaymakers can't get enough of.
The Algarve
The Algarve’s big draw is its coastline – it throws up everything from big sweeps to blink-and-you’ll-miss-them coves. Lining the route you’ve got sleepy villages, like Olhos d’Agua and Sao Rafael. And if you fancy something with a bit more of a kick, there’s the ever-popular town of Albufeira.
Madeira
To the south of the mainland lies Madeira. It’s been nicknamed ‘the garden island’, thanks to its bumper crop of botanical gardens. When you’re not busy smelling the flowers, quaff a glass of sweet Madeira wine in the sleepy squares of Funchal, the island’s capital.
Porto Santo
From Madeira, trace your finger north on the map and you’ll come to Porto Santo. This tiny, relatively undiscovered island is all about long stretches of sand, volcanic peaks and textbook Portuguese villages.
Places To Stay In Portugal View all places to stay »
Algarve
Portugal’s southernmost strip isn’t just about ribbons of golden sand and world-famous golf courses. It’s also got an edgy mix of modern, got-it-all resorts and traditional towns. Plus, families are more than catered for with a superb line-up of waterparks, theme parks, and restaurants where little ones are always welcome.
Madeira
It’s a tough call to name Madeira’s most famous export. On the one hand, there’s the sweet dessert wine that goes down a treat – especially when it’s splashed into a trifle. On the other, there’s the fancy footwork of footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid’s headline-grabbing midfielder was born in the capital, Funchal.
Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo’s like a starlet teetering on the brink of worldwide fame. There’s a hum of excitement about the island at the moment, and you get the impression it’s a destination tipped for big things. Strangely enough, though, you’d be hard-pressed to find it on a map. Measuring up at just 11 kilometres by 6, it’s little more than a speck just north of Madeira.
AT A GLANCE
- Sunbathe on Sao Rafael’s scenic beach
- Quaff a carafe at the Madeira Wine Institute in Funchal
- Tee off at Porto Santo Golf Club
Weather
Average monthly temperature and rainfall for
TEMPERATURE (°C)RAINFALL (mm)
WHEN TO GO
What you get weather-wise in Portugal depends which part you visit. The Algarve gets good weather around the calendar. In winter, days are mild, with around 6 hours of sunshine. To see the mercury rise up to the 30°C mark, though, head here in the summer months instead. Madeira, meanwhile, basks in temperatures around the 24°C mark in July and August. In winter, the mercury sits at a comfortable 13°C – even in February. As for rain, the island’s gardens get most of their water in November and December, and that’s what makes the spring blooms such a treat. And in Porto Santo, it’s pretty much sunshine all the way. Between May and November average temperatures sit between 19°C and 26°C. And from December to April the mercury can be as high as 21°C. Summer is pretty much rain-free, and even in winter the monthly average is only 7 days’ worth.
Things To Do View all »
-
Seville The Golden City Of Culture
The Algarve nudges right up against Spain’s western border, so it’d be a shame not to sample its bigger neighbour duringyour…
View details » -
Lisbon 1 Day
Lisbon - beautiful and historic, it’s no surprise that most visitors are smitten by it. And this day trip provides the perfect…
View details » -
Tackle Pico do Facho peak
If your boots were made for walking, put them to good use in Porto Santo. The whole place is criss-crossed with trails. And…
View details » -
Catch the ferry to Funchal
All that stands between you and Madeira’s cobbled capital is a 40-minute ferry trip. World-class botanical gardens, a wine…
View details » -
Take in the town of Caldas de Monchique
Wiggle your way through the forested Serra de Monchique Mountains and you’ll arrive in this eucalyptus-scented spa town.It’s…
View details » -
Explore the caverns of Algar Seco
Think if you've seen one cave you’ve seen them all? Not unless you’ve visited the weird and wonderful Algar Seco. The white…
View details » -
Climb the towers of Silves Castle
It’s worth scaling the ramparts of this red sandstone castle for the views of Silves and the surrounding countryside alone.…
View details »
Loading
Top 5 resorts in Portugal
Top 5 hotels in Portugal
