Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain. Its long, varied coastline, sunny climate, and the relaxed lifestyle of the inhabitants have made it a sought after holiday destination.

To the south, the Algarve is awash with modern high-rise resorts offering everything package holidaymakers could ask for. On the west coast Portugal’s capital, Lisbon is a bright, busy, crowded city surrounded by bustling tourist resorts. As with its northern neighbour, Porto, it offers eclectic restaurants, colourful boutiques, bohemian cafes and stylish nightclubs.

But if you want something quieter and more relaxed, head a few miles north or east and discover a largely undeveloped picturesque countryside full of medieval villages and towns where life has changed little over several centuries such as Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga.

Travellers have long been enchanted by the mixture of modern and traditional living in this fascinating country. Portugal's warm sunny weather makes exploring a centuries-old vineyard, visiting stone villages in the mountains or soaking up rays on the magnificent southern shoreline a real pleasure. But if you are looking for a more active holiday there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horse-riding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving, golfing and mountain biking.  

Portugal uses the Euro and foreign currency can be exchanged in all banks, Airports, bureaux de change and train stations. By far the best option for travellers is to use debit/credit cards. Cash can be drawn from ATM machines 24 hours a day. The machines can be identified by the letters MB (Multibanco). Traveller's cheques are also accepted in major establishments.