Portugal is a country that offers many destinations, all of them unique, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Madeira. Only two hours by plane from France, the choice of the four destinations is not only justified by the existence of their airports, nor even by their intrinsic attractions, because each one is worth a visit. Including Madeira, an island world in itself, and Lisbon, the capital, they are all capitals of entire regions. In total, they cover a large part of the country. Porto gives access to the north and the centre. Greater Lisbon stretches from the Setubal peninsula to Extremadura and includes Cascais and Sintra. Faro, finally, is the capital of the Algarve, a wide strip of southern Europe that stretches from Cape St. Vincent in the west to Andalusia in the east.
Lisbon, a charming capital and exceptional visits
Lisbon is a port. It always has been. Long before it was the capital of Portugal. And the city is structured by this obvious fact. The Avenue of Freedom, which runs down from Marquês Pombal, is home to cinemas, theatres, restaurants and luxury shops and ends at the astonishing horseshoe-shaped doors of the Rossio station, a district where it's good to drink a little coffee or a Ginjinha before embarking on the grid of the Baixa, which was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. The Rua Augusta passes under its monumental arch before leading to the Tagus through the Praça do Comercio. Then begins the magnificent Promenade das Naus, which runs along the sun-drenched Sea of Straw.
Further upstream, you can wander through the steep streets of the Alfama, at the foot of the castle. You can admire the panoramic views from the miradouros before heading further east, where the futuristic Oriente station and the ultramodern Parque das Nações are located. In the other direction, along the port facilities, we go towards Belém. It is a time capsule. The past is concentrated here - with the splendid Hieronymites' monastery and the eponymous tower, the starting point of the great discoveries, to which a huge white stone tower is dedicated, leaning towards the river - and the future, with the Belém Cultural Centre (CCB), which houses a museum of contemporary art, and, recently inaugurated, the MAAT, whose rare form is a sign of modernity. In the present, the Tagus River offers a unique panorama in Europe; the small Pasteis de Belém make for a gourmet break. Lisbon is magnificent seen from the other side of the river. From the Sodré quay, a cruise on a Cacilheiro will take you there in about ten minutes. At the end of the day, the whole city is in front of your eyes.
At night, it starts with the Bairro Alto. It's hot, summer and winter. The alleys where you can share a drink or a petisco are crazy. Later, partygoers, crossing the Chiado, only have to follow the slope to reach one of the many clubs that vibrate in the soft marine night, on the edge of the Tagus. But Portugal is not just Lisbon, far from it.
Porto, a gourmet and cultural destination
Porto is the economic capital of the country. Its name, carried by its wine across the oceans, resounds in the four corners of the world. The "Invicta", the unconquered city, is, without a doubt, a destination in itself. Its charm is revealed as you walk through the city, whose topology traces its history, like an open book. It is all the more advisable to have good shoes as its historic centre, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1996, rises (or falls, depending on the situation) without stopping; its various districts are also very suitable for window-shopping, and you can spend enough money in a few hours to seriously irritate your banker. Downstairs, the Ribeira is probably the most famous place in Porto. And so, despite the qualities of the place, it is often full of tourists. Its quays are dominated by the 70-metre Dom LuisI arch bridge, and on the other side of the river you can see Gaia, the sister city. The rich and varied gastronomy is in tune with this: you can find almost everywhere something to eat, at all prices. For seafood and fish, you can go to Matosinhos. On the way, you can visit the amazing Casa da Música and the exceptional Serralves Museum. Obviously, in Porto, wine and wine tasting, in all its forms, are a must. Porto opens up to a whole hinterland, made up of very diverse mountainous regions (12% of the territory is at an altitude of over 700 m). The Douro Valley, also a Unesco World Heritage Site, with its vineyards that follow the contours of the land, is of unique splendour. Guimarães and Braga seem out of time. The Trás-os-Montes is a more remote region where, in small lost villages, old communities remain with ancient traditions.
Faro, invigorating walks at the end of Europe
At the other end of the country, at the southern tip of Europe, Faro presents a completely different facet of Portugal. Capital of the Algarve, it is the land of sun, wild islands, turquoise water and chameleons. The division between Sotavento, the eastern area, and Barlavento, the western area of the region, although it is linked to the traditions and marine evidence, neglects another differentiation: the seaside and the hills of the hinterland. Towards the east, the coast of the eastern zone is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a dune line delimiting an immense lagoon where nature is preserved. In these wild places, often deserted even in summer, live endemic animal species, unique in Europe. It is also a nesting, feeding and breeding area for many migratory birds.
The same cannot be said of Barlavento, which is invaded by other kinds of animals with fur rather than feathers. Since the 1980s, mass tourism has destroyed some of its natural charm. Hordes of Nordic tourists arrive every summer to party hard and get a great sunburn. In other words, Barlavento would benefit from not being visited during the summer. This, in itself, would not detract much from its attractions, as its weather is almost summery all year round.
If you get tired of the sand and the turquoise water at 23°C and head into the hinterland, you will be struck by its quietness as much as by the rugged beauty of its landscape. It is a perfect hiking ground and everywhere the white houses of the villages will offer you refreshment and a friendly welcome. The profusion, quality and freshness of the region's products, from the sea or the land, make the reputation of the local gastronomy.
Madeira, hiking on the island of flowers
Located in the middle of the Atlantic, at 32° north latitude, 1,000 km from Lisbon and 700 km from Morocco, Madeira is, with its 800 km², the largest island of its archipelago and of Macaronesia (the blessed islands). Since its discovery in 1419, it has always been Portuguese. Of volcanic origin, it has a rugged relief, with several peaks over 1,800 m, including its highest point, Pico Ruivo. Its northern coast, with steep cliffs, is wilder than its southern slopes. The different exposures to the wind and rainfall create several microclimates, which, together with the tropical vegetation, give it a lot of charm: Madeira is the "island of flowers". Funchal is known for its grandiose fireworks display that lights up the bay every New Year. Sailors, you will love the scalloped coasts of Madeira and its archipelago; you will enjoy the charms of its marinas, Funchal or Camara dos Lobos. If you are a hiker, you will be able to hike along the sometimes vertiginous trails in the wild heart of the island; if you are a free-flyer, you will be able to reach the summits and take off in breathtaking fashion. Everyone will appreciate the gentle way of life and the gastronomic treasures of the island, which has preserved the Portuguese tradition of good food; the local wines and the famous Ponche, as delicious as it is fearsome, should leave the reasonable traveller with lovely gustatory memories.
Madeira is Portugal in a nutshell, with the added bonus of a tropical climate and an extra dose of kindness - is that even possible? The islanders' welcoming nature adds an extra touch of kindness. In short, here are some ideas for a first contact with Portugal.
Useful information
When can you travel? You can travel to Portugal or Madeira all year round. However, spring and autumn are the best times of the year
Getting there. You can find direct flights from Paris to each of these destinations.
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