The beauty of the south of Portugal

About the destination: Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills due to its location, the city spreads across steep hillsides that overlook the River Tagus. Romantic and cosmopolitan, the city presents its typical red roofs to the visitors that want to get to know its every inch. Lisbon surprises with its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. The Portuguese capital offers lots of museums, libraries, a massive port, churches and palaces and stunning views of the River Tagus. Lisbon was once considered a poor and chaotic city. Currently it has experienced a resurgence in the style of the 14th and 15th centuries, when it was part of that vast empire stretching from Brazil to India. The reason for this was the World Expo held in 1998, a new bridge over the Tagus was built and the city's underground network was remodelled. The resurgence of the city then continued to host several matches during Euro 2004, also held there the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2005. Many of its most beautiful buildings date from the 14th and 15th centuries, especially the ones located in the Belem district. There are also many buildings from the 18th century, which are located mostly in the Baixa area of central Lisbon and were reconstructed almost completely after a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1755. The historic centre of the city, standing on The Seven Hills, presents steep streets and picturesque alleys. On the west side of the city, there is Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon’s lung, with an area of 10 km and one of the largest in Europe. The capital’s majestic port has 3 docks commonly used for several cruises and it is, currently, the busiest port on the European Atlantic coast. Lisbon is a city with centuries of history and with an ambitious attitude, marrying the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Strolling through the old quarters one can hear the traditional Fado sung and played in small restaurants in town. In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica filling the air and revellers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions. Lisbon presents itself to the world as a cosmopolitan and lively city, with alternatives for every taste, especially in the summer months when its many bars, terraces and restaurants are crammed with people.

About the destination: Sesimbra is a municipality of Portugal, in the Setúbal District, situated at the foothills of the Serra da Arrábida, a mountain range between Setúbal and Sesimbra. Due to its unique position at the Setúbal Bay, near the mouth of the Sado River and its natural harbour, it's a significant fishing town. Sesimbra is one of central Portugal's top beach towns, and is a fantastic destination for either a short stay or a longer holiday. Sesimbra is blessed with a stunning coastline of beautiful beaches and towering cliffs, while inland is the breathtaking scenery of the Arrábida National Park.

About the destination: Setubal is a busy port city 50km away from Lisbon. It's a vibrant place to spend a day or two, with good city beaches, busy shopping streets, an exciting bar and restaurant scene, and a few cultural attractions. It's a popular summer holiday resort for the Portuguese and Spanish. If we come to the Setubal peninsula we cannot leave without at least having visited the Igreja de Jesus and the Castelo de São Felipe, a formidable fortress full of legends. The Igreja de Jesus is the best known landmark of the city and is one of the first examples of Manueline architecture. There is a national park nearby, Parque Natural da Arrábida, where visitors can hike or bike and enjoy the vast greenery. But if anything, Setubal’s most notable quality is that it’s a no-nonsense working town that earns its living from something other than tourism.

About the destination: Sagres is located within the Algarve at the most south-western point of Portugal and of Europe. It is in Barlavento, western Algarve. Reaching the Sagres region is like entering a mystical atmosphere, surrounded by a wild, unexplored dramatic landscape, where the sea and the mountains merge to form a unique natural heritage. The beauty of its beaches, many of which are almost deserted, and towering cliffs leaning over the sea, along with historical grandeur, constitute the main attractions. Visitors can also engage with nature by challenging the waves, admiring the sea bed, climbing cliffs and exploring new paths. Sagres is one of the few places in the Algarve where wild nature, along with a rich historical and cultural heritage, remains intact.

About the destination: Lagos is a city at the mouth of the Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, and is one of the most visited cities in Algarve and Portugal. Lagos has always had a seafaring connection, originally visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The famous Avenida dos Descobrimentos ends at the very modern Lagos Marina. There's a footbridge over the Bensafrim where you can enjoy a lovely view of the town. On the other hand, Lagos is full of beaches, as Meia Praia is one of the largest open bays in Europe, and there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants.

About the destination: The capital and largest city of the Algarve, Faro is the starting point for many northern Europeans' sun holidays. Yet Faro has not been overrun by tourists, it's a large city, and its wonderful beach, floating on an islet outside the town, helps the weary forget their troubles. Despite being just the arrival point for many holidaymakers, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's an enticing city-break destination in its own right. Faro's Old Town is a little gem. It's small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. The Cidade Vella is packed with tourists and locals visiting the craft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry. Leading into Faro’s Old Town stands the Arco da Vila, a gate originally constructed as an arched gateway with a bell tower atop and a statue of the city’s patron saint, St Thomas Aquina. In the centre there is a beautiful square, Largo da Sé that used to be the Roman Forum. It's lined with orange trees and it is flanked by Faro’s Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and a 16th Century convent that is now the Faro Museum of Archaeology. Se Catedral, Faro’s Cathedral, dominates the Old Town. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but was severely damaged during an earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remains from that era and the temple presents today elements of different styles like Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. From the tower you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline. Faro has a beautiful marina which lies just to the north of the Old Town and is probably the busiest part of the city. The city of Faro is a busy cosmopolitan centre, offering plenty of things to do, whether it's a wander around the shops, relaxing at one of the many pavement cafés, or visiting some of the historic places of interest, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.

About the destination: Tavira is a city and municipality, located in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira. Tavira is a beautifully elegant town and almost surreal in aspects. Visitors can be forgiven for forgetting where they are, or even what year it is, as they step into this unique Algarve fishing town. The stretch of river front along the Gilão River is a great place to sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the very picturesque setting. The Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana) spans the river with low arches and creates gentle reflections on the water and at low tide you can see the fishermen searching for clams in the shallows. The gardens (Jardim do Coreto) near the bridge offer a pleasant shady place to sit. Tavira itself is a picturesque, relaxed, peaceful town with everything to hand and is a perfect holiday spot for couples and families and there are also lots of great places to visit if you want to venture a little further afield.