Aerial view of Albufeira town and coastline in the Algarve, Portugal

Holidays to Portugal

Eye-watering architecture, rolling vineyards and beaches that look like they’re straight from the Caribbean. See it all on a holiday to Portugal.

Cities not to miss-y

Porto and Lisbon are the popular cities ’round here, and for good reason. Both destinations serve up hip bars, beautiful buildings and classic European charm. Come on, who doesn’t love a cobbled street?

And there’s plenty more to see beyond the big hitters. You can roam like a Roman in the walled city of Evora. They were kind enough to leave the Temple of Diana behind, after all. Elsewhere, in Obidos, you’ll find a stunning Moorish castle along with a lot of bookshops and a three-mile lagoon!

Water way to have a good time

If all your favourite things end with ing, you’re in the right place. Surfing, wakeboarding, sailing, diving are all on the itinerary in Portugal. The windswept Viana do Castelo coast offers plenty of watersports.

Life’s a beach and then you dive in the Algarve. Around Albufeira, the waters harbour all kinds of secrets: caves, coral, sardines and seahorses. It’s like swimming in an aquarium, minus the plastic treasure chest.

Put the port in Portugal

Technically, Portugal put the port in Porto which put the port in port. But you get the idea. There’s a lot of port out here, and there’s no better place to swig a glass or ten. Indulge in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. With Taylor’s and Graham’s, Calem and Kope, it’s got tipples you’ve heard of and tipples you haven’t.

Fling open the great outdoors

Whether you spend your holiday chasing adrenaline or mindfulness, do it outdoors. Activities range in intensity from scaling the cliff faces of Arrábida Natural Park to long, unspoiled walks in nature.

Douro Internacional Natural Park also takes your pulse down a notch. Cruise its calm waters with your nose in a book or break out the binoculars to spot vultures and eagles above your head.

Sneak Peek

Best for... A city break and beach holiday all in one 🏖️

Go... To Sintra for a city that doesn’t seem real

You have to... Eat pastel de nata between glasses of port 🍷

Portugal holiday deals

Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira by IHG

4.3

Very Good

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
  • 6 August 2025
  • 4 nights
  • Room only
  • From Manchester

Prices from

£519 pp
View deals

Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort & Hotel Spa

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
  • 13 September 2025
  • 7 nights
  • Room only
  • From Bristol

Prices from

£515 pp
View deals

Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort

4.1

Very Good

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal
  • 19 July 2025
  • 5 nights
  • Bed & breakfast
  • From Bristol

Prices from

£513 pp
View deals
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.

Top Destinations in Portugal

Algarve

Hogging a good chunk of Portugal’s best beaches, the Algarve is a shortcut to bright blue waters and sizzling sands.

Prices from

£141 pp
Algarve holidays

Lisbon

Best for a city break with a bit of everything. Explore, eat, drink and party like a Portuguese.

Prices from

£280 pp
Lisbon holidays

Porto

Steeped in history, Porto is an exciting mix of beautiful buildings, delicious food and intriguing museums, just waiting for you to discover. Just a 2-hour flight from the UK, it's a perfect option for a long weekend!

Prices from

£279 pp
Porto holidays

Madeira

Swim, sunbathe, hike, dive, explore, and toboggan down the island. Do it all in Madeira. Just add wine.

Prices from

£249 pp
Madeira holidays

Albufeira

The best of Algarve nightlife right by the beach, Albufeira’s strip is the liveliest of Algarve’s lot.

Prices from

£147 pp
Albufeira holidays

Vilamoura

The Monaco of Portugal is lapping in luxury. Great for five-star service and a whole lot of celeb spotting.

Prices from

£164 pp
Vilamoura holidays

Details

Currency

Euro

Language

Portuguese

Time difference

GMT +0

Cost of a beer

€1.92

3-course meal

Around €30

Flight time

2.5-3hrs

Blue Flag beaches, baby!

With more Blue Flag beaches than anywhere (apart from Spain, but Spain is huge), Portugal’s punching way above its weight. For jaw-to-the-floor beauty, it’s hard to beat the forests, coves and clear waters of Praia dos Galapinhos. But if you want ready access to bars while you’re bronzing, Praia Dona Ana is your best bet.

Over in the Algarve, the enormous stretch of sand and still, sheltered waters at Tavira are a firm fam fave.

Old Europe

It’s not lost its youthful good looks, but Portugal is one of the oldest countries on the continent. It shows its crow’s feet in the form of Lisbon’s 16th-century Belem Tower and the Roman Ruins of Troia.

Then there’s Sintra, slammed with so many sensational sights that they slapped a World Heritage sticker on it. Expect brightly-coloured palaces and crumbling castles wedged between winding hills. We mean it when we say winding hills, so expect tired legs too. Stop for a break with a pastel de nata pastry to make it all right again.

P-a-r-t-YES

Portu-goers, you’re sorted for all nocturnal necessities in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto. Burn a hole in the carpet with your best moves at Incógnito until 4am, and there’ll still be somewhere open for a nightcap.

Not to be outdone, the Algarve’s got its fair share of up-all-night opportunities. Albufeira’s legendary strip means shots, shirts off and stags, if that’s your style. Beer&Co in Lagos is a better bet if you prefer independent brews to booze out of a bucket.

When to go to Portugal

June, July and August. That’s the sweet spot if you’re here to beach, with temps in the mid-20s and above. The cities are alive and kicking with street parties and festivals in the summer months too.

There’s no bad time for a Portugal city break. But spring and autumn are the best bets if you want to see the sights without sweating through your shorts. The shoulder seasons in April-May and September-October, are perfect for a cheap holiday to Portugal too.