Types of Tourism in Portugal
BEACH REST.
Algarve.
The Algarve is a region in the south of Portugal, located 300 km from Lisbon. You can get from Lisbon by domestic airlines, or by a toll highway, opened in 2002 (one-way fare is about $ 15). In the Algarve, beaches of fine golden sand stretch for 155 km along the coast. Entrance to the beaches is free. A pleasant feature of this resort area is that there is no road along the beaches. Thanks to this, first-line hotels have access directly to the beach. The most visited place is Albufeira. In the Algarve a modern and well-developed hotel infrastructure has been created. A large number of hotels of any level – from modest to luxurious. Countless cafes and restaurants, 3 casinos, several large (up to 2000 people) discos. At the resort you can practice golf, horseback riding, water skiing, surfing, diving, hunting sharks and giant marlin, learn how to sail. Children in the Algarve will enjoy 3 water parks. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Portugal.
Lisbon Riviera.
The Lisbon Riviera is a strip of resorts that stretches from the mouth of the Tagus to the north. Once it was a resting place for European nobility and the residence of the king. The largest resorts are Carcavelos, Estoril and Cascais. Due to the small beaches and cool waters, the Lisbon Riviera is not considered a “beach” resort. Those who come here on vacation appreciate the aristocratic atmosphere, the high level of comfort and service, the opportunity to see central Portugal, making one-day radial trips. In addition, the Lisbon Riviera is very popular as a venue for seminars and conferences, as it has everything you need for such events.
ECOTOURISM.
To the west of the Serra da Estrela massif is the Bucasu forest park.. Its area is 480 hectares. The forest has been guarded by monks for centuries. In the 17th century a Carmelite monastery was built here. The monks stubbornly tried to acclimatize exotic plants from the colonies here. So, Goan cedars growing in the forest were planted in the 17th century. Today, the park has 400 native and 300 exotic species. In the central part of the country is located the San Mamede Range, declared a protected area where bears live. Another interesting conservation area is the Arrábida Ridge, densely overgrown with forest and steeply dropping to the sea, located in the southeastern part of the country. Here you can admire the bizarre vegetation and beautiful landscapes. South of Lisbon is the small town of Setubal. – the gateway to the Sado River Valley, a unique wilderness area. The Reserva Natural do Estuario do Sado has been created in the estuary of the river. The valley is the end point on the migration path of more than 200 species of migratory birds. In its eastern part, a large number of storks stop on their way for many centuries. They make nests on any elevated and flat surface – on the roofs of houses and barns, on church spiers and even on chimneys. Tens of thousands of bitterns and purple herons also visit the site between September and March. In addition to birds in the reserve, you can see a flock of dolphins. Every day they make their way to the mouth of Sado and spend the whole day in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and return back in the evening. This phenomenon can be observed from a boat that follows the flock.
DIVING.
The Atlantic Ocean provides excellent opportunities for diving. The waters off the Azores and Madeira are home to many endemic species of fish and shellfish, as well as a landscape of rocky reefs, underwater caves and sunken ships. In the Azores,you can definitely take part in scuba diving, which allows you to watch whales in the open ocean (whale watching). There are several companies on the islands that provide such services (the best of them are on Pico and Faial).
EXCURSIONS.
There are many historical and architectural monuments in Portugal . The most popular tourist cities are Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Faro, Coimbra, Evora, Tomar, Fatima. In the north of the country is the Peneda-Geres National Park, where you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the country and just relax.
SKIING.
In the mountains of Serra da Estrela, a lot of snow falls in winter, which attracts lovers of skiing and snowboarding. For professionals, Manteigas has created an artificial slope.
