Get to know the perfect european holiday destination all year round - Comporta

Chiado is Lisbon's most elegant and trendiest neighborhood is where everyone meets for coffee, shopping, or before dinner and a night out in neighbouring Bairro Alto. Situated between the neighborhoods of Bairro Alto and Baixa Pombalina, Chiado is a traditional shopping area that features a mix of old and modern commercial establishments. Many of the buildings in this elegant and trendy location were first built in the 1700s, although many were restored in the 1990s, after their destruction by a devastating fire in 1988. It's a neighborhood that flashes back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the "Belle Epoque "when writers such as Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queiroz used to write at the now-historic cafes.It's also the neighborhood of theaters, of charming old bookshops and major international brands, giving it a lively cosmopolitan ambiance at any time of the day. Despite being just a small part of Lisbon, Chiado truly is a place that’s easy for those who visit to fall in love with. And that’s why people return time and time again to this awe-inspiring hidden gem, with many people looking for a place to call home at the end of it.Top things to do in Chiado.

In the highest of the seven hills lies the historic district of Graça, which belongs to the São Vicente parish. The whole of São Vicente comprises both iconic and historic venues such as monuments, parks and viewpoints, neighbourhoods and restaurants.  Here, you can feel a genuine Lisbon atmosphere and witness a truly cosmopolitan environment. Indeed, many young newcomers that come to work in Lisbon, choose to live in Graça due to its centrality, lively neighbourhood activity and a large offer of public transportation. Due to this multicultural environment, one can find an extremely rich and varied offer of restaurants and cultural activities. The Graça district is one of the most beautiful and oldest neighbourhoods of the Portuguese capital, located next to the iconic São Jorge Castle, known for its superb views over the city and the Tagus River.  Two of this neighbourhood’s highlights are well-known viewpoints: the Miradouro da Graça and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. But they are on top of one of the steepest Lisbon hills, so prepare for a good climb if you choose to walk.

Located on the coast, about 36 kilometres west of Faro, Albufeira is synonymous with tourism and features some of southern Portugal's best beaches. The region was once a fishing village, and it still holds something of its classic character. A labyrinth of steep, narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses and fishermen's cottages leading down to the astonishing beaches is what the town of Albufeira looks like. The city's original Arabic name, Al-Buhera means "castle on the sea" and there are some beautiful Moorish arches in the towers. Modern Albufeira is, nonetheless, the Algarve's tourism capital, a thriving centre with hotels, restaurants and stores.

Madeira, also known as the archipelago of Madeira is a group of 4 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located just 280 nautical miles from the African coast, it is more than 500 miles to Lisbon.Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, with lush greenery, rugged high cliffs and beautiful pebbly beaches, so it’s no surprise why these volcano-born islands garner so much attention from tourists.Fun fact: Madeira is closer to Africa than it is to Europe!

The Marquês of Pombal Square is the heart of modern Lisbon and is known for its huge roundabout and a majestic statue in the middle. This area marks the start of Lisbon’s downtown. It is located between Avenida da Liberdade and the Eduardo VII Park in the parish of Coração de Jesus, being the radiating point for many important avenues: Avenida da Liberdade, Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo and Duque de Loulé. In the centre, you’ll see an imposing statue by the name of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, better known as Marquês de Pombal, who lead the reconstruction of the city after it suffered a catastrophic earthquake in 1755. Marquês de Pombal is surrounded by a plethora of corporate headquarters of important companies, including the largest Portuguese banks and several of the world’s famous 5-star hotels.

The Alentejo is a beautiful rural southern region in Portugal. It is a very diversified area with a rich history, known for its plains, rugged coastline, olive trees, historical fortified towns and intense summer heat. The region extends from the Algarve towards central Portugal and goes from the Atlantic ocean to the Spanish border. On the western coastline, you can find the wildest and finest wide-open beaches in Portugal, much sought-after by surfers. Alongside the beaches, you can find charming fishing towns, offering delicious local seafood. On the other hand, in the interior part of the region, there are picturesque towns rich in history and vast plains. Alentejo is also worldwide known for its music genre, named “Canto Alentejano”. It is a vocal type of music without instrumentation. In 2014, UNESCO recognised it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, after Fado - another Portuguese traditional music genre - had been granted the same status in 2011. UNESCO has also recognised other treasured heritage of Alentejo. Évora and Elvas were both subject to UNESCO’s nominations. As this region was colonised by different peoples throughout history, from the Visigoths and Romans to the Arabs and Knights Templar, there is an incredible diversity of historical and cultural sights. You can either visit the impressive hilltop castles and fortifications, as well as the Roman temples and cathedrals. Alentejo´s history and beautiful nature landscapes make it a fascinating destination to discover.

Guarda is the capital city of the County to which it borrows its name. The entire region is marked by granite, by the contrasting mountain climate and by its pure, cold air that allows for the curing and manufacture of high-quality smoked meats and cheeses.  After the Roman Empire period, followed periods of occupation by the Visigoths, later by the kingdom of Asturias and also by the Islamic civilizations. Only after the Portuguese reconquest process was it confirmed the importance of the city and the region. The event that clearly marked the birth of the Portuguese Language happened here in Guarda, when a Galician troubadour wrote a song in Portuguese for his beloved lady, in 1189. It is well connected to major Portuguese cities such as Porto and Aveiro by the A25 highway and to Lisbon by the A23 highway. The good geographical position and accessibilities make Guarda an excellent place for the storage and transport of goods from Portugal to the rest of Europe (and vice versa). In this sense, private entities together with the City Council created the Platform Business Initiative Logistics (PLIE), which is a cross-border platform that seeks to boost the regional economy and attract industrial flows and investments.

The Lisbon South Bay area comprises three districts: Almada, Seixal and Barreiro. These three are known for their close historic connection to the Tagus River. From the ancient industries in Barreiro that fed the naval expeditions to África and Índia in the 16th century, to the amazing long sandy beaches of Caparica, Lisbon South Bay welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists in summertime and surfers all through the year.  Seixal, the district between Almada and Barreiro, was where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, built his expedition ships with the help of his brother and father. The Tagus river’s presence greatly affects the region’s economy and the professions that the locals choose. In this sense, this region saw a surge of professions like fishermen, sailors, millers, caulkers, ax carpenters, which, for years, constituted the main way of life of the populations.