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

Baixa is the most central and renowned neighborhood in Lisbon. It was completely rebuilt by the Marquês de Pombal after the 1st November 1755, one of the world’s strongest recorded earthquakes devastated the district and, along with the massive tsunami, killed thousands. Baixa is packed with stores and restaurants and is always busy during the day.This neighborhood houses the capital’s most emblematic squares and streets. The district starts in Restauradores Square (Praça dos Restauradores), continues up Avenida da Liberdade, through Praça Marquês de Pombal (Marquis of Pombal Square) and from this point forward is considered “Modern Lisbon”. Here you will discover some of Lisbon’s major attractions such as Terreiro do Paço square (or Terreiro do Paço), Rossio along with a variety of popular bars and restaurants. Top things to do near Baixa.

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.

The neglected child of central Lisbon, Anjos has been relishing a lively rebirth in recent years. Part of the old Lisbon in Avenida Almirante Reis - one of the most sought-after Lisbon neighbourhood for investment -, Anjos is known for its rough edges, economic activities and its multicultural ambience.  The neighbourhood includes one of the city's most prominent late 19th-century Portuguese-style architecture. Gentrification is well underway, but it is balanced with a thriving activist and cooperative landscape.

Castelo Branco is the capital of the old province of Beira Baixa. Located just twenty kilometres from the Spanish border, most of the historical character of Castelo Branco has an attractive atmosphere to it, with generous parks, wide boulevards and bustling squares.  Full of history and with a heritage of infinite value, this secular city has a great diversity of spaces and multiple activities, with a close and familiar environment, where the mountains and the city come together. Castelo Branco is a very good foundation from which to explore the border region of central Portugal.

Overlooking the Mondego river, Coimbra is the fourth-largest urban centre in Portugal, after Lisbon, Porto and Braga. Also known as the university city of Portugal, Coimbra is home to the first university in the country and one of the oldest in Europe. Founded in 1290, the Coimbra’s University Alta and Sofia, are two architectural centres composed of 31 magnificent buildings. Thanks to its important legacy, the University was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013. Coimbra is filled with impressive constructions from different periods of history. The Roman occupation left an aqueduct, from which the remains were later incorporated into a medieval renovation. The Muslim settlement brought a fortified palace, that was later used by the early Portuguese Monarchs. During the Middle Ages, a lot of emblematic buildings were built. Examples of those are the Santa Cruz Monastery - the Patheon where the first kings of Portugal are buried - the old Cathedral and the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha - the most important Gothic work in the city. In the Renaissance period, Coimbra was considered one of the main artistic centres of Portugal, with several Manueline and Renaissance works in the town. Coimbra has also been an important musical centre in Portugal for centuries, acclaimed by its own musical genre called “Fado de Coimbra”. It is mostly related to academic traditions and is characterized by the use of a specific guitar, with a specific structure - “Portuguese guitar”.

Covilhã is one of the main urban centres of the historical Beira Interior region. Lying right next to Serra da Estrela, this "city mountain" offers magnificent scenery of natural beauty and it is a paradise for those fond of hiking, camping, mountain climbing and skiing.  The city is known for its textile industry, which dates back centuries ago - wool production began among the Jewish community that settled there in the Middle Ages. The river streams, Carpinteira and Goldra, provide excellent conditions for the wool industry activities. Covilhã is the main wool production centre in the country, which made the region earn the mane of "Portuguese Manchester". Along with its historical heritage, the city presents one of the broadest and most diversified urban art collections in the world, as well as first-class hotels, restaurants and sports facilities.

Rich in history, right in the centre of Portugal’s Capital City of Lisbon, one can find this park in the Arroios parish over a hill that’s between the valleys that correspond to Avenida da Liberdade and Avenida Almirante Reis. This park inherits its name of Campo dos Mártires da Pátria (Homeland Martyrs’ Field) in memoriam of Portuguese General Gomes Freire de Andrade and eleven of his companions, sentenced to be hanged in a staged trial, accused of revolting and fighting against the British Military General and Portuguese Army Marshal, Lord Beresford, regent ruler of Portugal instead of king D. João VI, who was living in Brazil at the time.  Gomes Freire de Andrade was a powerful Portuguese Mason, accused by Lord Beresford of conspiring to diminish his power of rule in Portugal, in the Portuguese king’s absence. After executing Gomes Freire de Andrade and his companions, Lord Beresford then travelled to Brazil to ask king João VI for more powers, which were granted.  However, General Gomes Freire de Andrade’s execution by Lord Beresford’s sentence ignited a revolt against the British ruler’s regency, led to protests in the North of Portugal and intensified an anti-British feeling, which ignited the Portuguese Liberal Revolution and to the fall of Lord Beresford, that was stopped from disembarking in Lisbon after returning from Brazil.

Lapa and Estrela are predominantly residential areas with large houses and old palaces. It was in Lapa-Estrela that the Portuguese bourgeoisie and nobility decided to settle down in the 18th century. Since then, these Lisbon’s districts became famous among the city’s upper-class. The historic buildings were refurbished and are now home to many residents searching for tranquillity and a privileged location in Lisbon. Besides having remained one of the noblest areas of Lisbon, Lapa-Estrela is home to a large number of embassies, in particular of Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Living in Lapa-Estrela, a neighbourhood that houses embassies, palaces, fountains and monuments, is to be surrounded by Lisbon's historic high society.  These are one of the most charming neighbourhoods in Lisbon, also known for their impressive views, tree-lined streets and its selection of renowned restaurants and cafes. Although isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, these districts are just a walking distance from the most central neighbours in Lisbon. These areas have changed very little over the years, preserving a consistent identity as one of the city's most privileged and prosperous neighbourhoods.