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

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.

Sintra is a magnificent town filled with breathtaking historic palaces and castles, all set around the lush tall hills of the Sintra mountains. Once the royal town of the country, Sintra has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and recognised for its incredible history and cultural importance. In the 19th century, Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture by Ferdinand II but has an architecture which dates all the way back to the Moorish empire.

Located in western Lisbon, Belém is famous as a museum district, as it is home to many of Portugal’s notable monuments such as The Belém Tower, The Jeronimos Monastery and the Bélem Palace (which is the current official residence of the country’s president). Originally, Belém was the location of Lisbon's shipyards and docks, and from here departed the 15th century voyages that discovered sea routes to India, East Africa and Brazil.  This rich heritage is still shown in Belém through extravagant buildings funded by the vast wealth that flowed into Portugal from the newly discovered colonies. For visitors, Belém is one of the finest areas of Lisbon, as it offers outstanding tourist attractions, informative museums and magnificent views.

Carvoeiro is a town and a former civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa, Algarve. It is located about 5km south of Lagoa. Formed from a picturesque fishing village, with a long history of settlement, the parish slowly transformed into a tourist area in the municipality of Lagoa, owing to its number of sandy beaches protected by cliffs! From the 1960s onwards, tourism became the main source of the economic base in the area with many new shops, hotels and roads being built to help attract potential and existing tourists back to the area. Overall, the weather in Carvoeiro is warm and pleasant all year round, with the Algarve area getting around 300 days of sunshine a year! It is the perfect place to relocate too if you want to get away from gloomy days. 

Vila Real is a quiet yet vibrant city in north-eastern Portugal, located at the foothills of the majestic slopes of Serra do Marão. Vila Real was established in 1289 by King Dinis and played a significant role in Portuguese history and has long had a strong association with the Portuguese royal family.  It was the birthplace of Diogo Cão, the first European to cross the Congo River, and António da Silveira Pinto da Fonseca (also known as the Count of Amarante), a powerful member of the Portuguese military who led several protests against the Liberal constitution. During the 16th and 17th centuries, many aristocrats constructed grand palaces in Vila Real, giving the city's literal name, "royal villa".

Intendente is a lively, fashionable neighbourhood that has been evolving significantly in the past years. Despite its central location, the neighbourhood has languished for years, with many of its old buildings falling into ruins. However, the area has seen huge improvements, and property prices, as well as the ethnic neighbourhoods, have been the reasons why many people are looking to buy property in Intendente. Located within the Arroios parish which was crowned as the trendiest neighbourhood in the world by Timeout, Intendente gets its name from Praça do Intendente, a funny-shaped square just a street away from Avenida Almirante Reis. This area is seen as a faithful portrait of Nova Lisboa, where cultures and trends blend in.Intendente is ideal for students and young professionals, thanks to the abundance of co-working spaces, cafés, and brunch locations. The region is laid-back while also having a vibrant nightlife, which many consider being the best of both worlds. There are also a number of interesting projects coming into life here, which will enable companies galore to further develop their small businesses.

Campo de Ourique is a central parish of Lisbon formed by several residential neighbourhoods and sits in the heart of the city, between Amoreiras, Estrela and Prazeres. The neighbourhood of Campo de Ourique, from which this parish draws its name is a residential neighbourhood with a very strong and historic vocation for commerce. It’s a lively neighbourhood, although recognised by many as the most peaceful neighbourhood in Lisbon and also the one that has the best quality of life - setting itself apart from other Lisbon neighbourhoods highly reliant on big commercial surfaces, such as shopping centres. It's easy to navigate the grid pattern of Campo de Ourique's streets, accessed by nearby highways and several bus routes. This residential neighbourhood has been a trade centre for centuries, while still remaining a peaceful district. Commercial diversity mixes some of the most respected traditional shops with newer, modern brands. Decorators and designers flock here to shop. Its pace is as fast on weekdays as it is on weekends, as families stroll along the inviting streets while children play in the many gardens, and ladies head to the Mass dressed to perfection. Residents take great pride in maintaining their homes, while visitors are reluctant to leave. 

Few people know this, but Alcácer do Sal is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded over a thousand years B.C. Laid out over the right bank of the Sado river, it is a historic area in Portugal, best known for its rice fields. Alcácer do Sal is the second-largest municipality in the country, located in the northern part of Alentejo, very close to the Atlantic. For a long time, salt was the main reason for the settlement of peoples in this region. From the Phoenicians' times, through the Roman empire, until the 18th century, salt was transported by galleons from dozens of salt flats. Eventually, salt flats were converted into rice paddies, which started using a network of channels supplied by the Pego do Altar and Santa Susana dams. Today there is still one salt flat operating, the “Salina da Batalha”, which is open for guided tours. Over the Sado valley, on the hilltop, a Moorish castle was built in the 12th century. It was later conquered by King Afonso II, passing into the Portuguese domain. Álcacer is also home to one the most beautiful “Pousadas de Portugal”, has beautiful beaches just a few kilometres away and offers the best wild boar steak in the country, as well as delicious seafood from the Sado river.