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

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.

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.

Évora is the capital of Alentejo’s region. Filled with impressive historical and cultural landmarks, the city is one of the most popular places to visit in Alentejo. The Historic Centre of Évora was elected a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. The city’s roots go as far back as Roman times. Évora still retains ruins from that period, such as from the Temple of Diana. Three centuries later, during the Moorish period, a fortified gate was built to improve the city’s defensive system, as well as a Kasbah. The presence of the Moors can also be felt through the old labyrinthine quarters of the city, which are filled with typical Moorish arches.  Évora is also home to a beautiful Cathedral built during medieval times, in the 13th century. In the 15th century, when Évora became the Portuguese king’s residence, a number of royal buildings started to pop up. St. Claire Convent, the royal church and the convent of São Francisco are some examples of those. The Manueline style of architecture characterises these remarkable buildings.Besides Évoras’s rich monumental heritage, the city is also known for its beautiful whitewashed houses decorated with tiles and wrought-iron balconies, its colourful handicraft stores and the family-run cafés and restaurants, which offer the tastiest gastronomy in the land.

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.

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.