Portugal not only has lovely beaches especially in the southern Algarve area but also a beautiful wine region in the north including Vita Nova de Gaia where you can sample the country’s best port wines and the Douro Valley ,which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, that can be reached by a historic train ride or cruise. Portugal also has good weather, festivals all year long that feature dancing and feasting, many historical landmarks, excellent cuisine, horse riding, water sports including scuba diving and surfing, and more. The best part of all, for many, is that the prices are more affordable than in most other countries.

There are numerous interesting places to visit.

Peneda-Geres is the only national park in Portugal and is 170,000 acres of mountain scenery and old villages.

The Shrine at Fatima is an important pilgrimage for Roman Catholics since the Virgin Mary appeared to a children’s group in 1917.

One of the best views of the capital Lisbon is from the Castelo de Sao Jorge in the Alfama district. This was a castle and then a defensive position that was built over 1,000 years ago and where the beginnings of Lisbon were born. Destroyed along with much of the city in 1755, in 1938 the castle was restored.

Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest quarter and is a village inside the city. It has narrow medieval lanes with taverns, hidden churches, small squares, steep staircases, and an old tram that goes through the streets.

The Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon features Egyptian sculptures, ancient paintings, and is free to visitors on Sundays.

The Tile Museum features a collection of decorative tiles and tile paintings that date back to the 15th century.

Less than two hours from Lisbon is the small village of Obidos which was given by King Dinis to his new wife, Isabel, as a wedding gift. The former Queen’s castle has been converted and, for an expensive amount of money, you can stay there. There is also an 18th century manor house located in the village.

Estoril, a short distance from Lisbon on the Atlantic coast, has a world famous car and motorcycle racetrack.

The Conimbriga Ruins is one of the country’s oldest attractions and takes you back to the Roman times with portrayals of Greek mythological characters and fascinating mosaics.

The Convent of Christ in Tomar’s superb buildings were occupied by the Knights Templar dating back to medieval times.