The Portugal Guides

Portugal's Regions

Portugal packs extraordinary variety into a small country. Here's what makes each region different and how to decide where to go.

Roman temple columns rising above the whitewashed rooftops of Évora in the Alentejo
Region Guide

Alentejo — Cork Forests, Wine, and Medieval Villages

Portugal's vast interior plain — cork oaks, black pork, Alentejo wine, Évora's Roman temple, and whitewashed hill villages. Our complete guide.

Dramatic golden sea stacks and cliffs at Ponta da Piedade near Lagos in the Algarve
Region Guide

The Algarve — Portugal's Southern Coast Explained

Beaches, sea stacks, and whitewashed villages. Our complete guide to the Algarve — east vs west, when to go, and how to get around.

The Sete Cidades twin lakes in their volcanic caldera on São Miguel island in the Azores
Region Guide

The Azores — Complete Guide to the Atlantic Archipelago

Nine volcanic islands 1,500 km into the Atlantic. Our complete Azores guide covers all islands, whale watching, when to go, and how to island-hop.

Empty surf beach with Atlantic waves breaking along the Costa Vicentina wild coast near Sagres
Region Guide

Costa Vicentina — Portugal's Wild Atlantic Coast

Europe's most unspoiled Atlantic coastline — surf beaches, the Vicentina Walking Route, Alentejo fishing villages, and no high-rise hotels.

Terraced vineyards descending steeply to the Douro river in autumn, with quinta buildings visible on the hillside
Region Guide

Douro Valley — Portugal's Wine Country Explained

Terraced vineyards, quintas, Pinhão, boat trips, and the historic train from Porto. Our complete guide to the Douro Valley wine region.

The baroque staircase and pilgrimage church of Bom Jesus do Monte above Braga in the Minho region
Region Guide

Minho — Portugal's Green North

Vinho verde, Braga's baroque churches, Guimarães birthplace of Portugal, the Lima Valley, and a rugged Atlantic coast. Our guide to Minho.

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