Things to do in Portugal

Lisbon, the capital, spills down its hills to the Tagus estuary with trams, viewpoints and fado bars, and Belém celebrates the age of exploration with its monastery and tower. Porto, in the north, rises above the Douro River with granite churches, tiled façades and the cellars where port wine is aged.

Beyond the two cities lie the palaces of Sintra, the walled town of Óbidos, the university city of Coimbra and the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley. In the south, the Algarve has cliffs, sea caves and beaches, and the plains of the Alentejo are dotted with cork oaks and whitewashed towns. Madeira and the Azores add volcanic islands far out in the Atlantic.

Grilled sardines, salt cod, seafood rice and custard tarts are the national comforts, with wines from crisp vinho verde to rich port. June is the month of the popular saints' festivals, when Lisbon and Porto fill with street parties, music and the smoke of sardine grills, and winter is mild, especially in the south.