1. Alentejo
Elvas, Estremoz, Évora, Monsaraz & Vila Vićosa

2. Algarve
Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Portimão & Tavira

3. Douro Valley
Barcos, Miranda do Douro, Pinhão & Ucanha

4. Lisbon & Surroundings
Cascais, Ericeira, Estoril, Lisbon, Óbidos, Peniche, Ribatejo Region & Sintra

5. Porto & North of Portugal
Braga, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima & Porto

Best time to visit: March-October

Go for this: Discover Lisbon’s eclectic range of architectural styles (from Roman ruins to a Moorish castle to futuristic buildings) from the twenty “miradouros”, or panoramic viewpoints, spread across the city.

But try this: Cascais, a traditional and charming Portuguese fishing town (historically the summer retreat of the Portuguese nobility), for its grand mansions and the white sandy beaches.

Favorite guest experience: The enchanting gardens of Quinta de Regaleira, a decorative, gothic-style residence in Sintra (a town with a mystical aura, known for its majestic castles and lush gardens).

Favorite hotel: Pousada de Lisboa, a former noble residence turned hotel, embodying Portuguese luxury and heritage, located on Praça do Comércio steps from the Tagus River.

Favorite restaurant: Alma, located in the heart of Chiado in an 18th-century building with a contrasting modern interior, serving innovative Portuguese cuisine with an international twist.

Foods:
- Bacalhau à Bras (salted cod dish with potatoes
and eggs)
- Bifana (a marinated pork sandwich)
- Petiscos (Portugal’s answer to the Spanish
tapas)
- Queijo de Azeitão (a creamy and rich-smelling
cheese made with sheep’s milk)
- Pastéis de Nata (custard tarts)

Wine:
- Arinto
- Fernão Pires
- Trincadeira
- Alicante Bouschet (grape varieties)

**Colares wine – Colares wine region survived the 19th century phylloxera bug, so really old vineyards & unique, making it one of the most expensive wines in Portugal.