Discover Portugal: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

While not directly located on the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal offers many of the same advantages of a Mediterranean location. That, perhaps, explains why tourism is a burgeoning industry in the small country.

For such a small country, Portugal has plenty of diversity and is dotted with numerous natural parks. Here is where some of the best hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing and canyoning can be found.

As tourism continues to grow in Portugal as an economic driver, courses for all sorts of these outdoor activities keep popping up. This makes Portugal the ideal location to learn something new. Rock climbing courses on the beach are understandably becoming very popular.

Renowned for its seafood and wine, no trip to Portugal is complete without sampling the local fare. Whether you head out in Porto or Lisbon, be sure to find a good local bistro and treat your taste buds to a vacation too.

Stunning scenery

From the stunning sea cliffs south of Lisbon to the rugged mountains of north of Porto and everything in between, there is plenty to see in Portugal. The volcanic islands of Madeira provide the ideal combination of beaches and mountains. And there’s just so much more to discover all over the mainland.

Go to the beach

If you get the chance, build in some time to your itinerary to explore some of the country’s pristine beaches. Tourists flock to Algarve all summer long for the sand, sun and surf. Martinha Beach, in particular, is one of the country’s emblematic beaches and widely viewed as one of the top ones in Europe too.

Lovely Lisbon

Chances are your trip to Portugal begins with a visit to the cosmopolitan capital, Lisbon. Take some time to explore this scenic city. Marvel at the mix of old and new architecture that varies from Gothic to Postmodern. Eat lunch in one of the capital’s many pretty parks. Then head out to a bistro or bar in the evening and sample some of Portugal’s excellent wine.

During the summer, Portugal has great weather. The average temperature sits around mid-20s, but does occasionally exceed 30ºC. The mountains in the north tend to be cooler than the south. Rain is quite infrequent during the summer. This has led to forest fires in the center of the country in recent years, something to keep in mind before booking a trip.

Depending on whether you are visiting the north or south of the country, you will want to fly into the international airports at Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO).

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May to September is the best time to visit Portugal for the majority of its outdoor activities.