At the south-western extremity of Europe, Portugal’s history and culture are inseparable from the sea. Once a great imperial power, it is now better known for sunshine, golf and fortified wine. The Costa de Prata, the Estoril coast and Costa Azul all compete for the attention of tourists, but best known are the beaches and year-round sunshine of the Algarve in the far south. Nature has blessed Portugal’s 850 km of coastline with a bit of everything, from enchanting beaches to varied, breath-taking countryside and the Atlantic coast is prized by surfers and windsurfers across Europe.

The coastal towns are also rich in Portuguese heritage, discover the colourful seafaring and fishing traditions and end your day by sampling some of the finest fresh fish in the world.

Lisbon is the Atlantic capital, blessed with natural beauty and steeped in fascinating history and the only European capital with Atlantic beaches. Take the train along the north bank of the Tagus estuary and discover miles of golden sandy beaches. The beaches of Estoril and Cascais are home to a number of royal castles – a stunning legacy of the times when the kings of Portugal spent their summers there. Lisbon also has a rich and colourful seafaring heritage, in the 16th century, ships set sail from the beaches of the River Tagus to chart a route to far-off India. The city’s passion for the sea continues to this day, visit the Parque das Nações and you’ll discover Europe’s largest aquarium.