We go on a beach vacation in Portugal with children or in a company of friends, consider the cost of a room in the best hotels on the first line, find profitable flights for independent tourists or select tours at low prices, find out when is the best time to go on vacation to the sea, what entertainment awaits you ...
When choosing a country for vacation, quite a few people stop at the westernmost state of Europe. And this is quite justified - a comfortable climate, a decent ecological state, an abundance of sun and extraordinary color. You can visit Portugal in any season of the year, it is comfortable regardless of this and allows you to get a lot of impressions. But one problem arises - how to choose a suitable place in the country itself?
The best resorts in Portugal
Given the stretch of 1.8 thousand km. the Atlantic coast, quite a few of the resorts in this category are beachfront. In terms of prestige, there is no equal to the shores of the province Algarve, the rest on which is possible all year round. Moreover, the western part is occupied by rocky areas, and the eastern - sandy. The undisputed leaders are Portimao and Albufeia: in both of these cities there is a lot of interesting things outside the surf - old buildings, shopping, culinary delights (but more on that below). Well, where is it better to have a rest in Portugal, if not here?
Counties Lisbon will appeal to connoisseurs of metropolitan luxury and dynamism - and there are also excellent opportunities for fans and those who love spectacular events. In Porto, dating back to the 4th century, the entire city center is listed as a World Heritage Site. And if there is absolutely no desire to look at something monumental, visit the area Ribeira, everything is simple and calm there.
Town Braga famous ... no, not what you think! Church buildings in various styles have left an extensive legacy here. There is also Evora and Headlight (two paradise places for gourmets), Obidos (as if descended from a collection of postcards). V Setubal you can enjoy both nature views and architectural masterpieces.
Resorts map:
When is the best time to relax in Portugal?
Not only the place, but also the time for the visit is very important: the weather in Portugal for months corresponds to the subtropical Mediterranean, and in the northern part of the country - the climate is maritime. The optimal rest period is from May to early November, when it is warm and sunny, there is little rain. Bathing lovers should prefer the south of the country, even in the summer north of Lisbon, cold ocean currents are inconvenient, but they do not particularly interfere with sunbathing. March to May is a surfing spot, and from June 15th to September 15th it is the "high beach season".
How much are plane tickets?
Cheap plane tickets to Portugal with a flight from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities, we recommend choosing with the help of Aviasales, the search engine searches for all airlines at once.
Since we are talking about holidays in Portugal with children, we will focus on trips for two or three passengers. Three tickets with one change will cost less than direct flights (8323 and 9183 rubles, respectively). Non-stop aircraft are dispatched by TAP Portugal from Domodedovo, the flight takes 5 hours and 45 minutes. Aeroflot planes flying from Sheremetyevo spend 5 minutes more in the air, and you need to pay 11,200 for one seat.
Choosing a route for two, you also find that the transfer allows you to save money. So, for a couple of seats on a direct flight of the national carrier of Portugal, you need to pay 24,800, while those choosing Air France and flying first to Paris will spend 16,500. True, they will have to sit for more than 8 hours, and the final segment of the journey is served by a little-known company Joon.
A flight through Amsterdam is more profitable in terms of time, but you will need to pay 20.9 thousand.
- Flight search:
Portugal's best hotels for holidays
Prices for holidays in Portugal cannot be calculated, of course, if you do not take into account the accommodation fee, let's consider the cost of a room in the best hotels near the sea, we made a selection of options based on personal experience of visiting, tourist reviews and ratings of independent sites.
- TURIM Restauradores Hotel is a three-star hotel in Lisbon: a week in a superior double room will cost 41,000. Most of all, vacationers here like the fact that the hotel is located in the business center, not far from the train station. An equally pleasant surprise for tourists here is an affordable price and good infrastructure, attentive and correct staff. There are no problematic dogs and cats in neighboring rooms.
- In Sheraton Cascais Resort, prices start at 44.5 thousand rubles. (not counting the deposit of 100 euros at the time of check-in). Most of all, tourists liked the well-chosen location and the food provided. A five-star hotel in the middle of golf courses and a few minutes from the Atlantic - what else is needed for leisure, but at such a soft price? Beach holidays in Portugal are better than anywhere else.
- Visitors to Lagos can't go wrong with Guesthouse Our House. Tourists, at least, are impressed by the fact that you can order a room free of nicotine - and also take a walk in the garden or just sit on the terrace. The quality of this guest house is also evidenced by the fact that free places in it are rare. A week will cost 71.3 thousand rubles.
- Vidamar Algarve Hotel has five stars according to the international classification, is located at the edge of the beach (you can walk to it in two minutes). Meals are organized according to the buffet system. Vacationers here are pleased with both the level of service and the place where the hotel is located. To pay for two guests during the week will need 54.5 thousand rubles, accommodation in the half board category will cost, however, already 66,700.
All the best hotels in Portugal →
Tour cost
You can buy tours to Portugal from Moscow at very different prices, the Travelata website helps you find the latest data. We recommend that you consider profitable vacation destinations with a good location and excellent service, or choose a voucher yourself using the search form at the end.
- The Nacional Hotel (Lisbon) welcomes guests from the ICS Travel Group - a seven-day vacation in it is appreciated by all visitors. A couple of seats are purchased for 80,000.
- Tivoli Oriente (Lisbon) cannot be called a beach hotel in any way, eight days will cost 107 thousand rubles. But the airport and the main centers that attract vacationers are nearby.
- Dorisol Mimosa (Madeira, 0.8 km from the beach) - provides rooms for 100 thousand rubles.
Choose a voucher yourself:
Entertainment and what to see in Portugal?
When figuring out where to go to Portugal for a vacation, there is little point in focusing on the sights, since they are everywhere. For example, Lisbon has a good zoo, and every tourist will cheat himself if he does not ride on funicular Gloria. The National Aquarium contains prominent representatives of all oceans (which is not found anywhere else on the planet). The Algarve is famous for both beaches and water parks, and those who come to Madeira will experience the thrill of climbing Pico Ruivu.
If you are interested not only in where to relax at sea in Portugal, be sure to pay your attention to Sintra... This is a wonderful palace and a carefully arranged park around it, there are lakes, natural springs and wells, even caves. No less interesting is the tropical garden that Monte Palace (in Funchal) tourists love its landscape. However, it fits into the category of entertainment in Portugal for children only conditionally, with a clarification - not for the smallest, but rather for teenagers. Having overcome the difficulties, however, you will not regret, a visit to this place justifies even an expensive entrance ticket.
The capital of the country boasts a unique museum of tiles, which displays typical samples of tiles used in past eras, and those that now adorn Lisbon houses are also available. It is recommended to spend 2 or 3 hours for a visit; a special place in the exposition is occupied by the panorama of the city in the form in which it was before the terrible earthquake of 1755. A little nuance: if you don't want to walk along the embankment (it looks very unpleasant), order a taxi.
Of course, the answer to the question of what to see in Portugal cannot be reduced to the options already described. Let's say in the Azores there is Caldeira das Sete Cidades - not just a caldera, but with a small village inside. An ideal place for hiking and contemplation alone with nature.
If you are a fan of booking excursions, we recommend that you consider the author's programs on Tripster.ru, private guides will offer you not only interesting material, but also the lack of shopping, as most tour operators do.
What to try from food?
The geographical location predetermined the development of Portuguese cuisine and the predominance of fish dishes in it. Local chefs have developed a myriad of options for processing cod, and if you try each method once a day, it will take almost a year. If you are not very fond of port wine and alcohol in general, then puff cataplana and green soups caldo verde will definitely fit. Meat platter "cusida-a-portugueza", Pork alenthejan style, francesinha, cake pashteish - sounds like poetry, but tastes even better. In Madeira, be sure to try swordfish (however, it is contraindicated for pregnant women).
It is not difficult to buy trips to Portugal from Moscow from all tour operators - but what will be the prices for food in this country? In any resort place, of course, the economical ones should focus on the establishments where the Portuguese themselves go first. Otherwise, the price will be quite high. Large tasty portions inexpensively can be obtained for sure where local truckers gather, in general, restaurants and cafes in Portugal pay very little attention to design, which does not affect the culinary merits of their products.
Food prices
You can buy a small bottle of juice, fruit soda or mineral water / beer for 1 or 2 euros. Olives and bread served everywhere for snacks cost up to euros, cheese and raw smoked ham are 3 - 7 times more expensive. The difference in the cost of the main meat and fish dishes is small, more often they charge 7-15 euros for them. Also:
- salad portion 2 - 3 euros;
- dessert 1 - 3;
- coffee 0.55 - 1;
- service on the street +0.5 euros for everything;
- tea 1.8;
- sandwiches and cakes 1.7 - 4;
- lunch in a restaurant with live music, etc. 50 - 110 euros.
Food prices in the supermarket:
- up to 2 euros inclusive - rice, flour, sugar, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots;
- up to 4 euros - pasta, black tea, chocolate, hamburgers, strawberries, oranges, apples;
- 6-10 euros - strawberry jam, olive oil, sausages (hams are even more expensive).
Within 12 euros, 1 kg of boneless meat of any kind will be sold.
