Portugal is a country which plays a great role in world history for the last 900 years ago. It is the oldest country in Europe and even though it covers a small area, Portugal has been the main connection at borders of most countries. Portugal was founded in 1128 by its first king D. Afonso Henriques. Portugal started to make a prominent history during the 15th and 16th centuries where it started a sea route to Asia, South America, Oceania and Africa. In 1910, the Republic was established, abolishing the monarchy. In 1974, Portugal became a free democracy, and in 1986, it joined the current European Union, quickly approaching European standards of development.

The main capital city of Portugal is Lisbon which is the city of seven hills. This city has been the centre of attraction among local and international tourists and offers many dining options, beaches and facilities. Besides that, there is also other main area comprised of landmarks like Aveiro which is the ‘Venice’ of Portugal, the museum city of Evora and the famous city of Viana do Castelo for festivals. On top of that, there are also main attractions at cental of Portugal which are Coimbra houses one of the oldest universities since 1290 in Europe, the Catholic pilgrimage site of Fátima, and several mountains such as Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in continental Portugal, Serra da Lousa, Serra do Montemuro and Serra do Caramulo. Sao Pedro do Sul and Caldas da Felgueira for thermal spas.

Portugal is one of the warmest European countries. Portugal's climate can be classified as the Mediterranean. The annual temperature averages are about 15°C (55°F) in the north and 18°C (64°F) in the south in mainland of Portugal. Spring and Summer seasons are usually sunny and temperature are very high during July and August, with maximums averaging between 35°C and 40°C (86°F - 95°F) in the interior of the country, 30°C and 35°C in the north. It is typically rainy and windy during autumn and winter seasons. Temperatures not commonly fall below 5°C (41°F) nearer to the sea and only average 10°C (50°F), but can reach several degrees below 0°C (32°F) at further inland. Snow is common in winter in the mountainous areas of the north, especially in Serra da Estrela and Azores is most commonly wet and rainy climate.

Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. It is derived 2000 years ago from the Latin spoken by the Romanised Pre- Roman community of The Iberian Peninsula. The language is a Romance language that came from Galicia and Northern Portugal. It was a common language of the Galician and Portuguese people until the formation of Portugal. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the language spread worldwide as Portugal established a colonial and commercial empire between 1415 and 1999. In Brazil, the Portuguese language is used as a native language and it has the highest number of native Portuguese speakers of any country. In addition, the language is also the official language spoken in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, and East Timor. Mirandese is also recognized as a co-official regional language in some municipalities of North-Eastern Portugal. An estimate of between 6,000 and 7,000 Mirandese speakers has been documented for Portugal.

Soup is an essential first course of a Portuguese meal. Cozido a Portuguesa is one of the national dishes of Portugal prepared with different vegetables, meat, smoked sausages and other components. The most popular is the Minho speciality, caldo verde, made from kale, potatoes and spiced smoked sausage. There are also varied fish soups and Sopa de legumes; a vegetable-based soup often featured as "Sopa do dia" (Soup of day) in restaurants and Canja de galinha, a rich chicken broth. If you go at the northern side of Portugal, lamb ensopado and several varieties of pork meat such as black pork are most commonly can be found at the main areas. A popular traditional dish is pork and clam as well as wild boar dishes. As for drink, Porto is famous for the eponymous port wine, a fortified wine (20%) made by adding brandy to the wine before fermentation is complete. The end product is strong, sweet, complex in taste and if properly stored will last 40 years or more. Northern Portugal has a white wine variation with a greenish tint known as vinho verde. This wine has a very crisp acidic-sweet flavour and is better served cold. Vinho verde is suitable to drink with seafood. Most restaurants bring you a selection of snacks at the start of your meal aptly called covert which comprised of bread, butter, cheese and olives.

For citizens from EU, EEA and Swiss country, as well as non-EU citizens (New Zealanders and Australians) are visa-exempt and need to produce a passport which is valid for the entirety of their stay in Portugal. Other nationals who are required to have a visa such as South Africans must produce a passport which has at least 3 months' validity beyond their period of stay in Portugal. There are normally no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. There are usually identity checks before boarding international flights or boats. A visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.

How to Get There?

By Plane

There are three international airports in the Portugal which are Lisbon Portela Airport, Porto Airport and Faro Airport. These airports provide numerous international routes by national and low- cost airlines. Lisbon International Airport is the main international airport of Portugal and flies into for the entire central region. It handles many flights inside and outside of Portugal. TAP Portugal and SATA/ Azores Airlines are national airlines which fly to almost all countries in the world. Almost all major airlines fly to Portugal such as British Airways, Air France, United, American, Turkish and Emirates. From the United States, American Airlines offers flights to Lisbon and TAP Portugal from Newark, Miami, New York and Boston, and United from Newark and Washington. Besides that, the Madeira and Azores islands also have their own airports which have regular flights to the Portuguese mainland.

By train

Most travellers from Europe countries reach Portugal by using the train. The train stations offer a ride to larger cities from Lisbon to Porto, Braga, Aveiro, Coimbra, Evora and Faro. It is also connected to Madrid, Spain, France and the rest of Europe. For more information, you can always approach Portuguese Railways at the train station or see online for schedule.

What to Do There?

Espinho in Costa Verde Beach

The Portuguese beaches are one of the main attractions in Portugal. One of the famous beaches is Espinho in Costa Verde.  The popular beach has stunning coastlines and gobs of natural beauty. The water along the southern coast tends to be warmer and calmer than the water along the west coast. There are many activities that are available here like surfing, kite-surfing and beach volleyball. The beach is usually packed with people during summer months and there is also restaurants and cafes by the beach. There are also other beaches in Portugal such as Peniche, Praia das Maçãs and Praia Grande Sintra, Carcavelos and Estoril Cascais, near Lisbon, in the Costa de Lisboa, Salema, Praia da Rocha, Praia da Oura,and Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman´s beach).

Amendoeira Golf Resort

Portugal is an amazing location to learn techniques for playing golf. It was named as ‘Best Golf Destination 2012’ by the readers of Golfers Today and transformed the country into golfing haven. The golf courses are also ranked in the top 100 best in Europe and become popular among local and international tourists. There are many resorts with beautiful golf courses in Portugal offer classes for beginners and also pros like in Amendoeira Golf Resort. This resort has been a choice of golf course among locals and international tourists.  Besides golf course, there are also apartments and villas as well as outdoor pool and dining options.

Where to Stay?

Fazenda Nova Country House

For those who would like to experience staying in the countryside, Fazenda Nova Country House is a great choice. It is located around 4 kilometres away from Santo Estevao village and 30 kilometres from Faro Airport. This country house offers modern suites and apartments with impeccable amenities such as air conditioner, private bathroom with complimentary toiletries as well as a seating area and kitchenette. Besides that, summer pool and restaurant are also provided. If you want to tour the countryside, you can rent a bike at the hotel.

House By The Lake

House By The Lake is located in Barreira Grande and nearby the beach. It is surrounded by the lake and mountain and features amazing villas. The accommodation features facilities such as barbecue facilities, hammock garden, wood oven and outer dining area. The guestrooms are equipped with a fireplace, seating area and television as well as a fully equipped kitchen with stovetop, an oven, a microwave and a dishwasher.

Olaias Hotel

Conveniently located near Alameda Metro station and Lisbon's Portela International, Olaias hotel is a popular 4- star hotel that offers accommodation at Lisbon city centre. Each room is fitted with wooden furniture and basic amenities such as mini bar, satellite television and an en-suite bathroom. The seating area is also provided for specific rooms. As for dining options, The Navegadores restaurant offers stunning views of the Tagus River and delicious Mediterranean cuisines. For those who would like to visit historic areas like Rossio, Chiado and the lively Bairro Alto. The Olaias Park Hotel is a strategic hotel to stay as it is located near these attractions.