Things to do Portugal

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal, located in the west of the country, on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the point where the river Tagus flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the oldest cities in the world rich in architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and traditional Portuguese. Modern and post-modern constructions can be found all over the city.  As producing 37 % of the Portuguese GDP, it is considered as the wealthiest city in Portugal. Lisbon is an authentic place that stands out in such an increasingly homogeneous world. The biggest pleasures are its street life and setting, admired from a pavement cafe, or simply by wandering around the atmospheric old quarters.

Arco da Rua Augusta

Arco da Rua Augusta is one of the most highly regarded landmarks in the city of Lisbon. It was constructed in 1873 and designed by the notable French sculptor, Antoine Calmels. Its breathtaking nine statues signify Portugal's social and political history.

Included are Vasco da Gama, who discovered the maritime route to India in 1498, Nuno Álvares Pereira, who helped the Portuguese gain independence from Spain, and the politician Marquês de Pombal, who contributed to the reconstruction of Lisbon after its devastating earthquake in 1755.

Cristo Rei

Cristo Rei is Lisbon's version of Brazil's giant Jesus statue designed by the architect Antonio Lino. The monument which is in a form of a gate standing 75m tall took nine years to achieve it. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro /Brazil. It stands for a plea to God to release Portugal from entering the second world war.

Vasco da Gama Bridge

Vasco da Gama Bridge is 17km long (10km of which pass over water), making it the longest bridge in Europe. It was opened in 1998 and still today remains one of the longest in the world (It has the same length as the road-rail tunnel-bridge linking Denmark and Sweden). Its vastness forced engineers to factor in the curvature of the Earth during its construction. That makes it a superb feat of engineering, made up of several sections supported by pillars, built at a cost of one billion US dollars.

Tropical Garden

Lisbon’s tropical garden, which is also known as the Jardim do Ultramar or Jardim Agricola Tropical is an overlooked, but charming and tranquil, place regularly visited by leading international scientists and botanists. Laid out in 1906 with over 4,000 species of tropical plants, many of them rare and endangered, they are interspersed with palm trees and ponds. Brazilian coral trees, monkey puzzle trees from South America, and Dragon trees from the Canary Islands are just some of the interesting items.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

It is a museum in the north of Lisbon containing a collection of ancient and some modern art by western european and oriental artists. The collection varies from Egyptian statuettes to Art Nouveau jewels. It presents various Islamic glass factories and some  impressionistic paintings.The European Art wave between Flemish, Italian Painting and French ornamental works of the 18 th century. At last, a part of the museum is dedicated to the exhuberant creations of the jeweler Art Nouveau René Lalique. All these cultural attributes of the museum add to its  authenticity.

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and is one of the country’s oldest cities. Discover the rich culture and experience the authentic flavor of Portugal as you visit the various tourist attractions in Porto. It has plenty of charm with some art treasures, medieval cathedrals and museums. In 1996, its old city centre has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites thanks to its rich cultural and historical significance. Porto is also home to world class shopping amenities as well as an active night life. Within easy reach of Porto, there are various coastal resorts and fishing villages on the Atlantic coastline, renowned for their seafood restaurants.

Palacio da Bolsa

The Palacio da Bolsa is one of the major tourist attractions in Porto that should not be missed. It is a wonderful blend of the architectural styles and this gives the building its present splendor. You would also find traces of the neoclassical eighteenth, Tuscan architecture, as well as the Neopaladiano English. The Palacio da Bolsa, Porto resembles a royal place, especially the ornate Arab Room. It is an oval chamber that is an attempt to copy the Granada's Alhambra Palace. Today it is "the grand reception room" of Porto where heads of state and other luminaries are welcomed and received when they are visiting the city.

Casa da Musica

The Casa da Musica was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. This prestigious edifice was built as an important part of Porto's project for European Culture Capital in 2001.The construction of the Casa da Musica, Porto was finished in the first half of 2005 and then it immediately became a landmark in the city. The Casa da Musica in Porto, Portugal has a huge auditorium that can hold 1,238 people. There are numerous musical extravaganzas that are organized here and a large number of people as well sound and recording equipment can be fitted in. There is also a restaurant that you will find at the top of the building and this can seat about 150 people.

Avenida dos Aliados

The imposing Avenida dos Aliados is the heart of the city, a sloping boulevard lined with grand buildings and a central promenade. At the top of the avenue stands the Town Hall, a palatial building with a tall bell tower (70m high). Made of granite and marble, its design was influenced by municipal architecture of Flanders and France. In front of the building is a modernist statue of Portuguese writer Almeida Garrett. At the other end of the avenue is Praça da Liberdade, a square adorned with a statue of King Pedro IV on a horse. There are also several cafes, including the historical Guarany.

Albufeira, located on the southern coast of Portugal, is one of the most popular touristic destinations in the country thanks to its pleasant climate. This picturesque area is a fishing village in the Algarve Region offering historical attractions and cultural heritage as well as many tourist services including countless hotels, restaurants, bars etc. The Old Town is where much of the history resides, with various impressive churches, chapels and other landmarks. In addition, this area is famed for its breathtaking sandy beaches, for the countless shades and tones of its rocks and cliffs. The architecture of the town ranges from typically Algarvian narrow streets with pale white and sometimes tiled houses to very modern tourist developments. Furthermore, the temperate climate in Albufeira makes it a popular year-round destination for sports enthusiasts: tennis, water sports and especially golf. Nightlife, sunshine, beaches and lots of animation are just some of the guaranteed features of Albufeira.

Clock Tower

Parish Church

Archeological Museum

Santa Ana Church