Our Portugal vacations
Portugal’s long coastline and under-explored interior are ideal for low carbon travel like cycling or walking. Relaxed, carefully designed routes take you into rural areas of the Algarve and Alentejo, far from overcrowded resorts, or along the wild Atlantic Coast between Porto and Lisbon. Locally owned hotels and restaurants benefit from vacations that typically bookend the peak season, and offer you a genuine taste of Portuguese culture. Our Portugal vacations also look to Madeira and the gorgeous Sintra Natural Park outside the capital for walking. This ever-popular family destination also offers plenty of expertly guided activity vacations.
Our top Portugal vacations
Portuguese Coastal Way walking vacation
From
€925 to €1075
8 days
ex flights
The scenic alternative to the classic Portuguese Way
Tailor made
Adventure vacation week in the Azores
From
€1080 to €1310
7 days
ex flights
Sao Miguel Island: The playground for your next adventure
Tailor made
Blue whale watching in the Azores, Pico Island
From
£1190
8 days
ex flights
Best time to see Blue Whales on Pico, Azores
Small group2024: 27 Apr, 4 May
Portugal walking tour
From
€1029 to €2229
8 days
ex flights
Self guided walking tour in Portuguese Schist Villages
Tailor made
Madeira walking vacation
From
US $1160 to US $1550
8 days
ex flights
Small group walking tour of Madeira
Small group2023: 27 Dec, 2024: 20 Jan, 10 Feb, 17 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 16 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr, 11 May, 18 May, 25 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 3 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 20 Dec, 28 Dec
Douro valley by kayak vacation, across Portugal
From
€3370
10 days
ex flights
Kayak across Portugal on the Douro River
Tailor made
Family activity vacation in the Azores
From
€1035 to €1260
7 days
ex flights
A week full of fun activities for all the family in S.Miguel
Tailor made
Algarve vacation accommodation
From
€75 to €265
per accommodation per night
Enchanting agrotourism on 6 ha rural estate close to beach
Accommodation
Small group tour in Portugal
From
US $2375 to US $2865
8 days
ex flights
Discover Portugal's idyllic Alentejo Coast
Small group2024: 4 May, 1 Jun, 7 Sep, 5 Oct, 2 Nov, 2025: 12 Apr, 3 May, 31 May, 6 Sep, 20 Sep, 4 Oct, 1 Nov
About our Portugal vacations
Cycling vacations in Portugal
Portugal is growing in popularity for cycling vacations, thanks to many magnificent coastal and inland routes, most of which seem to end in a sandy beach. Typically, these are tailor made, self guided trips with plenty of support and excellent route notes. Portugal’s wild and windswept Atlantic Coast from Porto to Lisbon is a popular route, and there are lush trails in the Peneda-Gerês National Park in the north of the country. And if you want a really different destination, look to the Azores, an Atlantic archipelago where you can combine cycling with world-class whale watching.
Walking vacations in Portugal
There’s more to Portugal than summer vacations, and one of the best ways to find that out is with a walking vacation. You can follow levada water channels through UNESCO-protected forest on Madeira, watching out for dolphins dancing in the waves. In the Azores, walking and whale watching makes for a sublime combination. And in the Alentejo region you can leave civilisation behind, exploring aromatic pine groves, traditional fishing villages on the coast, and plains of cork oaks, olive trees and grapevines. Expect to cover around 20km a day on Portugal walking vacations that are typically tailor made and self guided.
Family vacations in Portugal
The Algarve might be known for family vacations, but there’s also plenty of fun to be had elsewhere in Portugal. You can explore Roman and Arabic ruins, and learn the stories of Europe’s first great ocean explorers. And while the most popular beaches of the Algarve can get crowded during peak season, Portugal boasts some 1,800km of extraordinarily diverse coastline – ideal not just for sunbathing, but for surfing, scuba diving and kayaking too. If you are set on the Algarve, there are many quieter, less touristy areas where you can get a taste of the real Portugal away from the resorts.
Flight free vacations to Portugal
Portugal is a lot closer than you might think, and you can easily get from London to Lisbon in under 24 hours if, like many people now, you’re joining the movement for flight free vacations. A typical journey from the UK might go through northern Spain by ferry and road from Portsmouth, or through Spain via Lyon or Paris by rail. And of course there are several scenic routes from other parts of Europe. Our partners, and our friendly Travel Team, are always happy to help with advice, and you’ll often find details of suggested routes and approximate timings on vacation pages.
Types of tours & vacations in Portugal
Most Portugal vacations focus on the Algarve or Lisbon, but the country is developing a fantastic reputation for both walking vacations and cycling vacations. These are usually tailor made trips but there are plenty of small group vacations to choose from too. And if you like to mix things up a little, you can also opt for multi activity vacations, whether that’s watersports in Alentejo or mountain biking with kayaking and whale watching in the Azores. Adventure vacations might involve swimming with dolphins in crystal clear waters off Madeira, or cycling and surfing your way around the Costa Verde.
Where to go on vacation in Portugal
Inland Algarve, and the southwest coast, are a world apart from the golf resorts, high rises, time shares and crowded beaches found in other parts of the region. Instead, expect sleepy villages and seaside towns, and great expanses of countryside to explore. The Alentejo region borders the Algarve, and is largely overlooked by tourists. It offers tranquil, undeveloped landscapes perfect for cycling and walking, plus windy beaches to tempt surfers. And Madeira, to the west of Morocco, is a volcanic island with a coastline fringed with reefs and an interior composed of mountains, plunging valleys and lush forest.
[Cycling vacations : Marien van Os]
[Walking vacations: VinceTraveler]
[Family vacations: Ollie Harding]
[Flight free vacations : Ricardo Resende]
[Types of vacations : Web Summit]
[Where to go in Portugal : Mario Cruz]
