In just about every town and village there’s a surprise to be discovered. Medieval cities, sumptuous monasteries and abbeys and extraordinary fortified towns; and in Portugal boasts one of the world’s most revered Catholic shrines.

Standout city is, of course, Lisbon, with its dazzling hilltop and riverside location and alluring mix of old-world charm and modern flair. It’s not too much of a stretch to describe it as one of Europe’s must-see capitals, though the charms and wines of Porto, wedged into the Douro river valley, also make an excellent case for a long weekend city break. The south-facing coast of the Algarve is the country’s tourist epicenter and justifiably so it is here that you’ll find the archetypal picturesque Portuguese cove beaches, fringed by rock stacks and gentle cliffs, and it doesn’t take much to escape the high-rise resorts and golf courses.