Portugal
Why Travel with Namaste Portugal?
- A local concierge service with a 24×7 emergency contact number assisting you with all facets of Portugal – restaurants, shopping and local experiences
- We focus on local experiences as much as important sounds and sights that you must visit
- Our tailor made touring looks into finer elements including pace of travel and off beat as well as insider experiences where possible
Why Portugal?
Portugal is a country rich in history and culture, with a mild, temperate climate, excellent food and wine and friendly, hospitable people. Here are some amazing facts which make Portugal a must visit destination.
- Portugal has 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- The Portuguese Empire was the first global empire in history, which is probably why the Portuguese language is spoken by about 230 million people around the world and is the official language of 9 countries
- The world-famous Port wine (also known as “Porto”), a sweet Portuguese fortified wine from the Douro Valley, has been imitated in several countries – notably Australia, South Africa, India and the United States
- Over half of the world’s cork is produced in Portugal
- The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is the longest bridge in Europe at 17,185 m (56,381 feet)
- Portugal is one of the world’s top surf spots because of its coastline that spans 497 miles (800 kilometers) and is known to have 364 days of surf!
- The Festa de São João do Porto is celebrated every year, on the night of 23 June, in the city of Porto. Thousands of people come to the city centre and to the most traditional neighborhoods to pay a tribute to Saint John the Baptist, in a party that mixes sacred and nonreligious traditions
- In 1761, Portugal was the first colonial power to abolish slavery – half a century before Britain, France, Spain, or the USA
- Portugal is the only country in the EU, along with Spain, where life imprisonment has been abolished
Important Portuguese Personalities
- Christiano Ronaldo – Football player
- Jose Mourinho – Football Coach (Chelsea)
- Luis Figo – Football player
- Nelly Furtado – Singer and Songwriter
- David Lee Roth – Singer
- Tom Hanks – Actor
- Carmen Miranda – Actress
- Sara Sampaio – Model
- Danielle Steel – Writer
Portugal Inventions Include
- The ATM system in Portugal, the Multibanco is one of the most advanced in the world and was the first to introduce online banking
- The pre-paid mobile phone card
- The Green Lane toll pay system
- Nautical charts and maps of latitudes
- The drug Zebinix, an anticonvulsant medication approved for use in Europe and the United States as an adjunctive therapy for epilepsy
Things to do in Portugal
Come and discover Portugal’s theme parks, mountain peaks, salt mines, national parks, automobile museums – they are as varied as the country itself.
GEMS OF PROTUGAL
Portugal In One Go
Visit the major icons of Portugal in one go. Gems of Portugal take you through a fairytale land of castles and monasteries. Experience the beaches and shopping hubs of Lisbon, visit the shrine of Fatima and see monuments like Guimaraes Castle, Obidos Castle, Alcobaca Monastery, Batalha Monastery, Pena Palace, Castelo de Sao Jorge and the Belem Tower.
These are some of the places which should be included in your “must see list” whilst planning a holiday to Portugal.
HIDDEN TREASURES OF PORTUGAL
Go Beyond The Popular Icons
Visit Cascais, a charming port about an hour away from Lisbon by road. It has beaches for adventure sports, seven golf courses, grand homes and a selection of interesting free museums. Sintra, a UNESCO site has many interesting points to visit but the park is a must especially for its botanical varieties and spectacular views. The medieval paintings in Vasco da Gama’s house in Evora are a must see. The Igreja Real de Sao Francisco (Royal Church of St. Francis) in Evora is famous for its chapel that is only for the brave at heart. In the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), the walls and central pillars are covered with human skulls and other parts of skeletons with a signage that says, “Our bones that are here wait for yours!”
À LA CARTE
Choose Your Experience
You want to windsurf in the Estremadura coast, let’s add it. If you want to learn scuba diving, it is possible in Praia do Carvoeiro near Lagoa in the Algarve. You can even float through the canals and lagoons of Aveiro or court lady luck at Estoril the largest casino in Europe. A la carte is for the customized holiday traveler who wishes to add experiences based on his time and interests.
CITY MAGIC
Spice Up Your Short City Stays
Travelling to Portugal on business or visiting friends in the region and want to extend your stay. Why not plan day trips to nearby attractions? Porto is a beautiful old riverside city renowned for its wines. Lisbon is the cultural and entertainment hub of Portugal and is famous for its stunning museums and monuments. Visit the Christiano Ronaldo Museum in Madeira which exhibits his collection of trophies, including the 2008 and 2013 Ballon d’Or awards.
LUXURY AND FAIRY TALES
Indulge Without Boundaries
You could do a helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view of the vineyards of Douro Valley in Porto or the coastal towns of Sintra and Estoril. Stay in some of the iconic luxury hotels or spas in this region or experience fine dining at Michelin star restaurants. Namaste Portugal helps you in planning a tour without any strings – filled with indulgence and experiences royal.
THEMES AND INTERESTS
Pursue A Hobby On Vacation
Become a wine connoisseur at a winery in the Alto Douro region, recognized as a World Heritage site. Whether it’s cycling, hiking or nightlife, Portugal has it all. In Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, novices can take lessons, and experienced riders can go riding along the dunes of Dom Carlos and Guincho beach. Learn to make cheese at Azeitao and visit the cheese museum where more than 50 years of this local cheese production can be appreciated by visitors.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Winners Do Things Differently
Portugal is a delightful country, sun, sea, 1000 years of history and culture and myriad surprises in store for the offbeat traveler. At the famous spas of Luso, Monte Real, and Cúria you can rejuvenate with nature and rid your body of the toxins of urban life. Stay at a luxury Pousada hotel and enjoy many types of holiday, including stunning beaches, world class golf courses, luxurious spa facilities, world heritage sites, national parks, historic cities or lively seaside towns.
ough of the stereotype holidays? Are you looking for something totally different and are willing to take back some interesting memories such as exploring the hidden towns on the Romantic Road or the coastal town of Rostock or Bauhaus architecture in Dessau.
SELF-DRIVE
Experience Stunning Sceneries On Your Own
Let us plan a scenic chauffer driven exploratory tour for you. In Lisbon, you can view the medieval quarters, the Belem area and the beautiful heritage buildings and beaches. A short distance away from Lisbon is the picturesque town of Evora and the UNESCO recognized town of Sintra. Your route can also take you to the university town of Coimbra and from there on into the vineyards of Porto.
GUARANTEED TOURS
A Great Mix Of Budget And Like Minded Friends
Portugal offers a plethora of options, both religious and fun for the budget traveler. Enjoy activities and experiences in the all inclusive Escorted Tours that the Namaste Portugal team can put together for you, with a combination of other countries like Spain. Engage in local experiences and as a bonus also get to travel with people across the world and make global friends, some of them friends for life.
EXTENSIONS
Elongate The Fun
Portugal is a part of the Iberian Peninsula located in South Western Europe and is therefore parallel to Spain. You can fly in from Lisbon to Sevilla, the largest town in Southern Spain. While the Sevillians are known for their wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking. It is known as the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. It has the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral is one of the largest known and the Alcázar Palace which is famous for its beauty.
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