Portugal has been awarded by the World Travel Awards , the Oscars of Tourism as the Best Destination in Europe and the World and this opinion is shared by many guides, travel writers, bloggers and the media around the world.

Its beaches, the variety of its landscapes and above all the friendly, open and sincere Portuguese people make Portugal a destination of choice that after the first experience leaves you longing and wanting to come back and discover more.

There are at least 7 reasons to visit Portugal and harmonise each of its regions.

The Portuguese gastronomy is very appreciated and Portugal has increasingly stood out as a destination for wines and gastronomy. A very enriching discovery, because, like its beautiful landscapes, the Portuguese gastronomy stands out for its great diversity.

The location and the Atlantic proximity justify the place of prominence that is given to fish and seafood, to which is added an enormous variety of quality table wines.

In the inland areas of the country cheese and PDO sausages and the production of high quality meat stand out. The Mediterranean Diet, classified as a Unesco heritage, is also part of the DNA of Portuguese gastronomy with the use of olive oil, vegetables and herbs.

Port wine has been a great ambassador of Portugal for centuries, today accompanied by other genuinely Portuguese products, such as pastel de nata and conventual sweets.

are two very attractive cities a few hours away from the most important European capitals. Both cities are bathed by a river that gives them a different and characteristic environment, they are welcoming and contrasting cities, with their historic districts and streets with tiled façades, to know by day or to go out at night.

Lisbon is a city with a special luminosity, which comes from the river Tagus and the proximity of the sea. Porto, an ancient city with a historical centre classified as World Heritage, is the arrival point of the River Douro, on whose slopes the famous Port wine is grown.

Portugal is also a recognized destination for sun and sea holidays and beach trips throughout the year. The Portuguese coast is almost a unique beach with more than 850km that allow you to choose between the rough and cool sea of the north and the warm and calm waters of the south. Among the great diversity of beaches, more than 300 have excellent conditions and are awarded as Blue Flag beaches and about 200 are Accessible Beaches.

Nature Parks and Reserves, Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves recognized by UNESCO make Portugal an excellent destination for outdoor activities, such as bird watching, or other more radical activities such as canyoning. In recent years. nature trails, on foot or by bike, have been a good option for those who like to combine physical exercise and contact with the local culture.

Whether on the mainland or in Madeira or the Azores, Portugal has ideal conditions for surfing. Surfers of all modalities find on the Portuguese coast the largest number of spots at a shorter distance between them, where competitions of the most important championships in the world are disputed. There are perfect tubular waves, in Peniche, giant waves, in Nazaré, and the longest in Europe, in Figueira da Foz. Ericeira, only 40 minutes away from Lisbon, was the 1st Surf Reserve in Europe and the 2nd in the world.

Also as a Golf Destination Portugal has gained points in recent years: It was awarded as Best Golf Destination in Europe and the World at the World Golf Awards. Particularly in the Algarve and in the Lisbon region, there are many award winning courses, where you can watch the great events of the professional circuits of the sport. Many courses are designed by renowned architects such as Robert Trent Jones, Rocky Roquemore, Sir Henry Cotton, Arnold Palmer, among others. However, what best defines them is their undeniable quality and landscape beauty, often set in preserved areas and with the sea as background.

One of the oldest nations in the world Portugal has 25 World Heritage classifications. In them the history of the country is portrayed, its people and the people who inhabited the country since immrmorial time.

Monasteries and convents of historical and artistic importance, monuments worthy of relief, historical centres, cultural landscapes, which offer some of the most breathtaking natural settings in Portugal, were considered by UNESCO as part of World Heritage.

The list is completed with icons that define a people's way of being and their moments of celebration, the Fado, the Alentejo Singing and the Mediterranean Diet. And also arts and crafts that are part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as the Fabrication of rattles, the Art of Royal Falconry or the manufacture of the Clay Dolls of Estremoz.

These Portuguese contributions to world history are also a good excuse to get to know the country from north to south.