Portugal — Introduction

Portugal is a country of stately cities, dramatic countryside and a spectacular coastline.

Its northern regions are home to the elegant urban centres of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, as well as the vivid Douro region.

In the south the Algarve’s long stretches of golden sand are interwoven with striking cliff faces, rocky outcrops and hidden grottoes, all teased by the calm, blue sea.

Many of the Algarve’s beaches have been awarded the blue flag for cleanliness and its wetlands and nature reserves are home to extraordinary flora and fauna.

The wetlands near Faro are of great natural beauty. There are no buildings here – just mile upon mile of sand dunes dotted with exotic birds.

The west coast of the Algarve is undiscovered and is a wild, evocative landscape charged by the Atlantic breakers sought out by surfers.

Away from the coast there’s a rich cultural heritage charted in the Moorish architecture of its towns and cities. Great food and drink is always on the menu with fish caught fresh that day and cooked to perfection. RCI’s Gold Crown resorts are conveniently located close to the Algarve’s many golf courses.