Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. Its long, varied coastline, sunny climate, and the relaxed lifestyle of the inhabitants of its charming towns and villages have made it a sought-after holiday destination. The delight of Portugal is that, although it is undeniably part of modern Europe, it retains some rural enclaves where time has stood still and traditions flourish. In the southern province of the Algarve, modern high-rise resorts line the coast and buzz with all the trappings of a package tour destination; the capital city, Lisbon, on the west coast, is a bright, busy, crowded metropolis surrounded by bustling tourist resorts. Travel a few miles north or east, however, and discover a largely undeveloped picturesque countryside full of medieval villages and towns where life has changed little over several centuries.

The Portuguese have a close affinity to the sea: for centuries their famed mariners led the way in the exploration of Africa and the Americas, and opened trade routes to the East. The country became a strong colonial power, and remained so until the mid-20th century, resulting in distinctive foreign influences on the local culture and architecture. From Africa, for example, was imported the now traditional, sentimental fado music, which is one of the country's unique experiences for visitors, particularly in the cafés of Lisbon.

In recent years Portugal, long overlooked on the list of the world's top vacation stations, has been investing time, money and effort into ensuring it is discovered by the world's travellers, just as once it was the Portuguese who discovered the world. This new age of discovery is paying off, as increasing numbers of visitors arrive each year and hotel and resort construction has exploded. From the visitor's point of view the compactness of the country makes it easy to take in all the best elements: sandy beaches, scenery, history, wonderful cuisine, lively entertainment, charming handcrafts, thrilling nightlife, country fairs, excellent sporting facilities and warm, friendly people.

From the cobbled winding streets of Lisbon's medieval citadel to the cork forests in Alentejo, and from fishermen mending their nets on remote beaches to the shopping malls and sophisticated glitzy resorts, Portugal is a country well worth discovering.

Castelo de Sao Jorge

Address: Lisbon

Admission: EUR7, concessions available Daily, 9am to 6pm (November to February) and 9am to 9pm (March to October)

Telephone: 218 800 620

Alfama

Address: Lisbon

Sé de Lisboa

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Free Daily, 10am to 7pm.

Telephone: 21 886 6752

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Address: Avenue de Berna 45A Lisbon

Admission: EUR4, concessions available. Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5.45pm

Telephone: 21 782 3000

Bairro Alto

Address: Lisbon

Monument to the Discoveries

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm.

Telephone: 21 303 1950

Tower of Belem

Address: Avenida de Brasilia Lisbon

Admission: EUR7 (adults), free for children under 14. Concessions available Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (October to April), 10am to 6.30pm (May to September)

Telephone: 21 362 0034

Parque das Nacoes

Address: Avenue D. João II, Lote Lisbon

Admission: Oceanarium: daily 10am to 8pm (until 7pm in winter)

Telephone: 218 919 333

Fatima

Address: Lisbon

Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis

Address: Palacio dos Carrancas, Rua de Dom Manuel II Porto

Admission: EUR5 (adults), concessions available. Free on Sundays and bank holidays until 2pm. Tuesday 2pm to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 223 393 770

Igreja de Sao Francisco

Address: Rua do Infante D. Henrique Porto

Admission: EUR3.50 (Museum) Daily from 9am.

Telephone: 222 062 100

Solar Vinho do Porto

Address: Rua de Entre-Quintas 220 Porto

Admission: Monday to Saturday 4pm to midnight

Telephone: 22 609 4749

Vila Nova de Gaia

Address: Porto

Frederico de Freitas Museum

Address: Calçada de Santa Clara, 7 Madeira

Admission: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 6pm

Telephone: 91 220 578

Sao Vicente Caves

Address: Madeira

Admission: EUR8 (adults), concessions EUR6 Daily 10am - 7pm

Telephone: 291 842 404

Madeira Cable Car

Address: Caminho das Babosas Madeira

Admission: Round-trip single fare is EUR15 (adults), EUR7.50 (children), concessions available Open daily from 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 291 780 280

Funchal Cathedral

Address: Rua do Aljube Madeira

Admission: Free; donation suggested Monday to Saturday 7am to 1pm, and 4pm to 7pm; Sundays 8am to 8.30pm

Telephone: 291 228 156

Whale Museum

Address: Caniçal Madeira

Admission: EUR2 (adults), free for pensioners and children under 18 Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 12pm, and 1pm to 6pm

Telephone: 91 961 407

Porto Santo

Address: Madeira

Setúbal

Address: Lisbon

Telephone: 265 539 120 (Setúbal Tourist Office)

Cristo Rei

Address: Lisbon

Admission: EUR5 for the elevator to the top. 9am-6pm daily

Guimaraes

Address: Porto

Braganca

Address: Porto

Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon Oceanarium)

Address: Esplanada d. Carlos I Lisbon

Admission: EUR12 (adults) and EUR6 (children under 12). Concessions available. Daily, 10am to 8pm (summer) and 10am to 7pm (winter)

Telephone: 21 891 7002

Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum)

Address: Praça do Império Lisbon

Admission: EUR4 (adult) and EUR2 (6 - 18 years), free for children under 6. Concessions available. 10am to 5pm (October to April) and 10am to 6pm (May to September); closed Mondays.

Telephone: 21 362 0019

Colombo Amusement Park

Address: Centro Colombo, Lusíada Avenue. Lisbon

Telephone: 217 11 36 36

Vasco da Gama Aquarium

Address: Rua Direita do Dafundo Lisbon

Admission: EUR3 (adult), EUR1.50 (6-17), free for children under 6 Daily 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 214 196 337

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium

Address: Praça do Império, Belém Lisbon

Admission: EUR4 (adults), EUR2 (10-18s), free for children 6-9. Children under 6 only admitted on Sunday mornings. Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 213 620 002

Evora

Address: Lisbon

Guia

Address: The Algarve

Serra de Estrela

Address: Porto

Fado Bars

Address: Lisbon

Jeronimos Monastery

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Open daily from 10am to 5.30pm (October to May); and from 10am to 6.30pm (May to September)

Tram 28

Casa Nostra

Address: Travessa do Poço da Cidade 60, Bairro Alto Lisbon

Food Type: Italian

Kais

Address: Rua da Cintura-Santos, City Centre Lisbon

Food Type: International

Gambrinus

Address: Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 23 Lisbon

Food Type: International

Comida de Santo

Address: Calçado Engenheiro Miguel Pais 39 Lisbon

Food Type: Brazilian

Espalha Brasas

Address: Armazém 9 Lisbon

Food Type: Portuguese

Doca Peixe

Address: Armazém 14 Lisbon

Food Type: Seafood

Nood

Address: Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 20, Chiado Lisbon

Food Type: Asian

Via Graça

Address: Rua Damasceno Monteiro 9B Lisbon

Food Type: Portuguese

Cafe de Sao Bento

Address: Rua de São Bento 212, Príncipe Real Lisbon

Food Type: Steakhouse