‘ October to April is when Portugal reveals its quieter, richer side. Let us help you discover it’
PORTUGAL OUT OF SEASON
Vermelho, Melides, south of Lisbon
‘ October to April is when Portugal reveals its quieter, richer side. Let us help you discover it’
Portugal- out of season
This is the Portugal we love to plan for: golden river valleys terraced with vines, cobbled cities built for slow exploring, thermal spas tucked into granite hills, and some of the best-value fine dining in Europe. Cooler days make for perfect walking weather, historic towns without the crowds, and harvest-time cellars pouring their new vintage.
Lisbon & the coast. Where azulejo-tiled streets tumble down to the Tagus and every neighbourhood has its own character, from the fado bars of Alfama to the design studios of Chiado. A few nights at Vermelho, Christian Louboutin’ s exuberant, colour-drenched hotel on the coast at Melides, add a dash of glamour and a superb spa before you head south to the quieter charms of Tavira. Here, whitewashed streets and a Roman bridge feel a world away from the Algarve’ s resort strip, ideal for out-of-season exploring, market visits, and long lunches with nowhere else to be.
Aveiro & Arouca. Aveiro’ s canals and Art Nouveau facades have earned it the nickname“ Portugal’ s Venice,” and the perfect base for gentle days on the water and forays into the surrounding Ria. Nearby, Arouca gives access to the dramatic granite landscapes and walkways of the Arouca Geopark, one of Portugal’ s most striking and least-visited corners.
Porto & the Douro. No trip to northern Portugal is complete without Porto and the Douro. Spend an afternoon tasting your way through the cellars that put this city on the wine map. Then follow the Douro upstream by train or by road, through terraced vineyards that rank among the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, to Pinhão, the classic base for wine estate visits, river cruises, and long autumn lunches overlooking the valley. A detour to Amarante, with its riverside monastery and elegant bridge, makes a lovely final stop before returning to Porto for home.
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