Portugal map of main tourist destinations with primary sights in purple, towns in red and best beaches in green.

This small countryon the edge of Europe has plenty to offer the tourist, just ensure the season is right, i. e. the summer.

Beaches are big and sand is soft whether on the Algarve or Atlantic coasts, the surf is constant, castles are many and splendid, roads are in good shape though a little narrow in old towns, while religious institutions sport remarkable design features such as Manueline carvings and azulejos tiling.

Seafood is superb, wines are good and low cost and locals, while not gushingly friendly (actually if their folk music, Fado, is anything to go by then they are quite melancholic), are fine and not inclined to rip off travellers, always a good thing.