Portugal is an established, trusted all-year round holiday destination. People return to it year after year as one visit simply isn’t enough.
Laid back yet welcoming, simple yet sophisticated, Europe’s most westerly country with its mix of towns, countryside and coast really does have it all.
 And it’s easy to see why. A fantastic climate – not too hot or too cold. There are endless beaches and miles and miles of mountains, forest and lush green countryside, all truly breathtaking. And while quaint towns and villages are steeped in history and tradition, purpose-built coastal resorts offer leisure facilities that surpass the expectations of the most discerning holiday maker.
Home From Home offers quality self-catering accommodation in the Algarve, Portugal’s southern most region. We currently have a spacious two bedroom apartment with a private patio situated in the rural area of Quinta Larga Vista, once the largest private estate in Portugal. Watch this space for details of more high quality accommodation.
A Country of Regions
When planning a visit to Portugal it’s important to understand the regions and match what each has to offer with what you need for a successful holiday.
There are six regions in total - the Algarve in the south, above which is Central Portugal and the Lisbon Coast. Further north lies the Silver Coast and to the east of that Northern Portugal, with the Costa Verde sitting on the northern most point. All have coasts apart from Northern Portugal.
 By far the most popular region with the biggest selection of self-catering holiday accommodation and the most established when it comes to tourism, is the Algarve. Enjoying an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, this gloriously warm and relaxing region is lush and fertile and full of fruit orchards and rolling green hills. With this comes superb Portuguese cuisine using locally sourced produce.
Portugal’s Mediterranean coastline is spectacular - over 20 miles of rugged ochre-coloured cliffs overlooking sand-spit islands, lagoons, dunes, stunning headlands, cosy coves and vast open beaches. More than 60 in fact with Alvor beach a staggering 4km long and most earning Blue Flag status for cleanliness and safe bathing.
Deep sea fishing is a passion of the Algarvians. Daily catches bring exceptional seafood that you can buy fresh to cook yourself or savour in one of the area’s authentic Portugeuse restaurants.
As to where to stay, take your pick from houses in ancient market towns, rural cottages, or sumptuous villas and apartments in private, purpose built resorts with championship golf courses and beautiful pools literally on your doorstep.
 There’s a wealth of towns both coastal and inland with those closest to Faro Airport (about a 30 minute drive time) attracting the biggest number of visitors and boasting the most sophisticated facilities.
By far the largest town is Albufeira with its quaint old town, bustling nightlife and pretty shopping streets. There’s also Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, Quarteira and the marina based Vilamoura. Inland you will find Ferragudo, Portimao and Silves, the Algarve’s former capital with its medieval castle and church. Plus there’s the old town of Lagos with its winding, cobbled streets, interesting shops, restaurants and street entertainers.
Travel further west along the coast for about an hour to discover the coastal towns of Carvoerio, Ferragudo, Portimao, Alvor, Praia da Luz, Burgau, Salema, Sagres and Vila do Bispo. All much quieter than those surrounding Albufeira plus there are plenty more traditional towns worth visiting inland.
To the east lie Vila Nova de Cacela and Olhao where you’ll find a slice of country life in the rural towns and villages. And further north are Lourinha, Ericaira, Mafra, Sintra, Cascais, Estorill, Oeiras, Costa de Caparica Sesimbra.
 Although a treasure trove of history and all things natural, this exceptional region is clued up to the needs of the modern day tourist and offers a range of facilities to tempt, treat and entertain. There’s a multitude of watersports including kite-surfing and wind surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling. And for the whole family, tennis, horse riding, Aqua Land water park, the Crazy World theme park, Zoo Marine (a water park and marine life centre) and the English language cinema in Guia. There’s even go-karting at Almancil.
As to golf, it doesn’t get much better than the Algarve. In fact you’re never too far from a good golf course with over 40 luxury golf resorts and courses dotted consistently around the area attracting thousands of golfers all year round. In the west are Boavista, Palmeres and the famous Parque de Floresta. Centrally located are Pinheiros Altos, Quinta do Lago and Pinhal, And in the east Quinta da Ria, Quinta do Vale and Monte Rei to name a few. Wherever you choose to play, all are exceptionally well groomed, bathed in sunshine often with a light breeze and a pleasure to play.
The lifestyles of central Portugal contrast dramatically with the Algarve. Here you find more than just sun, sea and sand although it is plentiful on the beautiful coast of Alentjo. Enjoy a slice of authentic country life in a selection of picturesque towns and villages from Ribatejo in the north to the southern and coastal districts of Lower Alentejo. The landscape is varied and diverse with an abundance of mountains, forests and lush green countryside – acres of sun-baked vineyards, olive groves, fig trees and fragrant orange groves.
 Choosing self catering holiday accommodation on the Lisbon Coast will give you the best of both worlds as this culturally varied region combines both coastline and countryside with bustling urban life in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city. As well as great shopping and restaurants, Lisbon has fine examples of Moorish Portuguese architecture in its churches and palaces. An 8th century Moorish castle and 14th century royal palace can also be found at Sintra, a World Heritage town.
There are scores of flights daily into Lisbon airport, with quick and efficient rail and road transfers into the centre. And whether staying in the town of Montijo on the river or Lisbon city centre, a sandy beach is never too far away; it is only 2.5km to Coast do Cascais and Costa da Caparica from central Lisbon. There’s a surfing beach at Carcavelos and a famous beach at Guincho where the annual windsurfing championships are held.
Golf is also an easy option. There are fantastic courses in the area of Cascais and the Atlantico da Penha Longa course is of such a high standard that it has hosted a European Tour competition.
There’s certainly plenty to do. As well as horse riding, biking, dolphin watching, sailing, diving, windsurfing and kite-surfing, the beautiful Arrabida National Park has a wine village and history winery at Azeitao with Colares the centre of this famous wine region.
Other attractions include the site of Expo ’98 with its spectacular aquarium and nightlife and restaurants along the old docks. Or for a complete contrast, visit Azoia, a peasant farming village only 30 minutes drive from Lisbon where its peaceful pace of life stays refreshingly unaffected.
A self catering apartment or villa is the ideal base from which to explore all that the Silver Coast has to offer – dramatic Atlantic coastline and beaches, a wealth of fishing villages and historic towns all with superb restaurants.
Not far from Lisbon, and so easy to get to from the airport, is Peniche, a town brimming with Portuguese history. At the water's edge on the south side of town stands the 16th-century Fortaleza, a former prison that contains a museum of local archaeology and crafts. There are beautiful churches from the 17th and 18th centuries with painted ceiling panels and patterned “azulejo” glazed tiles.
Laced with grottoes and coves, the Berlenga Islands are an hour's journey by boat. Berlenga Grande, the largest of the group, is a nature reserve with nesting sites for seabirds. It also has a 17th-century fort.
The Silver Coast is blessed with some of the best surfing and bodyboarding beaches in Portugal. It’s an ideal family holiday destination with an attractive water park in Peniche and for active holiday makers, tennis, fishing, hiking and quad biking.
Of the purpose built resorts, Praia d’el Rey is the largest with a characterful blend of modest to luxurious villas and townhouses, a 5 Star Marriott Hotel complex and a superb golf course and tennis centre. Close by is Obidos a walled medieval historic town with excellent restaurants, with Foz do Avelho and Cosmo Caldas da Rainha both well worth a visit and further north, Coimbra offers a taste of all things rustic.
Northern Portugal is the only region without a coast. Self-catering farmhouse and cottage accommodation in the area provides the perfect base from which to explore this rustic, earthy paradise.
Enjoying UNSECO World Heritage status, this area of outstanding natural beauty offers visitors a glimpse into an authentic, traditional way of life. With tranquil mountains peppered with fig, orange and olive groves and hillside vineyards producing wine and port, it attracts thousands of wine buffs every year.
A visit to Northern Portugal wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Douro gorge and valley which is a geological masterpiece. Breathtaking and spectacular, it is best viewed by kayak along its winding rivers.
In the most north western part of Portugal and on the coast as its name suggests is the Costa Verde, the Minho and its hinterland. This newly named stretch of coastline meaning ‘green coast’ is peaceful and historically rich. Its landscapes are diverse with sweepin
g beaches, lush countryside, rolling hills, waterfalls, forest-clad mountains and charming hillside towns.
Oporto stands proud as Portugal’s second city and the capital of the north. Situated on the cliffs high above the banks of the River Douro, this elegant city is home to many medieval cathedrals and museums, with its quaint narrow streets, excellent shopping and fantastic restaurants serving local dishes. The riverside district, the Ribeira, has undergone restoration and is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The region offers some spectacular beaches and seaside resorts, popular with the Portuguese, offering a cheaper and less touristy option to the more commercial Algarve. Espinho, just 18km south of Oporto, an original fish-canning town, is now a beach resort with a long sandy beach, a bull-fighting ring and casino. Further north are the coastal resorts of Vila do Conde, famous for local handicrafts of lace-making and knitting, and sweets such as pastries and chocolate. Plus there’s Povoa de Varzim, once the fishing centre of the region, and now a cosmopolitan resort with a vibrant nightlife.
Geography
Portugal is situated immediately to the west of Spain, with the islands of the Azores and Madeira lying off its west and south-western coast in the Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of approximately 92,400 sq km and has a population of 91 million Portuguese speaking people, a small percentage of who are of African origin. The northern and central regions are characterised by forests and mountains, the highest range being the Serra da Estrela, peaking at 1993m. Southern Portugal is altogether flatter, apart from the rocky backdrop of the Algarve, and drier, with fewer rivers and rain.
Timing
Portugal has a temperate climate that varies from northern regions to the Algarve in the south, which can experience hot summer temperatures. The north can feel chilly during winter months with rain plentiful and snow common in the mountainous areas. Portugal’s peak holiday season spans June to September when self-catering accommodation is popular with people of all ages, quietening down only in midwinter when even then the Algarve can be pleasantly warm.
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