In 2024, Portugal will remain one of the favorite destinations of the French, who appreciate its authenticity, the mildness of its climate and the simplicity of its population.
Lisbon, the capital on a human scale, and Porto, the country's second city, naturally attract the largest contingent of vacationers, for a weekend or longer stays.
But Portugal is not limited to its two main metropolises.
To discover
Travel to Portugal: tailor-made tours, hotels and stays from our partners
The diversity of its territories has earned it the status of a tourist gem, with its preserved rurality and nature, a rich religious heritage, historic villages spanning the centuries and a southern coastline with exceptional sunshine, permanent invitation to idleness.
Follow the guide and discover our best Portuguese destinations for 2024.
Lisbon, for a weekend or more, if you like
Destination close to the French, but also a starting point for Sintra, Stebul or Ericeira: Lisbon is an essential stopover.
ahinoam / stock.adobe.com
Very fashionable among French tourists, due to its proximity, its picturesque city center and its cost of living, Lisbon meets all the conditions for an exciting stay.
The recipe for the irresistible charm of the Portuguese capital, very effective, lies in its simplicity.
Mix a pleasant climate, old traditional neighborhoods full of history, century-old monuments, a zest of more confidential tourist sites and a good pinch of beaches accessible by transport.
Shake it all up and you'll have the perfect weekend, 2.5 hours from Paris by plane.
For an extended vacation, Lisbon is also an excellent choice, the perfect place to settle down and explore a region rich in points of interest.
The lovely town of Sintra is one of them, perched on the Serra of the same name.
And as long as you have a car, the range of possibilities widens considerably.
Setubal and its heavenly beaches are only 45 minutes away.
Just like Ericeira, a fishing village whose coastline is very popular with surfers for the quality of its waves.
And it takes little more than an hour to travel the 130 km leading to the museum city of Evora, a World Heritage Site.
Porto, Atlantic and picturesque regional capital
A city of modest dimensions, prized for its historic city center, Porto offers the advantage of being a practical gateway to the sublime northern region.
Pabkov / stock.adobe.com
Eternal rival of Lisbon, the great metropolis of the northern region has long lived in the tourist shadow of the Portuguese capital.
This is no longer the case.
Taking advantage of the country's popularity and the development of low-cost air connections, Porto is now a popular weekend destination.
For its historic city center, its typical Ribeira district, the very pleasant banks of its river, the Douro, or of course for the cellars of its famous beverage, port.
And despite a climate less conducive to swimming than in Lisbon, the first beaches, on the outskirts of Porto, are easily accessible.
If this very commercial provincial capital is a city of modest dimensions, it nevertheless offers the advantage of being a very practical gateway to the sublime northern region.
The Douro Valley, between Porto and Peso da Regua or Pinhão, is a must-see World Heritage Site, which can be visited by train from Porto station.
The splendid Gerês Natural Park and its hiking trails are just a stone's throw away, as are the charming and rich towns of Braga (60 km) and Guimarães (50 km).
From Porto, it is also very easy to spend a day or two in Aveiro (75 km), time to fall under the spell of its
ria
, its canals and its wild beaches.
Gerês National Park: wilderness, rurality and hiking
The Gerês National Park, 74,000 hectares of virgin nature, traditions and timeless villages.
Johan Ricou / Le Figaro
The only national park in Portugal, Peneda-Gerês and its 72,000 hectares is a little paradise for lovers of virgin nature, river beaches and hiking.
Barely 100 km north of Porto, you have the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, breathtaking landscapes, succulent local gastronomy and a warm population, firmly rooted in this fantastic timeless biosphere reserve.
Walking enthusiasts will not fail to discover the village of Sistelo, among the most charming in Portugal, its landscapes sculpted by the terraced crops which gave it its nickname and its mountain paths.
The locals are clear: it is in “Little Portuguese Tibet” that the most beautiful trails in the country are found, notably the “
Trilho das Brandas de Sistelo
” and its sublime 9 km circular and steep.
And if you doubt your physical condition, don't panic: the Portuguese hiking mecca offers leisurely walks, accessible to all, as well as intermediate-level routes.
The central region: mountain ranges, historic villages and authenticity
Piodão is nicknamed “the nursery” because of the particular layout of its typical schist stone houses.
Johan Ricou / Le Figaro
Do you want to avoid the summer crowds and favor the authenticity of a little-known Portugal, as if frozen in time, where each town seems to have centuries of history whispering in your ear?
The province of Beira Baixa (Central region) awaits you for a memorable journey, discovering some of the most beautiful landscapes and villages of the country, the famous “
aldeias históricas
”, along a route winding around the “ wild immensities” of the Serra da Estrela, roof of Portugal.
Ideal for a road trip, this dive into traditional Portugal will take you to Piodão, the most beautiful schist village in the country, in the heart of the Serra do Açor;
at the granitic Monsanto, voted “the most Portuguese village” by the Salazarist regime, scene of the filming of the series
House of The Dragons
for its bewitching atmosphere;
or in small gems of indescribable charm, like Castelo Rodrigo, with captivating sunsets.
The Algarve: relaxation, sun and shellfish
The Faro Islands are home to some of the best beaches in the Algarve.
Algarve Tourism Office
If rest, swimming and sunbathing are for you the main ingredients of a successful vacation, if recharging your batteries is necessary after a grueling professional year, don't hesitate any longer and head south.
With its 200 km of coastline, its exceptional climate and sunshine, the Algarve is the perfect place to break away from everyday life and offer yourself a stay dedicated to relaxation, with your toes fanned out.
Regularly recognized as "the best seaside destination in Europe", the southern region of Portugal is praised for its idyllic beaches, its ocher-toned cliffs and the temperature of its waters, which are much milder from Faro.
But the Algarve is not just about its heavenly coves and its weather.
Golf enthusiasts will be delighted by the region's countless courses, the most popular in the country.
As for the interior of the region and its
serras
(mountain ranges) or some of its small fishing villages, such as that of Olhão, they have preserved the authenticity which gives Portugal its charm.