Driving in Portugal: Advice & Tips
When driving in this country, it pays to be on your guard constantly. Drive on the right in Portugal. When approaching a roundabout, give way to traff...
Find out more about driving in Portugal
Other places to visit in Portugal
Like most countries in Europe, Portugal has its own rich culture and heritage as well as beautiful tourist spots. Lisbon is Portugal’s star attraction...
Popular tourist destinations to visit in Portugal
History of Portugal
The known history of Portugal dates back about 3,000 years, as Celts settled the area from the central part of Europe. Various empires established settlements in Portugal, none more notable than the Romans, who first came to the area in the 3rd century B.C. After the Roman Empire dissolved, Germanic invaders settled the area. In the 8th century, the Moors from North Africa came to Portugal and Spain, but by the 11th century, northern Europeans had regained control of the area. By the 15th century, the Portuguese navy was exploring the world, and Portugal was the center of a great maritime empire for a time, eventually reaching as far as Brazil in the Americas, Macao off the coast of China, and Madras in India.
Portugal has many places of historical interest like archaeological remains, ancient churches and monasteries. The Museu do Convento de Jesus in Setúbal is a must-visit place for museum enthusiasts. It houses valuable collections of national and foreign paintings, sculpture, jewellery and tiles dating from the fifteenth century to the present day. Archaeology enthusiasts can opt for a hire a car in Portugal and visit places like Setúbal, Sesimbra and Alcácer, where artifacts of national and regional importance are displayed. The monuments of Costa Azul are renowned the world over for tracing the history of architecture and art in almost all eras from the Middle Ages to the present day. The Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belem in Lisbon are among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Portugal.
The geography of Portugal
Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain, forming the western coast of the peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal’s shape is roughly that of a rectangle, with its short sides on the north and south and its long sides on the east and west. Even though it is a small country, Portugal has a wide variety of landforms, climatic conditions, and soils. If you are the adventurous type, look for a cheap car hire in Portugal to explore its geographical landscape. The country is crossed by three large rivers that rise in Spain, flow into the Atlantic, and divide the country into three distinct geographic areas. The Minho River, part of the northern boundary, cuts through a mountainous area extending south to the vicinity of the Douro River. South of the Douro, the mountains slope to the plains around the Tejo River. The remaining division is the southern one of Alentejo.
Weather in Portugal
On the whole, Portugal is one of the warmest European countries, though its southern region is warmer and drier than the northern areas, which are a bit more cool and rainy. Yearly averages of temperatures are about 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the south and 55 degrees Fahrenheit to the north. Lisbon and the Algarve have milder winters and average around 28°C in the summer, cooled by the Atlantic breeze. Southern Portugal, including the Algarve, has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Inland is hotter and drier. Madeira has a subtropical climate with winter averaging 18°C and summer 24°C, making it popular all the time. In the northwest of the country, the weather is milder and damper, so do not forget to take an umbrella of you are headed there. Up to 2000mm of rain can fall annually (the national average is 1100mm). Peak tourist season in Portugal is roughly from mid-June to September. During this time, the days are pleasantly sunny and warm but tourist areas are relatively quiet. Hire car in Portugal at this time and enjoy an exotic, crowd-free vacation at pocket-friendly prices.