History and culture in every step
Once capital of one of the largest empires in the world, Portugal packs great variety for its size. In a few days' drive, you can go from the wide Douro valley, layered with port wine vineyards, to hilly Porto with its Roman roots, through laid-back Lisbon and UNESCO-protected Evora to sunny Algarve's beach resorts backed by craggy rocks. The countryside is dotted with romantic pousadas, prices are a steal for Europe, the weather's great, and they even have their own islands in the Atlantic: the Azores and Madeira, the latter of wine fame.