Whether you are looking for expansive, beautiful beaches, lush forests, mountainside vineyards or snow-capped mountains, Portugal has something for everyone.

Located on the very southeast corner of the Iberian Peninsula is the richly diverse country of Portugal. Largely famous and popular for its pristine sandy beaches, championship golf courses and quaint traditional fishing villages, Portugal's southern Algrave has become one of Europe's favorite vacation destinations. Lisbon, Portugal's cosmopolitan capital, and the year round Mediterranean climate of the southern beaches attract the majority of Portugal's visitors. To the north and east are countless treasures for adventure seekers to explore.

Central Portugal is home to one of the world's oldest universities, historical medieval castles and busy beach resorts. The Serra da Estrela "The Star mountains" are sparsely populated, but are now a designated nature preserve, and are well worth visiting.

To the north is the Douro Valley which is famous for making port wine from grapes grown in vineyards which have been cut out of the steep mountainsides. At the mouth of the Duoro River lies Oporto, Portugal's second largest city. Oporto rivals Lisbon with its rich history, cathedral district and charming street cafes.

Included in Portugal's territory are the increasingly popular Azores and Madeira islands. The Azores are made up of nine islands, rich with volcanic scenery. Madeira, though lacking in sandy beaches, has tropical weather and charming architecture.

Because of Portugal's ancient history and customs, architecture, amazing scenery and landscape, it is definitely a country to visit while in Europe.