Portugal is compact and coastal, and its two main cities set different tones: Lisbon spreads across hills above the Tagus, while Porto is denser and more industrial, built around the river and the port wine cellars on the opposite bank. Sintra sits close enough to Lisbon to be a half-day trip, and the Algarve beaches are a few hours south.
The guides here cover Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and Portugal as a whole. The climate allows a longer season than most of Europe — spring and autumn are pleasant, and even winter stays mild by continental standards. Lisbon's hills are steeper than they look on a map, and the historic trams that climb them are as crowded as they are photographed.