Top tips for visiting Portugal

• Careful planning goes a long way: although Portugal is a great destination year round, July and August are definitely the hottest and busiest. Best to avoid the hot cities and the crowded beaches. Why not head to the countryside and explore the mountains and valleys for some cooler air?
• Go beyond the mainland: did you know that Portugal also includes two incredible archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean? Madeira and the Azores are holiday destinations in their own right, and with stunning natural landscapes and strong identities, you’ll want to allow at least a few days to visit each one.
• Be moved by Fado: Portugal’s traditional folk music, Fado, is an experience you won’t want to miss. It’s often an emotive and melancholic performance but one you’ll remember. You can catch a Fado performance in bar or over dinner.
• Calling all sweet-tooths: no doubt you’ll have seen, and tried, Portugal’s classic ‘pastel de nata’ (yes, those small custard tarts) without evening setting a foot in the country. While you can pick one up on most street corners, nothing quite compares to the famous bakery in Belem, near Lisbon. It’s an easy day trip from the city and the queue is well worth the hot creamy goodness of these flaky sweet delights.