Eight holiday ideas for Portugal this summer – still with availability
Portugal’s inclusion on the Government’s green list was not unexpected – the country has one of the lowest infection rates in Europe and its transmissibility index continues to fall. It recorded only 180 positive cases of Covid-19 in the week to May 5, the lowest figures since early April. Portugal’s vaccine rollout, at just under 30 per cent of the population, is also in line with European member states.
However, as it stands, Portugal's own entry requirements state that non-residents are not allowed in except for essential purposes. It is expected that following the announcement today, Portugal will lift this restriction from mid-May though that is yet to be officially confirmed.
So, if you are longing to hear Atlantic waves breaking on a sandy beach, for the scent of grilled sardines to tempt your tastebuds, or to savour a glass of Portuguese red wine on a sun dappled square, here is our list of the best Portuguese holidays to book now:
1. Serenity and understated luxury at Sao Louren?o do Barrocal
Best month to visit: June, September or October
Situated in rural Alentejo, the Sao Louren?o do Barrocal estate has been in the same family for 200 years and retains a genuine sense of place, with vineyards, centuries old olive trees, an orchard and walled garden. The hotel’s tranquillity and understated luxury help soothe the stresses of the last 12 months. There’s also a Susan Kaufmann spa, almost monastic in style, offering organic treatments and a cedar-wood hot tub with views over the gardens.
How to do it: Double rooms from €320 (￡278) a night, including welcome tea and cake, and (for over-18s) a glass of wine or cocktail and a tasting at the winery; book three nights and receive a free back massage, adults only (mrandmrssith.com; 020 8338 7753). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
2. Cruise the Douro River
Best month to visit: June
The peaceful curves of the Douro River are lined by steeply terraced hillside vineyards and dotted with traditional villages. Home to some of the world’s most famous wine and port estates, the Douro is the first wine region to be designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Savour the wines and the hearty local cuisine on a day cruise out of Porto.
How to do it: €80pp including breakfast, lunch and wine tasting from Cruizeiros Douro (cruzeiros-douro.pt), available Monday to Saturday from May to October. For longer cruises try Viking River Cruises (vikingrivercruises.co.uk); Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk); Uniworld (uniworld.com); or Emerald Waterways (emeraldwaterways.co.uk)
3. Hike Serra da Estrela
Best month to visit: June to September
It’s the sun-drenched coastline and historic cities that usually spring to mind when you think of Portugal, but a visit to Serra da Estrela, the country’s highest mountain range, opens a new perspective. More than 200km of hiking trails dot the region. Stay at Casa de S?o Louren?o, a revamped former pousada with striking contemporary interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows that embrace the mountain views. After a day hiking along heather-flanked shepherds’ tracks, retreat to the hotel’s heated swim-through indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool tub and sauna.
How to do it: Double rooms from €158 per night including breakfast (casadesaolourenco.pt; 00 351 275 249 730). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
4. Family fun in Cascais
Best month to visit: July to September
In the pretty seaside resort village of Cascais, the pleasant sandy bays are calm and child-friendly. Palm trees and blue skies line cobbled lanes filled with boutiques, restaurants and ice cream shops. Lisbon is a 40-minute train journey away and the palaces and gardens of Sintra are within easy reach. Stay at Martinhal Cascais: designed for families it offers stylish rooms, a baby concierge service, a 700sqm kids' clubhouse, three swimming pools, on-site restaurant and spa.
How to do it: From €175 per night for a Deluxe room (two adults, one child up to 12 years and one baby) with breakfast included, between June 5 and July 2, 2021 (martinhal.com; 00 351 218 507 788). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
5. Culture in Lisbon
Best month to visit: September or October
A brace of cultural openings is giving the historic Portuguese capital a new look. The Mun?oz Carmona Gallery (munozcarmonagallery.com) invites international artists to exhibit their work. Made in Situ (madeinsitu.com), showcases designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance’s pieces and Sokyo Lisbon focuses on ceramics (sokyolisbon.com). There’s also the city’s contemporary art museum MAAT, a striking architectural icon on the riverside. Stay at The Vintage: rooms are decorated with mid-century design and have a vintage bar cart for making complimentary gin and tonics.
How to do it: The Vintage, Double rooms from €99 per night, including breakfast. Spend three nights or more and you’ll be collected by chauffeur from the airport and receive a complimentary massage (thevintagelisbon.com; 00 351 210 405 400). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
6. Find an alternative Algarve in Lagos
Best month to visit: July to September
Avoid the busy resorts of the central Algarve and head west to the historic village of Lagos, which retains a traditional feel but also offers a buzzy evening street life. Nearby beaches include the long sandy sweep of Meia Praia and the picturesque bay of Praia do Camilo. For laid back sophistication, stay at Casa Mae: its rooms and suites overlook an organic orchard and the ancient city walls, there’s a farm to table restaurant, spa with rooftop pool and concept store dedicated to Portuguese design.
How to do it: Casa Mae, double rooms from €285 per night including breakfast (casa-mae.com; 00 351 968 369 732). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
7. Comporta for an upmarket beach break
Best month to visit: July or August
Surrounded by vivid green rice fields and sandy dunes that hide more than 60 kilometres of white sand beaches, Comporta is the favoured destination of the Portuguese elite and international celebrities, drawn by its rustic simplicity and upmarket discretion. Spend your days on the beach, lunch on fresh seafood at the Sal beach bar (restaurantesal.pt) and in the evening join the cool kids sipping cocktails at Cavalari?a (cavalarica.com). Sublime Comporta, with a selection of rooms and villas set in a pine forest, exudes the region’s barefoot luxury vibe.
How to do it: Sublime Comporta, Double rooms from €275 per night; book three nights midweek, get one night free (sublimecomporta.pt; 00 351 269 449 376). Rooms still available from May 17 onwards.
8. Star gaze in Alentejo
Best month to visit: June or September
The Alentejo region, which borders Spain, is famed for its fortress hill towns, cork trees and a night sky that is among the most striking in the world. It’s also home to Casa na Terra, the holiday home of Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus: an architectural gem part buried in the earth, with minimalist interiors and a striking curved concrete terrace. Spend days enjoying the Alqueva Dam at the end of the garden and at night savour wide uninterrupted views of the starry sky.
How to do it: Casa na Terra, sleeps six, €600 a night for a seven-night minimum stay, including breakfast and daily cleaning service (silentliving.pt; 00 351 964 362 816). For more ideas on where to stay, see our guide to the best hotels in Portugal. Summer bookings available from May 17 onwards.
Everything you need to know before booking your green list getaway to Portugal
Am I allowed to visit?
On April 28, Manuel Lobo Antunes, Portugal’s ambassador to the UK, said: “We are hopeful that, from mid-May, regular mobility between the UK and Portugal can be established”. This should include the non-vaccinated. “We want – as much as possible – to go back to the regime that existed before the pandemic,” he added. Find the latest travel advice for Portugal here.
When is the best time to visit?
Portugal has a pleasant year-round climate, with mild winters and summer days that hover at around 30 degrees celsius. City breaks can be enjoyed at any time, though January and February can be cool and wet in both Lisbon and Porto. If you’re after a traditional beach holiday, the summer months from July to September are your best bet, although the Atlantic Ocean is often cold even in summer. Winter in the Algarve is very pleasant, with regular sunshine and top temperatures of around 20 degrees. The interior regions are best avoided in August, when temperatures can head north of 40 degrees.
Are the beaches open?
Yes. Groups of up to 10 can gather, social distancing is encouraged, masks are not required.
What other Covid rules are in place?
Public transport remains in operation but has reduced the capacity and masks are mandatory. Restaurants, cafés and bars are open until 10.30pm. Groups of six are allowed inside and up to 10 on outdoor terraces. Shops are trading normally.