Travel to Portugal

Browse listings of Home Exchange, Vacation Rentals, Homestay, B&B (furnished apartments, villas, cottages, condos, farmhouses and other types of accommodations) of Portugal:

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Home Exchange

Bed and Breakfast

Homestay

Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Portugal

• Time ZoneGMT/UTC 0
• Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellular phone etc.)
• Weights & measures: Metric

Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List 

• Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores
• Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belem in Lisbon
• Monastery of Batalha
• Convent of Christ in Tomar
• Historic Centre of Evora
• Monastery of Alcobaça
• Cultural Landscape of Sintra
• Historic Centre of Oporto
• Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley
• Laurisilva of Madeira
• Historic Centre of Guimarães
• Alto Douro Wine Region
• Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

Portugal

Portugal Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Capital
Lisbon

Population
10,781,459 (July 2012 est.)

Portugal Regions:
Portugal consists of 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma)
Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Largest cities of Portugal
Lisbon, Porto, Amadora,Braga,Setúbal

Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)

Government type
Republic; parliamentary democracy

Background
Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. In January 2011, Portugal assumed a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Flag of Portugal
Two vertical bands of green  and red with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation.

Travel and Accommodation – Your Tips for Travelers

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