Thirty years ago, most northern
Europeans saw Portugal as a bit of an economic backwater. The country struggled
politically and economically, and hardly anyone wanted to go. If you did travel
to the Iberian peninsula, you went to Spain instead.
But now things are changing. Portugal
is super trendy. And practically every mobile worker in the world seems to want
to live there.
But why? How did Portugal transform
itself into a desirable destination? Let’s take a look.
The Incredible Landscapes
Portugal is home to some of the most
incredible landscapes in the world. Renting large villas in the Algarve lets you look out over the open ocean while going to the
north of the country puts you near numerous national parks and nature reserves.
The area is so wild that bears and wolves still inhabit the region (but don’t
worry, there are no reported attacks).
The Perfect Climate
Then you have the climate. Unlike
tropical regions which never cool down, even at night, Portugal is still
temperate. That means that you get a mixture of warm days and cooler nights,
plus all four seasons. For northern Europeans, that’s a nice feature. The
weather is dry, but the landscapes still change as the seasons progress,
helping it to feel more like a home away from home.
Some parts of Portugal get 300 days of
sunshine per year. Therefore, the likelihood of your holiday being entirely
rained off is practically zero. It hardly ever happens.
Delicious, Beautiful Food
Like all southern European countries,
Portugal has a rich food history and heritage. Dishes here have evolved over
the centuries and the menus you find have their own feel.
Cuisine in Lisbon can be quite multicultural. But as soon as you venture out into the countryside,
things change. You’ll find all sorts of classic eateries, often just people’s
homes, where you can munch on traditional dishes.
What’s more, the prices are far lower
than you’d pay in places like Germany and Switzerland. That’s because
Portuguese wages are actually quite low. Therefore, it feels more like you’ve
gone on holiday in a
middle-income country.
Easy Language
Portuguese is a global language thanks
to the country’s empire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Nine
countries have Portuguese as their official language, the largest and most
famous of which is Brazil. That means that people from all over Latin America
and the Caribbean can travel to the country without having to bring a
phrasebook with them.
With that said, the Portuguese are also
partial to a spot of English. Most people speak it, so even if you’re from an
English-speaking country, you should be okay.
The Football
Lastly, it would be hard to discuss
Portugal as a prime holiday destination without mentioning the glory of its
football. The country is home to some of the best soccer teams in the world,
many of which compete on the international stage. The atmosphere inside
Portuguese stadiums is like nothing else, though perhaps a little too cordial
for British tastes.
