Portugal's Sublime Seaside

Filed in archive Hidden Gems on February 20, 2008

Portugal is popular with European tourists. The industry is important to the country's economy and perhaps equally important to Europe's north-dwelling snowbirds. Portugal's beach towns manage to be both quaint and happening. Most are quite crowded.

Portugal's southwest coast is quite sparsely visited when compared to the region's other lands. It is a bit more arid, rocky, and rugged than one might expect. However, the shrub covered hills hide some of the best beaches west of Greece.

The Portuguese town of Lagos is a good base for exploring the rocky coast and the occasional sandy cove. The tourism industry is still evident here. There are a number of hotels offering every price range. There is still a party scene in Lagos, though it is a bit on the young side, so you might have to take some guitar-driven rock along with your martini. Nonetheless, the picturesque coves and rocky shores offer some of the best frames for watching the sunset over the Atlantic.

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