Are you looking for inspiration for your Summer or Fall trip? Have you been to Italy, or are you priced out due to increased demand? I want to share why Portugal should be on your shortlist of unique places to visit now!

This small country has managed to maintain its authentic European culture without the over-tourism of other larger countries. Think food, wine, and culture as you've never experienced before!

There's something for every adventurer, from beautiful beaches, surfing, diving, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. For food and wine lovers, there are fantastic wine vineyards and restaurants. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal enjoys incredible Mediterranean weather, rarely too hot or too cold.

Lisbon – the not to be missed Capital City of Portugal, is a mix of the old and modern city with a soul. You'll feel the charm of the narrow cobbled streets and its traditional quarters such as Alfama and Mouraria with the hustle and bustle of its busy avenues (Liberdade), and fashion and design neighborhoods. You can view the Jeronimos' Monastery and the Belem Tower with a Sunset Cruise from the river.

On the way to Porto, make a stop at the delightful town of Óbidos, with white houses adorned with bougainvillea and honeysuckle. Inside the walls, which take on a golden coloring at sunset, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambiance of winding streets and old whitewashed houses bordered with blue or yellow.

Porto, classified as a World Heritage Site, is an old, authentic city where you can visit the Port Wine caves and taste some of their magnificent wines.

The finest accommodation in Portugal is Six Senses in the Duoro Valley, their first European location. This renovated 19th-century manor house is set high on a hill overlooking the vine-covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley and the river below. Visit a wine estate in the Duoro Valley for a wine tasting and lunch experience.

The Algarve on the south coast has sandy beaches and warm, family-friendly water. Belmond's exclusive property Reid's Palace, on the island of Madeira, is the perfect place to stay.

The Azores – This untouched green paradise archipelago consists of nine small islands in the North Atlantic with stunning landscapes. To the east are the islands of Santa Maria, where you can experience terraced vineyards, and São Miguel, the beautiful port city. In Porto Delgado, you can visit a pineapple plantation and stroll through the open-air market. You'll feel the island's geysers, hot water spas, and volcanic lakes, and try the famous dish that is slowly cooked inside the earth itself, "Cozido das Furnas." The central group of islands consists of Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, and Graciosa, where whales and dolphins can be seen along the shorelines.

If food, wine, fun and culture for a reasonable cost sounds perfect to you, let’s start planning!

Portugal: The Perfect Trip For You