Portugal is a nation located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. Located further west than any other country in Europe, Portugal has a long Atlantic coastline along its western and southern borders and allows easy access to Spain to both the north and east. Portugal includes the Atlantic island chains of the Azores and Madeira.
Vacation rental homes in Portugal are scattered across all of the main tourist areas in the country. The most significant tourist area is the Greater Lisbon region, which includes the nation’s capital city. Lisbon, in fact, is the second most visited European city, with the Spanish city of Barcelona holding first place. One of the primary attractions in Lisbon is the city’s oceanarium, which features over 16,000 individual living specimens from more than 450 marine species. The central exhibit in the Lisbon Oceanarium is a 1,000 square meter tank that provides viewers with the illusion of the open sea and includes animals such as sharks, rays, barracudas, groupers, tuna, and eels.
After Lisbon, the most popular areas are the Algarve and Madeira. The government of Portugal actively promotes tourism in other areas that are less visited, including the Douro Valley and the island of Porto Santo. Along the Costa del Sol, tourists can enjoy beautiful Atlantic beaches.
Portugal is included in the list of the 20 most frequently visited nations, with more than 12 million visitors arriving per year and contributing a full 5% of the nation’s economy.