Portugal Tourism Guide - Portugal Outdoor Pursuits

Central Portugal Outdoor Recreation & Outdoor Activities

The central region is ideal if you want to experience Portugal's countryside. With numerous mountain ranges, a national forest and a multitude of rivers you can try every kind of outdoor activity from kayaking to skiing.

You can leisurely walk through the countryside or see it from horseback. Tackle the rivers and do your sightseeing from the water. The biggest natural park, Serra da Estrela mountains, offer skiing, mountain biking trails, rock climbing opportunities. Then across on the coast there's some excellent surfing spots and a chance for sea kayaking or windsurfing.

Check our Central Recreation page for more information.

Douro Recreational Activities, Natural Parks & Countryside Portugal

The Douro Region's landscape has been recognised as being of international importance so it makes sense to get out there and find out what makes it so special. The stunning mountains of the Alvao Natural Park and the Serra do Marao can be explored from the Alto Douro region.

With mountains, rivers and valleys the Douro region lends itself to all sorts of outdoor pursuits including walking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canyoning, climbing, hang-gliding, cycling and mountain biking.

Check our Douro Recreation page for more information.

North Portugal Rural Tourism Adventure Activity Holidays

All across the north of Portugal there is a great emphasis on the enjoyment of the countryside. This is where several companies are leading the way in trying to show that tourism activities can be sustainable in their impact and that the attraction of the countryside can be enjoyed by all.

Whether you're travelling independently and want to discover rural Portugal for yourself or book on to guided tours or activities you should easily find something to suit from hiking through the countryside to watersports and adventure activities.

Check our North Recreation page for more information.

Portugal Golfing Holidays

Portugal reigns supreme as a destination for golf holidays in Europe. The choice of Portugal golf courses is huge, particularly around the Algarve, Lisbon and the Estoril Coast and around Porto to the North.

Luxury Portugese golf resorts are appearing, especially around the central Algarve area and Vilamoura.

Check out our Portugal Golf page for more information.

Surfing Holidays Portugal, Surf Azores, Surfing Algarve

Having such a long stretch of Atlantic coastline with huge wind whipped waves both along the Algarve and up the west of the country, Portugal has some excellent surfing spots. The World Championship site of Ericeira is obviously popular and you have Peniche nearby with its incredible superturbos.

Both south and north of Lisbon are some handy surfing getaways if you're wanting a quick break from the city. The further north you go in Portugal the more naturalistic the beaches become and the less busy the often are. Checkout the surf on the West Algarve Coast. Both Lagos and Sagres have a top surfing scene, with a choice of surf schools, surf clothing shops and surf equipment hire outlets. Carrapateira north of Sagres on the West Algarve coast tops the surf charts for remote surfing beaches in Portugal. The Atlantic hits the Carrapateira coastline full on offering superb swells.

Check our Portugal Surfing page for more information.