1 Country, 1000 Options

Situated in the extreme south-west of Europe, just a few hours from any of the other European cities, Portugal attracts visitors from all over the world.

Cit Global DMC covers the whole of Portugal, but the country’s strongest destinations are Lisbon, Estoril and Sintra areas, Porto and the Douro valley, plus the Alentejo and the Algarve regions.

Portugal offers several options for tourism trips and excellent motivational corporate incentives and event solutions.
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Lisboa

A unique city resort

Lisbon, the city built over seven hills and facing the wide mouth of the Tagus river, on the coast of the Atlantic ocean, is one of Europe’s most soulful capitals, with smooth days and sunsets on the sea! Not any other European capital has such an intriguing mix of the old and the new, or so many contrasting faces, making this a city for unhurried exploration and a place to get lost in and discover its many distinctive sights and characteristic images.

It is a city that does not abdicate its simple pleasures and that retains its unconventional style, absorbing what’s new in the world. Old trams, belle époque cafes, side by side with trendy shops, bars and restaurants in old buildings restored, eighteenth-century tiles, medieval villages within the city; every day, the past coexists with the present in Lisbon.

No doubt a dazzling and seductive city for its authenticity!

The city, plus the Sintra, Estoril and Cascais regions, offers a well-developed infrastructure and venues for all scale events.

Porto

Noble and always loyal

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal. Located along the Douro river estuary in Northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and its historical centre was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

Opening up like a pop-up book from the banks of the Douro river, edgy-yet-opulent Porto entices with its historic centre, sumptuous food and wines, and charismatic locals.

 

One of Portugal’s internationally famous exports, the port wine, is named after Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, are responsible for the packaging, transport and export of the famous fortified wine, produced in the Douro region.

 

Porto is of extreme historical importance and despite the present cosmopolitan and modern lifestyle, the city maintains the cool aristocratic atmosphere of the old days.

In 2022, Porto was considered World’s Leading City Destination at the World Travel Awards.

Sintra, Estoril, Cascais

Culture, nature and entertainment

Sintra and Cascais are two fascinating and historic towns for enjoyable day trips from Lisbon. The distance from Lisbon to either of the two locations, is no much more than 25 kms. Both towns are equally suited as a holiday or an MI destination, by providing fantastic facilities, which include Congress Centers, the largest Casino in Europe, fine dining, great Hotels, lovely beaches and a lively cultural and nightlife.

Sintra is nestled within the pine covered hills of the Sintra mountain. This slightly cooler microclimate encouraged the Portuguese royalty to build their palaces and castles in the area. Sintra contains varied palaces, castles and manor houses, all of which are uniquely styled and built. There´s a delightful town center with small shops, cafes and restaurants, and in the mountain, challenging hiking or mountain biking trails are fantastic. Not far from Sintra, you will find “Cabo da Roca”; the westernmost point of Continental Europe.

Cascais is known to as “The Town of Kings and Fishermen” because it was a small fishing town that was found in the 19th century, by the Portuguese nobility, who came here for their summer retreat. Thanks to this fact, the town is uncommonly rich in beautiful architecture, museums and carefully maintained parks. On top of that, it’s surrounded by a varied coastline of impressive cliffs and beautiful intimate sandy coves. Also, in the area you can also find the exciting surfing beaches of Guincho and Carcavelos.

The Estoril Coast – or the Portuguese Riviera – as it became known, was one of the main bathing resorts of European royal families. The modern Estoril maintains the lively, relaxed and cosmopolitan atmosphere that has given it fame.

This spirit and its beauty, were also reasons to become a refuge during World War II, for those who sought a place more reserved and away from turbulent Europe. In the oldest hotels, it is still possible to hear stories of spies of those times, namely, the one related with the creation of James Bond. Later, in 1969, Estoril was the stage of shooting the movie “On Her Majesty´s Secret Service”.

Algarve

THE MOST FAMOUS SECRET DESTINATION OF EUROPE

The seductive coast of the Algarve receives a lot of global media exposure for the beauty of its cliffs, golden beaches, jagged bays and islands of white sand. But the cliché “sun, sea and sand” is increasingly far from the end of Algarve history; there are no shortage of other attractions – water activities (diving, boating, water slide parks) great hotels and resorts, some of the best golf courses in the world, award winning restaurants and others that could be (!) beach clubs and trendy nightclubs, castles (both sand and real!), culture, entertainment, shows, fun …

The Algarve is the most famous secret destination in Europe!

Reason why, is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal. Its population triples to nearly 1.5 million people at the peak of the summer season thanks to seasonal residents, and receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year. In total, including national visitors, almost 10 million people choose the Algarve annually for a holiday, corporate events or high quality and exclusive incentive trips.

Alentejo

Genuine and different

The plains to lose sight begin to unfold next to the Tagus river. If to the north the rhythm is marked by the green of the meadow, the landscape of the south combines with sun, heat and a

paced rhythm. In the vast interior, the immense plain, blond fields winding in the wind; on the coast wild beaches, a wide variety of beauty and unexplored spots.

The width of the landscape is interrupted by cork trees or olive trees that resist the weather. Some for nearly 1000 years! Here and there, stands a walled enclosure, like Marvão or Monsaraz, or the antiquity of a pre-historical monument, to remember the magic of the place. In the hills, white and earthy houses crown small elevations, the castles evoke struggles and conquests, and the courtyards and gardens attest to Arab influences, which shaped people and nature.

Évora, the main city of the region, is a Portuguese art history book. In order to visit Évora, the best way to do it is by walking through the narrow streets of white houses to discover the monuments and details that reveal the history of Évora and the wealth of its heritage. In fact, it was its long history, and the fact that a representative urban complex from the 16th to 18th centuries was preserved until today, which led UNESCO to classify Évora as a World Heritage Site.

Afterwards, depending on the point of view, the Alentejo offers one of the beautiful coastal areas of Portugal. From the most secluded beaches of Arrábida, past the long, white sands of the peninsula of Troia and Comporta, to the wild and still not very touristic Costa Vicentina, the choice is as varied as the type of public that seeks them …!

With a good offer of Hotels, quality venues and the possibility of unique experiences based on the theme of wine and olive oil, and the practice of all kinds of radical and alternative activities, the Alentejo region is an excellent option for those looking for a genuine and different destination.

Other Regions

Northern and central Portugal, Madeira and Azores islands

NORTH OF PORTUGAL: Discover the extraordinary natural beauty of the Northern region of Portugal. The landscapes are fascinating and immaculate, with medieval villages, historic castles and spectacular mountains.

Snaking through a widely green landscape of large terraced vineyards and farms, the Douro River stretches from the Spanish border to the city of Porto. Famous for its gastronomy and wines (Port and some of the best table wines in the world), the Douro region is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world.

Do you want to spend some unforgettable moments in the middle of nature? Stroll through the mountains of the Peneda-Gerês National Park and enjoy the beauty of Portugal’s greenest region. The more adventurous can rafting on rapids on the Minho River, while history lovers can be dazzled by the Neolithic formations and Roman ruins scattered throughout the region. The coastal roads will lead you through incredible landscapes full of rivers and waterfalls.

Places to visit in Northern Portugal include the charming cities of Viana do Castelo, Guimarães, the historical citadel of Bragança and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga.

CENTRAL PORTUGAL: Central Portugal has been blessed with an eclectic landscape that includes fantastic beaches, charming historic villages and rugged slopes of Estrela mountain – the highest peak in mainland Portugal.

The famous city of Coimbra has the oldest university in the country, with a magnificent library of the thirteenth century and some extraordinary examples of baroque architecture. The historic cities of Viseu and Castelo Branco are worth a visit, as is the city of Aveiro, known as the “Portuguese Venice”, thanks to its estuary, numerous canals and characteristic Moliceiro boats. Further south along the coast lie large stretches of golden beaches and pretty fishing villages, like Nazaré. The city of Fátima is a great center of national and world pilgrimage, attracting thousands of catholics to its sanctuary and basilica. Not far away and a must do visit, is the medieval walled town of Óbidos and the imposing Monastery of Batalha, one of the best examples of Gothic style in Portugal.

Visitors will be delighted by the fascinating landscapes of Estrela mountain. The birthplace of the Mondego and Zêzere rivers, this natural park encompasses Portugal’s largest protected forest area and is filled with crystalline lakes and hiking trails. The valleys and mountain ranges dress differently depending on the seasons: in winter, the slopes cover with snow and attract winter sports lovers, while in spring and summer the scenery suits other adventure sports such as climbing , mountain biking and paragliding.

Cultural attractions in the center of the country include cathedrals, museums, art collections and Roman ruins, as well as fortresses scattered along the Spanish border dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries. This region is also famous for its traditional festivities, the delicious roasted suckling pig of Bairrada and handmade cheeses such as Queijo da Serra – one of the best in the country.

MADEIRA: Discovered 600 years ago and only 1h30m by plane from Lisbon, the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo are one of the most prestigious tourist destinations in Portugal. Its privileged geographical position gives the island of Madeira, an astonishing climatic amenity,

with very mild average temperatures ranging from 25 ° C in summer to 17 ° C in winter, together with moderate humidity. Due to the influence of the warm current of the Gulf of Mexico, the sea water is also very temperate, presenting averages in summer of 22 ° C and 18 ° C in winter.

The offer of accommodation in Madeira is vast and of great quality. The options range from the refinement of the traditional centennial hotel, passing through the modernity of the hotels of various categories, the friendly hospitality of the rural tourism houses, which allow a close contact with nature, to the traditional Madeiran estates, which have a rich cultural heritage. The original local gastronomy guarantees unique gourmet experiences.

The mild climate of Madeira and Porto Santo – whose 9 km of golden sandy beach are a reason for a visit – allows you to practice all kinds of outdoor and more or less radical sports and leisure activities at any time of the year. We highlight, for example, the traditional descents from Monte to the center of Funchal in wicker baskets, golf, diving and all kinds of nautical experiences. In addition, there is a great offer of well-marked pedestrian walks along the Levadas and also by the many beautiful gardens of the island that have an exuberant flora.

The city of Funchal – and all over the island – offers a wide choice of quality and unusual infrastructures to welcome corporate events and medium-sized incentives.

AZORES: The Azores Archipelago, made up of 9 islands that are so different in size but so similar in natural and human beauty, has recently been awarded the “Quality Coastal Destination No. 1”, with Gold Recognition, which distinguishes the most sustainable holiday coastal destination, in Europe!

If you are looking for spectacular scenery with endless panoramic views; a beautiful nature almost wild and still untouched by man; vast open spaces where innumerable shades of green prevail, small and quiet villages, deserted and picturesque roads, idyllic coves and charming beaches, a gastronomy inspired and supported in the local natural products of both the sea and the land … then the Azores await your visit !

However, the Azores are not only made of nature. This archipelago also has a fascinating history – due to its strategic position in the North Atlantic, between the triangle of the three European, American and African continents – a fact that has given the Azores a rich cultural heritage and unique traditions, interesting for all who seek explore a little more.

  • A unique city resort
    Lisboa
  • Noble and always loyal
    Porto
  • Culture, nature and entertainment
    Sintra, Estoril, Cascais
  • THE MOST FAMOUS SECRET DESTINATION OF EUROPE
    Algarve
  • Genuine and different
    Alentejo
  • Northern and central Portugal, Madeira and Azores islands
    Other Regions