The Republic of Portugal, on the western border of Spain, has an extensive coastline and is a popular destination for British tourists, whether for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches or delightful towns and cities.

From the mountains to the North, to the warmer plains to the South, Portugal offers travellers far more than a beach holiday. The country was settled for hundreds of years by a succession of empires, including the Iberians, Celts, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and the name Portugal is thought to stem from the Greco-Roman for 'Beautiful Port'.

Portugal was once at the centre of its own sizeable empire, which stretched from Brazil to India, but is now a relatively small EU nation of around 11 million people. The sea has played a key part in its history and Lisbon, the capital, was historically one of the world's most important ports.

Situated on the river Tagus, Lisbon has more than 2,000 years of history and formed the heart of the Portuguese Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries. The rich architecture covers centuries of wealth and trade, mixed with excellent modern bars, shops and restaurants.

The historic city of Oporto offers visitors the chance to ramble around buildings, churches and narrow streets in its 1,000-year-old centre. With a number of monuments and museums linked to the most important Portuguese heroes and a well-signposted walking tour, Oporto is a delightful place to spend a couple of days.

The Douro Valley, a World Heritage site and the oldest demarked wine region in the world, is a beautiful and romantic destination. Visitors can sample traditional Portuguese wines and port in a tranquil, riverside setting, while a picturesque steam train meanders through the colourful valley and past pretty villages.

No visit to Portugal is complete without a visit to its excellent beach resorts, which are situated all the way along the spectacular 943km of coastline. The warm climate and rolling ocean provide a wonderful backdrop to dreamy resorts and villages, many of which, particularly those away from the Algarve, have not yet been overrun by British tourists and neon strips.

Sport plays an important part in Portuguese life, particularly football, and the country has a number of world class teams. Portugal is also an excellent destination for golfers and has many outstanding golf courses, several of which overlook the sea. It is also a popular destination for watersports enthusiasts.

Portuguese cuisine is a tasty mix of rice, potatoes, bread, meat and fish, and there are also excellent pastries and coffee available at the many cafes dotted around welcoming squares. The famous port and wines are plentiful and cheap and the country was associated with the Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and feasting.

Portugal still remains very affordable, despite the introduction of the euro, and several airlines now operate budget flights to its major airports. The country has many charming seaside resorts and beautiful hotels in its historic cities and transport links are generally clean and efficient. Portuguese weather is fine for most of the year, with moderately cool winters in the north and very hot summers in the south.