As this website has attested to since it was founded two decades ago, for a relatively small nation Portugal hugely overachieves in the world’s most popular sport. By far the most loved game among the planet’s eight billion inhabitants, it is truly remarkable how a country that comprises just 0.13% of the human population has impacted football, both in terms of the success of its national team and the achievements of its individual players and clubs.
In this PortuGOAL section, we combine the two facets of the country that are held up as sources of pride by the Portuguese people themselves: football and tourism.
From the world-famous beaches of the Algarve and the gentle rolling hills of the Alentejo in the south, to the lush and fertile Minho and the rugged Trás-os-Montes districts in the north, and everywhere in between, not to mention the beautiful Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, Portugal has incredibly diverse geography and stunning natural habitats, both along its 1860 km of coastline and throughout its inland regions.
Brimming with castles, historical monuments, prehistoric sites, breath-taking landscapes, endless picturesque cities, towns and villages beyond the vibrant metropolises of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal has something for everyone. Throw football into the mix and you have the ingredients for a trip that will long live in the memory.
The World Travel Awards are considered the “Oscars for the travel industry” and Portugal has once again been showered with accolades in the 2022 edition, accumulating 30 awards in a wide range of categories.
Pride of place goes to the country as a whole being voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Destination for the fifth time in the last six years.
Awards in other major categories include Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination (Azores), Europe’s Leading Beach Destination (Algarve) and Europe’s Leading City Destination (Porto).
