Portugal

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Portugal

Lisbon

Portugal

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Portugal is a south-western European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain and the rocky North Atlantic Ocean. Many yachts visit Portugal on their way towards the Canaries or into the Mediterranean Sea. Lisbon, Cascais and Portimao provide good safe havens and facilities for visiting yachts.

"Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa [ʁɛˈpuβlikɐ puɾtuˈɣezɐ]), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. It features the westernmost point in mainland Europe, and its Iberian portion is bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain, the sole country to have a land border with Portugal. Its two archipelagos form two autonomous regions with their own regional governments. Lisbon is the capital and largest city.

Portugal is the oldest continuously existing nation state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe, its territory having been continuously settled, invaded and fought over since prehistoric times. It was inhabited by pre-Celtic and Celtic peoples, visited by Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Ancient Greek traders, and was ruled by the Romans, who were followed by the invasions of the Suebi and Visigothic Germanic peoples. After the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, most of its territory was part of Al-Andalus. Portugal as a country was established during the early Christian Reconquista. Founded in 868, the County of Portugal gained prominence after the Battle of São Mamede (1128). The Kingdom of Portugal was later proclaimed following the Battle of Ourique (1139), and independence from León was recognized by the Treaty of Zamora (1143).In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global maritime and commercial empire, becoming one of the world's major economic, political and military powers. During this period, today referred to as the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers pioneered maritime exploration with the discovery of what would become Brazil (1500). During this time Portugal monopolized the spice trade, divided the world into hemispheres of dominion with Castile, and the empire expanded with military campaigns in Asia. By the 18th century however, events such as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the country's occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil (1822), led to a marked decay on Portugal's prior opulence. This was followed by the civil war between liberal constitutionalists and conservative absolutists over royal succession which lasted from 1828 to 1834.

The 1910 revolution deposed Portugal's many centuries' old monarchy, and the democratic but unstable Portuguese First Republic was established, later being superseded by the Estado Novo authoritarian regime. Democracy was restored after the Carnation Revolution (1974), ending the Portuguese Colonial War. Shortly after, independence was granted to almost all its overseas territories. The handover of Macau to China (1999) marked the end of what can be considered one of the longest-lived colonial empires in history.

Portugal has left a profound cultural, architectural and linguistic influence across the globe, with a legacy of around 250 million Portuguese speakers around the world. It is a developed country with an advanced economy and high living standards. Additionally, it ranks highly in peacefulness, democracy, press freedom, stability, social progress, prosperity and English proficiency. A member of the United Nations, the European Union, the Schengen Area and the Council of Europe (CoE), Portugal was also one of the founding members of NATO, the eurozone, the OECD, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries." Wikipedia

Latest Reviews

Porto

4.7

A spectacular place to visit for a few days or longer. Very friendly people and lots to see. Great wine and restaurants.

Viana do Castelo

4.6

After a steep climb to find a very pretty church. It gors up and up and when you think youre at the top it gors up some more. Good exercise. Worth it though.

Faro

4.7

Faro is well known with sailors around the world as a great place to safely anchor while waiting for the right weather to transit down to the Canary Isles or into the Med. It also has a great DIY boatyard and good prices if you need to come out of the water.

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Top Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages

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1 . Lajes do Pico Harbour

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In Santo Amaro

2 . Viana do Castelo Marina

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A small marina on the northern bank of the river Limia before the road bridge. Four pontoons behind a lifting pedestrian bridge with good facilities. Good access 20min walk to town to the west beyo...

In Viana do Castelo

3 . Viana Harbour

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A commercial port and fishing harbour with no facilities for visiting vessel.

In Viana do Castelo

4 . Povoa de Varzim Marina

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A small marina with six pontoons and a dry-dock storage area within a larger harbour shared with a fishing port. A number of restaurants and two supermarkets nearby.

In Povoa de Varzim

5 . Leixoes Marina

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An association of three clubs at this marina in the northern corner of the larger commercial and fishing port. Generally good facilities but no diesel. Supermarket 20min walk north-east. Many resta...

In Matosinhos

6 . Douro Marina

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Four long pontoons behind a breakwater on the southern bank of the Duoro river. A collection of restaurants to the east and a taxi ride east to the nearest supermarket.

In Porto

7 . Boca da Barra Harbour

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A fishing harbour south along the Aveiro Lagoon with an additional small harbour and dry-dock behind the low bridge.

In Aveiro

8 . Lavrador Harbour

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A small marina with basic facilities in a small small channel off the Aveiro Lagoon next west of the large commercial port. Limited facilities.

In Aveiro

9 . Antiga Lota Pontoon

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A single long pontoon in a remote area north of Aveiro. Basic facilities.

In Aveiro

10 . Figueira Marina

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A marina a short way inside the mouth of the river Mondego on the northern bank. Good access to town and the large white sandy beach. Good facilities. Supermarket 20min walk north.

In Figueira da Foz

11 . Cabadelo Harbour

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A fishing harbour with no facilities for visiting yachts.

In Figueira da Foz

12 . Nazare Pontoons

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Three small pontoons inside a large fishing harbour, basic facilities. Restaurants on the beach 30min walk around the harbour and north. Supermarket a further 30min walk.

In Nazare

13 . Sao Martinho Bay

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A popular anchorage for local fishing boats in the north-eastern corner of a large natural semi-circular sandy cove.

In Sao Martinho do Porto

14 . Ericeira Harbour

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A harbour with a popular sandy beach behind a solid man-made harbour wall. Small quay on the inside of the harbour wall leading to a ramp and dry-dock of local fishing vessels.

In Ericeira

15 . Cascais Marina

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A large and popular marina with good facilities and access to a many restaurants 10 min walk north. Supermarket 25min north.

In Cascais

16 . Oeiras Marina

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A busy marina on the northern bank of the mouth of the river Tagus close to a large popular sandy beach and the smaller but equally busy Torre beach. A handful of restaurants around the marina and ...

In Cascais

17 . Alacantra (Lisbon) Marina

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A busy marina in a basin with seven pontoons and two jetties behind a busy container ship loading dock. Some restaurants 20min walk north across the motorway. Two supermarkets 15min walk north-west.

In Lisbon

18 . Santo Amaro Marina

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A small marina under the suspension bridge on the northern bank of the Tagus river. Some restaurants north across the motorway or west along the riverwalk.

In Lisbon

19 . Belem Marina

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A small marina on the northern bank of the Targus river with a lift and dry-dock. Situated within a number of gardens and near cultural sites and museums. A handful of restaurants north towards the...

In Lisbon

20 . Bom Sucesso Marina

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A small marina with two pontoons on the northern bank of the river Targus. A supermarket and a collection of restaurants 15min walk across the pedestrian motorway bridge.

In Lisbon

21 . Parques das Nacoes Marina

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Seven partially used pontoons in this marina with a narrow entrance. Good access to nearby shops, restaurants and a supermarkets.

In Lisbon

22 . Pedroucos Harbour

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An unused harbour with two unused pontoons.

In Lisbon

23 . Sesimbra Marina

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Two long jetties and three pontoons within a sturdy harbour shared with a fishing port. A long 45min walk around the bay to the supermarket in town past the busy sandy beach, a few restaurants alon...

In Sesimbra

24 . Troia Marina

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A marina part of a bigger resort and next to a small ferry point to Setubal. Two long and two short pontoons behind a modest breakwater with good access to restaurants and a supermarket.

In Setubal

25 . Setubal Harbour

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A fishing harbour with no facilities for visiting yachts.

In Setubal

26 . Recreio Harbour

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A small harbour busy with local boats and a large dry-dock storage. No facilities for visiting yachts.

In Setubal

27 . Fontainhas Marina

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Three pontoons on the left side and a set of buoys for local boats on the right. Basic facilities, many restaurants within 10min walk.

In Setubal

28 . Albarquel Bay

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A set of buoys in a rural bay to the west of Setubal on the northern bank of the Sado river close to a popular sandy beach.

In Setubal

29 . De Sines Marina

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Four pontoons behind the eastern breakwater of the sandy bay opposite the fishing port. The bay is itself with a much larger commercial port. Basic facilities. A 25min walk north into town and a fu...

In Sines

30 . Baleeira Harbour

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A harbour with a large number of buoys used by local boats and visiting yachts. Two long jetties provide access to the holiday village and a handful of restaurants 10min walk west followed by a su...

In Vila de Sagres

... more

See the top 100 marinas and harbours

Top Towns

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1 . Porto

3.6

A large surprisingly green city on the western coast of Portugal along the river Douro. A former outpost of the Roman Empire. The city is inaccessible by yacht due to the motorway bridges.

In Porto

2 . Faro

3.6

A tourist city on the southern coast of Portugal set back from the sea by the large lagoon-nature park bordered by a long peripheral sandy beach stretching several kilometres.

In Faro

3 . Viana do Castelo

3.6

Built on the northern bank of the the river Lima this large port town is home to a shipyard for naval construction, car-parts and a green energy industry.

In Viana do Castelo

4 . Lisbon

3.5

The capital and largest city in Portugal near the mouth of the river Tagus set back from the relentless Atlantic Ocean. A stunning bustling city with plenty districts to visit by day and night.

In Lisbon

5 . Jardim Pelado
(Madeira Island )

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A popular holiday town on the south-western coast of Madeira island at the steep foothills of the volcanic mountains.

In Jardim Pelado

6 . Paul do Mar
(Madeira Island )

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A popular holiday town along the south-west coast of Madeira island, home to a number of holiday villas and restaurants. A jetty to the southern end of town.

In Paul do Mar

7 . Porto Moniz
(Madeira Island )

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A rural holiday village at the base of the steep green hillside leading to a rocky shore and a sturdy breakwater providing some shelter from the Atlantic sea.

In Porto Moniz

8 . Seixal
(Madeira Island )

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A rural town on a craggy plateau reaching into the Atlantic from the northern shore of Madeira island. Home to several guest-houses and bars and a sturdy breakwater to the east of town.

In Seixal

9 . Porto da Cruz
(Madeira Island )

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A popular leafy holiday destination at the base of a rocky outcrop on the northern coast of Madeira island and home to a sheltered beach cove.

In Porto da Cruz

10 . Canical
(Madeira Island )

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A large town on the north-eastern tip of Madeira island and home to a large commercial harbour and industrial zone to the east of town.

In Canical

11 . Quinta do Lorde
(Madeira Island )

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A holiday resort and marina on the rocky wiggly eastern tail of Madeira island.

In Quinta do Lorde

12 . Machico
(Madeira Island )

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A green holiday town in a valley leading up from a sandy beach and small marina, with a large collection of shops, restaurants and guest houses.

In Machico

13 . Santa Cruz
(Madeira Island )

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A popular holiday destination at the foot-hills of the green mountains on the southern coast of Madeira island near the end of the airport runway.

In Santa Cruz

14 . Ponta Delgada
(Madeira Island )

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A rural holiday village on a green plateau beyond the northern foothills of the volcanic Madeira island.

In Ponta Delgada

15 . Vila Baleira
(Porto Santo Island )

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A holiday town along the sandy southern coast of Port Santo island, with a single long jetty in the bay and a large harbour and a number of pontoons to the east of town.

In Vila Baleira

16 . Vila Franca do Campo
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A busy popular town on the rocky southern coast of Sao Miguel island with a large sturdy harbour and marina.

In Vila Franca do Campo

17 . Ribeira Quente
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A town at the foot of lush green hills along the southern coast of Sao Miguel island. Split into two parts either side of the bay with a harbour, small dry dock and river on the eastern side.

In Ribeira Quente

18 . Povoacao
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A small holiday town in an agricultural landscape towards the eastern end of the southern coast of Sao Miguel island. Home to a small number restaurants in town and a harbour next to the river mouth.

In Povoacao

19 . Nordeste
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A popular holiday destination close to the leafy eastern coast of Sao Miguel island.

In Nordeste

20 . Fenais da Ajuda
(Sao Miguel Island )

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An agricultural town on the north cliff-lined coast of Sao Miguel island.

In Fenais da Ajuda

21 . Maia
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A residential town on the rocky cliff-sided northern Atlantic coast of Sao Miguel island.

In Maia

22 . Porto Formoso
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A small agricultural town along the main road of the rocky northern coast, with a sheltered cove and fishing harbour behind a man-made breakwater.

In Porto Formoso

23 . Ribeira Grande
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A busy and pretty town on the northern coast of Sao Miguel island, with a wide black sandy beach and a large collection of shops and restaurants.

In Ribeira Grande

24 . Rabo de Peixe
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A harbour town on the northern coast of Sao Miguel island attracting visitors from the surrounding holiday villas and guest-houses.

In Rabo de Peixe

25 . Mosteiros
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A popular tourist destination in an agricultural landscape on the western coast of Sao Miguel island around a rocky cove and outcrop.

In Mosteiros

26 . Ponta Delgada
(Sao Miguel Island )

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A large town and popular town on the south-western rocky coastline of Sao Miguel island near the end of the airport runway. Home to a large harbour, fishing port, ferry terminal and two marinas.

In Ponta Delgada