Lisbon to Lisbon

Discover the world’s last colonial empire, turned bustling cosmopolitan city. Lisbon has dozens of Moorish castles, pastel buildings, and white sand beaches to explore. This Atlantic-coast city perfectly encapsulates Mediterranean charm with its wine, food, and architecture.

Portimão is a port city in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It’s known for its old quarter, busy marina and proximity to many beaches. Museu de Portimão is housed in a restored 19th-century cannery, with displays on local history. The Gothic-style Nossa Senhora da Conceição church has azulejo tiles. To the south are Rocha Beach, backed by ochre cliffs, and the medieval Fort of Santa Catarina de Ribamar.

With visions of Bergman and Bogart filling the imagination, it’s easy to explore the French-colonial design and narrow alleyways of the old Medina, and bargain-filled souks are reminders of mysterious days past. Yet this gleaming city has a firm grasp on the 21st century and today encompasses broad palm-lined boulevards, attractive public parks and soaring high-rises.

Apopular destination for sun-worshippers, Agadir is revered for its stunning beach. It is the center of the Barbary Coast’s chic resort area and enjoys a temperate climate year-round. A modern city, Agadir was completely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake struck in 1960. In sharp contrast, the nearby antique city of Taroudant makes a pleasant destination for explorers.

Named for the many volcanic rock reefs and islets along the coast that form the city’s magnificent seafront promenade, Arrecife originated in the 15th century as a small fishing and is today an urban metropolis. The primary pedestrian shopping street, Calle León y Castillo, hosts a wide range of shops and cafés, while the city’s hub is concentrated around El Charco de San Gines, a lagoon surrounded by fishermen’s houses.

Discover the world’s last colonial empire, turned bustling cosmopolitan city. Lisbon has dozens of Moorish castles, pastel buildings, and white sand beaches to explore. This Atlantic-coast city perfectly encapsulates Mediterranean charm with its wine, food, and architecture.