Portugal certainly has a long list of delightful places you can visit while you are in this magnificent country. But it is all too easy to make the mistake of visiting only those places that are relatively well known. It would be an even bigger mistake to visit the south of the country – the popular holiday region of the Algarve – and not to see anything else the country has to offer.

If you need an example of a location elsewhere in Portugal that can give you an irresistible taste of how good life is here, head for Cascais. The name itself is attractive enough, but you will discover the venue actually lives up to its name once you get there.

Cascais is not far from Lisbon so if you are holidaying here then you really have no excuse for missing out on it. It has a nice beach to tempt you with as well, so if that doesn’t do the trick it’s hard to know what will. It’s a lovely place to visit and since not everyone knows about it, it isn’t as chock full of people as some of the better known locations in southern parts of Portugal. It does attract the visitors though, and when you see it for yourself you will understand why.

Cascais used to be an active fishing village and you can still find enough signs of this past today. Fishing boats still bob around in the water, although the whole area is more laid back now than perhaps it was during its fishing heyday.

This laid back feel might persuade you to stay here for your holiday and you would definitely be choosing an excellent place. It has villas and hotels dotted around the local area, making it a good place to enjoy a week or two of downtime from your regular daily life at home.

In fact Cascais is hard to say no to once you discover a little more about it. With its history and modern appeal mixing together to provide an appreciative combination, Cascais could be the destination you are looking for.

When families think about visiting Portugal for a holiday away from home, they tend to head straight for the Algarve. Who can blame them? It certainly packs a punch and is one of the best beach filled locations the country has to offer.

But there are treats to be discovered in other parts of the country as well. Lisbon holds many delights for example, and if you have kids to keep entertained and quiet you’ll love everything it has to offer.

The Park of the Nations is a wonderful place to visit if you simply want to give them space to let off some steam. You don’t have to worry about the traffic and you can also enjoy the greenery here. It’s the perfect location to think about enjoying a nice picnic together while letting the kids tire each other out too.

There is also an Oceanarium in Lisbon, so if you want to beef up your trip with a taste of some education as well, you can do no better than to head here. It just goes to show that Lisbon has plenty to offer to families. Even if you decide not to spend the whole of your holiday here, it will be worth stopping by for a couple of days at least.

The Coaches Museum may not sound like a lot of fun, but despite the rather flat sounding title this museum packs a lot in and it is well worth a look. The coaches here are worlds apart from the kind of coaches you would expect to see today, and they are quite amazing. They date back to various years (the early 1700s for example) and as such they are spectacular and treat you to a period in history you may know little about. They have been likened to fairytale carriages in some quarters, and as you will see it is not difficult to tell why.

Lisbon holds many other secrets that families of all descriptions will be eager to explore. Make sure you check out the delights of Lisbon with the rest of your family very soon, and enjoy the perfect Portuguese holiday.

Now that is a strange thing to say about this country; after all, the whole thing is Portuguese. But when you see Monsanto for yourself you will probably realise why it has earned this name.

A village is not the first thing you would think of seeing when you go to Portugal. You will probably be focusing your thoughts on beaches and other desirable locations. But if all you think about is the coastal parts of the country, you will miss out on a lot of discoveries that are waiting to be made elsewhere. Monsanto is one such discovery.

This village dates back to ancient times and thus has a fascinating story to tell. Part of this story can be told via the buildings and streets you will find there, all of which are quite stunning and look very similar to the way they did centuries ago. It is this feature of the village – the fact that it almost seems to be stuck in time – that makes it a must see on anyone’s Portuguese itinerary.

The village itself is inland, over on the eastern side of the country almost exactly opposite the location where Figueira de Foz can be found on the western coastline. This is undoubtedly a location that really requires a hire car to reach it, since it is not on the map as far as the tourist routes are concerned. This should make it even more appealing to those of you who love to visit places that are off the beaten path in some way.

It benefits from being perched high on a cliff as well, so you can expect some sensational views and scenery no matter what direction you happen to look in. You will no doubt spot the castle that is a key sight in the village, although you might think the walk to get to it is somewhat daunting. Don’t be put off though – it is well worth the effort and there are some amazing photos and views to be had once you finally reach the top. They will confirm Monsanto’s true title as the most Portuguese part of the country.

Somehow the idea of a country like Portugal – famed for its superb seaside beach destinations – having a forest worth seeing doesn’t quite sit right in the mind. But having accepted the idea that the Bussaco National Forest is there, you’ll be glad you spent the time looking for it. Otherwise known as Mata Nacional do Bucaco, this forest is to be found to the north east of Coimbra. It may not be on too many itineraries for holidays spent by the sea here, but it should definitely be on your itinerary.

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of trees here, and they are but one of the reasons why the forest is so popular with all kinds of people. Backpackers love exploring its depths and you will soon see why they love it so much. The scenery provides a welcome contrast to the rugged cliffs and other sights you’ll find around the coast of Portugal. This is particularly true of the popular Algarve area in the south of the country.

You can even stay in style for a night or two in the resplendent Palace Hotel do Bussaco if you like. This hotel is set right in the middle of the forest and peeks out of the trees like a true fairytale castle. It is most unlike any other hotel or castle you may ever have set foot in before, and if you have spent hours exploring the forest you will want to reward yourself with a stay here. It is truly capable of taking the breath away.

One of the most interesting facts about the forest is that it doesn’t only contain native specimens of plants and trees. It also contains trees that have been introduced to the forest from many other countries. Since it is also many centuries old you can wander among the tall trees and wonder at how much (or indeed how little) it may have changed during that time.

When many of us think of Portugal we think of the seaside, the beaches and the magnificent views over the ocean. But as you can see, it is worth looking inland as well to discover some more amazing secrets.

Don’t misunderstand that headline – we’re not suggesting you shouldn’t go near them at all. Portugal has some incredible beaches that will lure you towards them with the promise of a sensational beach holiday to come.

But you would be mistaken for thinking that all Portugal has to offer are its beaches, simply because everyone seems to go to them to the exclusion of all else all the time. In truth, Portugal has plenty to discover inland as well, and it is worth dragging yourself away from those wonderful sands for just a short while. If you do you can explore some more unusual and equally beautiful locations away from the coastline.

One thing that Portugal’s villages can give you is peace and quiet. Tranquillity is available virtually on tap here, as you make your way away from the most popular parts of Portugal’s coast and into the heart of the country itself. There is much to be discovered here and villages are dotted all around, giving you an arguably more authentic taste of the country. This is Portugal at its finest, without the sheen of tourism splashed across it.

Monsanto is a classic example of a village that will have you wondering why you didn’t see it earlier. Perched on a cliff just to the west of the most central part of the country, Monsanto gives you superb views down over much of the rest of the surrounding countryside.

Elsewhere you can visit Belmonte, where you can explore the winding pathways and narrow alleys that combine to create the old Jewish quarter of the village. With plenty of charming architectural surprises around every corner, you will forget all about the many delightful beaches in Portugal for the time you are there.

Finally Castelo Mendo is worth a look as it brings ancient times firmly into the present day. Life is very simple here and it dates back some six to seven hundred years as well. When you realise that Portugal hides such delights as this away from the coast, you will wonder why you didn’t discover them sooner.