4 Reasons to Visit Portugal Now

Indagare travel specialist Caroline Courtright is just back from Portugal, where she ventured from the dramatic vineyards of the Douro Valley to the glittering coast of Comporta. Here are her key reasons to visit Portugal now.

Despite its modest size, Portugal is home to 14 major wine regions and over 250 native grape varietals—yet it has so far managed to slide relatively under the global radar in comparison to icons like Napa and Tuscany. The result is a more authentic experience: less commercial, more personal and deeply rooted in Portuguese tradition.

While each region has its own distinct identity, the most notable is the Douro Valley, just an hour-and-a-half drive from Porto. The region is characterized by dramatic landscapes—rolling hills, forests and terraced vineyards—complete with the winding Douro River. This is the birthplace of port, a fortified wine that has long shaped the region’s identity—though today, the region is equally known for its complex dry reds. The Douro Valley is so deeply rooted in the country’s culture that it has become a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many wine-estates (known as quintas) are long-standing family institutions that have been passed down through generations.

If the Douro Valley’s winemaking style is devoted to Portuguese tradition, Alentejo is its innovative counterpart. As the country’s largest region, it has vast vineyards, olive groves and a slower, more rural pace of life. Many wineries in this region are relatively young and well-funded, with cutting-edge technology that is reinventing traditional winemaking methods. Favored for its bold reds, a strong farm-to-table food scene and a commitment to sustainability, Alentejo has a fresh and forward-thinking approach to Portuguese winemaking.

Although just an hour-and-a-half drive from Lisbon, Comporta’s miles of pristine coastline, rugged nature preserve and relaxed luxury feels worlds away. Portugal’s chicest crowds have long considered Comporta its best kept secret, ideal for those seeking an up-and-coming alternative to Europe’s summer hotspots. (It is to Lisbon what the Hamptons are to New York City.) Days here are best enjoyed swimming, walking along the shore or exploring the cork oak and pine forests on foot, bike or horseback. The town itself is small but effortlessly charming, with whitewashed buildings, cafes and artisan boutiques.

The main draw to the region this year is the Sublime Comporta, which, in May 2026, will have completed a massive expansion, adding new private villas, multiple restaurants, boutiques, a kids’ club, indoor and outdoor pools, a library and even a nightclub–added bonuses for a property that already feels like a sprawling 42-acre utopia. The region’s first and buzziest luxury hotel, the expansion is likely to put the region on the radar of savvy travelers, so we recommend getting to this special corner of the country now.

With a growing adoration of immersive experience among modern travers, destination properties are increasingly shaping the way people travel, and Portugal has its fair share. In Porto, The Largo has redefined the hotel scene, not just for its stunning design, but for the feeling it evokes from the moment you’re greeted at the door—that sense of being welcomed into a chic friend’s home. At its core, the hotel prizes highly personalized experiences. The team curates insider access to the city through their relationships with local artisans and partners. Guests can take tile-making workshops, visit fish markets followed by cooking classes or try bread baking and olive oil tastings. The highlight is a trip along the Douro River on The Largo’s private yacht, complete with lunch and a wine tasting.

The Six Senses Douro Valley, meanwhile, immerses guests in the culture and landscape of this unique region. Set in a restored 19th-century manor house on a hillside, the property blends contemporary design with its natural surroundings. Guests can explore the extensive walking paths, winding forests, gardens and vineyards and enjoy experiences like Portuguese cooking classes, private wine tastings or the Alchemy Bar (where guests can create their own scrubs and natural remedies). The nearly 24,000-square-foot spa is at the forefront of the experience, with intensive wellness programming, advanced diagnostic assessments, an indoor pool with chromotherapy and underwater sound, as well as a variety of saunas and steam rooms. While guests are encouraged to slow down and stay on property, the hotel is an easy gateway to wineries and historic villages in the area.

Venturing south, in the heart of Alentejo, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova spans over 1,500 acres, combining rustic country houses with a working winery and olive farm. This soulful family estate embodies the region’s slow, rural lifestyle and can be explored via ATV, horseback riding, biking and walking trails through vineyards, olive groves and rolling hills. The on-site boutique showcases the property’s very own products, like honey from its bee farm, as well as wines and olive oils. With a strong farm-to-table philosophy, the property immerses guests in the Alentejo food and wine scene, featuring ingredients sourced directly from the estate.

On August 12, 2026, parts of Portugal will see a total solar eclipse—specifically Montesinho Natural Park in Bragança, which will experience full totality for approximately 26 seconds just before sunset. This occurrence is so rare that it isn’t expected again in the country until 2144. Porto, Lisbon and other parts of Portugal will experience a partial eclipse.