Portugal

Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay in Portugal.

Fire your imagination and discover the delights of Portugal, from the lush fields and mountains of the north to the emptiness and wildlife of the central regions - not forgetting the west and south coasts, bordered by the Atlantic and offering everything from hidden coves to golden beaches and exciting surfing.

Take a boat up the Douro through the vineyards or explore the Serra Da Estrela on foot. We cover special places to stay in Portugal's cities too. Fall in love with the narrow and winding streets of Porto, and the buzz and the bars of ancient, vibrant Lisbon.

You'll come across rustic houses with funky & fresh interiors, antique furniture, painted tiles, vaulted ceilings, carved beds, local crafts and the kindest hosts who go the extra mile to make your Portugal stay special - perhaps with seafood stew, fresh tomatoes and whole crabs; pork and clam casserole; home-grown wine, fresh figs, cherries?

Symbols, maps, colour photos, directions and quick reference indices help guide readers towards 150 hand-picked places, each one inspected, each one special, while honest, lively and thoughtful write-ups paint a personal picture.