Portugal has the wind in its sails

Une croissance à deux chiffres, une première place historique en volume, le marché français affiche au Portugal une santé insolente. Les raisons d’un succès en 5 expériences voyage.

For the first time, the number of French visitors to Portugal surpassed German visitors in 2014. "This is historic," says Jean-Pierre Pinheiro, director of the tourist office of Portugal in France. Two million people visited the Iberian sun last year, an increase of 20% in a market that has been growing in double digits for four years. In addition to attractive prices in a time of crisis, Portugal has more than one reason for this popularity.

1/Lisbon and Porto, city-breaks par excellence

Pas étonnant que les Allemands conservent la première place en nombre de nuitées. Les touristes français sont en effet très friands des city-breaks à Lisbonne et Porto, destinations desservies par plus de 22 villes en France grâce aux compagnies low-cost. Festives, culturelles et créatives, ces deux villes à taille humaine «bénéficient d’un bon bouche-à-oreille», confirme Jean-Pierre Pinheiro. En juin, les fêtes de Saint-Antoine à Lisbonne et de Saint-Jean à Porto sont de grands rendez-vous populaires.

2/ A surfing destination for sure

Without going as far as surfing the biggest wave in the world off Nazaré, a record recently held by the Frenchman Benjamin SanchisIn Portugal, you can enjoy great surfing sensations. The country is famous for its spots in the north but also more in the south, notably in Carrapateira more suitable for beginners.

3/Chasing the "Quintas" and "Pousadas

Wine lovers are familiar with the term "quintas", which in Portuguese designate wine estates. In addition to the wines of Porto, the vineyards of the Upper Douro Valley are definitely worth a visit or at least a tasting. In the north of the Minho region, the "vihno verde" has also gained a solid reputation in recent years. In terms of accommodation, the "pousadasThe "paradores" offer, like the paradores in Spain, charming and affordable packages. Housed in old manors or convents that have been rehabilitated, they are often good gourmet stops.

4/Evora, the pearl of the Alentejo

Many call it the most beautiful historical city in Portugal. Proudly dominating the Alentejo plain, classified by Unesco for its Medieval and Renaissance heritage, Evora is in any case a living testimony of the golden age of the country. But the city does not dwell on its past: a beautiful animation reigns there during the year, thanks to a student and cultural life.

5/The idleness off the beaten track

Si le Portugal s’enorgueillit de l’ouverture cet été d’un premier club Lookea dans la région de l’Algarve et d’un Framissima à proximité de Lisbonne, son littoral -de près de 800 km- permet de trouver sans souci des spots farniente plus confidentiels. On ira par exemple en chercher sur la côte est vers Tavira ou sur l’une des best beaches listed by the tourist office of Portugal.

Source: 20minutes.fr