Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe, known for its maritime expeditions in the 14th and 15th centuries. This country is situated in a relatively small area, but there have been several civilizations throughout history. Portugal’s visitors will especially appreciate the slightly tropical temperatures that prevail for most of the year. Although it isn’t a pure beach destination, beautiful sandy beaches and the opportunity to bathe in the ocean will be appreciated by most tourists in summer. Most of them, however, go to Portugal for culture, beautiful cities and monuments. It is worth mentioning Lisbon itself or the breath-taking Porto, which gave the world port wine. Other popular places include the fairy tale castle of Sintra or the monastery of Belém. Visitors also like to head to the lighthouse that stands on Cap Saint-Vincent – the most western tip of continental Europe.