Portugal: Introduction: Overview

With new hotels, a buzzing restaurant scene and cool design enclaves, laid-back Lisbon has come beautifully into its own as a European center that blends old-world elegance with cutting-edge style. (Coming soon: insider tips on how to visit Lisbon.)

But the best news is that the capital’s revamped image is rubbing off on the country’s other regions, including northeastern Porto and the southern Algarve. Read about three authentic retreats under Where to Stay, including a sleek new hideaway in the Douro River valley, a coastal villa in the the Algarve, and a private estate turned exclusive retreat, near Lisbon.