Portugal is located on the west coast of Europe, between the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, on the Iberian Peninsula. The climate is characterized by mild winters and pleasant summers. Portugal has long been popular among travelers who are drawn to adventure activities in the countryside, historic towns and famous wine. In the last couple of years, Portugal has become one of the main destinations of Europe. The relatively small size of Portugal conceals a country that is rich with history and diversity, and will ultimately appeal to a wide variety of tourists. The main tourist regions are, by order of importance, Lisbon with its surroundings, the Algarve, Northern region, islands Madeira and Azores and Alentejo. Today, most tourists in Portugal are British, Spanish or German. They travel in low cost airliners, and are not only in search of the beach and the sun, but mostly searching culture, gastronomy, nautical tourism or travel in business. The majority of visitors wanting a beach based holiday head to the southern coastline, which is known as the Algarve region. The central Algarve is the most popular section, with huge hotel complexes and a vast array of restaurants, bars and other tourist services. The beaches, the golf courses and the climate are the highlights of the Algarve and they turn it into an all year round destination. Lisbon is the vibrant capital of Portugal and offers delightful historical districts, an extensive history and lively nightlife. Porto is the second city of Portugal and is famous for its Port wine. With its historical center registered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996, Porto offers tradition and culture. Also ther is the Douro River from where you can enjoy amazing views of the terraced vineyards. The Alentejo is one of the most traditional regions of Portugal. There are many historic towns in the Alentejo and the region is ideal for a touring holiday. Deep in the heart of the Alentejo is Évora, one of the most beguiling destinations in Portugal. Renowned for its amazing ensemble of well-preserved monuments. There are two groups of islands of volcanic origin in the Atlantic Ocean that can be treated as separate destinations, they are Madeira and the Azores. Madeira has a pleasant year round climate and is well set up to handle visitors. It is a hot spot for Europeans from northern counties who come here in the winter months. . The main city is Funchal, which is also a big cruise ship port. The Azores, also highly dependent on tourism, are islands of green hills and volcanoes.