Parabéns Portugal! We called it, and the World Travel Awards named it. Portugal is Europe’s winning travel destination of 2022. To us at Big Blue Adventures, this really comes as no surprise (there’s a reason we take so many groups there!)
We’re always looking for the next best adventure tourism destination but find that Portugal is hard to beat. The judges seem to agree, with the Azores Islands in Portugal securing the title for Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2022. Whilst the Azores Islands are outstanding, our favourite adventure locations for groups include Lisbon, West Algarve, and the previously crowned ‘Leading Island Destination’, Madeira. These three spots offer great environments for adventure activities like canyoning, coasteering, hiking, surfing, and mountain biking… just to name a few!
One of the reasons we’re such huge fans of Portugal is its versatility, which is reflected in the diverse award categories where Portugal claimed the crown. A country that offers surfing in the morning and bustling restaurants by evening, Portugal simultaneously picked up titles for Europe’s Leading Beach Destination (Algarve) and Leading City Break Destination (Lisbon).
Without doubt, Algarve has some of the best beaches in Europe. We always hope groups who stay in Algarve enjoy surfing, because the waves there are too good to miss! Our favourite beaches lie on the Western coastline – not only are they naturally beautiful and rugged, but good surf is pretty much guaranteed all year round. If you fancy a taste of the Atlantic, we’d recommend heading to Arrifana beach, or the slightly more southerly Carrapateira beach. For dramatic steep cliffs and golden sands, the place for you is Tonel beach, located on the very southwesterly tip of Portugal.
The environment in Portugal offers both tropical and urban jungle. Both these sides of the country are encapsulated perfectly in Lisbon, a city that won Europe’s Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination 2022 alongside Leading City Break Destination!
The city is culturally and historically enriching, scattered with beautiful restaurants and lively bars, and it’s also only an hour’s drive away from Sesimbra – our coasteering, sea-kayaking, and 4×4 jeep tour destination! Lisbon remains a top destination for our groups, especially company offsites, so it’s no wonder that the popular city swept the floor at the awards.
In 2023 you can explore travel options with confidence, knowing where is recognised and celebrated by the World Travel Awards. If you’re looking to plan a company offsite in Portugal, or perhaps thinking about which location best suits your stag or hen party, we have plenty of knowledge and recommendations to help you out. Whether you want to visit the subtropical island of Madeira for a watersport adventure, Lisbon for its bustling city vibes & coast, or the Algarve for a sweet surf, get in touch, and we can help you out.
