Car Hire Portugal

Portugal is one of the least remaining relatively undiscovered corners of Western Europe, at the southwest extremity of this continental. It forms the western edge of the Iberian peninsula. Spain is the only neighbour of Portugal. The river Minho forms the border in the north, between the two counties. Eastwards a backbone of craggy mountains divides the old adversaries, while expansive plains stretch down the sea. In case you wish to visit Spain with your Car hire Portugal, please ask our staff for the special insurance to travel in Spain (Greencard).

Portugal is situated near the sea. This explains why such a small nation became one of the great seafaring countries of the world. Portugal's great era of discovery and colonial expansion begins in 1415, with the capture of Cueta in Morocco. Under Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal discovers Madeira and the Azores and explores the West African coast from 1419-1460. In 1498 Vasco da Gama discovers the sea route to India. In 1500 Pedro Cabral is blown off course and accidentally discovers Brazil.

Today, Portugal is a modern state and a member of the European Union.

The climate in Portugal is very pleasant. The Algarve enjoys a Mediterrean-type climate with long and hot summers, mild winters and more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year, although there is always a possibility of rain between October and May. In the spring and summer time Car hire Portugal advises the clients to rent a car with air conditioning, as it is really warm i this period. In the Alentejo, the hinterland of the Beiras and the Alto Douro, summers can be searingly hot. Spring and Autumn are cooler, with winters in the mountain regions getting ver cold with sub-zero temperatures and snow in the Serra da Estrêla.

Porto and Minho enjoy a temperate climate, with cooler temperatures year round, and the strong possibility of rain any time between Autumn and Spring.

Those with enough time on their hands to travel from one end to the other will discover a staggering variety of scenery, architecture and ways of life.

The current population is about 10 million, although around 3 million more Portugese live as migrant workers in France, Germany, the USA, Canada, Venezuela ande elsewhere.

The language they speak in Portugal is Portuguese. In written form, it appears a bit similar to Spanish, but the sound is much more guttural. This makes Portuguese generally more difficult for foreigners to learn and understand.

About 99 per cent of the Portuguese population is Roman Catholic. There are small Protestant and Jewish communities.

They will also find a country whose national character has been shaped by history, geography and centuries of warfare with Spain, Portugal's great Iberian rival. Most of these visitors explored this beautiful country with a rental car of Portugal car hire.

Portugal is roughly rectangular, 560 km long from north to south, and 215 km wide. Two great rivers, the Douro and the Tejo (Tagus) rise in Spain and flow across the country to their mounths at Porto and Lisbon respectively. The highest peak in Portugal is the Serra da Estrêla at 1,993m. A metal post has been added to the top the 2,000m mark.