Portugal : A youth-friendly destination

In Portugal, the white sandy beaches are full of possibilities for fun-filled days, with calm or rough seas and countless activities to indulge in; or for sunbathing, being with friends and dancing the night away. Inland, there are mountains and valleys to explore, observing nature or taking part in radical sports. There are also villages here that will take you back in time, where you can breathe clean air and discover ancient customs. And for the more cosmopolitan, there are plenty of cities with popular neighbourhoods and many monuments and museums to visit.

Everyone needs a rest, and there is accommodation for every mood and budget, including youth hostels and camp sites. But before chilling out, you must enjoy the nightlife vibes. With famous DJs in discos and cult bars; or in concerts and festivals featuring the best bands. The key is to join in, get into the mood and have fun into the night!

Music, sun and sea, partying every night and 850 km of beaches: it is one of the best combinations in music festivals in Portugal. But there are other programs where the calm richness of sound blends perfectly with historical heritage or rural environments.

In addition to good music, festivals afford an opportunity to get to know these sites in an atmosphere of total relaxation and fun. Lisbon and Porto have been recognised year after year as perfect mini-break destinations and have very lively nights that are the natural continuation of the party atmosphere. In these two cities, the spotlight falls on Rock in Rio, NOS Alive and Super Bock, Super Rock, in Lisbon, and NOS Primavera Sound in Porto.

In Porto and the North region, Vodafone Paredes de Coura on the river beach at Taboão is a good example of a heavenly setting in the midst of nature. Bike rides, trekking, canoeing and river bathing are just a few of the suggestions that can perfectly complement a few truly well-spent days. Nature, too, as well as art and freedom are celebrated in even-numbered years at the Boom Festival which takes place on the banks of the lake in Idanha-a-Nova, in the Centro de Portugal. Further south, close to Tomar, the Festival Bons Sons shows how a village can get itself organised to stage an event that offers the best of music and Portuguese traditions.

On the coast the concerts are linked to the beaches, friendly people and nights that last until daybreak. From north to south, there are so many to choose from, such as the EDP Beach Party in Matosinhos, RFM Somnii in Figueira da Foz, Sol da Caparica near Lisbon, Músicas do Mundo (Songs of the World) in Sines and MEO Sudoeste in Zambujeira do Mar. These are festivals that take place close to the beach with all the advantages that this brings, like the chance to plunge into the sea or to have some surfing lessons in the best spots along the Portuguese coast

In Funchal, the NOS Summer Opening unites music with nature to provide experiences the enable you to discover Madeira with plenty of adrenaline. In the Algarve, the Festival Med in Loulé and the Festival F in Faro transform the historic centres of the cities into stages for various artistic events.

Those who go for classical or jazz sounds can opt for the Festival Terras sem sombra (in English, ‘lands without shade’) in Alentejo, where classical music concerts invade churches and convents and are beefed up with programmes that showcase local activities and traditions. For jazz, go for Angrajazz which takes place every year in October on Terceira Island, in the Azores.