Bordered by Spain to the north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, a holiday to Portugal will draw you to a fascinating combination of dramatic cliffs leading to beautiful sandy beaches, winding rivers meandering through charming historic towns and villages, and alluring cities full of remarkable land marks, inspired Portuguese restaurants and traditional shops intermingled with modern shopping centres.

Whilst many would prefer to choose an all inclusive package holiday to the Algarve (south Portugal), collect a pre booked hire car with easyCar from Faro airport and you will discover that wide expanses of sand in the east become picturesque coves as you travel to the west. 

Head to Faro’s town centre and you may be surprised to find pretty winding cobbled streets and large open squares, together with a bustling harbour! Steeped in history, whilst in Faro why not visit one of the many museums or churches such as the Nossa Senhora do Carmo?

On the banks of the river Gilhao is Tavira, originally a busy port town but now an interesting holiday destination with a seven-arched Roman bridge and the church of Santa Maria do Castelo.  A short boat trip takes you to the deliciously tranquil beaches of Tavira Island or Ilha de Tavira. If you’re looking for late night clubs and bars, then Albufeira would be the preferred choice in the Algarve for you, with the popular Fisherman’s Beach and rows of cafes, restaurants and shops along The Strip, although the old part of the resort still retains much of its old charm.

There is much character to be discovered in the Algarve and when hiring a car in Portugal make sure you take a trip to the delightful hill top village of Monchique which has had a spa for thousands of years and if full of old world appeal. 

It takes less than three hours to drive from Faro to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city on the central western coast. Lisbon or Lisboa is also a fantastic city break location, easily accessed by direct flights from the UK, with car hire and hotel accommodation simple to prebook.  Full of character jump on a tram to discover some of the city’s historical and architectural heritage or travel up to one of the seven hills by funicular or lift to experience some of the most beautiful views over Lisbon. There are many fantastic museums and monuments in Lisbon including the Belem Tower, and oodles of shops in the Baixa area – both old and new.

In Northern Portugal is Porto built either side of the Douro River.  A walking tour is highly recommended to get a feel for this stunning city, although it may also be explored by boat, tram or even helicopter!  The architecture found throughout the city is outstanding from the UNESCO World Heritage Clerigos Tower to displays of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque buildings on every corner. Famous for its port wine, a tour of the Vila Nova de Gaia lodges should not be missed!

For a true authentic holiday in Portugal, choose a Pousada which is generally historic Portuguese building that would have originally have been a fortress, monastery, convent, palace or castle.

As temperatures start to rise, July is the perfect month to discover Europe.

Why not fly to one of Greece’s many beautiful islands, pick up a hire car from easyCar and head to the beach? The Greek Ionian island of Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) is ideal for exploring by car as there are many hidden beaches only accessible by sea or road! One of the most photographed beaches in Greece is Myrtos beach near the pretty town of Argostoli on the north west coast of the island, although the south coast and the Blue Flag beach of Skala is a sand lover’s dream and ideal for snorkelling. In contrast to these “white” beaches, head to Kefalonia’s peninsula by car and discover the “red” coast around Lixouri and Xi beach.

Then there is southern Portugal – The Algarve! Take a low cost or charter flight to Faro airport, ensuring that car rental has been booked for a great driving holiday and follow the winding azure coastline easy or west.. Lagos, Albufeira, Vilamoura or Tavira? Don’t forget to leave the gorgeous sandy beaches and head into the hills – a trip to the pretty village of Monchique is not to be missed!

Or how about starting the month of July off with a trip to one of Europe’s beautiful cities?

Fly to the French capital of Paris and explore the stunning chateaux located around the outskirts of the city such as Chateau de Chantilly and the popular Chateau de Versailles. You could even extend your stay by driving down to the French Riviera for a little shopping in Nice or Cannes!

And how about prebooking car hire in Brussels and discovering this sophisticated and well preserved city, followed by the short trip to beautiful Bruges, then onto fascinating Flanders and the stunning long sandy Belgium beaches?

The schools will start breaking up for the long summer holidays soon, so make a choice now and explore by car to your heart’s content!