Continental Europe's closest destination to the United States is also one of its most inviting, exciting, and memorable. Portugal is colorful, culturally-rich, and offers a host of adventures for travelers.

Reputably founded 2,500 years ago by Ulysses, Lisbon is now Europe's new "capital of cool," on the leading edge of the 21st Century. The nation's heart and its largest city is filled with history - dotted with churches, museums, monuments and markets, many ancient, all fascinating and utterly charming - as well as contemporary architecture, trendy boutiques, stylish hotels, and chic restaurants. At festive nightspots, DJs spin the newest music and you can celebrate well into the next morning. For an authentic Portuguese experience, you'll want to hear Fado, Portugal's native music that is haunting, lyrical and beautifully infused with emotion.

The brand-new Casino de Lisboa, a state-of-the-art entertainment and gaming complex in Nations' Park, includes a huge hall and auditorium to welcome world-renowned entertainers and shows. Smaller lounges and bars host more intimate performances, and dining options run and gamut from super-luxe to ultra casual.

Just outside Lisbon lie some of Europe's most beautiful natural vistas and scenic roads to other fascinating cities and towns. A few hours up north is Porto, a monumental city known for its Port wine, which has been produced for centuries in the rich Douro River Valley. To explore this historic area, take an enchanting river cruise. Porto's Museum of Contemporary Art at the Serralves Foundation intrigues visitors with its exhibits as well as its architecture - it was designed by the Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza. Another dynamic convergence of art and architecture is the Casa da Musica, with its groundbreaking cultural canter by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

For golfers, Portugal has some of the finest courses in Europe, many created by legends like Rocky Roquemore and Arnold Palmer. The most exceptional places to play - and the most challenging courses - are found in Algarve and on the Lisbon Coast, where breathtaking scenery is as mesmerizing as the game itself.

Portuguese cuisine is unparalleled, with the country's coastline inspiring seafood-rich dishes, often spicy, that change dramatically from region to region. From fish to cheese, egg sweets to sausages and hams, your appetite is deliciously indulged wherever you go. Toast the beauty of this part of the world with the region. Portugal's Port, Madeira and table wines are held in high esteem around the globe.

Throughout Portugal, ancient cities and hilltop villages are home to the country's famous Pousadas - some of them are former castles, fortresses and monasteries that have been converted into hotel establishments - as well as to our charming and privately owned "Solares," i.e., manor houses, farmhouses, or places similar to "French Chateaux." Inland are fascinating Roman ruins, palaces, cork forests, olive groves, wide-open fields, and finally the sweeping peaks that mark the border with Spain.

Portugal's two archipelagos offer serene escape amidst breathtaking beauty. To the south, Madeira is a warm and flower filled idyll. In the mid Atlantic, the Azores are eternally wild, windswept, and unspoiled.

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