Many people looking to visit the Mediterranean parts of Europe seem to prefer the traditional locations such as Greece or Italy. However, although those countries are beautiful and certainly have a lot to offer, there are a lot of other places that aren't on the top of the list, yet retain the ability to offer a once in a lifetime experience. One of these locations is Portugal, which happens to offer not only a great taste of the Mediterranean, but a beautiful historic sightseeing opportunity combined with beautiful food and beaches. You really can't go wrong by vacationing to Portugal, keep reading to find out why.

The most popular tourist destination in Portugal is Lisbon, which happens to be the most populated city in the country. Lisbon is near the Southwestern part of the country and happens to enjoy coastline views and lush river scenery. Lisbon is famous for nightlife and casinos, which are sure to keep the gambling and clubbing fans happy. However, Lisbon also offers some great local culture in the form of restaurants, music clubs, and bakeries. Lisbon is also home to a variety of historic buildings and architecture, making it an all around enjoyable experience.

The capital of Portugal is Oporto, and is the 2nd largest city in the country. Oporto is nestled right on a large river and the Atlantic coast, which means that like Lisbon, you can enjoy beautiful beaches mixed with the lush gardens that border the river areas. There are also a ton of wineries, made famous by the port wine that used to fuel the local economy. You will find that they still use the old sailboats that were once used for transporting the wine upstream to other areas of the region. Oporto is a great place to see more of the historic cathedrals that are such a mainstay in Portugal.

Another great place to visit in Portugal, is Coimbra, which is home to the oldest Portuguese speaking University in the world that also happens to be one of the oldest European Universities in existence. Coimbra also boasts a lot of coffee shops, bakeries, and other smaller attractions for the traveler that is looking to slow down and enjoy the scene. The botanical gardens in Coimbra are also a huge hit, and happen to be located within the area of the University, meaning that you can visit both in the same trip.

Visiting Portugal doesn't have to end at Lisbon or Oporto either. You can also visit the Madeira regions, which are beautiful islands off the coast of Portugal. The rest of the country is also just as beautiful with more than enough to offer even the pickiest traveler. So next time you are looking to plan a trip to an exotic destination that you have yet to cross of the map, consider making a trip to Portugal to see not only beautiful beaches and coastline, but also be able to experience the wonderful culture of the Mediterranean in the process.