The Alentejo in Portugal is uncrowded and beautiful

Tell someone you are visiting Portugal and they assume you are visiting the Algarve on a sun or golf holiday, or perhaps taking a weekend break in Lisbon.

But there’s another part of Portugal you should consider which is virtually empty of tourists (for now), full of history and stunning landscapes with the bonus of being one of the world’s most exciting wine regions.

The Alentejo is north of the Algarve and South of Lisbon — the name translates as “below the Tagus”, the river which flows through the city. Despite covering almost a third of Portugal’s land mass it contains just 7% of its population and empty landscapes (and beaches) are part of the region’s charm.