June in Portugal

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Now is the best time to start planning a quick getaway in sunny Portugal. June is already the beginning of the high season, but still not plagued with the crowds of July and August, making it the perfect time for an escapade in southern lands. And least you should think that there's nothing more to be found in this lovely country other than beautiful beaches, let me prove you wrong. June is a time of celebration in Portugal and many cities and towns hold their annual festivals around this time.

Saint Anthony, the Patron Saint of Lisbon, is celebrated on the night of the 12th of June with traditional street parties all around the capital. Representatives of each of the historic quarters of the city descent to the famous Liberdade Avenue for the "marchas", a sort of parade where they display folk dances in traditional clothing. Thousands gather to watch the performance and to cheer the winning group at the end. All around the city, local communities organize street parties with plenty of food and music to go around. In the historic quarters, particularly near the castle, it may be difficult to move around due to the insane amount of people out partying, but the energy and excitement are unparalleled and well worth it.

Sangria is the drink of choice, and you can't go through the night without trying the famous "sardinha no pão", grilled sardine eaten with bred, which is brilliant in its simplicity and betrays the country's strong ties to the sea.

If Lisbon shines in early June, the end of the month is Porto's time to celebrate. The capital of the north celebrates it's patron saint, Saint John, with festivities on the night of the 23rd of June, well into dawn on the 24th. Party goers have a choice of street gatherings all over the city, with open air concerts in several spots. Traditional hot air balloons are released into the sky and it's traditional for people to jump over the fires lit all around the city. Those who can manage to stay up all night normally walk all the way from Ribeira to Foz do Douro, where they can enjoy a glorious view of the sunrise from the beach.

And if you still have the energy after all the fun, you can easily go for a leisurely drive in the countryside, for a somewhat more relaxed entertainment.

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