Lisbon, the capital, sits at the mouth of the Tagus River and serves as the main gateway for international visitors. Porto, the country's second-largest city, anchors the north and gives its name to the famous fortified wine.
Portugal's position on the Atlantic coast has shaped its history as a maritime nation. The same ocean currents that once carried explorers to distant shores now bring surfers to world-class breaks along the coast. The country spans roughly 92,000 square kilometers (35,500 square miles), making it slightly smaller than Indiana.
Despite its modest size, Portugal offers remarkable geographic diversity: dramatic cliffs along the Algarve coast, rolling vineyards in the Douro Valley, forested mountains in the north, and sun-baked plains in the Alentejo region.
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