Sport in Portugal

Portugal can be called one of the most suitable countries for all kind of sports. Do you want to argue? Then this article is for you.

Climate and relief

Portugal has 250-300 sunny days a year. Accordingly, bad weather rarely happens, that is, you can do sports on the street all year round. The proximity of the ocean expands the list of sports activities almost indefinitely.

Badminton, beach volleyball, sports exercise in any park or on the beach, we do not even consider. Portugal has sun, wind, water and even mountains, that is, the earth – all the main elements of the planet.

The relief of Portugal is uneven. Despite the small size of the country, nature also changes from area to area. Some areas have their own special microclimate and the air temperature does not change almost all year round. All of this contributes to varied and regular sports activities.

Running

In any city of Portugal, at any time of the day or year, you can see people running. This is a sport that does not require special equipment and skills. Enough sneakers and sun on the window.

A great pleasure is to run along the ocean on special paths or you can complicate your task and go to run on the cliffs off-road. A fresh breeze always blows from the ocean, filling your lungs with the oxygen your body needs when running.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, called the city of seven hills, also has joggers. Neither uncomfortable paving stones, nor narrow streets, nor elevation differences stop them. However, there is a logical explanation for this. In big cities, as you know, people are engaged in less active work. And, in order to throw out energy after working in front of the computer, they go jogging.

Cycling

Portugal has ideal trails for practicing road bike cycling and for mountain bikers – deserted and wild cliffs with extreme descents and ascents. Even in large cities with active traffic, there are contactless bike rental stations. Some travel companies and sports organizations offer route maps especially for cyclists.

Attention! In coastal areas, bicycles must be handled with great care. For example, do not ride on sand, do not soak in salt water, do not leave in the scorching sun. The natural conditions are good for athletes but destructive for materials.

Golf

It is rarely talked about, but Portugal has great golf courses. In addition, some Municipal Parks have mini-golf areas.

During the Open Golf Championship, the competitions are held in the sunny region of the country – in the Algarve. Although world-class golf courses are scattered throughout Portugal, the best courses are found near Lisbon and in the south of the country. Just imagine – there are about ninety of them!

Golf lovers are pleased with the value for money. The courses are kept in perfect order, but the golf course is affordable. Portugal’s golf instructors receive many awards every year.

Water sports

You can talk about this endlessly in Portugal. The ocean provides incredible opportunities to diversify your sports life.

Firstly, this is surfing: classic surfing, paddle surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing. A separate popular sport with a board is bodyboarding. All year round, storms from the Atlantic Ocean bring waves to the shores of Portugal.

Secondly, it is diving, snorkeling and swimming. However, in addition to equipment, you must have a wetsuit. The water in the Atlantic Ocean does not warm above 22 degrees. However, there is no problem with that. There are quite a few places in Portugal where you can rent a wetsuit and everything you need to dive into the ocean.

Thirdly, it is kayaking, yachting and fishing. The Atlantic Ocean is rarely calm. Without proper experience, it is dangerous to go far from the coast. However, Portugal has bays and coves sheltered from wind and waves by cliffs. Therefore, there is always a choice between extreme sports and quiet enjoyment.

Football

Portugal is famous for its talented football players. Every second Portuguese is a football fan, and there is a TV channel that shows only football matches.

There are two major events in the Portuguese football world in a year: Liga Sagres and the Portuguese Cup. Football teams are often debated in cafes and bars. Local kids dream of becoming footballers when they grow up. Even adult Portuguese do not mind playing the ball in their spare time.

Rally

Portugal has its own important rally traditions. The world famous rally race is held there – the Rally of Portugal. The most important and only trail is in Estoril. There are motorcycle races – the World Motorsport Championship and the A1 Grand Prix. In the southern Algarve region of Portugal, a race track has recently been completed, where the country’s authorities hope to host Formula 1.

In addition, go-karting is possible in any region of Portugal. Indoor and outdoor tracks await amateur sportsmen all year round.

Bullfighting

Bullfighting in Portugal has become the property of the country. There are ongoing sports about whether to ban bullfighting because of love and pity for animals.

However, bullfighting in Portugal differs from the Spanish bullfighting and is called tourada. Here the bullfighter sits astride a horse and does not seek to kill the bull. It looks more like a theatrical performance with colorful costumes and sets.

Despite the ambiguous attitude of people towards tourada, it is considered a symbol of masculinity and fortitude of Portuguese men.

Other sports

Many young people in Portugal enjoy skateboarding. Each city has a training area with special ramps.

Yoga is also actively practiced in the country. In the parks, you can find a group of elderly people doing exercises on the lawn. For the younger and more advanced people, special yoga courses are held. In addition, yoga is considered the best activity for surfers. Surf schools often offer a yoga course too.

In Portugal, Zumba and Kizomba are actively engaged in, dance festivals and parties take place.

You can ski and practice snowboard all year round in the resorts of the Serra da Estrela mountain range.

In addition, Portugal has a considerable number of national outdoor games.

Conclusion

Portugal disposes to lead a healthy lifestyle and do sports. If you are tired of traditional tourism, you can always contact one of the sports schools and take a few lessons. In general, to become an athlete in Portugal, you just need to go outside!