Portugal

Hurtling down a mountainside somehow doesn't seem to fit with the Portuguese way of doing things; of taking it easy, spending time with friends and family and enjoying good food and wine.

Neither, frankly, does the geography. Portugal has beautiful beaches, rocky coastlines and ... well, golf courses. But mountains?

Actually yes. In the Serra Da Estrela National Park, 300 kms north of Lisbon, there's a whole bunch of them. And it's here that you'll find Torre, the only ski resort in Portugal. (There's also a dry ski slope near Manteigas.)

It wouldn't be fair to compare Torre to any of the ski resorts in the Alps. Apart from King João V who, back in the early 1700s, ordered the construction of a seven metre pylon on top of Portugal's highest point just so that it would reach 2,000 metres, nobody else in Portugal seems too bothered that they don't have the highest pointy bits, or the fluffiest white stuff.

That's not to say skiing or snowboarding in Portugal isn't popular. At weekends during the winter, Torre is mobbed. It's just that most of the people on the slopes are locals.

The resort has a range of blue and red runs, and one black. There's a small equipment hire shop too, where you can pick up all the usual gear for a day on the slopes.

The ski season in Portugal runs from January to March, with the best snow normally falling in February.

Cost

A one day adult lift pass at Torre costs €24 (US$35)

Getting here

Most international visitors are likely to fly to Lisbon, Portugal's capital. From there, it's a three hour drive to Torre. It's a similar drive from Porto. The cities of Guarda and Fundao are much closer and would make good bases for a day or two in the snow, combined with a bit of sightseeing.