Lisbon has always been the most popular destination in Portugal, even more so in the past few years. But given its size, the country is amazingly diverse. So do yourself a favor – spend a few days in the capital and then head further afield…
By Jim Ferri
For too many years Portugal was given short shrift by Iberian-bound travelers who focused almost entirely on neighboring Spain.
That began to change dramatically several years ago during Lisbon’s new renaissance. It was a time when scores of upscale hotels and hip new restaurants took root in the city. As a consequence, the capital that was once an afterthought became a star on the European tourist circuit.
Moreover, Lisbon’s popularity continues to grow today as record numbers of travelers flock to the city. But if you’re part of that flock you’ll do yourself a favor if you continue beyond the capital. You’ll find there’s plenty to see beyond Lisbon – both on and beyond the peninsula.
Amazingly Diverse
From the massive, dramatic cliffs that buffer the Atlantic in the south, to the soft rolling hills and vineyards of the Duoro in the north, Portugal is an amazingly diverse country. Visit the beaches of the Algarve but don’t miss historic Sagres or the historic university city of Coimbra. Stroll the cobbled alleyways of Porto, and be sure to visit fairytale-like Sintra, Lord Byron’s favorite.
Get off the beaten track and roam about remote Estremadura or through the cork forests and olive groves of Alentejo. And for a real adventure head to the Portuguese islands of Madeira or the Azores.
Here are 10 of the best places in Portugal you don’t want to miss.
Lisbon, Portugal’s Capital
The Baixa, Lisbon’s downtown area, is still the traditional center of city life. Also it’s where Lisbon’s oldest and traditional shops still exist. In this heart of the city, is the famous pedestrian-only street Rua Augusta. Streets that run parallel to it identify the various tradesmen and craftsmen who have done business there for centuries. You’ll find jeweler’s stores in the Rua do Ouro (Gold Street) and the Rua da Prata (Silver Street).
Regrettably, the original Baixa was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755. Afterward, it was reconstructed by the king’s prime minister, the Marquês de Pombal. As a consequence, it’s still popularly known as the Baixa Pombalina. It has a uniform and rectangular layout that makes no distinction between the various social strata that live in the area.
First and foremost, don’t miss visiting the Alfama, the old hilly area of Lisbon. It’s wrapped around the hill below St. George’s Fort. It escaped the destruction of the earthquake and the ensuing tidal wave. It was once the most upscale residential area of the city back in Moorish times.
Go up it on Tram 28, an old wooden trolley that climbs the steep, narrow cobblestone streets. They seem to run off in every direction but you can easily walk down.
Travel Guides on Portugal I Recommend
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Portugal DK guides are very good both for the amount of information they contain and also for the illustrations that help guide you to a better understanding of the things you see. I use them often.
Fodor’s Essential Portugal This guide, written by locals, is one of a number of travel guides Fodor has been providing for eight decades.
Lonely Planet Portugal Lonely Planet produces an excellent series of guides with a loyal following of travelers.
The Algarve, Portugal’s Beautiful Beaches
Sea, sun, and sand mark Portugal’s famous Algarve. While the region’s beaches and picturesque villages have made it world renown, the region also has some world-renowned golf courses. The area’s capital, Faro, remains nearly the same as it was in the 18th century, with some of its charming neighborhoods intact.
Lagos and Sagres on the east end of the Algarve date back to Roman times. But it was in the 15th century that Sagres achieved importance with the frequent presence of Prince Henry the Navigator.
Visit the Fortaleza de Sagres (a fortress built in the 15th century) and thought to be the site of Prince Henry’s “School of Navigation”. By the same token visit Cape of São Vicente, one of the most westerly points of the European continent after Cabo da Roca. It was also a sacred place to the Romans who called it Promontorium Sacrum.
Sintra, the Fairytale City
Sintra’s Palácio da Pena is one of the best examples of 19th-century Romantic revivalism in Portugal. Set at the top of the Monte da Pena, the palace was built on the site of an old monastery belonging to the Order of St. Jerome. It was the result of the imagination of Dom Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, who married Queen Dona Maria II in 1836.
After falling in love with Sintra, he decided to buy the convent and the surrounding land to build a summer palace for the royal family. This resulted in a somewhat unusual mixture of architectural styles. Moreover, he also established an English-style woodland park with a wide variety of exotic trees.
The highlight of the palace’s interior is the chapel. Its alabaster altarpiece is attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne, one of the architects of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, in Lisbon. Also, there’s a restaurant in one of the wings of the palace. There you’ll get a panoramic view of Serra de Sintra and the coast.
Good Tours In Portugal
Lisbon: Gourmet Walking Tour and Tastings Savor the flavors of Portuguese food on a 3-hour tour of Lisbon’s traditional eateries
Madeira: Best of the West Tour from Funchal Travel through deep valleys and see traditional fishing villages
Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, River Cruise and Lunch Spend a full day taking in the landscapes of the Douro Valley, traveling in a comfortable vehicle that seats 4 or 8 people
Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Full-Day Tour Medieval Sintra, one of the most beautiful places in the world, mystical Quinta da Regaleira, and Cascais, once a playground for royalty
Porto: City Train Tour, River Cruise & Wine Cellar Travel on an elegant, touristic train and enjoy a unique visit to Portugal’s oldest wine cellars
Porto and Its Wine
The gateway to the north, Porto is both the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known worldwide as Port. The second largest city in the country, it’s located at the mouth of the Douro River. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city’s Cais da Ribeira riverfront is its center and its most picturesque part. The area has a mix of ancient narrow streets and alleyways with centuries-old buildings. Old homes of granite and tile loom over the waterfront, that’s filled with Rabelo boats and river excursion ships.
The riverfront area comes alive in the evening when numerous cafés, bars, and restaurants open. Couples stroll along the Douro, as a hint of music drifts from the bars and cafes, and the smell of coffee and grilled fish fills the air.
Coimbra, Portugal’s University City
Roughly halfway between Lisbon and Oporto in the north, Coimbra was once the capital of the Portugal. However, it’s most famous for the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290 and one of the oldest universities in Europe. Furthermore, it’s a city of medieval churches and a maze of medieval streets. Presumably, that’s the reason some consider it the most romantic city in Portugal.
Overlooking the city and the Mondego River, the University is a rambling building, constructed around a central courtyard. Its entrance is through the Porta Férrea (Iron Gate), an impressive Mannerist work (1634). There one can also see the statues of the University´s patrons, the Kings Dom Dinis and Dom João III.
You’ll see students all around the city, identified by the black capes they still wear. The little colored ribbons on their briefcases denoting the school they attend. I came across a group of young female students in their capes on a downtown street singing acapella for passersby.
Funchal, Madeira
Madeira is a group of four Portuguese islands off the coast of North Africa. Funchal, its capital, is a walkable city with a nice harbor and a cathedral more than 500 years old. It’s perpetually sunny, but when the sun goes down, the tempo picks up in its nightclubs, restaurants, and casinos.
Some associate the Monte area of Funchal with wicker “toboggan rides” that first appeared around 1850. Originally, this was a fast means of transportation to central Funchal for people living up the steep hillside in Monte.
Presently, the toboggans continue to attract tourists who want to sled down a narrow, winding street to the city below. The one-mile downhill journey takes about 10 minutes, sometimes reaching a speed of 30 miles an hour. You can take a cable car back up.
Beautiful Évora
A unique and historic city, 2,000-year old Evora is labyrinthine of streets and city squares, Renaissance fountains, Moorish courtyards and Gothic doorways and turrets. The Romans created its elegant temple, battlements, and baths, and the Moorish “Yeborah” influenced the urban network of the Mouraria district.
Évora is a beautiful town at the foot of the mountain range of the same name. Consequently, its unique characteristics led UNESCO to classify it as a World Heritage site.
Incidentally, it was even necessary for UNESCO to create a special category, that of “cultural landscape.” Accordingly, this was to take into account the natural riches of the mountains as well as the historic town.
King João II chose it for the wedding of his successor to the daughter of the Catholic Monarchs. King Manuel I established his court in Évora as did King João III.
Ironically, Praça do Giraldo of Evora, where open-air cafes now serve coffee to tourists, was once the location of public executions.
Óbidos
Óbidos, with its whitewashed houses covered with bougainvillea and honeysuckle, was captured from the Moors, and until 1883 the town and the surrounding land was always the property of the Queens of Portugal.
Encircled by a ring of medieval walls and crowned by a rebuilt Moorish castle, it is now a Pousada. You enter the town through the southern gate of Santa Maria, which is embellished with eighteenth-century azulejo tile.
At any rate, be sure to visit the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria (Parish Church of Santa Maria) and the pretty Capela de São Martinho (Chapel of S. Martinho). Also, outside the town walls, stop by the Igreja do Senhor da Pedra (Church of the Senhor da Pedra).
The most important annual events in Óbidos are the Holy Week Festivities (recreating the steps on the Way of the Cross). Also, the Ancient Music Festival takes place in October and, for chocoholics, the International Chocolate Festival in March.
Vila Franca do Campo, Azores
The Azores is a group of nine islands scattered over several hundred nautical miles roughly midway between Boston and mainland Portugal. In fact, it’s the closest point to Europe from the United States.
The islands are popular places for yachting and diving, as well as horseback riding, and cycling. The largest town on the islands, Vila Franca do Campo, is surrounded by orange and pineapple plantations.
Furthermore , the islands are also a popular place for whale watching. Offshore, sperm whales, northern bottle nose, pilot, and Sowerby’s beaked whales. Occasionally, orcas are also spotted.
Historic Guimarães
First and foremost, for the Portuguese Guimarães is a special place. It was there, in a field close to the walls of its castle, that Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, fought the Battle of São Mamede in 1128. Ironically, he was fighting against the army of Teresa, his mother.
Nevertheless, his victory marked the beginning of the process that would lead to the foundation of the kingdom of Portugal.
In addition to a medieval castle, the city also encompasses the 15th century Ducal Palace, now both a palace and a museum. In the center of the town is Rua de Santa Maria, a narrow medieval street, considered by art historians to be the most beautiful in the city.
While you’re in Portugal, you may also want to travel to exotic Morocco, which is quite close. And, of course, there’s also the beautiful city of Madrid and incredible Barcelona in neighboring Spain.
Editor’s Note: you may also enjoy The Top 10 Places in England – Best Greek Islands – and Sicily By Car In 8 Days
If You Go:
Visit Portugal
https://www.visitportugal.com/en
THIS SITE IS VERY USEFUL TO ME.KEEP GOING TO HELP OTHERS ALSO
Whale watching is just one of the best things you can do in the island.. Surfing, body boarding, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, kite surfing, boating, diving some of the most virgin locations in the world, swimming with dolphins, and spelunking are also some of the available options in the island. And all these are right outside of the doorstep of one of the Most Incredible Unit in Azores!!
This also got more pictures that will fascinate you!!
Portugal is very beautiful country I like it portuguese people are very nice
I am from Pakistan
your cool
its so cool
Portugal is a nice country the above stated top 10 tourist places really attractive. Hopping Portuguese people may be good.
The Portuguese are very welcoming.
http://www.tours.pt has a fantastic tours.
I love Portugal
I love all europe countries …….. Io m nepali man ……..
I’m Portuguese and i visit every year and I highly recommend going. The people there are the nicest people I know.
They’re wonderful people, aren’t they Anthony?
How couldn’t they be good people? Portugal has one of the most tolerant societies in Europe’s history. It’s a unique country. Beautiful and pleasant cuisine. Just enjoy.
I worked on contract in Lisbon for six months, and loved it. My colleagues were such wonderful people, everyone was so nice to each other and to children everywhere. I dont think I have met such universally lovely people anywhere else. But the food was terrible for vegetarians!
Regarding vegetarians…I’m planning a visit so that’s good to know. I eat fish though and hopefully there won’t be a problem.
The month of June is party time in Lisbon! One of Portugal’s most popular saints, Santo António (Saint Anthony of Padua), was a Fransiscan friar canised by the Catholic Church in record time, one year after his death (on June 13, 1232). Many miracles have been attributed to him and he is considered a protector of the souls of purgatory, guardian of good marriages, defender of animals, healer, and advocate of lost objects. On the eve of June 13th Lisbon (and in all of Portugal) turns into one big party, the craziest night of the year! If You Need Transportation in Lisbon http://www.wh-executiveservice.com/co.uk/index.php
very use-full it kept me going for ages
Oh this brings back wonderful memories! Smells of food, tastes, fado, something for all your senses !
I love Portugal and have cried every time I left!
Pasteis de nata ! The best invention ever!
Suckling pork!
Fairytale castles!
i would love to meet portugal citizen i have heard of the good and greatness of portugal..and i think i want to really visit and meet with social and kind hearted people
Looks nice
When I stayed in Portugal, I had to choose between many sea activities, such as boat trips, kayak tours, surf schools. I found a website called http://www.seabookings.com, very cool to compare all the different kind of things to do in the Agarve
You have to visit Azores.
See it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PIs0gq5j3c
I love Portugal!
I am looking for a village in Portugal to rent a villa or apartment for a week and use as a base to explore. I would like the streets to be rather flat and the village to be central to interesting day trips. We have only been to Lisbon and I want the experience of the small towns..suggestions?
Hi Dotti,
I have a apartment to rent in Portugal, Lisbon in village called Carcavelos My apartment is near da beach and of train.
cheeck my blog :http://lisbonholiday.blogspot.se
I have an apartment in Lisbon, buzz me so we can talk business
I’m looking for an apartment in lisbon.but now I’m in India.next month I’ll be there in portugal.so please contact me.by
Here is my details:
Name:Rajesh
rchowdan@gmail.com.
contact number-+919071941231
You can visit Lisbon, Estoril, Cascais and Sintra. My apartament stay 3/4 minutes from the railway station. This place are amazing.
Sintra is very romantic place…
My apartment is great, there are 3 bed single more 2 double.
I rent for you 🙂
Great list. We take off for Portugal in 15 days and we are looking forward to all that it has to offer. We fly into the Azores and have heard nothing but amazing things about the islands.
Great post, I’m happy I found it. Portugal is amazing! Lissabon must be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
I love that last picture, by the way. Very special monument!
I stay few days in Porto, love the city center, fantastic.
But if you go to Porto, you must visit Pinhão, you will find gorgeus landscapes of Douro valley, and the wine is fantastic.
Next time i will visit Lisbon.
I guess there’s more to Portugal than Lisbon and Porto… Thank you so much for this awesome list!
If you want to have a great experience in Portugal, just go to Azores, Sao Miguel Island… People are very welcoming and they like to know where you come from so they can make you feel welcome.
nice article, thanks for the help!
Very good article ! Thank you !
Very interesting and useful article! Thank you!
What a great article you have here. Portugal is a small country but a beautiful one as well. It’s one of the oldest countries in Europe, with an amazing culture, mediterranean gastronomy and breathtaking landscapes. Aside from these wonderful places you’ve mentioned above, there is much more you can discover in Portugal, from north to south and islands as well.
fantastic list of the beautiful places in Portugal. These are just a few reasons to love Portugal, the food and the language is awesome as well.
Whenever I visited Portugal from Spain, it was like I had just seen an exciting and well-known part of Iberia, but now I was being taken back stage and given a very special treat, a place not everyone was privileged to see. Of course, Portugal was not a secret, but it seemed like a bonus that not every traveler made the extra effort to visit. It was fascinating, relaxing, authentic, and kind to my meager budget. I felt it was a true hidden gem, one that could charm and captivate me for a long time.
hi,
I am a middle aged woman that travel a lot and i have decided to travel to Portugal next March for 10_14 days
I would like to see some cities in addition Lisbon.i can’t swim so just going to beach is not my target.i would like to see cultural,historical and natural places.would you please tell me how i should plan for my trip to go to Porto,Fatima,Santa, Funchal…to use less money because i travel in an economic budget
I love to go by train.thank you in advance. By the way i knowthe way to book hotels in advance in low budget
Hi Zari,
You should get in touch with the Portuguese Tourist Board at https://www.visitportugal.com
Good luck and have a wonderful trip!
Wauw. What a nice article!
I have only been in Algarve, but I can see now there a tons of other places I need to visit!
Keep up the good work with your articles.
Lisbon is Portugal’s main tourist hub for a reason! Even I visit Lisbon every year to relax my mind from stress as the city has alot to offer to its tourists…. The city is full of natural beauty, amazing beaches, amusement parks, historical sights, worthy-nightlife and much more!
I must say that everyone should visit Lisbon once to enjoy one of the best capital cities in Europe!
and this article on web site is very strong, the website is definitely good and the author is smart once
Kahlil Gibran~ Man merely discovers he never can and never will invent.
Blessing Irish~ At a certain age some peoples minds close up they live on their intellectual fat.
I it an article that has some age, but still really relevant and with great tips. I have to say Lisbon, Algarve and Sintra are playes you have to visit, if you are going to Portugal. You have some other suggestions too, so thanks for good inspiration to our next trip 🙂
Thank you Simon. Glad I was of some help.
Looking forward to a first visit. I appreciate everyone’s contributions on places to visit. Being an ocean person, I particularly hope to see some huge waves at Nazare.
A comment to the webpage techs: ‘Fairytail’ (Sintra) should be spelled ‘Fairytale.’