The Best Places to Visit in Portugal

Portugal packs an incredible variety into a small country: hilly capital cities, fairytale palaces, golden sea cliffs, terraced vineyards, medieval villages and volcanic islands. Here are the best places to visit in Portugal, with links to our detailed guides for each.

Quick answer: the top places to visit are Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, the Algarve, the Douro Valley, Madeira and the Azores. Add Évora, Óbidos, Coimbra, Aveiro and the Costa Vicentina if you have more time.

The essentials

1. Lisbon: viewpoints, trams, Alfama and Belém. See things to do in Lisbon.
2. Porto: the riverside, port cellars and tiled churches. See things to do in Porto.
3. Sintra: Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. See visiting Sintra.
4. The Algarve: cliffs, coves and beaches. See where to stay in the Algarve.
5. The Douro Valley: terraced vineyards and port quintas. See the Douro itinerary.
6. Madeira: levadas, mountains and Funchal. See the Madeira itinerary.
7. The Azores: crater lakes, whales and hot springs. See the São Miguel itinerary.

Historic towns

8. Évora: a Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones. See Évora.
9. Óbidos: a walled medieval town. See Óbidos.
10. Coimbra: the historic university. See Coimbra.
11. Tomar: the Templar Convent of Christ. See Tomar.
12. Guimarães and Braga: the birthplace of Portugal and its religious capital. See Braga and Guimarães.

Coast and nature

13. The Costa Vicentina: wild beaches and clifftop trails. See Costa Vicentina.
14. Nazaré: giant winter waves. See Nazaré’s big waves.
15. Aveiro and Costa Nova: canals and striped houses. See Costa Nova.
16. Peneda-Gerês: Portugal’s only national park. See Peneda-Gerês.
17. Cascais: a seaside town near Lisbon. See Cascais.

Hidden gems

Marvão, Monsaraz, Monsanto and Piódão. See Portugal’s hidden gems and the most beautiful small towns.

Plan your route

See first time in Portugal, 7 days in Portugal and 10 days in Portugal.

From our sister blog: 10 best places to visit in Portugal on Sunset Travellers.

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