25 Best Things to Do in Portugal

Portugal packs an incredible amount into a small country: hilltop capitals, fairy-tale palaces, wine valleys, golden cliffs, volcanic islands and some of the best food in Europe. Here are the 25 best things to do in Portugal, picked by the families, members and locals of our Portugal Travel Tips groups, with links to our detailed guides for each one.

Quick answer: on a first trip, don’t miss Lisbon’s Alfama, Sintra’s palaces, Porto and the Douro Valley, the Algarve’s cliffs and Benagil Cave, and a pastel de nata (or three). With more time, add Évora, Madeira or the Azores. Our 10-day itinerary puts the highlights together.

Lisbon

1. Get lost in Alfama

Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood: steep lanes, laundry lines, fado drifting out of taverns and views from the castle. Read our 3 days in Lisbon itinerary, where to stay in Lisbon and the best Lisbon hotels with a view. Rain forecast? See Lisbon on a rainy day. Only got a day? Lisbon in one day.

2. Watch the sunset from a miradouro

Senhora do Monte, Graça and Santa Catarina are local favourites. See the best Lisbon viewpoints and most Instagrammable spots.

3. Hear fado

From amateur nights in tiny taverns to classic fado houses. See fado in Lisbon.

4. Eat your way through Lisbon

Warm custard tarts, petiscos, grilled sardines and the Time Out Market. See the best pastel de nata and Lisbon food markets.

5. Explore Belém

The Jerónimos Monastery, the reopened Belém Tower and the original pastel de Belém. See the best tours in Lisbon.

6. Ride the hills by tuk-tuk

The easiest way up the hills, especially with the historic lifts closed. See Lisbon tuk-tuk tours.

Day trips from Lisbon

7. Explore Sintra’s palaces

Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and the Moorish Castle. See Sintra in one day, visiting Sintra the best Sintra tours and where to stay in Sintra.

8. Hit the beach in Cascais or Arrábida

Seaside Cascais is 40 minutes by train, and the turquoise coves of Arrábida are close too. See Cascais (and where to stay there) and Setúbal and Arrábida.

9. Walk the walls of Óbidos

A walled medieval town with ginjinha in chocolate cups. See Óbidos, and the giant waves of Nazaré nearby.

10. Visit Berlenga Island

A wild, protected island off Peniche. See Berlengas. Also: Fátima, Ericeira and the best beaches near Lisbon. More ideas: the best day trips from Lisbon.

Porto and the north

11. Cross the D. Luís I bridge and taste port

Walk the top deck, then taste port in the cellars of Gaia. See Porto in one day, 2 days in Porto, the best tours in Porto Porto’s best photo spots and Porto hotels with a view.

12. Spend a day in the Douro Valley

Terraced vineyards, quintas and river cruises. See Douro wine tours or the Douro without a tour.

13. See where Portugal was born

Guimarães castle and Bom Jesus in Braga. See Braga and Guimarães, plus Aveiro and Coimbra.

14. Swim under a waterfall in Peneda-Gerês

Portugal’s only national park. See Peneda-Gerês.

The Algarve

15. See Benagil Cave from the water

By licensed boat or guided kayak only. See Benagil Cave and the best Algarve boat trips.

16. Walk the Seven Hanging Valleys trail

Clifftop views from Praia da Marinha. See the best Algarve beaches and the Algarve’s best photo spots.

17. Explore Lagos and the wild west coast

Ponta da Piedade, Sagres and the empty beaches of the Costa Vicentina. See Lagos and the western Algarve and Costa Vicentina.

18. Island-hop in the Ria Formosa

Tavira, Olhão and car-free islands. See Tavira and the eastern Algarve.

Planning the Algarve: where to stay, the best hotels in Lagos, family resorts, beach restaurants and the best day trips. Visiting off-season? See the Algarve in winter. Staying in Albufeira? See the best hotels in Albufeira.

The Alentejo

19. Explore Évora

A Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones and Alentejo wine. See Évora and the Alentejo.

20. Stargaze at Alqueva

The world’s first Starlight Tourism Destination, below the hilltop village of Monsaraz. See Monsaraz and Alqueva.

The islands

21. Walk a levada in Madeira

Mountain trails and laurel forests (book your slot first). See Madeira levada walks the Madeira travel guide and things to do in Funchal.

22. Soak in the hot springs of the Azores

Crater lakes, whales and Furnas. See the São Miguel itinerary and Azores travel guide.

Food and culture

23. Eat like a local

Bacalhau, francesinha, cozido, petiscos and the prato do dia. See what to eat in Portugal.

24. Drink port, vinho verde and Alentejo reds

Portugal has some of the best-value wine in the world. See Portugal’s wine regions and the best wineries to visit.

25. Catch a wave (or slow down)

Take a surf lesson in Ericeira or the Algarve (see surfing in Portugal), or simply enjoy long lunches, coffee at the counter and an evening stroll. It’s the Portuguese way.

Plan your trip

• When to go: the best time to visit Portugal and Portugal in winter.
• Before you go: entry requirements, things to know, money and eSIMs.
• Getting around: Lisbon to Porto by train, Lisbon to the Algarve, driving and car rental.
• Which city? Porto vs Lisbon.
• Road trip: our two-week Portugal road trip.
• Visiting in December? Christmas in Portugal.
• Travelling with family? Portugal with kids and with a dog.

Got a question? Ask our 305,000+ members in the Portugal Travel Tips groups, and grab our free trip checklist.

From our sister blog: The 10 most beautiful places to visit in Portugal on Sunset Travellers.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.