For several years now, Portugal has been one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe, thanks to a number of qualities, and this is only a partial list: welcoming locals, traditional and modern food, surfing and the sea, vast nature, old alongside new, the history of a fallen empire, a feeling of safety and some of the lowest beer prices in Europe and the world. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions in Portugal.
Portugal has become hugely popular over the past decade, among other things thanks to the citizenship it offered descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain. But Portugal is much more than a passport destination. Whether you’re coming for a few days or for longer, we’ve rounded up the attractions and must-see places you’ll want to visit, photograph and tell everyone about back home.
Important!
Plan your route in advance based on the number of days you have. In the cities of Lisbon and Porto you can get around by public transport (it’s even best to avoid driving because of the traffic and lack of parking). If you’re planning to leave the cities, rent a car and discover rural Portugal along the way.
Porto
Portugal’s second-largest city (right next to another large city, Vila Nova de Gaia) offers an old town alongside a new one, a wide and wonderful river, bridges, beaches, parks, rich culture and history, wines and more.
You’ll find more information and attractions in Porto on our site.
Braga
A relatively short drive from Porto is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. It was founded by the Romans about 2,000 years ago and is considered the greatest spiritual center of Christianity in Portugal; it was the seat of the archbishop (and is also called the Rome of Portugal). The city is full of churches, walls and old buildings, and in the modern era it’s also a tech hub.
The Douro River and Valley
A long, wide river that starts in Spain and flows into the ocean at Porto. You can drive along it east from Porto on a winding road, stopping at small villages and towns, climbing to beautiful viewpoints and seeing dams and lots of vineyards. You can travel by car or by train, sail on part of the river, and there are guided tours too.
Read about the attractions of the Douro Valley here
Peneda-Gerês National Park
In the north of the country, very close to the border with Spain, it’s one of the largest parks in Portugal (and the country’s only national park). The area offers everything: fascinating encounters with nature, jeep tours, off-road and adventure routes, hiking trails, waterfalls and many other faces of nature.
Aveiro
A small city on the ocean, between Porto and Lisbon. It’s a touristy city that draws visitors with its canals in the style of Venice or Amsterdam, where you can take a boat ride and hear about the city’s history. Alongside the canals there are colorful houses, a fish market and lots of souvenir shops. Despite the strong tourist vibe, it’s definitely a pleasant and pretty place to stop.
Nazaré
A beach town that became famous for surfing giant waves. The shape of the seabed and cliffs creates ideal conditions for huge waves, which draw surf lovers (both surfers and spectators).
The town and its surroundings also have beautiful beaches, for example São Martinho do Porto, known for its white sand, clear water and relative shelter from the wind. There are also spectacular cliffs used as viewpoints (the Nazaré Canyon viewpoint), fishermen’s quarters and more. The town is considered a “young” place, but it also draws families with kids.
Óbidos
If you look up “picturesque town” in the dictionary, you’ll find the name Óbidos. It’s about 80 km from Lisbon, close enough for a day trip from the big city. It’s a medieval town surrounded by a wall (about a kilometer and a half long, with a walking path along it). The town changed hands several times, especially between Muslims and Christians, and the traces of that are still there today.
Married men looking for a gift idea for their wives can take inspiration from the king of Portugal who gave this town to his wife as a present.
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its largest city, packed with places to see and things to do.
Click here for recommended attractions in Lisbon. If you’re traveling with kids, we’ve also put together recommendations for family attractions in Lisbon.
Sintra
If you love fairy tales, Sintra is the place for you. Castles, palaces, stories of kings and princesses, it’s all here. The town is very close to Lisbon, so you can go there and back in a day. It used to be a summer retreat for kings and nobility, which is why castles, estates and palaces were built here, surrounded by lots of nature.
The Schist Villages
In central Portugal there’s a little big wonder: a series of a few dozen small villages known for their special construction from dark stones called schist. The villages lie in the Serra do Açor and Lousã mountains and offer a direct, authentic encounter with Portugal’s traditional, local and ancient culture, with walking trails between small houses, nature, terraces and home-grown crops.
Cabo da Roca
This is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It’s a stop for views and photos from a huge cliff where it meets the ocean. There’s a lighthouse, and you can walk right to the edge of the cliff and watch the endless struggle between the waves and the rock.
A little tip! The wind on the cliff is especially strong, and hats, wigs and other things fly away easily. If you’re on the light side, fill your pockets with stones.
Portugal’s Cafés
We’re not talking about the touristy cafés, but the small ones in residential neighborhoods where the locals live. They’re called cafetaria or confeitaria. These are simple cafés with not-so-comfortable chairs, serving coffee, cold drinks, beer and pastries or sandwiches at ridiculously low prices. The idea is: you come, you eat and you move on. A local experience worth trying.
Share with us in the comments: which other attractions in Portugal shouldn’t be missed?