Alongside its brother, Spain, Portugal has become a very popular tourist destination thanks to more accessible flights. It’s a great spot to hide in from our freezing winters. What cities and towns are worth seeing in Portugal? Which one should you visit? Today’s post will go over our 13 picks for the best Portuguese cities and towns that you should certainly consider.
Lisbon
This is likely no surprise to anyone. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is one of the most popular cities here and we’d consider it a must-see. It’s located in the hills stretching over the Tagus River and the ocean. The Portuguese capital is not a particularly expensive place to visit and offers prospects like trying the original pasteis de nata or visiting the famous Belem Tower. If you’re interested in a trip to Lisbon, here is our list of the best things you can do in the city.
Porto
Porto is another staple on Portuguese lists, the second largest city in the country. The most notable aspects of the city are its famous two-storey bridge of Louis I, the wine cellars of various Porto wine producers or the famous azulejos tiles. It’s a great place for both a short and a long trip, where you can take a walk on the promenade along the Duero river and admire the wondrous views of the city. For those interested in Porto, we’ve made a list of the best tourist attractions for it too.
Fatima
Truth be told, the popularity of the small city of Fatima is a bit of an accident. If it were not for the events of 1917, it’s unlikely it would be much of a recognisable place. Today, thanks to tales of apparitions and the secrets of Fatima, it’s a centre of pilgrimages. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary was built on the site of the 1917 apparitions. Another commonly visited religious spot are the tiny Chapel of the Apparitions and the fourth largest church in the world, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, finished only in 2007. There are also the homes of the children who were witnesses to the apparitions. If you have religious family or friends, you may have even already seen little figurines of Our Lady or some holy water from Fatima.
Amarante
For the less recognisable stuff, here’s a small town of Amarante located near Porto. The most notable tourist attractions of Amarante include its beautiful location on the Tamega River, the old São Gonçalo Monastery and the beautiful Ponte de São Gonçalo bridge dating back to 1790. You’ll also find plenty of charming cafes and restaurants in the town, as well as the famous statue of St Gonzales said to bring good fortune.
Aveiro
Aveiro is often referred to as the Venice of Portugal. It’s a small city criss-crossed by a system of canals situated on the ocean. It’s filled with beautiful old townhouses with coloured facades and charming promenades. You can find an old cathedral here, canal tours and numerous houses finished with lovely azulejo tiles. Aveiro is preferable for a short getaway rather than a longer holiday.
Sintra
For those of you who are a bit fed up with big cities though, we have the town of Sintra with its famous Pena Palace towering over it. The palace offers beautiful views and unique architecture (the colours!) – if that won’t be enough for you, the palace is also surrounded by various gardens and parks to enjoy. There’s also the Moorish Castle and the Monserrate Palace or the Cape Cabo do Roca that you can drive up to from Sintra. Sintra is less than 20 miles away from Lisbon, so you can include it as a day trip.
Algarve
Algarve actually refers to an entire region in the south of Portugal. It’s got great weather and a beautiful coastline created by the great earthquake of 1755. It includes notable places such as Faro, Lagos and Portimao. There’s also the beautiful town of Tavira on the Filao River. It’s a very popular tourist region, though you can find plenty of hidden quiet areas to hide away from it all. We’d recommend Algarve for those of you who have already seen the mainstream chunk of sites in Portugal and are looking for something new.
Óbidos
It’s quite rare for a town to still have its medieval fortifications and wall intact. If you’re interested in seeing what that would be like, then Óbidos may be a great candidate for your trip. It’s a town completely surrounded by medieval walls with a castle towering over the whole place. There are also beautiful whitewashed houses here, medieval fairs with traditional products as well as the famous traditional Ginja cherry liqueur served in chocolate glasses. Additionally, you can find a large number of unusual bookshops and the equally unusual Literary Man Hotel.
Coimbra
Coimbra is the third largest city in Portugal – so already not a very large city, with only 140k people living there, though it is no less attractive as a result. Coimbra is known for having one of the oldest universities in Europe, a generally beautiful location and even its own style of fado music. The list of places to see in Coimbra includes the beautiful baroque university library and the Santa Clara-a-Velha monastery. Also worth noting is the considerable number of ruins dating back to the ancient Roman Empire.
Sortelha
Sortelha is another place that will certainly appeal to lovers of the medieval aesthetic and rich history. Both the town and the old castle within it, one of the largest monuments in the country, remember the 13th century well. Apart from the castle, there is also a historic pillory, various old houses, a bell tower and a preserved medieval pavement section. The town is really quite beautiful, though largely unsuitable for a trip longer than a day or two.
Azores
Portugal also includes some interesting islands worth seeing. The first archipelago we would like to mention is the Azores, which consists of nine volcanic islands. Tourists tend to come here for the beautiful waterfalls and the hot thermal baths. There are also beautiful green hiking trails here, offering you the opportunity to see Portugal’s highest peak and to observe cetaceans. If you’re looking for a more active holiday or just a Portugal trip beyond just the large cities, then Azores is a great pick.
Madeira
Without a doubt, one of the most attractive tourist islands in Portugal is Madeira. It’s well renowned for its picturesque vineyards, gardens and coastline. All year round, people come for the unique cuisine, the wonderful climate and the various unusual events, such as New Year’s Eve in Funchal. For the football fans among you, there’s also the museum of Cristiano Ronaldo here, who was actually born in Funchal in 1985.
Monsanto
Monsanto is a small village in Portugal, not far from the Spanish border. It’s a place that will appeal most to those of you who are TRULY fed up with big cities and their frenzy. The most unique aspect of the village, and one of its main selling points, is in its construction. Monsanto is built on top of huge boulders and it’s not uncommon to see houses built between giant stones. In 1983, the village was chosen as “the most Portuguese village in Portugal.”
