Portugal is a delight to explore, with its bustling, cosmopolitan cities, its picturesque coastal towns, its hilltop villages, wine regions, beaches, castles, and long list of historic landmarks. Whether you are drawn to the serene landscapes of the countryside, the bustling big cities, or the quaint beachfront towns, this guide will take you through best places to visit in Portugal.
This guide is perfect for first time visitors to Portugal and those planning a return trip. As you will see, there are a lot of beautiful towns to visit in Portugal and for most people, it will take multiple trips to visit all of them.
We have spent a lot of time in Portugal and in this guide, we share with you our favorite places.
Best Places to Visit in Portugal
In no particular order, here are the best towns and cities to visit in Portugal. We have visited all but one of these (Ponta Delgada in the Azores) so we have detailed guides you can read to learn more and to plan your visit.
1. Lisbon
Lisbon is Portugalโs largest city. It is also the second-oldest capital city in Europe, with Athens being #1 on this list.
For many visitors to Portugal, Lisbon is often the starting and/or ending point of a trip here. This city is made up of many smaller neighborhoods, some of the most famous being Alfama, Bairro Alto, Baixa, Belรฉm, and Chiado.
On even the fastest of itineraries, Lisbon is worth a day or two of your time, to explore the cityโs must-see sights and day trip to nearby destinations.

Top Experiences: Visit the amazing Jerรณnimos Monastery, tour Sรฃo Jorge Castle, stroll through Alfama and Bairro Alto, photograph Praรงa do Comรฉrcio, eat your way through Time Out Market, see Belรฉm Tower, and visit the viewpoints and miradouros.
How Much Time Do You Need in Lisbon? With one well planned day, you have just enough time to visit the main attractions. For the best experience, plan on spending 2 to 3 days in Lisbon, which also gives you enough time for a day trip to Sintra or another nearby town.
Lisbon Bucket List: 40 Amazing Things to Do in Lisbon
2. Sintra
Sintra is a small town that sits about 30 minutes away from Lisbon by train. This town is the gateway to exploring some of Portugalโs most famous palaces and castles, including Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Castle of the Moors.
There is a larger area which is referred to as the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which includes the palaces just listed (and more) plus a stunning stretch of coastline. Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, is located in this area.
Sintra is the #1 day trip from Lisbon, although it really takes 2 to 3 days to see everything here.

Top Experiences: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Castle of the Moors, Monserrate Palace, the National Palace of Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Praia da Ursa, Praia das Maรงรฃs
How Much Time Do You Need in Sintra? In one busy day, you can focus your time in the castles and palaces near Sintra town or split your time between the palaces and the coastal sites. With 2 days, spend one day touring the palaces and one day on the coast.
3. Cascais
This small coastal town is also a short train ride from Lisbon. Relaxing on the beach and strolling through the lovely city center tops the list of things to do in Cascais, but there are also a few museums you can add to the list.
Cascais is sometimes paired with the Sintra sights on a day trip from Lisbon. However, it also makes a very nice place to stay, with its resorts and beachfront setting.

Top Experiences: Spend some time on the beach, photograph the Santa Marta Lighthouse, see Boca da Inferno, stroll through the city center, visit the Palace of the Counts of Castro Guimarรฃes, see the citadel, and visit nearby Casino Estoril.
How Much Time Do You Need in Cascais? To see the main sights in town, a half of a day is all you need. If you want to add in some beach time, plan on spending a full day in Cascais.
Cascais, Portugal: Best Things to Do & Day Trip Ideas
Everything you need to know to visit Cascais.4. Azenhas do Mar
Azenhas do Mar is one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal, with its oceanfront setting and whitewashed buildings perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. It can be combined with the coastal sights in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and a visit to Cabo da Roca.

Top Experiences: The best thing to do here is to get the postcard view of the town. To do this, visit โMiradouro das Azenhas do Mar.โ From this spot, you have the option to walk the trail down into town, if you want to explore farther or get a bite to eat.
How Much Time Do You Need in Azenhas do Mar? Twenty minutes is enough time to visit the viewpoint and snap a photo.
Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon: 3 Ways to Spend One Day in Sintra
Learn how to visit Azenhas do Mar on a day trip from Lisbon.5. รbidos
We loved everything about our visit to this lovely little town. With its picturesque streets, ancient castle, small shops selling ginja in chocolate cups, and castle walls that circle the town, this is one of the most captivating towns in Portugal to visit.
It makes a wonderful stop on a road trip through Portugal or day trip from Lisbon.


Top Experiences: Walk the castle walls, see the castle, try ginja in a chocolate cup, see the aqueduct, go shopping, and explore the side streets.
How Much Time Do You Need in รbidos? To stroll through town, walk the fortified walls, go shopping, and have lunch or dinner, a few hours is really all the time you need.
6. Tomar
Tomar is a small town in central Portugal. It is home to the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to 1160 and the Portuguese headquarters of the Knights Templar.
This entire complex of buildings is a joy to explore. Visitors can walk through the gardens and along a portion of the castle walls for free. For a fee, visit the convent, the cloisters, see the Manueline window, and donโt miss the spectacular Charola (also called the Rotunda or Round Church).

Top Experiences: Visit the Convent of Christ, also called the Castle of Tomar
How Much Time Do You Need in Tomar? It takes one to two hours to visit the Convent of Christ. Tomar can be combined with Fรกtima, Batalha, and/or Alcobaรงa.
15 Must-See Castles in Portugal (Ranked!)
Learn more about Tomar and other castles in Portugal.7. Fรกtima
Fรกtima is a small town in central Portugal, not far from Tomar and the next two towns on this list, Alcobaรงa and Batalha.
Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three children reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The Chapel of Apparitions stands on the place where this occurred, making Fรกtima an important pilgrimage site in Portugal.

Top Experiences: See the Chapel of Apparitions and visit the Sanctuary of Fร tima and the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.
How Much Time Do You Need in Fรกtima? Depending on how many sites you visit in Fรกtima, a visit here can last anywhere from one to two hours to most of a day. For the average visitor, plan on spending one to two hours here. But since this is an important pilgrimage site with multiple places to visit, itโs possible to spend a full day in Fรกtima.
8. Alcobaรงa
The town of Alcobaรงa is famous for its stunning monastery. The Alcobaรงa Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
This Gothic monastery was built by monks of the Cistercian Order, with construction beginning in 1178. The highlights of a visit are the church, the multiple cloisters, the royal tombs, and old and new kitchen, and the dormitory.


Top Experiences: The Alcobaรงa Monastery is the main attraction in Alcobaรงa.
How Much Time Do You Need in Alcobaรงa? It takes between 1 and 2 hours to visit the monastery. Alcobaรงa can be combined with Batalha, Fรกtima, and/or Tomar on a day trip from Lisbon, Nazarรฉ, or another town in central Portugal.
9. Batalha
Batalha is a beautiful small town in central Portugal. The amazing Batalha Monastery is the centerpiece of town, with shops and restaurants circling the monastery on picturesque streets.
Batalha is located 20 km (about a 30-minute drive) from Alcobaรงa, so these are perfect to combine together. Plus, you will get to visit two of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
Batalha Monastery is a Dominican convent that was constructed between 1386 and 1517, in commemoration of the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota. It later became a burial church for Portuguese royalty. The highlights of a visit here are the church (the nave is incredible to see), the Founderโs Chapel (the first royal pantheon in Portugal), the royal cloisters, and the unfinished chapels.

Top Experiences: The main thing to see and do in Batalha is to visit the Batalha Monastery, which takes about 2 hours. We had a great lunch at Restaurante Burro Velho, which sits right next to the monastery.
How Much Time Do You Need in Batalha? It takes about 2 hours to visit the monastery. Add on additional time to walk around the small shops or to grab a bite to eat.
10. Nazarรฉ
To see some of the largest waves on the planet, put Nazarรฉ on your list.
During the winter months (roughly from October through March), the highest surfable waves in the world crash on the shores of Nazarรฉ. Every winter, world class surfers arrive in Nazarรฉ to surf these monstrous waves. New records are being set every year, with waves reaching heights over 26 meters (86 feet).
To see these waves, you will need to plan your visit for the winter months and keep your fingers crossed that the waves will make an appearance. However, Nazare is a joy to visit all year long.
This coastal town is home to a gorgeous stretch of coastline, some amazing seafood restaurants, and a beautiful town center. Nazarรฉ makes a great home base for exploring central Portugal or as a stopover when traveling between Lisbon and Porto.

Top Experiences: See the giant waves, walk out to Sรฃo Miguel Arcanjo Fort, stroll around O Sitio, visit the beaches, see the boats of Nazarรฉ and the Dried Fish Museum, dine on fresh seafood, and visit the Church of Nossa Senhora da Nazarรฉ
How Much Time Do You Need in Nazarรฉ? A few hours are all you need to walk through town and out to the fort for a view of the waves. One full day and night gives you enough time to see the main sights and relax on the beach. With more time, day trip to Batalha, Alcobaฤa, and Fรกtima.
11. Coimbra
Coimbra is an ancient Roman city and is famous for being home to one of the oldest academic institutions in the world. The university is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and touring its library is one of the most popular things to do in Coimbra.
Coimbra is located in central Portugal and is well connected to Porto and Lisbon by train.

Top Experiences: Tour the University of Coimbra, visiting the library, Royal Palace, Chapel of Sรฃo Miguel, and the Cabinet of Curiosities (we loved this!). There are also churches to visit, a very nice botanical garden, and a pedestrian shopping street.
How Much Time Do You Need in Coimbra? It takes a half to a full day to see the main attractions in Coimbra.
12. Aveiro & Costa Nova
Known as โthe Portuguese Veniceโ for its canals and waterways, Aveiro is another beautiful town to visit in Portugal. Just a few kilometers west of Aveiro is Costa Nova do Prado, a tiny coastal town that is famous for its colorful houses and views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Aveiro and Costa Nova can be visited as a day trip from Porto or Coimbra, or they can be visited together on a road trip through Portugal.

Top Experiences: Take a boat tour of the canals in Aveiro, indulge on Ovos Moles, stroll through the city center of Aveiro, see the salt flats, photograph the colorful houses in Costa Nova, and spend some time on the beach.
How Much Time Do You Need in Aveiro? Half of a day is all you need to see the main sights, but a full day gives you time to relax on the beach.
13. Porto & Vila Nova de Gaia
We LOVE Porto. This beautiful city is famous for its port wine cellars, historic city center, churches adorned with blue and white tiles, pedestrian streets and promenades, and savory Portuguese dishes.
On the north side of the Douro River sits Porto. This is the location of the old historic center of the city and where you will find most of the churches, cathedrals, and museums, as well as many of the hotels, restaurants, and the train station. The historic center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia, sits south of the Douro River. Gaia is home to the wine cellars where the port wine is stored and aged.
On a visit to Porto, plan on visiting both areas. Thereโs more to do on the Porto side, but if you are visiting Porto with the main reason of sampling the port wine, you will spend most of your time in Gaia.

Top Experiences: Taste port wine in the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, stroll along the Douro River, enjoy the view from Dom Luรญs Bridge, visit Livraria Lello, dine at the Majestic Cafรฉ, try Portoโs street foods, and visit the long list of cathedrals and churches.
How Much Time Do You Need in Porto? Plan on spending at least two days in Porto. This gives you just enough time to tour the famous landmarks, churches, and cathedrals in the old town plus visit a wine cellar or two in Gaia. But if you have less time, learn how to see the best of Porto in ourย One Day Porto Itinerary. If you can add on another day or two, you can also day trip to the Douro Valley or Braga and Guimarรฃes.
Porto Travel Guides
14. Braga
Braga is a small town located near Porto. It is most famous for Bom Jesus do Monte, but you can also tour its cathedral, go through a stroll through the pedestrian only city center, and photograph its squares and gardens.

Top Experiences: Visit Bom Jesus do Monte, take a photo with the Braga sign, visit the Braga Cathedral, see the Garden of Santa Barbara, stroll through the city center, and take a photo of Arco da Porta Nova.
How Much Time Do You Need in Braga? To visit main sights in the town of Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte, you need a half of a day, or about 4 hours. Add on more time if you plan to sit down to lunch or dinner.
15. Guimarรฃes
Guimarรฃes is one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal. Its historic city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sitting in town is the Guimarรฃes Castle, which is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
This is one of our favorite small towns in Portugal. The city center is compact and a delight to stroll through, with its medieval streets and architecture, bustling squares, and historic landmarks. Plus, Guimarรฃes makes a great day trip destination from Porto and can easily be combined with Braga.

Top Experiences: Tour the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, visit Guimarรฃes Castle, stroll through the historic city center, photograph the squares and beautiful churches, visit Penha Park and the Sanctuary of Penha
How Much Time Do You Need in Guimarรฃes? A half of a day is just enough time to visit the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, stroll the city streets, visit a few churches, and try a few pastries. Penha Park adds another 1 to 2 hours, depending on how much time you spend in the park.
16. Amarante
Amarante is a tiny town located between Porto and the Douro Valley. There are just a handful of things to do here, which makes it quick and easy to visit. This town is known for its picturesque setting on the Tรขmega River and its phallic-shaped pastries (Sรฃo Gonรงalo pastries).

Top Experiences: Photograph Ponte de Sao Gonรงalo, visit the Church of Sao Gonรงalo, and dine on a Sรฃo Gonรงalo pastry
How Much Time Do You Need in Amarante? It takes about an hour to see the highlights. It makes a good add-on to a day trip to the Douro Valley, which you can learn more about in our Douro Valley Day Trip guide.
17. รvora
รvora is a small city located in Alentejo, Portugal, about an hour from Lisbon. Filled with historic charm, this city is famous for its Roman Temple, well-preserved city center, and amazing Chapel of Bones.

Top Experiences: Visit the Chapel of Bones, see the Roman Temple, visit the Church of St. Francis, walk on the rooftop of the Cathedral, see the aqueduct, and visit Praรงa do Giraldo.
How Much Time Do You Need in รvora? If you simply want to visit รvoraโs must-see sights (the Chapel of Bones, the Roman Temple, and the Cathedral) and stroll through the city center, a few hours is all you need. One full day gives you enough time to thoroughly explore รvora, do a little shopping, and visit the nearby archaeological sites.
18. Marvรฃo
Located in eastern Portugal, just a few kilometers from Spain, sits the lovely hilltop town of Marvรฃo. This town is home to the Marvรฃo Castle, one of the largest, best-preserved castles in Portugal.
The Castle of Marvรฃo is lots of fun to explore. With multiple towers to climb, several sections of castle walls to walk, and beautiful gardens inside of the walls, this is a very photogenic castle and well worth going out of your way to visit this part of Portugal, if you enjoy visiting castles and hilltop towns.

Top Experiences: Visit the Marvรฃo Castle, which takes up most of the town.
How Much Time Do You Need in Marvรฃo? It takes one to two hours to visit the Marvรฃo Castle.
15 Must-See Castles in Portugal (Ranked!)
Learn more about Marvรฃo and other castles in Portugal.19. Monsanto
In 1938, Monsanto was given the distinction of being โthe most Portuguese village of Portugal,โ during a government sponsored competition
Monsanto is a hilltop, medieval village that is famous for its colossal boulders. The first settlers built small houses on the hilltop, wedging them between and under the boulders that were far too heavy to be moved. These small stone houses remain, creating one of the most unique towns in Portugal to visit.

Top Experiences: Visit the Castle of Monsanto, visit the numerous viewpoints of town, and stroll through town.
How Much Time Do You Need in Monsanto? A few hours are all you need to see Monsanto given its very small size.
20. Sortelha
Sortelha is another of our favorite small towns in Portugal. It is located in central Portugal, not far from Monsanto.
A visit to Sortelha feels very off-the-beaten-track. On our visit, we were the only ones here and we had the castle and the walls to ourselves, which made for an amazing experience.
The town is tiny. It has a very small castle and it is surrounded by fortified walls that are very fun to explore.

Top Experiences: Photographing the castle and walking the castle walls.
How Much Time Do You Need in Sortelha? Two hours is more than enough time to see the castle and walk the walls. If you like the idea of visiting Sortelha, it can be easily combined with Monsanto. Sortelha is one of the places listed in our 2 Week Portugal Itinerary and 3 Week Portugal Itinerary.
21. Lagos
Lagos is a seaside town and one of the prettiest places to visit in the Algarve. With its colorful streets, array of shops and restaurants, and coastal setting, it is one of the top spots to visit in this part of Portugal.

Top Experiences: Stroll through the historic town and along the marina, visit Museu de Lagos, see the castle and city walls, visit the Church of Santo Antonio, and visit Ponta da Piedade and the nearby beaches.
How Much Time Do You Need in Lagos? To visit the town of Lagos, a few hours is all the time you need. However, you could easily spend a full day here, taking a boat trip to Ponta da Piedade or Benagil Cave and visiting the nearby beaches.
Algarve Bucket List: 20 Epic Things to Do in the Algarve, Portugal
Learn more about Lagos and other small towns in the Algarve.22. Tavira
Tavira is the second of three towns in the Algarve that make this list. Tavira is another very small town that is famous for its whitewashed buildings and setting along the Gilรฃo River.

Top Experiences: Walk the walls and see the gardens at the Tavira Castle, photograph the Old Bridge, stroll through the picturesque city center, and visit Praia do Barril and the anchor cemetery.
How Much Time Do You Need in Tavira? It takes 2 to 3 hours to see the main sights in town and have lunch or dinner. Add on a few more hours to visit Praia do Barril and the anchor cemetery.
23. Silves
Silves is a small town in the Algarve. Unlike Tavira and Lagos, Silves is located in the hills, inland from the coast. What makes this one of the best small towns in Portugal is its Moorish Castle, fortress walls, and charming city center filled with shops and restaurants.

Top Experiences: Visit the Castle of Silves, one of the best-preserved Moorish castles in Portugal. Stroll through the city center and have lunch or dinner (we recommend Parsley & Thyme or Mosaiko.
How Much Time Do You Need in Silves? It takes an hour or two to visit the castle and walk through town. Add on more time to sit down to lunch or dinner.
24. Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is located on Sรฃo Miguel Island in the Azores. With its cobblestone streets, charming squares, and distinctive architecture, this city looks like it has been plucked from mainland Portugal and set down on a beautiful island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Top Experiences: Visit Sรฃo Sebastiรฃo Church, stroll along the waterfront and historic city center, visit the Fort of Sรฃo Bras, get an aerial view of town from the Town Hall bell tower, and visit the botanical garden.
How Much Time Do You Need in Ponta Delgada? It takes a half of a day to see the main attractions in town. Plan on spending a full day here if you want to thoroughly tour the city and sit down to lunch and dinner.
25. Funchal
Our list of towns to visit in Portugal ends with Funchal, a beautiful city in Madeira.
This city is a delight to explore, with its marina, historic city center, and long list of shops and seafood restaurants. Taste Madeira wine, ride the cable car into the mountains to visit botanical gardens, donโt miss the thrilling toboggan sled ride.

Top Experiences: Taste Madeira wine in the wine lodges, stroll along the promenade, ride the Funchal cable car to Monte and visit the Madeira Botanical Garden and Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and go for a wicker toboggan ride down the mountain.
How Much Time Do You Need in Funchal? One day in Funchal is enough to cover the main sights. Two days allows you to go shopping, sample a few more restaurants, and do more wine tastings.
Best Towns & Cities in Portugal: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Our Favorite Towns & Cities
For first timers to Portugal, Lisbon and Porto are absolute must-sees, as these are the largest cities in Portugal and packed with historical sights and memorable experiences.
Sintra, with its palaces, castles, and close proximity to Lisbon, is another extremely popular town to visit for those on their first visit to Portugal.
Our favorite cities and towns in Portugal:
- Porto: This is a gorgeous city and port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia was one of our favorite overall experiences in Portugal
- รbidos: This small walled town is super fun to explore and similar to visiting the hill towns in Tuscany, Italy
- Monsanto: Hilltop town with colossal boulders and a cool castle to explore
- Sortelha: A tiny town with castle walls to walk and just a handful of other visitors
- Guimarรฃes: A colorful town with a long, rich history that makes it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List
- Funchal: The botanical gardens are gorgeous and we loved wine tasting in the wine lodges in town
How to Plan a Trip to Portugal
There are a lot of different ways to put together a trip to Portugal, whether you want to focus on Lisbon and Porto and travel by train or rent a car and road trip to the smaller towns and castles.
To help you plan your trip, here are links to several Portugal itineraries, ranging from 10 days to 2 weeks:
If you have 10 days, get started with our 10 Days in Portugal Itinerary, which lists five different ways to plan a 10 day Portugal Itinerary.
One of the most popular ways to spend 10 days in Portugal is to visit Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
Or, spend 2 weeks in Portugal. This itinerary can be done with or without a car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do you need in Portugal?
The minimum amount of time to spend in Portugal is one week, which gives you enough time to visit Lisbon + Porto, visit the beaches and coastal towns in the Algarve, or visit Madeira or the Azores. With 10 to 14 days, there are a lot of different ways to put together an itinerary, and this extra time allows you to go deeper into Portugalโs main sights. For those who want to thoroughly explore mainland Portugal, plan on spending 3 or more weeks here.
Which is better, Lisbon or Porto?
Lisbon is the largest and capital city of Portugal. Its neighborhoods, castle, historical sites, and handy location to day trip to Sintra and Cascais are the main draw here. Porto is a smaller city in northern Portugal, famous for its port wine lodges, stunning setting on the Douro River, and beautiful city center. Of these two cities, Porto is our favorite. In our opinion, it is a better overall pick for foodies, wine lovers, and those who just like the idea of visiting a beautiful city. Plus, we like the day trip options from Porto, as it is easy to get to the Douro Valley, Braga, Guimarรฃes, and Aveiro.
If you have any questions about the best places to visit in Portugal, or if you would like to share your favorites, you can do so in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Portugal
We have TONS more information about Portugal in our Portugal Travel Guide.

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