Last Updated on July 22, 2024 by Mrunal & Jiten
Portugal is located in southern Europe and is one of the oldest countries in Europe. It is well known for its natural beauty as well as delectable cuisine. Its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean induces an amiable climate of sunny summers and mild winters making it a great beach destination.
Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Portugal
Table of Contents
Lisbon
Lisbon is a hilly city with most of the travel through lovely trams on historic routes. A visit to the highest point in Sao Jorge will give amazing views of the enigmatic Tagus River.
Visit the National Tile Museum and Coach museums that have their respective histories retold via unique artefacts.
Terreiro do Paco is a place to be for a pleasant walk along the river in the late afternoons.
Shop at Chiado district and dine at the wonderful 5-star hotels rounding off with a night of fun.
Madeira
Madeira is a lovely archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is often compared to Hawaii as both places have many similarities.
The traditional houses in Santana are a great attraction and have earned this archipelago the sobriquet, “Hawaii of Europe.”
Hiking is a paramount activity undertaken here. Fonts Hike leads you to 2 beautiful waterfalls. Pico to Pico hiking is between two towering mountains Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo. Pico Ruivo and, Vereda dos Balcoes are the other popular hikes.
Whale watching has become the latest fad. Embark on wine tours and learn its history while sipping the famous Madeira wine.
Sintra
Sintra can be done by a day trip from Lisbon. The lively place can be explored via hop-on-hop-off buses.
Nature lovers could set off on different trails in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park or do some mountain biking.
The fairytale-like palace – the Pena Palace, 8th century Castelo dos Mouros and the National and 1000-year-old Palace of Sintra are some historical landmarks in this city.
The unique garden Quinta da Regeleira has an Initiation well – a spiral staircase leading to some underground tunnels that reverberate with tales of knights.
There are lots of secretive locations inside adding to the mystique of this place. Another top landmark is the Monserrate Palace. Complete your trip by tasting the yummy local pastries Queijada and travesseiro.
Porto
Porto is a lovely hill city located on the banks of the Douro River. It is known for its unique museums, historical monuments from the Middle ages, fine bars and restaurants and a river bridge that offers a glorious view of the sunset.
Enjoy the visit to Foz do Douro beach by strolling, biking to the Felgueiras lighthouse or relaxing with a drink at any terrace café overlooking the ocean.
Climb up the 76 m Torre Dos Clerigos tower for some panoramic sights. To relax from the steep climb visit the adjoining church and the lawns of Jardim Das Oliverias.
At Igreja de Sao Francisco museum, discover amazing gold leaf and wood crafts crafted by master craftsmen, Filipe da Silva and Antonio Gomes. Explore art of Serralves at Museu de Arte Contemporanea.
Go to the Praca Carlos Alberto to pick souvenirs like vintage clothing, antiques, crafts, jewellery, old-fashioned toys, lovely soaps and seasonal fruits.
Leiria
It is located in Central Portugal very near Porto and Lisbon. Its history goes back to 5000 years. To understand the culture of this place, proceed to the Museum of the Moving Image.
The taste of the local cuisine is divine. The top favourites are Boavista, Sopa da Pendra and Migas.
Top religious places here are The Sanctuary of Fatima and the Monastery of Batalha.
The Minho
It is the greenest part of the country with lovely mountain meadows, river valleys and terraced vineyards. Vinho Verde, a green wine originates from this historical place. The top places to visit in the Minho are Braga and Guimaraes. Peneda Geres, a national park near Braga is a great place to hike or cycle.
Faro
Faro is the capital city of Algarve, a southern part of Portugal. It has a historical old town, fabulous beaches and engrossing landmarks.
Start with a boat ride to Ria Formosa Natural Park for some bird watching. Enjoy an afternoon at the beach. Some popular beaches are Praia de Faro and Ilha Do Farol
Stroll through the streets of Cidade Velha to discover some interesting old buildings and architectural marvels. Nightlife is riveting and so is shopping for various products at Faro.
Cascais
This is a picturesque resort town with a rich history, sunny beaches, and finger-licking food. Royals and celebrities who visited here are King Edward VIII, Bill Clinton, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Grace Kelly, Lord Byron, Ian Fleming and Pablo Picasso. As compared to the various attractions in Portugal where you can go for a day trip, this place warrants a full holiday.
Aveiro
Aveiro is all about canals. It is located on the shores of a coastal lagoon and traditional boats called moliceiros transport you on the city’s canal network. This place is close to Porto and you can come here for a day trip.
Visit the Aveiro museum for religious artefacts that include a tomb of a Princess.
On the coast are some amazing colourful houses with shades of red ochre and black that are eye candy. They are mostly warehouses where fishermen store their nets and some other materials.
Douro Valley
Amongst the oldest wine regions, Duoro Valley’s history dates as far as 1756. The famous terrace vine yards here are the place where Port originated! Many of the estates called Quintas offer public tours and wine-tasting opportunities that you can utilize.
When to go
Go to Portugal between September and October when the crowds are lesser and the grape harvest is in full swing.
How to reach
There are flights from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi to various cities in Portugal.
