Portugal is a hidden treasure in Europe! It is by far the most complete and beautiful country! Here you will find an ultimate list of the 10 places you need to visit in Portugal!
WHY PORTUGAL?
If you don’t already know Portugal, you are missing out! Luckily you will get to know the 10 most beautiful places in Portugal in this article.
And don’t be fooled by the size of the country itself. It is small but full of history, charm, views, and diversity. Definitely the actual paradise on earth!
We love this country, and we are not the only ones. Just appreciate how a country as small as Portugal can have 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Besides being a stunning country, it is also one of the safest in the world, classified by Forbes as the third out of 10 safest countries the world to visit! Plus, Portugal comes in third in the most peaceful countries rankings.
WHERE IS PORTUGAL LOCATED?
As we said, Portugal is in Europe. Right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (west side) and Spain (east side), being that way right on the edge of continental Europe.
Well, with that being said, let’s dive into the Top 10 – PLACES YOU NEED TO VISIT IN PORTUGAL!
1- LISBOA = LISBON
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital. Because of it, it is essential to mention the main Portuguese city! It is not just like the other capital cities worldwide where everything is filled with traffic and pollution.
Lisbon is actually a pretty colorful and stress-free city compared with London and other main cities in Europe.
If you want to visualize this city – think of the blue sky, beautiful mosaic floors, open and bright plazas, colorful buildings, stunning viewpoints, and refreshing river views.
We might sound repetitive in this article, but there’s beauty in everything here. This city is so charming!
When it comes to the places you need to actually visit in Lisbon the task gets super difficult since everything is important and stunning! We could do a whole article about Lisbon.
However, for now, here are some of the places that represent this city!
The first one is Belém, where you need to try the excellent local pastries (ask for some Pasteis de Belém and enjoy yourself), besides those heaven pastries you can also find Torre De Belém plus so many more iconic monuments just in one gigantic plaza.
Next, you need to catch a train and go to the heart of the city – Chiado which is a very cool and urban shopping in a very chic Lisbon style. You can also visit The Lx Factory in Alcantara.
Last but not least you should go to Castelo de São Jorge which really represents the “old city days”, here you will find the very old and historic part of Lisbon. Definitely worth it!
2- CASCAIS
Known as the French Riviera of Portugal, Cascais is a stunning area 30 minutes from Lisbon but still in the District of Lisbon, with at least 15 beaches and breathtaking views.
It is charming and full of elegance and glamour hence the similarities to the french riviera.
To better visit Cascais we advise you to walk around since it is not a huge town. Go to Baía de Cascais and then discover all the beauty that the city has to offer! Walk around the area of Boca do Inferno and Farol de Santa Marta! Don’t forget to visit Guincho Beach it is a bit far, but don’t skip it!
3- SINTRA
Last but not least, in the Lisbon area, we need to present you with the magical Sintra! Sintra is such a charming town that it feels like you were teleported to a magical and enchanted place.
FUN FACT- JK Rollins wrote the super well-known Harry Potter books after her move to Portugal. The novel is inspired by some places in Porto (=Oporto) and some places in Sintra.
If you want to live a fantasy, come to Sintra and appreciate all the beautiful landscapes and palaces! Definitly visit Palácio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace), Palácio de Monserrate and the iconic Quinta da Regaleira.
Last but not least, if you want to go to the beach, you can also discover some hidden stunning beaches on the Sintra coast like The Ursa beach!
4- PORTO = OPORTO
Oporto or in Portuguese Porto is another must-see city when you visit Portugal!
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, and it is definitely worth visiting! It has some resemblances to Lisbon, but it is a lot more bohemian and artsy!
The most popular spot in this city is, for sure, Ponte de D. Luis, which is a stunning bridge where you can walk on and see the beauty of this city!
There so much more to see and discover in Porto! We advise you to do it by walking around on those mysterious streets and enjoying some Porto wine.
5- DOURO
Douro Valley has one of the most beautiful natural landscapes you will ever see! Definitely go to Douro if you visit Portugal! It is a very known region when it comes to wine lovers, being considered by many as one of the best wine destinations in Europe.
Have you ever tried Port wine? Well, this is your opportunity to try one of the most famous wines in the world and many others.
Douro has a similar vibe to Toscany in Italy, but in our opinion, better and a lot more exclusive!
6- AVEIRO
Aveiro is a place situated on the coast south of Porto. It is a very calm and beautiful place with some similarities to Venice in Italy because it has similar boats to the Venice ones in the river.
Reason for being usually called “The Venice of Portugal.”
Another attraction in Aveiro that everyone loves for its beauty is the Costa Nova region that has super cute houses all in different colors.
7- ALENTEJO
Alentejo is one of the most well-known regions of the countryside of Portugal! But don’t be fooled. It is not just a dry piece of land! Just like everywhere in Portugal, there are beautiful lakes and beaches!
Temperatures in Alentejo are usually around 35/40ºC = 95/ 104.00 ºF in summer, so keep that in mind if you don’t like super hot weather!
A great thing you should know about Alentejo is that the amazing views are not the major plus for a visit to this region! The major plus of Alentejo is the food! In this region, you will eat and drink the best of the best!
8- ALGARVE
Definitely go to Algarve if you visit Portugal, this region is for sure the king of Portuguese tourism! If you love to see those Pinterest stunning beaches, some of them might be from the Algarve!
It is definitely a popular destination, but there’s, for sure, a reason for that! It is undoubtedly remarkable!
If you want to have a beach day in a paradisic beach definilty try Ponta da Piedade, Praia da Marinha and Praia Benagil! The access is not fantastic, but the view and the ambiance make it worth it!
In more easy access and normal but also very beautiful beach paradigm, you can also go to Praia Verde!
9- AÇORES = AZORES
Açores is another enchanted place in Portugal!
The autonomous region of Açores is composed of nine islands located between Portugal and North Africa. If you never heard of this place, definitely check it out. It is insanely beautiful!
Since the most popular island in Açores is Ilha de São Miguel, we decided to collect some of the most breathtaking places there – Park Ribeira dos Caldeirões, the famous Lagoa das Sete Cidades and Caldeira Velha.
However, in Açores, every corner is stunning. Don’t miss out on this natural gem.
10- MADEIRA
Last but definitely not least, we add to talk about the other autonomous region in Portugal – Madeira – Also known as the “Hawaii of Europe”.
Madeira is another hidden gem in Portugal that not many people have noticed the beauty that it has. This region is not only undoubtedly beautiful, but it also has a great climate all year long.
Well, there you have it! Top 10 – PLACES YOU NEED TO VISIT IN PORTUGAL! We hope you found this article helpful!
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