The 24 most beautiful places to visit in Portugal

You dream of visiting Portugal without knowing where to go? Thanks to our tour of the most beautiful places to make in Portugal, you will only have to book your tickets and go to discover all the beauties of the country.

For years, Portugal has been a privileged destination for French travellers and the rest of the world, and for cause: between its magnificent beaches, medieval cities, its monuments to the amazing architecture, its landscapes to the wild nature, its colorful fishing villages and the kindness of Portuguese, it is understood that some have made Portugal their favourite destination. To help you decide to go to Portugal, here is our postcard of the 24 most beautiful places to visit in Portugal.

1. Tour de Bélem, Lisbon

Monument to Lisbon, the Tour de Bélem is an architectural jewel inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage. Built in the 16th century, it is like Portuguese architectural style and manulin art. Assault by tourists in the summer, the visit of the Tour de Bélem is an obligatory passage of your visit to Lisbon, with a sublime interior and gardens and a breathtaking view on the heights of the city. Not far, in this same neighborhood of Belém, we find the monastery of the Hironymites .

2. Cape Saint Vincent

To discover a wild green setting when you come to visit Portugal, visit Cap Saint Vincent, the most southern tip of Europe, in the southwest of Europe Algarve . In addition to discovering a rich marine fauna, you can visit the lighthouse and the monastery built on the course, and walk in the beautiful city of Sagres.

3. The Palace of Regaleira, Sintra

Located in the historic centre of Sintra, Regaleira Palace surprises both for its busy architecture and for its enchanting park. With references to alchemy, freemasonry and the order of the Templars in its facades, this palace will offer you a surprising visit. Don’t forget to take a walk in the gardens, which were thought “as an image of the cosmos”. Sintra and the sites around it are certainly a must-see in Portugal, and more specifically in Lisbon.

4. The cave of Benagil

At 150 meters from Benagil beach, the cave of Benagil is a geological wonder: constantly eroded by the water movement, its rocky walls have naturally created a kind of dome where light comes to reflect. Only accessible by boat or by swim, the cave of Benagil offers an incredible colored camaieu and is one of the more beautiful beaches in the world .

5. bookstore Lello, Porto

Considered as one of the most beautiful in the world, the Lello bookstore will give you a sure desire to (re)read. With its high ceilings and walls entirely carpeted with precious and antique wood, it is like the library that we see in the cartoon "La Belle et la Bête": grandiose and perfect. The stairs of the bookstore would have inspired J.K Rowling for the description of the stairs of the store called Fleury and Bott in his book entitled « Harry Potter at the Witch School » . The English author was brought to live in Porto to work as an English teacher in the academy and was a regular client of the bookshop.

6. The Temple of Diane, Evora

Also called the Temple of Diane, the Roman temple of Evora was built in the 1st century. Considered one of the most famous monuments to visit in Portugal, it is the symbol of the very powerful presence of the Romans in Portugal.

7. Foz do Arelho

Among the must-see beaches of Portugal, Foz do Arelho is a paradise for surfers and water sports enthusiasts. A picturesque place where water is crystalline and where the ocean and river meet to form a small lagoon. A must-see link in Portugal.

8. Vista do Rei

New destination taken by hiking lovers, the Azores Archipelago deserves to be devoted to him alone. But if there is a place worth the detour in Portugal, it is the Vista do Rei viewpoint. The point of view of the King offers an incredible panorama of the Caldeira das Sete Cidades and on natural lakes with sometimes blue, sometimes green waters.

9. Monsanto

And no, Monsanto is not only a polemic American society, but a charming Portuguese village, and which village! Often considered the most Portuguese of Portugal’s villages, Monsanto has the peculiarity of being built on a steep mountainside. Take the time to lose yourself in these charming alleys, you will love this unusual visit of Portugal!

10. The Mira Caves of Aire

Elected as one of the 7 wonders of Portugal in 2010, the Mira de Aire caves will melt the amateurs of speleology. About 11 km of splendour, only 600 meters can be visited but the walk is worth a visit.

11. The beach of Costa Nova

The beach of Costa Nova has several advantages for it: in addition to a privileged spot for water sports fans such as windsurfing or surfing, the beach of Costa Nova offers a superb walk along the oceanfront where you can enjoy a succession of beautiful small, striped and colorful fishermen’s houses, a walk to make absolutely in Portugal.

12. The Serra da Estrela

With nearly 101,000 hectares in the meter, the Serra da Estrela Nature Park is the largest protected area in Portugal. On the programme: hiking in mountainous scenery, the discovery of the highest point of continental Portugal, Torre, 1993 meters high or skiing on the only snowy track in Portugal.

13. The Convent of Christ, Tomar

Located in the city of Tomar, the Convent of Christ is a monument not to be missed especially if come to visit Portugal and especially its central region. Originally, the Convent of Christ was a castle belonging to the Templars, whose Order was dissolved in 1314.

14. University of Coimbra

Often cited as one of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Coimbra was founded in Lisbon in 1290 before being permanently transferred to Coimbra in 1537. In addition to admiring its superb façade, you can discover the Saint Miguel Chapel, the medieval prison, the arms room and the University Tower.

15. The beach of the Lord of Peter, south of Porto

In addition to the color of his water, the beach of the Lord of Peter (or locally) Praia do Senhor da Pedra ) stands out by a chapel erected in the eighteenth century, built in some rocks by the ocean. The days when the ocean is more agitated, the beach of the Lord of Peter becomes an ideal spot for surfing.

16. The Basilica of Santa Luzia, Viana do Castelo

If you come to visit Viana do Castelo in Portugal, don’t miss the Basilica of Santa Luzia, a jewel of architecture that can be reached through a funicular. In addition to the beauty of the basilica, you will have a wonderful view of the ocean, the river and the city.

17. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus Do Monte, Braga

A true masterpiece, the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus Do Monte, located near Braga, will give his builders a line: nearly 37 years of work to build this church. To get there, you can take the funicular or, for the most athletic, climb the Sacred Path, a huge zigzag staircase that presents altitude differences of up to 116 m.

18. Douro valley, Porto

Difficult to talk about the best things to do in Portugal without evokeing Porto and the cradle of its famous wine with the Douro Valley. In addition to its vineyards where to go to taste local wines, the Douro has a natural park where cruises, bike rides and hikes are rigourable.

19. La Ribeira, in the Old Porto

Inscribed to UNESCO’s World Heritage, Ribeira area is considered to be the soul of Porto and is a must to visit in Portugal. With its medieval streets, its colorful houses, its famous Dom Luis bridge (Electronic style) and its boats filled with Porto barrels, Ribeira offers a quiet and soothing atmosphere that makes tourists like locals dream daily.

20. Pena National Palace, Sintra

Other palace located in Sinta, Pena National Palace evokes to him all the fairy tales of our child. The legend tells us that this castle would have inspired Walt Disney in his films! Built in the 19th century by King Ferdinant, this castle surprises with its sparkling colors and its mix of styles, making it a place to visit absolutely in Portugal.

21. The village of Piódão

Lovely Christmas cribs, you will love the village of Piódão, located in the serra do Açor. Hidden in the middle of nature, this village surprises with its architecture: the houses are built on sorts of small terraces and once the night comes, when the lights illuminate the village, we feel like we are in another dimension. A visit not to miss in Portugal.

22. Óbidos

A typical Portuguese fortified city, Óbidos is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Portugal. This town with a certain cachet represents all that makes Portugal charming: small paved streets, charming houses and a medieval castle that once served to defend the region.

23. Nazaré

Nazaré is certainly the most famous surf spot in Portugal. It is an advanced promontory on the sea setting a long perspective on the coast of Estremadura, with a beach spreading down its ample curve to loss of sight, and a huge pine forest on the back. The small seaside resort is especially renowned for its waves, sometimes unstandard, which attract surfers from all over the world.

24. Madeira

Located close to 1,000 km south-west of Lisbon and 600 km from the Moroccan coast, Madeira is the island to be visited in Portugal during a unique stay. A unique destination, Madeira Island offers natural landscapes, vast mountains, saw-tooth cliffs, green forests and incredible botanical gardens. Hiking ferus will be there!

Main photo: Pixabay – Cristina Macia