Portugal · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Portugal
Our pick of tascas, cafés, viewpoints, beaches, museums, hikes and stays across Portugal, from the classics to quiet corners. Check opening hours before you go, as many small places close one day a week and some beach spots shut in winter.
Places to Visit in Lisbon
Things to Do
- Castelo de São Jorge (Alfama)
Moorish hilltop castle with the widest views over the city and the river. - Belém Tower (Belém)
The riverside fortress that sent explorers off to sea, a symbol of the Age of Discovery. - Tram 28 (Martim Moniz)
The classic yellow tram rattling through Graça, Alfama and Estrela, best early in the morning. - Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (Graça)
The highest viewpoint in the old city, lovely at sunset. - Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Alfama)
Tiled terrace and bougainvillea over Alfama rooftops and the Tagus. - Aqueduto das Águas Livres (Campolide)
Walk across the eighteenth century aqueduct that survived the great earthquake. - Cacilhas ferry and Ponto Final (Almada)
Cross the river by ferry and walk the quay to a waterside lunch with a view of Lisbon. - Elevador de Santa Justa (Baixa)
The iron lift linking Baixa and Carmo, with a small viewing deck on top.
Arts and Culture
- Jerónimos Monastery (Belém)
A masterpiece of Manueline stonework and the tomb of Vasco da Gama. - Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (Avenidas Novas)
A superb private art collection set in calm modernist gardens. - National Tile Museum (Xabregas)
Five centuries of azulejos in a former convent with a gilded chapel. - Clube de Fado (Alfama)
An intimate fado house for dinner and a full night of traditional song. - MAAT Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Belém)
Striking wave shaped riverside museum with a walkable roof. - Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lapa)
Portugal's finest old master collection with a garden café over the docks.
Cafés
- Pastéis de Belém (Belém)
The original custard tart bakery, warm from the oven with cinnamon on top. - A Brasileira (Chiado)
A historic Art Nouveau café where Lisboetas take a quick bica at the counter. - Fábrica da Nata (Baixa)
Freshly baked natas in a bright café just off Restauradores.
Restaurants
- Zé da Mouraria (Mouraria)
A lunchtime tasca famous for huge plates of honest Portuguese cooking. - Cervejaria Ramiro (Intendente)
A loud, beloved seafood hall for garlic prawns, clams and a steak sandwich to finish. - Tasca da Esquina (Campo de Ourique)
Modern takes on Portuguese petiscos in a relaxed neighbourhood corner.
Shopping and Markets
- Time Out Market Lisboa (Cais do Sodré)
Dozens of the city's chefs under one roof, easy for groups with different tastes. - Mercado de Campo de Ourique (Campo de Ourique)
A local market hall with food stalls where Lisboetas actually eat. - Feira da Ladra (São Vicente)
The Tuesday and Saturday flea market behind São Vicente, full of tiles, records and curios. - LX Factory (Alcântara)
A former textile complex turned into bookshops, studios, cafés and Sunday markets.
Bars and Nightlife
- Park Bar (Bairro Alto)
A rooftop bar on top of a car park with sunset views over the river. - Pink Street (Cais do Sodré)
The lively pink painted street of late night bars near the river. - A Tasca do Chico (Bairro Alto)
Small, crowded and real, with fado vadio sung by locals on many nights.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lisbon Oceanarium (Parque das Nações)
One of Europe's largest aquariums, great for children and rainy days. - Monsanto Forest Park (Monsanto)
A huge wooded park on the city's edge with trails and quiet viewpoints.
Events
- Santo António Festival (Alfama and Mouraria)
June street parties with grilled sardines, garlands and music in every old quarter.
Stays
- Memmo Alfama (Alfama)
A boutique hotel with a small pool terrace looking over the rooftops to the river.
Places to Visit in Porto
Things to Do
- Ribeira (Ribeira)
The UNESCO riverfront of coloured houses and terraces below the Dom Luís I bridge. - Dom Luís I Bridge (Ribeira)
Walk the top deck between Porto and Gaia for the city's most famous view. - Clérigos Tower (Baixa)
Climb the baroque tower for views over the rooftops. - Foz do Douro (Foz)
Walk or take the old tram 1 along the river to where it meets the Atlantic. - Six Bridges river cruise (Ribeira)
A short rabelo style boat trip under all of Porto's bridges. - Guindais Funicular (Batalha)
Ride the funicular down the old city walls to the river.
Arts and Culture
- Livraria Lello (Baixa)
The ornate neo-Gothic bookshop with its red staircase, book a timed ticket. - São Bento Station (Baixa)
A working station with a hall covered in twenty thousand blue and white tiles. - Serralves Foundation (Boavista)
Contemporary art museum in vast gardens with a treetop walkway. - Casa da Música (Boavista)
Rem Koolhaas's concert hall, with tours by day and music by night.
Bars and Nightlife
- Graham's Port Lodge (Vila Nova de Gaia)
A port cellar tour and tasting with a terrace high above the river. - Taylor's Port (Vila Nova de Gaia)
Old cellars and a peaceful garden for a slow port tasting. - Galerias de Paris street (Baixa)
The busiest bar street in the centre, lively late on weekends.
Restaurants
- Casa Guedes (Baixa)
The classic roast pork sandwich, best with serra cheese on top. - Café Santiago (Baixa)
A great place to try a proper francesinha, the city's famous sauced sandwich. - Cantinho do Avillez Porto (Baixa)
Relaxed modern Portuguese cooking from a well known chef. - Matosinhos fish grills (Matosinhos)
A whole street of grills cooking the day's catch over charcoal.
Cafés
- Majestic Café (Santa Catarina)
Belle Époque mirrors and carved wood on Porto's main shopping street. - Confeitaria do Bolhão (Baixa)
An old style pastry shop for a quick coffee and sweet treat.
Shopping and Markets
- Mercado do Bolhão (Baixa)
The restored historic market for fish, flowers, cheese and petiscos.
Nature and Outdoors
- Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Massarelos)
Peacocks, shady paths and river views from the terraces. - Parque da Cidade do Porto (Boavista)
The country's largest urban park, running down to the ocean.
Events
- São João Festival (Citywide)
The June night when the whole city parties, with grilled sardines, fireworks and plastic hammers.
Stays
- The Yeatman (Vila Nova de Gaia)
A wine hotel on the Gaia hillside with a decanter shaped pool and city views.
Places to Visit in Sintra
Things to Do
- Pena Palace (Sintra hills)
The colourful romantic palace on a peak, book a timed slot and go early. - Quinta da Regaleira (Sintra)
Gardens of grottoes, tunnels and the famous initiation well. - Moorish Castle (Sintra hills)
Walls snaking across granite ridges with views to the ocean. - Convent of the Capuchos (Sintra hills)
A tiny cork lined friars' convent hidden in the forest. - Cascais seafront (Cascais)
A short trip to the old fishing town with beaches, a promenade and Boca do Inferno.
Arts and Culture
- National Palace of Sintra (Old town)
The palace with twin white chimneys and some of the oldest tiles in Portugal. - Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (Cascais)
Paula Rego's powerful paintings in a red tower building.
Nature and Outdoors
- Monserrate Palace and Gardens (Monserrate)
A quieter palace in lush gardens with plants from around the world. - Cabo da Roca (Colares)
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, wild and windy above the Atlantic. - Praia da Adraga (Almoçageme)
A beautiful cliff framed beach with a simple fish restaurant. - Azenhas do Mar (Colares)
A white village tumbling down a cliff to an ocean pool, lovely at sunset. - Praia do Guincho (Cascais)
A wild, windswept beach loved by surfers and kitesurfers.
Cafés
- Casa Piriquita (Old town)
The place to try travesseiros and queijadas, Sintra's pastries.
Restaurants
- Tascantiga (Old town)
Small plates and local wine in a cosy old town tasca.
Stays
- Tivoli Palácio de Seteais (Seteais)
An eighteenth century palace hotel with formal gardens.
Places to Visit in Algarve
Nature and Outdoors
- Ponta da Piedade (Lagos)
Golden sea stacks and arches, best seen by kayak or small boat. - Benagil Cave (Lagoa)
The famous sea cave with a hole in its roof, seen from boats only. - Praia da Marinha (Lagoa)
Cliffs, arches and clear water, with the Seven Hanging Valleys trail above. - Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Lagoa)
A clifftop walk past sinkholes and secret coves. - Ria Formosa Natural Park (Olhão)
Lagoons, islands and flamingos, reached by small ferry. - Cabo de São Vicente (Sagres)
The cliffs at Europe's southwestern tip, famous for sunsets. - Praia da Bordeira (Carrapateira)
A huge wild west coast beach with dunes and surf.
Things to Do
- Tavira (Tavira)
A gracious old town of churches and a Roman style bridge, calmer than the west. - Ilha de Tavira (Tavira)
A long sandy island beach reached by a short ferry. - Sagres Fortress (Sagres)
A windswept headland fort tied to Portugal's age of exploration. - Monchique and Fóia (Serra de Monchique)
Cool mountain air, cork forests and the Algarve's highest viewpoint. - Rota Vicentina Fishermen's Trail (Aljezur)
A spectacular clifftop path along the wild west coast. - Zoomarine Algarve (Guia)
A marine park with shows and pools, popular with families.
Restaurants
- Mercado de Olhão (Olhão)
Red brick market halls full of fish, fruit and local sweets. - Vila Joya (Albufeira)
A refined seaside restaurant for a special night out.
Bars and Nightlife
- Lagos old town bars (Lagos)
Friendly, buzzy bars spill onto the cobbles every summer evening.
Arts and Culture
- Silves Castle (Silves)
A red sandstone Moorish castle above a quiet town.
Shopping and Markets
- Mercado de Loulé (Loulé)
A Moorish style market hall with a busy Saturday market around it.
Stays
- Vila Vita Parc (Porches)
A cliffside resort with gardens running down to the sea.
Cafés
- Lagos marina cafés (Lagos)
Easy coffee and breakfast by the boats before a sea trip.
Places to Visit in Madeira
Things to Do
- Funchal Old Town (Zona Velha)
Painted doors, small bars and the market at the heart of the island capital. - Monte toboggan ride (Monte)
Slide downhill in a wicker sledge steered by men in straw hats. - Santana traditional houses (Santana)
Triangular thatched houses on the green north coast. - Cabo Girão skywalk (Câmara de Lobos)
A glass platform on one of Europe's highest sea cliffs. - Porto Santo day trip (Porto Santo)
A ferry to the neighbouring island with a long golden beach.
Shopping and Markets
- Mercado dos Lavradores (Funchal)
Tropical fruit, flowers and fish in a tiled Art Deco market.
Nature and Outdoors
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden (Monte)
A huge hillside garden of ponds, tiles and exotic plants. - Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (Central mountains)
The island's classic high mountain hike, check trail status first. - Levada do Caldeirão Verde (Santana)
A water channel walk through laurel forest to a waterfall. - Levada das 25 Fontes (Rabaçal)
A popular trail to a pool fed by dozens of springs. - Fanal Forest (Porto Moniz)
Ancient laurel trees in drifting mist, a magical short walk. - Porto Moniz natural pools (Porto Moniz)
Volcanic rock pools filled by the ocean. - Ponta de São Lourenço (Caniçal)
A dramatic walk along the island's bare eastern peninsula.
Bars and Nightlife
- Taberna da Poncha (Serra de Água)
Taste poncha, the island's honey and lemon drink, in a rustic bar. - Blandy's Wine Lodge (Funchal)
Learn how Madeira wine is aged and taste a few styles.
Restaurants
- Espetada in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (Estreito)
Beef skewers grilled over bay wood, a Madeira classic.
Events
- Madeira Flower Festival (Funchal)
Spring parades and carpets of flowers through the city. - New Year fireworks in Funchal (Funchal)
One of the world's great New Year firework displays over the bay.
Stays
- Belmond Reid's Palace (Funchal)
The grand clifftop hotel famous for afternoon tea.
Places to Visit in Coimbra
Arts and Culture
- University of Coimbra and Joanina Library (Alta)
One of Europe's oldest universities with a baroque library. - Machado de Castro National Museum (Alta)
Sculpture and a Roman cryptoportico under the museum. - Fado ao Centro (Baixa)
An evening of Coimbra fado, sung by men in student capes.
Things to Do
- Portugal dos Pequenitos (Santa Clara)
A miniature park of Portuguese buildings, great for children. - Mosteiro de Santa Clara a Velha (Santa Clara)
A Gothic monastery once flooded by the river.
Events
- Queima das Fitas (Citywide)
The May student festival with parades and concerts.
Nature and Outdoors
- Buçaco Forest (Luso)
An enchanted forest and palace hotel a short drive away.
Places to Visit in Douro Valley
Things to Do
- Pinhão (Pinhão)
A river village with a tiled station and quintas all around.
Bars and Nightlife
- Quinta do Crasto (Gouvinhas)
A famous infinity pool view over the terraced vineyards.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Rock in Rio Lisboa (Parque Tejo, Lisbon)
A huge outdoor music festival held in some summers, check the dates first. - Lisboa Central Hostel (Baixa, Lisbon)
A friendly, central budget option for solo travellers. - Gallery Hostel (Miragaia, Porto)
A sociable hostel with art on the walls and a big shared dinner. - Adega Regional de Colares (Colares, Sintra)
A historic wine cellar making wine from vines grown in sand. - Sintra Saturday market (São Pedro de Sintra, Sintra)
A local market for cheese, bread, plants and antiques. - A Eira do Mel (Vila do Bispo, Algarve)
Slow food cooking with local produce in a village house. - Casa Velha cataplana (Lagos, Algarve)
Try a cataplana, the copper pot seafood stew, in Lagos old town. - Festival MED (Loulé, Algarve)
A summer world music festival in Loulé's old town. - Camping Ingrina (Raposeira, Algarve)
Simple camping near one of the most peaceful small beaches. - Restaurante Do Forte (Funchal, Madeira)
Dinner inside a seventeenth century fort above the sea. - Quinta do Furão (Santana, Madeira)
A countryside stay among vineyards on the north coast. - Zé Manel dos Ossos (Baixa, Coimbra)
A tiny old tasca with papered walls and hearty dishes.