35 of the best things to do in Portugal, including a few most visitors miss

Portugal packs an extraordinary amount into a small country. These are 35 of the best things to do there, from the sights everyone talks about to the walks, villages and islands most visitors never reach.

Tucked between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal packs an extraordinary amount into a relatively small space. You have Lisbon in the west, Porto and the Douro Valley in the north, the wild coastlines of the Alentejo and Algarve in the south, and then the islands of Madeira and the Azores floating further out into the Atlantic. No matter how many times I come back, I find something new.

I first visited as a teenager and have been back more times than I can count since: a January weekend in Lisbon, the Douro at harvest time, an October week in the Algarve, a few days walking the Alentejo coast and a stay in a villa in Lagos. This list of things to do in Portugal mixes the landmarks and the best hikes with the smaller places that made those trips, so whether you’re after castles, coastal paths or a long lunch, you’ll find your next plan here.

Short on time? My step-by-step guide for 7 days in Portugal covers the essential circuit.

The best things to do in Portugal

Delve into history in Belém, Lisbon

Belém is technically a neighbourhood of Lisbon but it really deserves its own half-day, or even a full day if you’re going to do it properly. The three main sights, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Torre de Belém, are within easy walking distance of each other and tell the story of Portugal’s Age of Discovery in stone. The monastery’s Manueline cloister, with its intricate carved decoration, is one of the finest interiors in the Iberian Peninsula. I first saw it at 17, interrailing on a shoestring, and it bowled me over then just as it did when I went back.

Book tickets in advance. Both the monastery and the tower now run timed entry, and the tower reopened in May 2026 after a year of restoration, with half-hour slots and a cap of about 900 visitors a day. Both close on Mondays.

Go wine and port tasting in the Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, full stop: terraced vineyards stepping down to the river, quintas (wine estates) scattered across the hillsides, and the air thick with the scent of grapes in harvest season (September to October). The big port names, Graham’s, Taylor’s and Sandeman among them, are all worth visiting, but the smaller family-run quintas often offer the most memorable experiences. A river cruise through the valley is a lovely way to take it all in without having to drive.

I went in late September, right in the middle of the harvest, and visited Symington’s Quinta do Bomfim near Pinhão, where the 18-kilo boxes of grapes go over a selection belt and some of the port is still trodden by foot in stone lagares, to music, for three or four hours at a stretch. If you can time a trip for the harvest, do.

Escape to gorgeous Sintra

UNESCO-listed Sintra is one of those places that earns every superlative. The palaces, Pena, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate, are extraordinary, the lush gardens that surround them are beautiful, and the whole thing sits in the forested foothills of the Serra de Sintra about 40 minutes from Lisbon by train from Rossio. It is popular, sometimes very popular in summer, so go early or consider staying overnight once the day-trippers have gone. Tickets for Pena are sold for a set date, so book ahead, and if you have a car, Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe’s westernmost point, is a 20-minute drive away.

Explore the beautiful Benagil sea cave

The Algarve’s coastal scenery is extraordinary, and the Benagil Cave is its most spectacular single feature: a naturally domed sea cave with a circular opening in the ceiling that lets in a perfect column of light, a beach of powdery sand inside, and turquoise water lapping at the entrance.

The rules changed in 2024. You can no longer swim in or land on the beach inside, and kayaks and paddleboards can only enter with a certified guide, so the way in now is a guided kayak or a short boat tour from Benagil, Carvoeiro or Portimão. Go early in the morning in peak season; by mid-morning the queue of boats builds. Whatever you do, don’t fly a drone through the hole in the roof: I did, it lost its GPS and crashed, and getting it back meant chartering a boat.

Walk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

The Algarve’s best-known clifftop walk links Praia da Marinha and Vale de Centeanes, near Carvoeiro, passing the top of the Benagil cave along the way. It is about 11.5km there and back, with rough stretches, steep dips into the valleys and no shade, so start early, carry plenty of water and wear proper shoes. Split it at Benagil if you’d rather do it in two halves, and stay well back from the cliff edges, which can crumble after heavy rain.

Soak up the sun on Praia do Camilo

One of the Algarve’s finest small beaches, Praia do Camilo sits between the golden limestone cliffs near Lagos, reached by a long wooden staircase down from the clifftop. At low tide it connects to adjacent coves. The water is clear, the setting is beautiful and if you arrive early on a weekday outside of July and August it can feel almost private. I flew my drone along this stretch of coast when I stayed in Lagos.

Hike along the Fishermen’s Trail in the Alentejo

The Fishermen’s Trail along the Costa Vicentina is one of the great walks in Portugal and one of the less-visited. The 226.5km route, split into 13 one-day stages, hugs the Atlantic coast through the Alentejo and western Algarve, winding through tiny fishing villages, past dramatic headlands and along sections of coastline that feel genuinely untouched. The contrast with the manicured beaches of the southern Algarve is striking.

I walked part of it on an October trip to the Alentejo, and it’s one of the best coastal walks I’ve done in Europe. Walk sections of it or tackle the whole thing over a fortnight. My guide to walking the Rota Vicentina covers every stage of both trails.

Walk the Historical Way from Santiago do Cacém

The Historical Way is the Rota Vicentina’s inland route, running 263km in 13 stages from Santiago do Cacém to Cabo de São Vicente through cork groves, eucalyptus forests and rural hamlets that most visitors never see. It is a genuinely peaceful walk through a part of Portugal that feels authentically itself rather than adjusted for tourism. Like the Fishermen’s Trail, it is best walked between September and June.

Take a trip to the Ilha Deserta

The Ilha Deserta sits in the middle of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a 60km-long coastal lagoon east of Faro, and its Cabo de Santa Maria is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal. A speedboat from Faro, or ideally a wildlife tour with Animaris, lands you on a long, empty sweep of white sand. The island has one restaurant, Estaminé, which serves some of the best seafood in the Algarve and is largely self-sufficient. Swim, walk, eat, and get the boat back before dark.

I went out on a small Animaris catamaran with a nature guide during my October week in the Algarve. Through the lagoon I spotted oysters, shore crabs, teals and curlews, and then, to my delight, a few dolphins.

Wander around the cobbled streets of Tavira

Tavira is the Algarve town I keep coming back to, and for my money it’s the prettiest in the region. Whitewashed buildings, brightly coloured doors, a ridiculous number of beautiful churches, hidden gardens and a medieval castle to wander around. The town has an authenticity that the more resort-heavy parts of the Algarve can’t quite match. Stop for pastéis de nata at any café, cross the old seven-arched bridge over the Gilão River and take your time.

See the anchor cemetery at Praia do Barril

Just outside Tavira, Praia do Barril has one of the more unusual sights in the Algarve: a cemetery of old fishing anchors set into the sand, left behind when the tuna fishing industry that once dominated this coastline declined. It is quietly moving and distinctly Portuguese, a memorial made not of stone but of tools.

Half the fun is getting there. You cross the lagoon from Pedras d’El Rei on foot or on the little narrow-gauge train, and arrive at a wild, windswept beach that I loved.

Eat pastéis de nata in Lisbon

You haven’t had a pastel de nata until you’ve had one in Portugal. The Portuguese custard tart, flaky pastry, rich egg custard filling, ideally slightly charred on top, is a national treasure. The argument over which bakery makes the best is as old as the republic. Pastéis de Belém, whose recipe has been a closely guarded secret since it was taken from the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery, is the canonical answer, and the queue outside proves it: go and sit inside instead, where there’s often no wait at all.

I have tried many alternatives and remain unconvinced Belém’s have been beaten, with one exception: after eating more than my fair share across the city, my personal favourites are the ones at Manteigaria, in Chiado and at the Time Out Market.

Sweet tooth sorted, save one dinner in Lisbon for seafood. The city’s most famous plate of prawns is served at Cervejaria Ramiro, a no-frills beer hall where the queue is part of the ritual and the meal ends, oddly, with a steak sandwich.

Soak up the vibes at Vila Nova de Milfontes

The Alentejo coast is windswept and wild in a way that the Algarve simply isn’t, and Vila Nova de Milfontes is the finest place to experience it. The town sits at the mouth of the Mira River, with a broad sandy beach stretching in both directions and a fort, the Forte de São Clemente, built around 1600 to defend the coast from pirates. The restaurants are good, the accommodation is affordable and the vibe is refreshingly unpretentious.

Take the thermal waters at Vidago Palace

Vidago Palace is one of the great Portuguese hotels, a Belle Époque property in the Trás-os-Montes region, about an hour and a half’s drive from Porto, set around natural thermal springs. The tradition of “taking the waters” here goes back well over a century, and the spa treatments using the mineral spring water are genuinely excellent rather than merely decorative. I stayed on my harvest trip to the Douro, and it’s the place for a slow, indulgent weekend.

Venture to Madeira

Madeira is a volcanic island about 1,000km off the Portuguese coast with serious hiking, natural seawater swimming pools, year-round good weather and a capital, Funchal, that is considerably more interesting than it gets credit for. The levada walks, following the island’s centuries-old irrigation channels through the mountains, are outstanding, ranging from easy waterside paths such as the 25 Fontes walk to the high-level route between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo. You now need to book a slot and pay a fee for the official PR trails (€4.50 for most, €10.50 for the Pico do Arieiro route) through the SIMplifica Madeira portal. Don’t miss São Vicente on the north coast.

Strike out to the Azores

Nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, each with its own distinct character. The Azores is one of Europe’s great nature destinations: whale watching from São Miguel, calderas and volcanic lakes, thermal hot springs, dense cloud forest and a pace of life that is genuinely removed from mainland Portugal. The archipelago is committed to sustainability and it shows. Start with São Miguel for the most accessible introduction, then branch out to Flores or Corvo if you want real solitude.

See the street art at LX Factory, Lisbon

LX Factory is the best of contemporary Lisbon in one converted industrial complex: street art including a famous large-scale work by Bordalo II built from reclaimed rubbish, independent restaurants and bars, a Sunday market, the Ler Devagar bookshop (often listed among the most beautiful in the world) and a rooftop that is one of the best spots in the city for a sunset drink.

Discover the beauty of historical Aveiro

Aveiro’s nickname “the Venice of Portugal” is well earned: canals thread through the city centre, and the colourful moliceiro boats that originally harvested seaweed now carry visitors through the waterways. But Aveiro has more to offer than just the boat rides: a fine collection of Art Nouveau architecture, excellent seafood, ovos moles (the local egg-yolk sweet that is unique to the city) and the adjacent Ria de Aveiro lagoon with its extraordinary birdlife and the São Jacinto nature reserve.

Book a moliceiro boat tour

Wind your way through Porto’s historic streets

Porto has a strong case for being the most satisfying Portuguese city to spend several days in. The UNESCO-listed Ribeira district, the port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, the extraordinary Livraria Lello bookshop, the covered Mercado do Bolhão and the contemporary restaurant scene around Bonfim and Cedofeita together make a city that rewards slow, unhurried exploration.

Listen to fado in Alfama, Lisbon

Fado is Portugal’s great musical art form: mournful, beautiful and unlike anything else in European music. Alfama, the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon, is its spiritual home. Spend an evening in a traditional fado restaurant, with a glass of ginjinha (the local cherry liqueur), and give it your full attention. Clube de Fado, where the fado starts at 8.30pm every night, is a reliable choice; the room is small, so book ahead.

Go on an indulgent weekend in the Algarve

If you want a proper luxury beach escape, the Algarve has the infrastructure for it. Anantara Vilamoura is one of the finest hotels in southern Portugal: adults-only pool, outstanding spa, excellent food. I spent two nights there: think white port and tonic by the pool and a spa on the top floor. The area around Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo has a concentration of high-end properties and golf courses that make it the natural choice for a seriously indulgent few days.

Visit Tomar, home of the Knights Templar

Just over an hour from Lisbon, Tomar is an exceptionally pretty town built around the extraordinary Convento de Cristo: the medieval headquarters of the Knights Templar, later adapted as a royal palace, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history stretching back to 1160. The Manueline window on the Chapter House wall is one of the most intricate pieces of stone carving in Portugal. Allow at least half a day to do it justice.

Marvel at the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça

Two of Portugal’s great landmarks sit half an hour apart in the countryside north of Lisbon, and both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Monastery of Batalha was built to give thanks for the victory at Aljubarrota in 1385 and is a riot of Gothic and Manueline stonework, crowned by its roofless Unfinished Chapels. Alcobaça, founded in the 12th century, is a calmer, more austere Cistercian abbey, best known for the carved tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, the lover he had crowned queen after her murder. Combine them with Óbidos and Nazaré for a full day out.

Climb up to the University of Coimbra

Portugal’s oldest university crowns the hill above Coimbra, and its old buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highlight is the baroque Joanina Library, all gilded wood and 18th-century books, which you visit on a timed ticket you choose when you buy (no photos inside on the noble floor). The 184 steps of the university tower repay the climb with views over the city and the Mondego River.

Past meets present in Braga

Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities and one of its most underrated. Over thirty churches, Portugal’s oldest cathedral and a historic centre that is genuinely beautiful, but also a thriving university population that keeps the city lively, with good bars, contemporary restaurants and a nightlife scene that puts many larger European cities to shame. Just outside town, the zigzag baroque staircase of Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbs to a hilltop sanctuary; take the 19th-century water-powered funicular up and walk down.

Visit Monsanto

Monsanto won the title of “most Portuguese village in Portugal” in 1938 and has been living up to it ever since. The village is built around and between giant granite boulders, which form the walls, roofs and floors of many of the houses, creating one of the most extraordinary townscapes in the country. Barely changed for centuries and almost entirely absent from the tourist circuit, it is well worth the detour into the Beira Baixa region.

Go hiking in Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês

Portugal’s only national park sits against the Spanish border in the far north, covering about 700 square kilometres of river valleys, granite mountains, glacial lakes and ancient stone villages. It is the wildest and most remote landscape on the Portuguese mainland, and the hiking here, particularly the trails around Gerês and the Homem Valley, where stretches of the Roman road known as the Geira still run through the forest, is some of the best in the country without the crowds you find in the Alps or the Pyrenees.

Step back in time at Sortelha

Sortelha is a medieval fortified village in the Beira region that has barely changed in centuries. The 13th-century castle, the granite houses inside the walls, the old parish church and the spectacular views across the surrounding countryside make it one of those places that makes you stop and think about how many centuries of history sit underneath you when you walk its cobbled streets.

Explore the fishing town of Cascais

A short train ride from Lisbon along the Portuguese Riviera, Cascais is the sort of place you go for an afternoon and decide to stay for dinner. The old town has properly good seafood restaurants, a historic fort, excellent beaches within walking distance and a waterfront promenade that connects to Estoril. Historically the summer retreat of Portuguese royalty and nobility; the villas are impressive.

Ride Lisbon’s famous tram 28

The vintage Remodelado tram carriages that have been running up and down Lisbon’s hills since the 1930s are an attraction in their own right. Tram 28 is the classic route: Lisbon Cathedral, São Jorge Castle, the Thieves Market (Feira da Ladra), the National Pantheon and the Alfama neighbourhood all feature along the way. Buy a ticket or load a travel card before you board rather than paying on the tram, and ride early in the morning to beat the day-trippers.

Visit Sagres, jewel of the Algarve

Sagres sits at the southwestern tip of Europe, where the continent’s south and west coasts meet, and has a proper end-of-the-world quality to it. The 15th-century Sagres Fortress, where Henry the Navigator reputedly planned the great voyages of discovery, is extraordinary. The beaches are quieter and wilder than further along the Algarve, the surf is serious and A Tasca, overlooking the bay at the fishing harbour, is where you want to eat (closed on Wednesdays).

Visit Óbidos

Óbidos is a medieval walled town about 50 miles north of Lisbon that has been remarkably well preserved: whitewashed houses decorated with blue and yellow azulejo tiles, bougainvillea spilling over the ancient walls, and cobblestone streets threading between Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches. You can walk the entire length of the town walls for extraordinary views over the surrounding countryside, though there are no railings, so take care. The town is also famous for its ginjinha (cherry liqueur), traditionally served in a small chocolate cup. A reader suggested it years ago in the comments and she was absolutely right: it belongs on this list.

Explore the Roman city of Évora

Évora is one of Portugal’s great historical cities and one that consistently surprises visitors who haven’t been before. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason: the Roman Temple of Évora (remarkably intact, standing in the city centre), the medieval cathedral, the Royal Palace of São Francisco, and the Chapel of Bones, where the walls and pillars of a small chapel attached to the church are lined with the bones and skulls of around 5,000 people, gathered by the Franciscan friars from the city’s overflowing cemeteries. It is one of the more extraordinary sights in Portugal and, despite everything, oddly peaceful. About 90 minutes from Lisbon by train.

Discover Comporta and the Tróia Peninsula

Comporta has become one of Europe’s most fashionable beach destinations over the past decade, but it remains considerably less crowded and more beautiful than its reputation might suggest. The Tróia Peninsula, a long, narrow sandbar south of Setúbal, extends to a cluster of white-sand beaches backed by pine forest facing the calm waters of the Sado Estuary. Dolphins are frequently seen in the estuary. The beaches themselves are genuinely among the finest in Portugal: long, uncrowded and properly beautiful. Take the ferry from Setúbal to Tróia, or drive down from Lisbon in about 90 minutes.

Monsaraz and the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve

Monsaraz is a hilltop village in the Alentejo that feels like it belongs in a different century. The medieval castle and village walls look out over the vast Alqueva reservoir, one of the largest artificial lakes in Western Europe, and the plains of the Alentejo stretching to the Spanish border. The village itself is small and beautiful, with a handful of excellent restaurants and guesthouses. The area around the lake was the world’s first certified Starlight Tourism Destination, with almost no light pollution, making it one of the best stargazing spots in Europe. Go in autumn or winter for the clearest skies.

Before you go

• Getting around: fast trains link Lisbon and Porto in about three hours, but for the Algarve, the Alentejo coast and the villages inland a hire car makes life far easier. I’ve never tried getting between the smaller Algarve towns without one. Drivers on the narrow country roads can be impatient, so take your time.
• Tourist taxes: Lisbon, Porto and several Algarve towns add a nightly tourist tax, paid at your hotel. More practical advice is in my Portugal travel tips.
• When to go: spring and autumn are the sweet spots. My guide to the best time to visit Portugal goes month by month. I’ve been in October more than once, when it’s still warm enough for the beach in the Algarve and ideal for walking the coast.
• Where to stay: base yourself in Lisbon for the capital, Sintra and Belém, in Porto for the north and the Douro, and in Lagos or Tavira for the Algarve. My guide to where to stay in Portugal has the areas and hotels, and my Portugal itinerary joins them up in a week.

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Read next

• Unmissable things to do in Lisbon
• The perfect Portugal itinerary for a week
• The most beautiful castles in Portugal
• The best beaches in the Algarve
• Secret spots in the Alentejo

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