64 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

When Jorge Matias exchanged his dress shoes and a tie for flip-flops and tours, his friends began calling him "pé-descalço" (barefoot), and thus Jorge Barefoot was born. Jorge runs winery tours—he drives so you can drink as much as you like and watch the scenery go by—and you can choose a one-hour trek in Casal de Loivos or a half-day trip to the nearby village Provesende. Jorge also runs historical, walking, and boat tours.

Some 6 km (4 miles) northwest of Braga, this impressive Benedictine monastery was built in the 11th century and rebuilt again at the end of the 19th century. You can tour four cloisters, which have some fine examples of azulejos, and also the extensive grounds, once the source of most of the monks' food and drink and where grapes are once again being grown to make vinho verde.

The Rio Cávado, crossed by a medieval bridge, is shaded by overhanging trees and bordered by municipal gardens. High above the river stands the ruin of the medieval Paço dos Condes (Palace of the Counts), where you'll find the Barcelos Archeological Museum. Among the empty sarcophagi and stone crosses is the 14th-century crucifix known as the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo (Cross of the Lord of the Rooster). According to local legend, after sentencing an innocent man to death, a judge prepared to dine on a roast fowl. When the condemned man said, "I'll be hanged if that rooster doesn't crow," the rooster flew from the table and the man's life was spared. The Barcelos rooster is on sale in pottery form throughout the town; indeed, it's become something of a national symbol.

At the top of the Largo do Toural is this excellent archaeological museum contained within the cloister of the the Igreja de São Domingos. The museum has rich finds from the Celtic settlement of Citânia de Briteiros northwest of Guimarães, which makes it a logical stop before or after visiting the site. There are also Lusitanian and Roman stone sarcophagi, a strange miniature bronze chariot, various weapons, and elaborate ornaments. Two finds stand out: the decorative, carved stone slabs known as the pedras formosas (beautiful stones)—one of which was found at a funerary monument at Briteiros—and the huge, prehistoric granite Colossus of Pedralva, a figure of brutal power thought to have been used in ancient fertility rites.

Created in 1919 by António Maria Pereira Júnior, the Escola de Rendas (Lace-Making School) is attached to the Museu das Rendas de Bilros de Vila do Conde. Here you can see beautiful examples of lace from the region and from around the world.

The beautifully preserved convent buildings surrounding the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira house this museum, known for its beautiful displays of religious art, medieval statuary, and coats of arms. The highlight is a 14th-century silver triptych of the Nativity that's full of animation and power. It's said to have been captured from the king of Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota and presented to the victorious Dom João I, whose tunic, worn at the battle, is preserved in a glass case nearby.

Artifacts from the old Roman city known as Bracara Augusta (founded 15 BC), from which Braga derives its name, are showcased at this museum. A 1st-century mosaic found on-site during construction is impressive, but there are many other fascinating items dating from prehistoric through to medieval times.

Chaves-born Nadir Afonso (1920–2013) worked as an architect with the likes of Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer, and also made waves as a painter. Many of his most important works are on display at this sleek museum, designed by his still more famous compatriot, Álvaro Siza Vieira.

A 10-minute walk west from the Praça da República takes you to the impressive mansion that houses the beautiful Museu de Artes Decorativas. The early-18th-century interior has been carefully preserved, including some lovely tile panels. The collection of 17th-century ceramics and ornate period furniture shows how wealthy many of Viana's merchants were.

A five-minute walk from the medieval bridge, this amazing museum has a collection comprising more than 9,000 pieces of pottery from various epochs. Many are from excavations from all over the world, particularly from Portuguese-language countries. It all makes for a fascinating showcase of traditional pottery techniques and styles. There are also workshops and a documentation center. If you have trouble finding the place, look for the massive rooster out front.

Housed in a former bishop's palace, the Museu do Abade de Baçal is named after Francisco Manuel Alves (1865–1948), a local abbot with a deep interest in the region's history and art, who contributed to the museum's creation. Its collections includes archaeological discoveries such as boar-shaped fertility symbols, tombstones with pinwheel patterns, and ancient coins.

Viana is known for its colorful traditional outfits, making the Costume Museum an important city landmark. Displays show how colors and patterns vary, even from village to village, as well as how the garments are made by hand. A separate room showcases the rich regional tradition of working in precious metals. The museum shop is an excellent place to pick up jewelry, traditional embroidery, and other craft items.

If you can't make your visit to the region coincide with one of the festivals in which local lads wearing wooden masks roam the streets, the Museu Ibérico da Máscara e do Traje is definitely worth a visit. A joint Portuguese-Spanish initiative, it has displays on the celebrations in villages across Trás-os-Montes and across the border in Zamora. The many costumes on show are riotously colorful and the masks strikingly carved. Information in English is available.

The elegant rooms in this baroque mansion, which houses a museum of the same name, are furnished in 18th-century style and display silver and porcelain collections. The ground floor of the palace is flagstone, which allowed carriages to run through the interior to the stables beyond. At the back of the palace is a formal garden with decorative tiles.

These 185,000 acres of rolling hills are one of the most remote, least developed areas of the country. It's home to a growing population of Iberian wolves, which you're not likely to see except on a guided nature tour. In the villages that dot the park, some ancient traditions survive. Rio de Onor, right on the Spanish border, has traditional dwellings where livestock inhabit the ground floor and humans live one story up, warmed by the animals' body heat in cold winter months. The Montesinho Natural Park website has information on how to visit and stay in the area, but not on all hiking trails, so stop in at the Bragança tourist office for maps.

Extending along 16 km (10 miles) of the coastline north and south of Esposende is the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, an important haven for birds and plant life. As well as dune habitats through which you can wander on boardwalks, it includes the river beaches of the Cávado estuary and pine and oak forest. Guided visits of up to 10 people can be arranged, but for those who prefer solo exploration, the trails are clearly marked. Depending on which part of the park you are headed for, Autoviação do Minho buses can take you to Fão (for Ofir) and Apúlia, farther south.

In the station's vestibule are 100 azulejos (painted tin-glazed ceramic tiles) from the 1930s. The beautiful blue-and-wine tile panels depict Duoro Valley scenes related to its best-known industry—port production. There's also a tiny museum and wineshop here.

The town's best face is presented in the old streets that radiate from the Praça da República. The most striking building here is the Casa da Misericórdia, an 18th-century almshouse, whose two upper stories are supported, unusually, by tall caryatids (carved, draped female figures). The square's stone fountain, also Renaissance in style, harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding buildings, which include the restored town hall and its lofty arcades.

The old windmills that line Apúlia Beach are no longer in use but have been repurposed as charming rental cottages. Sand dunes protect this notoriously windy beach, making it a perfectly sheltered spot for families. The waters here are famous for their medicinal purposes because they contain high levels of iodine. You might see locals collecting seaweed, which is used as fertilizer for nearby farms. There are umbrellas and boat rentals. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: windsurfing.

Colorful tents on the clean and coarse sand of the craggy beach Praia de Mindelo create a shield from inconvenient winds. From Vila do Conde, take the EN13 for 7½ km (4 miles) south to reach the beach access at the small fishing village of Mindelo—a drive of about 10 minutes. From Mindelo metro station, it's a 30-minute walk to the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: walking; windsurfing.

It may lack Lisbon’s sunshine, but the coast around Porto has picture-perfect beaches. Just 14 km (9 miles south of the city) is the pretty seaside town of Miramar, where a 17th-century chapel, the Capela do Senhor da Pedra, stands proudly on a rocky headland that juts out from the sandy beach. The Praia de Miramar is usually pleasantly uncrowded, and good for swimming in the summer, while the wind whips up surfer-pleasing waves in the chilly winter. The beach is a 10-minute walk from Miramar metro station. Amenities: parking (no fee); food and drink; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

South of the Cávado River, Ofir's beach is one of the most beautiful stretches of sand along northern Portugal's coast. Huge dunes are bordered by rows of pine trees, which give way to rocks that jut out into the water and are visible at low tide. These rock formations are known locally as "the horses of Fão." Surfers usually hang out on the beach's southern stretch, but there's plenty of room for families farther north. There are also restaurants and beach bars just behind the dunes and huts that rent out umbrellas, windsurfing equipment, and boats. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; sunset; windsurfing.

This vinho verde estate at Penafiel, halfway between Porto and Amarante, has been in the Guedes family since at least the 16th century. Visitors can book a tasting (from €13 for three wines)—taking in the old cellar with its 300 barrels. The tour includes a stop in the famous Romantic garden, with its lovely plants and centuries-old trees. Aveleda is known for its fine aguardentes, and connoisseurs can opt for a private tour and tasting (€65) of five such brandies, aged up to 30 years.

On the left bank of the Duoro River, this vineyard sits atop a hill facing the river. The land has been used as a vineyard since the mid-18th century, and today three wines are produced under the Carvalhas brand: Branco; Tinta Francisca; and Vinhas Velhas. The vineyard is quite large, so tours can be done either on foot or by minibus, driving on and off-road. From the mountaintop Round House, a cool 1,800 feet up, the 360-degree view is breathtaking. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions and make recommendations.

Walking distance from Pinhão train station is the Symington family's Duoro vineyard, which opened to the public in May 2015. The hour-long tour starts in the vineyard's museum, which explains the history of the site and of the Symington family. You'll then see where port is produced and learn about the production process both via an explanation from the tour guide and a short film.

Dating back to 1616, this large estate high on the north bank of Rio Douro, between Régua and Pinhão, was already marked on the first Douro Demarcated Region Map drawn up by Baron Forrester. Quinta do Crasto wines include vintage port, designating wine of exceptional quality made in a single year. It must be bottled between the second and third year after the harvest; it is deep purple in color and full-bodied. The estate also produces LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) port—a wine of a superior quality from a single year that is bottled between the fourth and sixth year after it is made. Reservations must be made to visit the winery, followed by a tasting (from €29 for five wines) or a lunch with wine pairing (from €70).

This vineyard offers great value for money with a 30-minute audio-guide tour, available in nine languages, and three Fonseca port tastings, accompanied by explanations. Taste an extra-dry white Siroco, a Bin No. 27, and a 10-year-old Tawny from the comfort of the veranda. Ports by the glass, including an organic selection, can be tasted in the visitor center, and if you're keen on Fonseca vintage port, you can make a reservation for a personalized tasting. Quinta do Panascal also has a restaurant, for which groups of 10 or more should make a reservation.

On the steep banks of the Távora River, a tributary of the Douro, and about 30 km (19 miles) from Lamego, the Quinta do Panascal produces grapes exclusively for Fonseca port wine, making it the ideal winery to visit for fans of the tipple. The winery's excellent audio guide leads you through the vines of various grape varieties, and then to the adega with its old granite tanks and wooden vats, before ending in a tasting of three ports. You can also book ahead for a private visit guided by a staff member (€150 for two people).

This family-owned estate 11 km (7 miles) north of Pinhão draws architecture buffs with its prize-winning winery, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira with an extraordinary schist and cork "skin." Gourmets come for the restaurant's wine-paired tasting menus (from €42, plus €16 for wine) that showcase locally sourced ingredients in updated regional dishes, but there are also à la carte options. It is also possible to visit just for a winery tour and tasting. There's also a nice little hotel attached with 16 rooms, four of them in an old olive press building.

Tours, tastings, and lunch at this beautiful vineyard through which the Duoro River runs are by appointment only, so you'll have the whole place to yourself. Quinta Vale D. Maria came into the hands of its current owners, Sandra Tavares da Silva, Joana Pinhão, and her husband, Cristiano van Zeller, in 1996, when the vineyards were more than 50 years old, but the farm needed reconstruction. Today the quinta comprises 77 acres of vineyards, about half of which are 60–80 years old. After a thorough tour, you can sit down to sip six wines—three reds, three ports—and then dine with the owners and staff.