571 Best Sights in Portugal

The wild hard-to-reach Ribeiro do Cavalo has dazzling white sands and crystal-clear water in several shades of turquoise. Curiously formed rocks jutting out of the water are encircled by all manner of colorful fish, so bring your snorkel gear. During the summer, regular boat services speed sun seekers to and from the beach and Praia do Ouro in Sesimbra (a 10-minute ride), but for the rest of the year it can only be reached by private boat, kayak, or by a steep half-hour walk along a very rough track. Look out for the purple markings on the rocks that indicate which way to go. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

In summer, this beach gets so crowded that it can be hard to enjoy its interesting rock formations, caves, and grottoes, not to mention the sand and sea. Yet it offers the latest in water sports and local children love jumping off the pier. Albufeira's old town encases the beach, the latter of which is known as Praia dos Pescadores because fishing boats dock here to supply the local area with their fresh catch. A vast range of eateries and bars are a short stroll away. Amenities: lifeguards; water sports. Best for: families.

The quaint village of Ferragudo, across the river from Portimão, has one of the region's finest beaches: Praia Grande, a long stretch of sand that offers plenty of space for towels—even in the summer. The 16th-century Castelo de São João (St. John's Castle), built to defend Portimão and now privately owned, sits right on the beach. It's a great spot to watch cruise ships glide by as they dock in Portimão. It's also great for families—being estuarine, the water's pretty still. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; windsurfing.

Facing the tourist information office, this pretty square is anchored by the 16th-century Palácio de Távora, which is not open to the public but has an interesting history. In the 18th century, the Marquês de Pombal accused the Duke of Aveiro, who owned the palace, of collaborating in the assassination plot against the king. Subsequently the duke was executed by the marquês, and the Távora coat of arms was erased from the Sala das Armas in Sintra's National Palace.

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.

Dominating the center of Marquês de Pombal Square is a statue of the marquis himself, the man responsible for the design of the "new" Lisbon that emerged from the ruins of the 1755 earthquake. On the statue's base are representations of both the earthquake and the tidal wave that engulfed the city; a female figure with outstretched arms signifies the joy at the emergence of the refashioned city. The square is effectively a large roundabout and a useful orientation point, since it stands at the northern end of Avenida da Liberdade.

Castelo de Vide's large, baroque central square is bordered by the Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Church) and the town hall. An alleyway to the right of the church leads to the town symbol: a canopied 16th-century marble fountain. Another cobblestone lane leads from the fountain up to the Judiaria (ancient Jewish quarter). On the last Friday of every month the open-air Mercado Franco takes place here.

Adjacent to Rossio train station, this square marks the beginning of modern Lisbon. Here the broad tree-lined Avenida da Liberdade starts its northwesterly ascent. Restauradores means "restorers," and the square commemorates the 1640 uprising against Spanish rule that restored Portuguese independence. An 1886 obelisk commemorates the event. Note the elegant pink-hued 18th-century Palácio Foz (under renovation into mid-2025) on the square's west side. The only building to rival the palace is the restored Éden building, just to the south. This Art Deco masterpiece of Portuguese architect Cassiano Branco now contains a hotel. You'll also see the Elevador da Glória, the funicular that travels up to Bairro Alto and its famous viewpoint.

In 1755 a catastrophic earthquake changed the face of Lisbon forever. This modern immersive museum aims to take visitors back in time to experience some of the horrors. Wander through a series of themed rooms that explore the quake, fires, and tsunami that rippled across Lisbon, and learn about the history and science of the event. Tickets are timed and the experience takes around 90 minutes.

This 6,900-acre farm and winery encompasses a vineyard established in 1723 by the Marquês de Alorna, a viceroy of Portuguese India. It is known particularly for its ripe, floral whites. There's a shop right outside the entrance where you can purchase the wines and other regional products such as honey, jams, olive oil, and sausages. There are no regular tours of the winery, but if you call a day or two ahead or email  [email protected], they may be able to arrange a visit and tasting (from €30 for two whites and one red).

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 €8 for three wines) or for a few more euros combine it with a tour that takes in the old cellar with its 300 barrels, and the famous Romantic garden, with its lovely plants and centuries-old trees. Aveleda is known for its fine aguardentes, and connoisseurs can book a private tour and tasting of five such brandies, aged up to 30 years.

One of the Algarve's more established wineries, Quinta da Penina is home to the renowned Foral de Portimão wine. Agronomist João Mariano, who mainly uses a blend of Portuguese and French grape varieties, has earned international acclaim since launching the company in 2001. Tours and tastings can be booked for groups of four or more.

For the gastronome in you, spend a day wining and dining at this 1,630-acre estate; 346 acres are vineyards. The quinta has been owned by the same family for more than 200 years and used to be one of largest royal falconry grounds in the country. The winery produces red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, as well as olive oil under numerous labels which include Capoeira, Terra de Lobos, and their flagship Casal Branco. They use native grape varieties such as Castelão for reds and Fernão Pires for whites, as well as international ones like Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Call ahead for a guided tour of the cellar ending with a tasting of five wines (€35), or for lunch or dinner in the small restaurant. The shop stocks the estate's wines and olive oil, as well as homemade jams, cheeses, and traditional sausages.

Dating back to 1615, this large estate on the right bank of the Rio Douro developed from more ancient origins—its name being a corruption of the Latin "castrum," a fortified Roman camp—but has been in the Roquette family for a little over a century. Quinta do Crasto is known for its premium ports but also for its red and white table wines; it also produces fine olive oils. Reservations must be made to visit the winery, with the tour followed by a tasting (from €39 for five wines) or a lunch with wine pairing (from €94).

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, especially it you want to roll up without booking ahead. 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 or more ports. You can also book a private visit guided by a staff member.

Quinta do Pisão is a 1,112-acre natural park and farm situated on the outskirts of Cascais that makes for a pleasant day out if you tire of the beach. Along with walking trails across meadows and through forests, it has a farm where visitors can pick their own vegetables and fruit to buy and take home. There's also a small herd of endangered woolly Portuguese Asinina de Miranda donkeys, which children can ride.

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." It is possible to visit just for a winery tour and tasting of three wines (from €30 per person, minimum of two), but gourmets come for the restaurant's wine-paired tasting menus (€62, plus €18 for the wines) that showcase locally sourced ingredients in updated regional dishes, although there are also à la carte options. There's a nice little hotel attached with 16 rooms, four of them in an old olive press building.

This family-owned winemaker, founded in the late 19th century, is one of the companies best prepared to receive visitors, with regular tours throughout the week to the main estate near Bombarral, south of Óbidos. You'll take in not only the wine presses and cellars but a magnificent antique distillery where aguardentes are still made. The tasting (€40) features five wines, and you may also combine it with lunch (for €40 extra). There are shorter tours to the equally charming Quinta das Cerejeiras, on the edge of Bombarral, which also has a wine store. In all cases, book in advance via  [email protected].

Although it's one of the more recent players on the regional wine production scene, the winery at Quinta dos Vales has earned an impressive reputation. A variety of activities are available to book, including tasting experiences, vineyard tours, and wine-making workshops. Visitors who would like to spend more time exploring the beautiful grounds and open-air sculpture garden can book to stay at one of the estate's farmhouses.

The 50,000-acre park along the Spanish border between Penamacor and Sabugal was created to protect the natural habitat of the Iberian lynx, which was threatened with extinction. Although this isn't a place of rugged beauty, it's nevertheless an attractive, quiet region of heavily wooded, low mountains with few traces of human habitation. Although you won't see the lynxes, the park also shelters wildcats, wild boars, wolves, and foxes. The northern boundary begins about 10 km (6 miles) southeast of Sabugal.

This extensive natural reserve area along the left bank of the Tagus River has diverse fauna and flora, great bird-watching, and hiking through the area. The privately run EVOA Visitor and Birdwatching Center, which has a permanent display, is one of the best ways to see the park: there are daily guided tours on foot (1½ hrs from €15 per person on weekends or €39 for up to three people on weekdays) or by electric vehicle (€4 per person extra), and various private tours and birdwatching packages.

The marshlands and the estuary of the Sado River that extend to the west of Alcácer form this vast nature reserve. The riverbanks are lined with salt pans and rice paddies, and the sprawling park gives shelter to wildlife such as dolphins, otters, storks, and egrets. From the beach town of Comporta, Route N261 runs south along the coast through a mostly deserted stretch of dunes and pine trees with some undeveloped sandy beaches.

This part of the coastline is where you'll find the Mindelo Ornithological Reserve, which became Portugal's first protected area in 1957. One of the few remaining swaths of undeveloped land in the region around Porto, it has 1,500 acres of dunes, fields, and wetlands. It's home to more than 80 bird species and is an important haven for amphibians. The reserve is a 20-minute drive from Vila do Conde; you can also take the metro to Varziela or Espaço Natureza, from where it's a 15-minute walk to the marked trails—or to the boardwalk along the dunes.

One of Europe's best beaches for surfing—pretty much any time of year—Ribeira d'Ilhas regularly hosts national and world championships. When the surf is up on weekends, expect a crowd. There's a large, modern restaurant where you can grab a bite. The beach is 2 km (1¼ miles) north of Ericeira, set in a picturesque gorge amid tall cane. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing.

The lower town of Estremoz, a maze of narrow streets and white houses, radiates from the Rossio, a huge, central square. Stands lining it sell the town's famous colorful pottery. In addition to the multicolor, hand-painted plates, pitchers, and dolls, note the earthenware jugs decorated with bits of local white marble. There's a weekly market here on Saturday mornings.

Fado, the mournful Portuguese folk music, is said to have been born in the Lisbon neighborhoods of Alfama and Mouraria. This street is redolent with its history, with large black-and-white photographs and information about famous fadistas pasted on its walls. One famous fadista, Maria Severa, lived on this street, and her former home is now a performance space, Maria da Mouraria. Mariza, one of contemporary fado's biggest stars, also hails from the area.

Your eyes do not deceive you—there really is an ornate gilded Thai pavilion beneath the jacaranda trees in Belém's Jardim Vasco da Gama. Built to celebrate 500 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Portugal, the structure was opened by Thai princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The perfect horseshoe-shape bay here, 12 miles west of Alcobaça, makes this one of Portugal's prettiest beaches, lapped by calm waters that are safe for children. The ample strand—patrolled by lifeguards so long as beach cafés are open—has fine, yellow sand (cleaned daily) and areas with sunshades for rent. Much of it is lined with well-preserved dunes; at its northern end, set back from the promenade, are elegant old homes in the typical Caldas style, restaurants, and many hotels. The beach is popular with local families, so don't come in high summer if you dislike crowds. Local companies offer boating and canoeing trips. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

The largest church in the Azores, dating from the late 1500s, is missing much of its baroque interior because it was largely destroyed in Terceira’s 1980 earthquake as well as a fire in 1983. Not all was lost, however. The high altar is decorated in 18th-century silverplate, and the Our Lady of the Angels altar also dates from the 18th century.