Want to travel in Portugal, but don't know which destination to choose? We can help you! Meet the most interesting places in Portugal to visit and remember! In the North of Portugal, the city of Porto is the most famous for its wine and rides on the Douro River. In the Centre you have the city of Aveiro, Lisbon, Óbidos, Nazaré, Batalha and Fátima and Sintra, which are very popular visits. In the South you can't miss the Algarve and the islands of Azores and Madeira, which have paradisiacal landscapes! 

Porto, Capital of the North

A visit to some of the historic buildings in Porto city centre and a visit to the Port Wine cellars is a must for anyone visiting the capital of Northern Portugal! Start at the birthplace of Porto, the 11th century city and the Cathedral, located in the highest part of the city! Then descend to the Avenida dos Aliados, where you will get to know some of the most beautiful buildings in the city and learn a little more about the construction of the city's main avenue. The tour continues to São Bento Station where you can appreciate its 20 thousand tiles and learn about the fantastic history of its construction! To finish, it is time to go to the Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia to taste the fantastic wine! Pass over the bridge Luís I, where you will be able to contemplate the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The Ribeira area is one of the unmissable places to stroll along the riverside. If you want, you can always take a guided tour of the city of Porto.

Whoever visits Oporto should not miss this cruise where you can see all 6 bridges that were built over the Douro River! Besides passing by Arrábida bridge, the closest to the Douro River mouth, which was designed by Edgar Cardoso and was a great success in the 60s because at the time of its inauguration it had the largest arch built in Europe, you will also pass by Luís I bridge, Infante bridge, D. Maria Pia bridge, São João bridge and finally Freixo bridge! The trip starts near the Praça da Ribeira and ends in the same place. Enjoy this fantastic trip and get to know the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia through the Douro River!

Douro Valley

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the land and the wine produced have existed for over 2000 years! You will have the opportunity to taste Port wines, visit farms producing the Region, take a cruise or boat trips, have lunch in typical restaurants with a traditional dish and even see some viewpoints over the Douro River Valley! From Régua is a very good option for those who want to get to know the Wine Region and still make a small cruise of one hour in the Douro river!

Another option to visit the Douro Wine Region is one of the most sought after tours ever: the Douro Valley wine tour. Everybody wants to know the beautiful landscapes of this region, classified as World Heritage in 2001, and Port wine lovers really cannot miss this tour! Spend a full day enjoying the best of the Douro Wine Region!

Aveiro and Costa Nova

Known as the Portuguese Venice, the city of Aveiro has a lot to offer its visitors! In Aveiro, take the chance to visit the historical centre of the city, the fishing area and the saltpans, because the memory of the city lies in its fishermen and in its salt production! Aveiro was the city with the largest national production of salt and the one which supplied the country! Then you can take a boat trip in a classic moliceiro boat along the dazzling canals which run through the city. Then you will visit Costa Nova and its famous beach with its colourful houses! A very nice town by the sea. Take the opportunity to visit Aveiro from Porto . 

Óbidos, Nazaré, Batalha and Fátima

Four cities with different histories, but with a very interesting past and that are excellent options for you! The medieval town of Óbidos, which you will surely have heard about for its walls, medieval fair and chocolate festival! Then the trip continues to Nazaré, land of fishermen, where you will have lunch in a typical restaurant or in another chosen by you! The Monastery of Batalha, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. And finally, Fátima, where you will visit the Sanctuary, the Chapel of Apparitions! Even if you have already been to Fátima there is always an opportunity to return to this sanctuary!

Would you like to see all these places in 1 day? Then this tour is the perfect way, departing from Lisbon.

Lisbon - the Portuguese capital  

Start your visit to Lisbon at Marquês de Pombal Square and then on to Belém where you can have breakfast at the famous pastry shop Pastéis de Belém! Then you can visit the Jerónimos Monastery, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, the National Coach Museum, the Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries! Continue to the centre of Lisbon and to the Praça do Comércio, one of the largest squares in Europe and belonging to the Baixa Pombalina. This square and the adjoining buildings, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, once housed the Portuguese Royal Palace and are today occupied by the various ministries of the Portuguese Government. Explore this area and discover the oldest café in Lisbon, Martinho da Arcada, frequented by the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa, and if you still have time you can also go to Ginjinha do Largo de São Domingos, the first establishment to commercialise the Ginjinha drink in Lisbon. Then on to Alfama, Lisbon's oldest and most typical neighbourhood. The Avenida da Liberdade, known as for its resemblance to the Parisian Champs Elysées. If you prefer, you can take a half-day tour with a professional guide. You are sure to remember Lisbon for a long time!

Sintra - Romanticism and the "Cultural Landscape’’

Sintra was the first town with its "cultural landscape" registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Sintra you can visit the Pena Palace and its Park with more than 200 hectares of pure magic with various gardens, lakes, bridges and fountains. Sintra also has its typical regional gastronomy and traditional commerce with the famous Queijadas and Travesseiros de Sintra, which are delicious! You can also visit Cabo da Roca, the sea coast of Cascais, a former fishing village that is now an aristocratic retreat, passing by Praia do Guincho and Boca do Inferno. If you are in Lisbon, enjoy a full day tour to Sintra. A very popular and romantic destination in Portugal.

The Algarve - The Favourite Holiday Destination

A trip to the Algarve to experience Portugal's beaches with the warmest waters is a must! In the Algarve you can start your day trip in Silves, Monchique, Lagos and St. Vincent Cape where you can visit the Santo António church in Lagos and see the 60m high rock formations of the Ponta da Piedade beach considered the most beautiful beach in the world. Situated at the other end of the Algarve is the town of Sagres and its fortress where you can observe the cliffs until the Cape of São Vicente known as "The End of the World". You can also take a Catamaran trip on the Algarve Coast and visit the Benagil Cave.

Azores

On the island of Azores you can do several tours, trails and local visits, but what people like the most is to swim with the dolphins in the Atlantic waters. Visitors enjoy swimming with the dolphins, but before starting this trip you will be advised and informed of the safety rules on board the boat and how you should proceed with the dolphins to create an empathy with these animals! If you're feeling adventurous, you can climb the Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal! Don't forget to try the typical local cuisine such as Cozido das Furnas and other regional dishes!

Madeira

If you travel to Madeira Island, you can visit the caves of São Vicente, the town of Santana with its typical houses but also the villages of Curral de Feiras, Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos and Porto Moniz!  IF you prefer the typical regional gastronomy such as Bolo do Caco, enjoy a traditional Dinner to the sound of the Bailinho da Madeira, and at the end you can contemplate the views of Funchal Bay from a belvedere on the island. Take the opportunity to follow the Levada trails on foot. See which destination on this fantastic island suits you best!

Now that you know some of the most popular destinations in Portugal, you just need to choose the one you want to do! If you already know Portugal well, see also the most popular destinations in Spain! To help you plan your trip, check our Living Magazine-Blog and also our Living Tours website! Know the best of Portugal.