Portugal attractions

Furnas Lake is a special place to visit: created after a volcanic eruption, is has bubbling mud pools, other-wordly hot springs, and underground cooking holes where local chefs gather to dig up their cozido stews. The best way to explore the area's scenery is to take the circular trail around the lake.

Money was no object when King João V commissioned the National Palace of Mafra (Palácio Nacional de Mafra) in 1717. One of the largest monuments in Europe, the baroque complex includes a royal palace, convent, library, and basilica across a whopping 1,200 rooms. Imagine how the Portuguese elite lived—and admire the Italian sculptures, French paintings, and Belgian carillons they collected—while touring this over-the-top estate.

Located 5,000 feet (1,500 meters above sea level, the Paul da Serra Plateau is the flattest part of Madeira and offers panoramic views of emerald valleys and mountains. On a clear day you can see as far as the North Atlantic Ocean.

One of the largest aquariums in Europe, the Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) attracts some 1 million people every year, making it one of Lisbon's most popular tourist attractions. An ideal destination for visiting families and nature lovers, the aquarium is home to more than 450 aquatic species across two levels. It's housed in an architecturally notable building that appears to float on the surface of the Tagus River.

Sitting atop Portugal’s Serra da Arrábida with views over the Tagus and Sado estuaries, Palmela Castle (Castelo de Palmela) combines a superior regional vantage point with a well-preserved national monument full of cultural value. This structure, converted from a 15th-century convent, hosts a hotel, an archeological museum, and the Igreja de Santiago church, all of which showcase this region south of Lisbon as more than just vineyards and fishing villages.

Housed in the 17th-century Palácio Alvor, Lisbon’s National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga) holds arguably the most notable collection of Portuguese art in the world. Works by other European artists, such as Piero della Francesca, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch, and Raphael, to name just a few, are also highlighted.

Peneda-Gerês National Park (Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês) is Portugal’s only national park, stretching through the northern districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Vila Real. Largely uninhabited, the vast highlands are ideal for hiking, with rugged mountain ridges, dense pine forests, and sweeping plateaus.

Characterized by babbling brooks, waterfalls, and vivid bursts of hydrangea flowers, Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park (Parque Natural dos Caldeirões) is a protected area that showcases the natural beauty of São Miguel island, part of the Azores archipelago in Portugal.

As one of Madeira’s most-accessible viewpoints, Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint (Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos promises panoramic island views without the strenuous hike required to reach most Madeiran miradouros. From this 1,200-foot (355-meter vantage point, you can enjoy 360-degree views of Funchal Bay and the Ilhas Desertas.

Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal, because the country’s first king—Afonso Henriques—was born there. An authentic example of the evolution of a medieval town into a modern city, Guimarães’ historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that makes for a fascinating day trip from Porto.

Porto’s magnificent Livraria Lello is renowned as one of the world's most beautiful bookstores. With its art nouveau exterior and neo-Gothic interior, travelers flock here to see its stained glass windows and spectacular staircase. It has also attracted many Harry Potter fans over the years as it's rumored to have inspired J.K. Rowling when she lived in Porto.

Lisbon’s lively Baixa District (Lower Town) occupies the sweet spot between Alfama and Bairro Alto. The buzzing district is packed with stores, restaurants, hotels, and bars, and is home to some of the city’s most symbolic streets and squares. Built after the 1755 earthquake, Baixa showcases neoclassical architecture and engineering marvels; highlights include the neo-Gothic Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa) and the monumental Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), with its grandiose arched entryway.

Old stone arches, tall metal silos, and a shady Japanese garden surround Bacalhôa Winery Museum, the main facility of Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal (Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal). These settings, together with art exhibits that range from Angolan landscapes to a collection of centuries-old Portuguese tiles, create a backdrop for wine degustation and your introduction to the heritage of Bacalhôa.

A testament to the region’s strategic importance in Moorish times, the imposing walls of Silves Castle have presided over the landscape for almost 1,000 years, although the town itself is much older. A trip to the castle is ideal to get a break from the beach and taste the area’s fascinating history.

Casa da Música is one of the top attractions in Porto for music and architecture fans alike. Modern and eye-catching from the outside, inside it houses a vast 1,300-seat concert hall used by the Porto National Orchestra. The rooftop restaurant offers drinks and dinner options that are as delightful as the views.

At the northern end of the grand Avenida da Liberdade and fringed by Eduardo VII Park, the Marquis of Pombal Square (Praça do Marquês de Pombal) is the nucleus of downtown Lisbon. Both a busy traffic intersection, linking several important boulevards, and an emblematic city landmark, it’s known for its towering white monument honoring the 1st Marquis of Pombal.

The islet of Vila Franca do Campo is a protected nature reserve that was formed by an ancient submerged volcano, off the coast of São Miguel—the largest of Portugal’s Azores islands. The area has an almost perfectly circular lagoon and a small beach, which attracts swimmers and snorkelers alike. Whale-watching cruises also explore the waters beyond the islet, making it a perfect day trip from São Miguel.

Sitting atop a headland at the western tip of the Algarve, Sagres was—up until the discovery of the Americas—believed to be the end of the world. Surfers flock to the fishing town to ride waves off its golden-sand beaches, and soak up the scenery at Cape Saint Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente, where Atlantic swells pummel the craggy cliffs.

Backed by pine-topped ombré cliffs that fade from ochre to beige, Falesia Beach stretches for more than 3.7 miles (6 kilometers, making it one of Portugal’s longest beaches. It’s also one of the Algarve’s most loved strips of sand, with its colored cliffs and clear waters attracting strollers and swimmers alike.

A former industrial zone beautified for the 1998 World Expo, the Park of Nations (Parque das Nações) is a trendy waterfront area filled with restaurants, museums, and the massive Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) aquarium. Much of the ultramodern architecture—featuring undulating rooftops and buildings that soar like ship masts—evokes the nearby Atlantic. Art installations line the public gardens and bike paths along the Tagus River.

Housed in what was once the Royal Riding School of Belém National Palace, along with a second more contemporary building, Lisbon’s National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches) features an impressive collection of royal coaches and horse-drawn carriages from the 16th–19th centuries. It also showcases ceremonial and processional items related to equestrianism, as well as several portraits of the Portuguese royal family.

Surrounded by steep mountains, the village of Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns) seems like an impossible place to access when viewed from the Eira do Serrado lookout point. But its remote location is exactly why it was embraced by the escaped slaves and nuns who fled from pirates in Funchal.

Sitting in the shadow of Lisbon’s 25th of April Bridge, the Santo Amaro Docks, known locally as Docas, are both a functioning marina and a nightlife hot spot. The area holds moorings for more than 300 boats and is home to a wealth of bars and restaurants set in converted waterfront warehouses. Nearby are several museums, the LxFactory arts center, and the new Pilar 7 Bridge Experience, perfect for a daytime visit.

The towering Arco do Triunfo (Arco da Rua Augusta) in Lisbon overlooks one of the biggest market squares in Europe: Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio). Following the 1755 earthquake, this triumphal arch was built to commemorate the rebuilding efforts, and it became one of the city’s most magnificent landmarks. Take in the arch’s intricate exteriors from the ground, or head up to the top for city views.

Tomar may seem like a simple riverfront town, but it packs a strong historical punch. Set on the banks of the Nabão River, this small city is home to the impressive Castle of Tomar (Castelo de Tomar) and the Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo), a 12th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former medieval headquarters of the Knights Templar.

The Portela Viewpoint (Miradouro da Portela), nestled between Porto da Cruz and Machico, provides an unrivaled vantage point to marvel at the beautiful landscapes of Madeira. From mountains to villages, the sweeping coastal panorama showcases the island's captivating scenery. A visit to this lookout is a must, and dining at Restaurante Miradouro da Portela nearby will make it all the more memorable.

Nestled up against the Minho River on the northern border between Portugal and Spain, Valença do Minho is a medieval hilltop town and one of the oldest settlements in Portugal. It’s famous for its fortress and walled old town.

Rising to a height of 2,959 feet (902 meters, Mt. Fóia is the highest peak in the Algarve. The views from its summit are staggering: on a clear day, you can see as far as Cape Saint Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente, the wave-battered headland on the Algarve’s southwestern coast that was once believed to be the edge of the world.

A grandiose avenue stretching from Porto City Hall (Câmara Municipal do Porto) to Liberdade Square, Avenida dos Aliados serves as the city’s cultural and architectural center. A walk along the boulevard reveals architectural styles from neoclassical to French beaux arts and baroque, along with what’s been called the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s.

Bright-colored rock swirls and soars at Algar de Benagil (Benagil Cave), a spectacular sea cave in Portugal’s Algarve region. On sunny days, light pours through a dramatic, natural hole in its arched ceiling, illuminating golden sand and blue water below. Getting to Algar de Benagil is an adventure—the coastal cave is only accessible by the water.