Talk to travelers and you’ll likely hear that they’ve been to Portugal recently or it’s on their shortlist for a future trip. Portugal is a bustling travel destination with a recent revival, seeing visitors from Europe and abroad. Previously, Portugal was the center of exploration and innovation and now it’s quickly becoming a central travel destination in Europe. Portugal is a small country, roughly the size of Maine or Indiana. However, there are tons of things to do in Portugal. From exploring the rich history of the country to wandering the natural wonders, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Portugal. Keep reading for our short list to help you plan your perfect Portugal vacation.
Hike Portugal’s only National Park
Parque Nacional de Peneda-Gerês is one of the most popular things to do in Portugal for outdoor lovers. If you can’t afford the time or money to get to the Azores for hiking, this is the next best thing. Here, you’ll find some of Portugal’s best hikes with virtually no crowds.
Climb the Stairs of Braga
Braga was a very important religious center that is now home to Portugal’s oldest cathedral. Braga is a great day trip for those with extra time in porto. Besides the Braga Cathedral, climbing the crisscrossing stairs of Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the best experiences in this city.
Drink Wine In The Douro Valley
Drinking wine – yes please! Drinking wine in an agriculturally important region while learning about making one of the world’s most unique types of wine – extra yes please! If you’ve heard of port, the Douro Valley is where it is made. If it’s not made here, legally it has to be called port-style wine, instead of port. This region has two things going for it.
First, there is the wine. Visit wine tasting rooms and wine making vineyards to both learn about the process and try the fermented fruits of the Portuguese labors.
Second, the Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. The region centers around the Douro River. Along the banks of the river, you’ll see terraced vineyards that are striking. Even if you aren’t interested in drinking the wine, make sure to take a river cruise to take in the sights of the region. This is the tour we took, which included a boat tour.
Explore Vibrant Porto
Visiting Porto is one of the most popular things to do in Portugal. The city is one of narrow alley ways opening up into sweeping city views. Wander these streets is one of the best things to do in Portugal. Don’t forget to also stroll along the Douro River that borders the south side of the city.
While wandering the city streets, visit Livra Lello which is considered to be the most beautiful bookstore in the world and is said to have influenced some Harry Potter scenes. Don’t forget to take a tour of the Cathedral Se, a massive church that you can see from practically every street.
Try the ultimate hangover cure – the Francesinha. This three-meat sandwich is covered in melted cheese, spicy tomato soup/sauce and an egg. The best place to have one is Gazela!
2 Days In Porto: The Perfect 48 Hour Porto Itinerary
The 19 Best Things To Do In Porto, Portugal
Where To Stay In Porto: The Best Neighborhoods For You
Go Port Tasting In Gaia
Just across the river from Porto, is the riverside town of Gaia. This town centers around the port trade. Port wine is made in the Douro Valley, transported down the Douro River, and lastly aged in the port cellars of Gaia.
This is also where you can drink all of the perfectly aged port wine. Visit a few port houses to see the differences in port and learn about the different aging processes. Or take this guided tour of a few different port houses.
Additionally, Gaia is a great place for an adult vacation in Portugal. The vibe in Gaia is defiantly more mature and relaxed – it’s probably all that wine drinking. But there is more than just wine there. There are plenty of parks and historic buildings to check out on this side of the river too. And don’t forget to take a river tour and travel the same path as the port wine as you head up and down the river under the many bridges in the area.
Visit the Venice of Portugal
Aveiro is nicknamed the Venice of Portugal because there are a multitude of canals and colorful taxi boats that transport you throughout the city. The pastel houses along the canals and streets are beautiful and intricate. This is a great stop between Porto and Lisbon on a longer Portugal vacation.
Eat Under A Boulder
Monsanto is one of the only towns on our list on the East side of the country. So why did a visit make the list of the top things to do in Portugal? Because the town was built around the numerous boulders. The boulders were A) hard to move and B) made for some great walls and roofs. Now, it’s a cool place to visit that is very unique to Portugal. The town was even voted the “most Portuguese village in Portugal”.
See the Walled City of Obidos
Visiting Obidos is a popular thing to do in Portugal. Partly because it is a really cool walled city with tons of historic charm and partly because it is an easy day trip from Lisbon. It takes about a half day to visit Obidos or a full day, including transport, and the best thing to do in town is walk the walls around town to take in the country views.
Visit the Castles of Sintra
Sintra is so filled with beautiful and historic buildings that it is designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Sintra, a town just outside of Lisbon, was historically the vacation destination for the rich folks in Lisbon to escape the summer heat. And now a visit to these castles is one of the best things to do in Portugal. This is an easy day trip from Lisbon as the train ticket only costs a few Euros.
When in Sintra, there are several castles to explore. The most popular of them is the rainbow colored Pena Palace and the mystical Quinta da Regaleira. Additionally, there is the:
- National Palace of Sintra, which was surprisingly our favorite (there are swans painted on a ceiling and we like birds)
- Castle of the Moors, which is the oldest castle and was used as a military fort
- Palace and Gardens of Monserrate, the newest of the castles, one of the least visited and one of the most beautiful (in our opinion)
Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca is the western-most point in Europe. This is a great little down that makes a great day trip from Lisbon or an add-on to your Sintra day trip. This breezy town has the western-most point marked and a small fishing town to explore.
Explore Historic Lisbon
Lisbon is a large city filled with old world charm and modern conveniences. While I’m sure the modern parts of town are lovely to live in, it’s the historic old world charm that draws us tourists.
Our favorite neighborhood to explore is Alfama. This hilly neighborhood is fill with viewpoints, old churches, the surprisingly amazing São Jorge Castle (it was our favorite historical destination in Portugal), shops and restaurants. You can spend an entire day just wandering the hilly streets and looking at the people and buildings that make this town unique.
One of the best things to do in Lisbon is to visit one, or all, of the many panoramic viewpoints in the city (search the maps for “miroduoros”).
2 Days In Lisbon: The Best First-Timer Itinerary
28 Absolutely Amazing Things To Do In Lisbon
Where To Stay In Lisbon: Best Neighborhoods with Recommendations
Learn About the Age Of Discoveries In Belém
Just outside of Lisbon, you’ll find Belém. This was once the heart of the age of discoveries and now is a great destination for history lovers. Buildings here date back to the middle ages, when we still thought the earth was flat. Portugal was the first country to bet on something else beyond the Atlantic and they started the modern Age of Discovery. Because of this, they became a prominent trade center and an incredibly wealthy country.
Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery are testaments to this wealth and opulence. Both are worth a peak as the skill and dedication put into these buildings was amazing. A tour of Jerónimos Monastery was one of our favorite things to do in Lisbon.
Additionally, Belém also has a modern side. It’s a popular spot for more youthful residents with hip stores and restaurants, especially in the popular LX Factory.
Don’t forget to try a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém, the most famous and said to be the original recipe pastel de nata in Portugal.
Relax On A Beach In The Algarve
The Algarve has some of the best beaches in the world. So it’s no wonder that spending time soaking up the sun and sea breezes on a beach in the algarve is one of the best things to do in Portugal. Some of the best beaches are Praia do Camilo, Praia da Marinha and Praia da Dona Ana.
Tour the Ria Formosa Nature Park
This series of islands is a protected nature park in southern Portugal. The Ria Formosa Nature Park is filled with deserted islands that you can take a boat tour to explore. This is a great place for wildlife spotting, especially birds. Most boat tours also include lunch and some free time to explore one of the many deserted islands.
Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
This half day hike in the Algarve region was our favorite thing to do in Portugal. This hike takes you to some of Portugal’s best beaches and gives you view after view of limestone cliffs and blue seas. We even turned the hike into a full day hike complete with some laying on the beaches. For all beach lovers, nature lovers and hikers, this is a must-visit!
Benagil Cave
Benagil Cave is probably THE most popular thing to do in Portugal. You may recognize the cave from photos all over the internet or your computer generated screen saver. This sea cave is only available via boat or kayak as part of a paid tour.
Visit All The Beaches Along the Ponta da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is a great little point just outside of Lagos. There is a walk all the way from Lagos to the tip of the peninsula. This is one of our favorite places in Portugal. Not only is the walk delightful and packed with views of the limestone cliffs, but you’ll also find some of the best beaches in Portugal along this walkway. You could easily spend all day hiking along the boardwalk and lounging on the beaches.
Fly to Madeira
The islands of Madeira are located off the coast of Portugal in the Atlantic. This is a great place for nature lovers as it is full of challenging hikes and beautiful sweeping views. Oh and there’s regional wine too – don’t forget the Madeira.
Visit the Azores
The Azores is another group of islands off the coast of Portugal in the Atlantic. Visiting these islands are increasingly becoming one of the most popular things to do in Portugal. These islands may seem untouched to the eye. They are in a subtropical climate so temperates are mild year round and the vegetation is lush and green. This is another popular place for nature lovers and people who love to hike and explore the ocean.
Listen to a Fado Show
Fado is a traditional Portuguese music, characterized by slow, sorrowful, acoustic songs. Shows are popular throughout the country, especially in tourist centers, like Lisbon and Porto. If you’re looking for good music, seek out an actual Fado show. However, if you’re looking for the experience seek out Fado in a packed bar or on open mic night. Part of the fun of fado is sipping on Ginjinha, a cherry like liqueur, while listening to the show.
Photograph the Blue Tiles
Would a trip to Portugal be complete without taking a photo with some of the beautiful blue tiles, or azulejos. The internet doesn’t think so. But don’t worry. No special destination is needed to spot some beautiful tile work. Just keep your eyes open as you visit Portugal’s stunning churches, castles and old town city streets.
Our Top Things To Do In Lisbon
While we gave you a list that could span months of travel, if you want our opinion on our favorite things to do in Portugal, here are our top 4 things to do in Portugal:
- Seven Hanging Valleys Hike
- Relax On A Beach In The Algarve
- Visit the Castles of Sintra
- Drink Wine In The Douro Valley
We hope this has helped you to plan your own perfect Portugal vacation. For more information on how we fit lots of these activities into a 10-day vacation, check out our itinerary here. Or check out our Portugal vacation page here to see all of our Portugal vacation guides.
