The best things to do and see in Portugal

Portugal is a country privileged for its location, and it is precisely because it is situated at the westernmost tip of Europe, with a wide coastline, that it has an unparalleled diversity, allowing itineraries that include metropolis, mountains, and beach. So, if you are planning to visit this country, it is important to know what to see in Portugal, so that you can best choose your itinerary.

The Portuguese offers no shortage of cities worthy of mention, where the range of activities and the wonderful landscapes coexist with a cultural, historical, heritage, and traditional heritage of great relevance. So much so that it is impossible for any succinct guide to list all the country’s richness or to highlight all the best cities to visit in Portugal. Monuments, museums, gastronomic experiences, and relevant attractions add up among the reasons to visit in Portugal, and there is never a shortage of things to do in Portugal. Come see some of the best things to do in Portugal and which cities to visit in Portugal.

Getting to know the most beautiful Portuguese cities

Portuguese cities have their own characteristics from North to South and you will see differences in their architectural features, their natural characteristics, and even in the accents and habits of their inhabitants. All of them, nevertheless, have monuments of great historical value, a marked traditionality, and hospitable habits. Although it is an inglorious task to choose just a few of Portugal’s cities, we leave you with cities that you should consider when creating your itinerary through Portugal:

• Braga: To the north, in the Minho, the ancient and traditional Bracara Augusta is an appealing city with a rich archaeological and historical heritage (including the Braga Cathedral and Roman ruins). The city offers outstanding religious events, such as Holy Week.
• Porto: The “Capital of the North” or “Cidade Invicta”, has great architectural, heritage, and cultural value. The historic center of Porto has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Aveiro: Modernity, traditionality and a line of Ria channels that transform this city into the Portuguese Venice and where you will be invited to take a cruise aboard the typical boats, the Moliceiros. Try here the delicious delicacies of the gastronomy, including the tasty Ovos Moles.
• Coimbra: The “City of Students”, has the oldest university in the country, the University of Coimbra, still in operation. Here you can visit various monuments, stroll through the parks by the Mondego River, or take your child on a “miniature country tour” at Portugal dos Pequenitos (which opens at 10 a.m. and tickets range from 9 to 14 euros).
• Lisbon: The Portuguese capital is parochial, heritage rich, and offers many attractions. Be sure to visit the most emblematic monuments, see the outstanding natural spaces, and feel on your palate the best of the city’s gastronomic experiences.
• Évora: This city in the Alentejo belongs to the Network of Oldest European Cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gastronomy, heritage, and tradition come together in it for you to experience unique moments. The highlight, as far as monuments are concerned, is Évora’s Roman Temple and the unusual Chapel of Bones (starting at 9am, with tickets costing 5€).
• Albufeira: In the Algarve, this city stands out as a seaside destination, with beautiful beaches and offering a beautiful natural heritage, which coexists with countless areas of heritage, historical and religious interest.

Enjoy the parks and mountains

Nature in Portugal deserves to be highlighted, since the country is full of rivers (many of them crossing the main cities), beaches, mountains, woods, and gardens, which give the territory a telluric touch and a magic of its own. From the thousands of options available, we leave you with two totally unmissable suggestions:

• • Peneda-Gerês National Park: Encompassing Vila Real, Braga and Viana do Castelo, the Peneda-Gerês National Park is an absolute must-see, being a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Here, you can take advantage of hiking trails, see wonderful landscapes, with streams, lakes, waterfalls, and get to know the ruins of the ancient peoples who populated the region.
  • Serra da Estrela: Of undeniable natural beauty, this is an ideal place to visit in winter, when the snow falls. Here you can practice winter sports, such as skiing, in the resort with 19 runs of varying difficulty, for professional athletes and the more inexperienced.

Going to the beach in Portugal

From the northern Praia de Miramar to Praia da Rocha in the Algarve, the fact is that the Portuguese coast and its unique and intoxicating scenarios, where the Atlantic Ocean and the clear sand are a constant, surrounded by dunes, forests, cliffs or undergrowth, are worth getting to know. Many of the Portuguese beaches have blue flags and are watched over, and there are also beaches that are accessible for people with motor disabilities – such as Praia da Adraga, in Sintra – and wild, natural beaches – such as Praia dos Coelhos, in Arrábida.

Gambling in land-based casinos

Even though gambling is gradually becoming a more digital experience, the fact is that some countries offer prominent venues in the form of casinos… and Portugal is one of them.

Testing your luck, during a visit to Portugal, is something you can do in several locations, from Espinho, to Chaves, to Lisbon and the Algarve. Some of the most emblematic casinos are Casino do Estoril, Casino de Espinho, Casino Figueira or Casino de Vilamoura. Besides the conventional games – such as poker, slots or roulette – many of these have a fantastic cultural menu, where you can attend various kinds of shows, including burlesque shows, concerts by Portuguese and international artists, or even themed balls. Many of them also create exquisite gastronomic cycles that celebrate national cuisine.

Make a romantic getaway

Having a romantic getaway in Portugal is possible in almost any location, but some of them are worth mentioning, including Óbidos, Sintra, Marvão or Gerês.

It is worth noting that Sintra was once considered one of the most romantic villages in Europe in international rankings.

Enjoy the rich flavors of Portuguese Gastronomy

Something you can do in Portugal is gastronomic tourism, since the cuisine of each region offers delicacies that make the palate celebrate. We recommend national dishes such as Caldo Verde, bacalhau (and the 1001 ways to cook it), Cozido à Portuguesa, Tripas à Moda do Porto, Feijoada Transmontana, Açorda de Marisco, Cabrito Assado no Forno, Polvo à Lagareiro, and fresh fish on the grill. In addition, you can’t miss sweets like Creme Milk, Arroz Doce, Aletria, and the famous Pastéis de Belém.

From typical restaurants and taverns to exquisite Michelin-starred restaurants, you will find several unmissable options that are undoubtedly among the best things to do in Portugal.

Practicing extreme sports

All over the country, you will find several options of extreme sports and activities, which will invite you to get out of your comfort zone. The sea invites you, for example, to try diving, surfing, bodyboarding, or stand-up paddling, and you can also venture into dynamic rafting and river rafting. On dry land, you will be invited to try adventures such as rappelling, go-karts, climbing, or tree climbing. There are also places where you can have other experiences, such as skydiving or paragliding.

Having fun with your friends

Theme parks and water parks in Portugal extend a unique invitation for you to have fun with your friends or your family. In addition to parks where merry-go-rounds and rides (including roller coasters and Ferris wheels) invite you to laugh and scream, there are also many parks with slides and swimming pools (such as Albufeira’s Aqualand, which you can visit from 10 a.m. for prices starting at $19). You can also enjoy fun experiences like Escape Rooms, and many of those in Portugal are themed.

Looking at the sky

Although the sky offers an international spectacle, the fact is that there are places in Portugal, including the Alentejo, where the absence of light pollution allows magnificent stargazing. In addition, specially created locations create wonderful possibilities for looking at the sky, with appropriate material and expert explanations.

The Lisbon Observatory and its Planetarium Calouste Gulbenkian promote free “Nights at the Observatory” on the last Saturday of each month, with registration required. In the Alentejo, you can also take advantage of Dark Sky Alqueva‘s offerings, where various packages offer gastronomic or natural experiences during the day and a unique astrology experience at night.

Watching (or giving) a show

The cultural posters of Portuguese cities are very rich and include cinema, theater, dance… but also stand up comedy and performance and poetry shows. In addition to the quality of many of these shows and the increasingly wide range of immersive shows on offer, you will also have the opportunity to test your craft (amateur or professional) on many Portuguese stages, bars, and cultural spaces, as there are many open mic events. Take advantage of places like the Lisbon Comedy Club or look for Poetry Slam events.