Home › Must-see
Must-see places
29 places worth the detour in Portugal, from Lisbon and Porto to the Douro, the Alentejo, the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores, grouped by region.
Norte
Porto
Tiled churches, the Ribeira and the port lodges across the river in Gaia. The historic centre is World Heritage.
CityFood & wineHistory
Douro Valley
Terraced vineyards along the river: one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions is a World Heritage landscape.
Food & wineNature
Guimarães
Medieval town tied to the founding of Portugal; the historic centre is World Heritage.
HistoryCity
Braga – Bom Jesus
A baroque pilgrimage stairway on a hill above Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities.
HistoryCity
Peneda-Gerês
Portugal’s only national park: granite peaks, waterfalls and mountain villages.
Nature
Centro
Aveiro
Canals and colourful moliceiro boats, with beaches nearby.
CityBeach
Coimbra
A university town on a hill; the University of Coimbra is World Heritage.
HistoryCity
Batalha & Alcobaça
Two great medieval monasteries a short drive apart, both World Heritage.
History
Tomar
The Convent of Christ, former seat of the Order of the Templars in Portugal and World Heritage.
History
Nazaré
Fishing town famous for very large winter surf.
BeachNature
Serra da Estrela
The highest mountain range on the mainland, known for its cheese.
NatureFood & wine
Lisbon & Setúbal
Lisbon
Hilly capital on the Tagus: miradouros, trams, Alfama and the riverside.
CityFood & wineHistory
Belém
Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, World Heritage and a symbol of the Age of Discoveries.
History
Sintra
Hill-top palaces and forest, a World Heritage cultural landscape west of Lisbon.
HistoryNature
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, on cliffs above the Atlantic.
Nature
Arrábida
Limestone hills dropping to clear coves south of the Tagus.
NatureBeach
Alentejo
Évora
Walled city with a Roman temple and a chapel of bones; the historic centre is World Heritage.
HistoryCityFood & wine
Elvas
A star-shaped border fortress town, World Heritage.
History
Monsaraz & Alqueva
A hill-top walled village over the Alqueva reservoir, an area known for its dark night skies.
NatureHistory
Costa Vicentina
Wild Atlantic cliffs and beaches in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
NatureBeach
Algarve
Sagres
The windy south-western tip of the country, with a fortress above the cliffs.
NatureBeach
Lagos & Ponta da Piedade
Sea stacks and grottoes you can visit by boat, next to a lively old town.
BeachCity
Ria Formosa & Tavira
A coastal lagoon with barrier islands, reached by boat from Tavira, Olhão or Faro.
NatureBeach
Madeira
Funchal
Madeira’s capital, a bay city climbing a mountain slope, with a lively market.
CityFood & wineIslands
Laurisilva & levadas
The laurel forest is World Heritage; the levada paths cross it. Check the weather and path status before you go.
NatureIslands
Pico do Arieiro
A high viewpoint above the clouds and the start of a famous ridge hike.
NatureIslands
Azores
São Miguel: Sete Cidades & Furnas
Twin crater lakes, hot springs and the stew cooked in volcanic ground.
NatureIslandsFood & wine
Pico island
Portugal’s highest mountain (2,351 m) and a World Heritage landscape of walled vineyards on black lava.
NatureIslandsFood & wine
Angra do Heroísmo
The old port town of Terceira island, World Heritage.
HistoryIslands
Sources: Visit Portugal · UNESCO · checked 2026-11-06. We do not quote opening hours or prices: check each site before you go.