Portugal — 10 Must-See Places
Portugal has a great diversity. World-famous cities, beautiful beaches, historic monuments and romantic mountain villages. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few tips for Portugal novices.
Belém and Alfama in Lisbon
A detour to the Belém and Alfama districts is an essential part of any visit to Lisbon. Here you will find the most important sights and the old town with its romantic alleys.
Belém is located 6 km west of the centre, directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Where the Portuguese explorers once set sail in the 15th and 16th centuries, you will find two of Portugal’s most important sights today: the Torre de Belém and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Hieronymite Monastery). You must also try the famous puff pastry Pastel de Belém here.
The Alfama is the old quarter of Lisbon. Its landmark is the Castelo de São Jorge, perched on the 120-metre-high castle hill. A walk can be wonderfully combined with a ride on tram line 28.
Old Town of Porto
Porto may be the second largest city in Portugal today, but its heart beats in Ribeira, the medieval old town. It begins on the banks of the Douro River, where the famous port wine boats (Rabelos) are moored.
Strolling through Portos old town, you will pass famous buildings such as the cathedral, the church of Santa Clara or the old São Bento railway station.
Even today, Ribeira is the quarter of the poor. Due to the growing tourism, however, there are now more restaurants, cafés and boutiques here, too.
Porto’s old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Tip: From the Dom Luís I Bridge you have a wonderful view of the labyrinth of small alleys and colourful buildings.
Ponta da Piedade in the Algarve
The spectacular rock formations and numerous caves of Ponta de Piedade near Lagos in the Algarve are a unique natural spectacle.
You can reach them on a hiking trail with a magnificent view from Porto de Mós beach or explore them on one of the excursion boats. It is also possible to reach them by car.
Joanina University Library in Coimbra
The Biblioteca Joanina in Coimbra is one of the most spectacular libraries in the world. The 18th century baroque building owes its splendour to gold from Brazil and João V’s extravagance.
The library houses almost 1.5 million books, including over 120,000 historical works from the 16th to the 18th centuries and over 2,000 medieval manuscripts.
The library’s rooms glow in red, blue and gold, the reading tables are made of fine Brazilian woods.
By the way, bats fly around the library building at night, which is why the tables in the library’s reading room are covered with leather cloths every evening.
Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European continent. On a steep coast, you can look across the Atlantic towards America with a good breeze.
The landmark of Cabo da Roca is the red and white lighthouse, visible from afar.
The 150-metre-high cliff is located in the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, where you can take beautiful walks along the coast.
Castles and palaces in Sintra
If you’re in Lisbon, a trip to nearby Sintra is not to be missed. The small town in the green, hilly Serra de Sintra has some of the most spectacular buildings in Portugal.
The beautiful Pena Palace, the castle complex Quinta da Regaleira and the Moorish castle Castelo dos Mouros are must-sees.
You also shouldn’t miss a stroll through the narrow streets of this lovely town.
There are trains from Lisbon city centre to Sintra every 15–20 minutes.
Sanctuary of Fátima
Fátima is one of the most important Catholic places of pilgrimage in the world. The small town is located about 130 kilometres north of Lisbon. More than four million pilgrims come to Fátima every year. The annual pilgrimage begins on 12/13 May.
The modern Igreja da Santíssima Trinidade (Basilica of the Holy Trinity). It was only opened in 2007 and is the fourth largest Catholic place of worship in the world. The square in front of the church covers 152,000 m², twice the size of St Peter’s Square in Rome.
Sete Cidades Crater in the Azores
A trip to Sete Cidades is a must for all nature lovers. The breathtaking crater landscape is the most beautiful thing the Azores have to offer.
Especially the two lakes Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde are simply spectacular. If you are lucky, you can marvel at the phenomenon of the different colours of the lakes. Then Lagoa Verde shimmers in green and Lagoa Azul in blue.
Caldeira das Sete Cidades, as the area is officially called, is located on the Azores island of São Miguel.
Ponta de São Lourenço in Madeira
Ponta de São Lourenço is a peninsula in the south-east of Madeira. The windswept, barren rocks offer breathtaking views all around.
On a short hike (7 km) you can explore the tip of the island and enjoy the different perspectives of the landscape.
Tip: In spring, a magnificent carpet of flowers covers the coast.
Évora in the Alentejo
Évora is a city full of history. Here you will find numerous historical buildings from different eras of the past. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The perfect starting point to explore Évora is the Praça do Giraldo. From here you can explore the city, which was once shaped by the Moors, Romans and Portuguese kings of the Middle Ages.
Be sure to visit the cathedral, the Évora Museum and the Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel).
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