Things to Do in Portugal: Our 11 Personal Highlights

All Portugal Highlights on a Map

To help you get a better sense of where everything is, here’s a map of all our Portugal picks.

Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital city and Portugal’s undisputed must-see destination. The city pulls off this rare trick of blending authentic Portuguese culture with trendy, creative neighborhoods in a way that just works.

You can spend hours wandering the narrow lanes of Alfama, or settle into the nightlife district Bairro Alto with a glass of wine and traditional Fado music in the evening. Lisbon is also widely considered the street art capital of Europe — you’ll find it absolutely everywhere.

Also quintessentially Lisbon are the many Miradouros (viewpoints) and Elevadores (funiculars), from which you get wonderful panoramas across the Tagus River all the way to the towering Cristo Rei statue.

And if that’s still not enough, you can reach many great beaches around Lisbon in under an hour.

Our Top 5 Lisbon Must-Sees

• Ride on Tram 28E
• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (get tickets)
• Elevador de Santa Justa
• Cristo Rei Statue
• LX Factory

Our Hotel Pick for Lisbon

Porto

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and, in our opinion, seriously underrated. In many ways, Porto is like Lisbon in miniature: impressive buildings adorned with Azulejos, cool street art, a river (here it’s the Douro), and great markets like the Mercado Bom Sucesso.

But what does Porto have that Lisbon doesn’t? It simply hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet and still has a really authentic vibe. Laundry lines still hang over the narrow alleyways, and the charming little houses wear their age proudly.

We also love Porto for its truly special places — like the bookshop Livraria Lello e Irmão, where books are stacked all the way to the ceiling, and the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Our Top 5 Things to Do in Porto

• Estação São Bento
• Sé Cathedral
• Palacio da Bolsa
• Boat trip on the Douro
• Port wine cellar Calem

Our Hotel Pick for Porto

Coimbra

Coimbra sits almost exactly halfway between Lisbon and Porto and, in our opinion, has two very distinct sides. It makes a perfect stopover on a Portugal road trip.

On one hand, Coimbra is pure culture. The city has a rich history, and wherever you go you’ll find impressive buildings and churches — including the Old and New Cathedrals. You can happily wander the narrow lanes and soak up the historic atmosphere for hours.

On the other hand, Coimbra is Portugal’s definitive student city — something we never would have guessed from this small town. One in five residents here is a student. So make sure to check out the University of Coimbra, the oldest in the entire country.

Traveling with kids? We’d suggest a detour to the miniature park Portugal dos Pequenitos, where Portugal’s most important landmarks have been recreated in miniature.

Our Top 5 Points of Interest in Coimbra

• University Quarter
• Joanina Library
• Old Cathedral
• Santa Cruz Monastery
• Portugal dos Pequenitos

Our Hotel Pick for Coimbra

Our Hotel Pick: Sapientia – stylish boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace

Cascais

Cascais is a small, laid-back coastal town about 45 minutes by car from Lisbon. Here’s something we never expected from a place this size: it’s the summer retreat of Lisbon’s high society — which explains the luxury yachts in the harbor.

There aren’t a ton of attractions here, but we simply fell in love with the vibe. The old town is absolutely charming and there’s a wonderful seaside promenade where we could stroll for hours. Restaurants and cafés are everywhere, serving fresh fish and delicious Pastéis de Nata.

Our favorite thing to do in Cascais is a bike ride to Praia do Guincho. You can rent bikes at many spots around town. The long sandy beach is incredibly beautiful and far less touristy than the beaches closer to the center.

Cascais also works really well as a day trip from Lisbon. Many guided tours combine it with a stop in Sintra (our #5) and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe.

Day trip from Lisbon: Cascais and Sintra

Our Top Picks in Cascais

• Old Town of Cascais
• Boca do Inferno gorge
• Praia do Guincho
• Old fishing harbor
• Day trip to Cabo da Roca

Our Hotel Pick for Cascais

Sintra

Did we land in Disneyland? No — even cooler. The colorful storybook castle in the photo is the famous Palacio Nacional da Pena in the fairy-tale town of Sintra — and unlike a Disney castle, this one is one hundred percent real.

And that’s far from the only castle here. Sintra practically overflows with magnificent palaces. There’s the imposing Moorish fortress Castelo dos Mouros, the Quinta da Regaleira where a mysterious spiral staircase descends deep into a well, and the Monserrate Palace blending architectural styles from all corners of the world. And that’s not even all of them!

The one downside: Sintra is a serious tourist magnet and gets very busy. But when you need a break from the crowds, a hike through the hills of Sintra will give you all the peace and quiet you could want.

Our Top 5 Things to See in Sintra

• Palacio Nacional da Pena (get tickets)
• Quinta da Regaleira (get tickets)
• Castelo dos Mouros (get tickets)
• Monserrate Palace (get tickets)
• Palacio Nacional de Sintra

Our Hotel Pick for Sintra

Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal’s dream destination, full stop. You can hit the road on a camper van road trip along the Algarve, enjoy a beach vacation with the family, or base yourself in one of the towns for a proper city-style break.

The real standout is the scenery: dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, and golden sandy beaches that look almost too good to be real. Especially cool are the sea caves carved by the tides — the Benagil Cave and Algar Seco are both absolutely stunning.

The largest towns on the Algarve are Faro, Lagos, and Sagres — we’d recommend all three. But it’s also worth making detours to smaller coastal towns like Tavira or Vila do Bispo. The charm of these little fishing villages is something else entirely.

One of the best things to do in Portugal on the Algarve is visiting Cabo de São Vicente — the southwesternmost point of Europe. It’s a genuinely dramatic spot, and the grilled sausage stand at the end of the world has become something of a local legend.

And don’t forget: the Algarve is also a true paradise for surfers! The many great beach breaks at the most beautiful beaches on the Algarve draw beginners and pros alike every year.

Our Top 5 Highlights on the Algarve

• Faro, Lagos, or Sagres
• Cabo de São Vicente
• Benagil Cave
• Ria Formosa Natural Park
• Praia da Bordeira

Our Hotel Pick for the Algarve

Surf Mecca: Peniche, Ericeira, Nazaré

Ericeira, Peniche, and Nazaré are among the best surf spots in all of Portugal! Ericeira and Peniche are great even for the casual weekend surfer. Nazaré, on the other hand, requires a healthy dose of craziness.

Nazaré is one of the most famous spots for big wave surfing in the world. In 2024, Sebastian Steudtner from Nuremberg surfed a monster wave of 28.57 meters here, setting a new world record.

The most famous wave in Peniche is the Supertubos — so-called barrels, where the surfer rides through the wave like a tunnel. The ultimate discipline in surfing! WSL World Surf League championship events are even held here.

Even if surfing isn’t your thing, you’ll love these small, authentic fishing towns. There are also plenty of great sandy beaches in Portugal in this stretch of coastline.

Our tip: Peniche is right in the middle — it’s about an hour’s drive to both Ericeira and Nazaré. Stay overnight in Peniche and you can easily do day trips to the other two spots.

Our Top 5 Picks in Ericeira, Peniche, and Nazaré

• Supertubos in Peniche
• Monster waves in Nazaré
• Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas in Ericeira
• Praia do Baleal in Peniche
• Praia da Nazaré

Our Hotel Pick for Peniche

Our Hotel Pick: Ilheu 25 Peniche House – modern hotel with a pool in the old town

Peneda-Gerês National Park

Peneda-Gerês is Portugal’s only national park, tucked away in the far north on the border with Spain.

The landscapes here are stunning: fern forests, mountain ranges, lakes, and waterfalls you can actually swim in. And you won’t be alone out there — the park is also home to free-roaming ponies, goats, and wolves. Don’t worry though: the wolves are extremely shy and will keep their distance.

This is a seriously great destination for active travelers. Beyond the countless hiking trails, you can also go kayaking, canyoning, or horseback riding.

If you’d rather take it easy, we highly recommend the town of Gerês. It’s known for its healing thermal springs and is perfect for a bit of proper relaxation.

Day trip to Peneda-Gerês National Park from Porto

Our Top 5 Highlights in the National Park

• Natural Pool Poço Azul
• Cascata do Arado Waterfall
• Miradouro de Fafião
• Thermal springs in Gerês
• Praia fluvial de Alqueirão

Arouca Suspension Bridge

One of the most impressive and still relatively new attractions in Portugal is the 516 Arouca suspension bridge. The name isn’t random — the bridge is a full 516 meters long. Looking straight down 175 meters to the Paiva River below can make your head spin!

The bridge sits inside the Arouca Geopark, which is worth the visit all on its own. The unique fossils discovered here earned Arouca recognition as a Geopark by UNESCO. Also not to be missed: the Frecha da Mizarela waterfall, which plunges a full 75 meters down the mountainside.

There are 14 hiking trails in the park, and outdoor activities are everywhere: canyoning, rafting, canoeing, and kayaking — you’ll never be short of things to do.

Our Top 3 Picks in Arouca

• The 516 Arouca suspension bridge
• Pavia Walkway boardwalk
• Frecha da Mizarela waterfall

Our Hotel Pick for Arouca

Our Hotel Pick: Casa da Vila – hotel 20 minutes by car from the suspension bridge

Azores

Most people only know the Azores as Europe’s “weather kitchen” from weather forecasts. We’re here to change that!

Nine different islands, scattered out in the Atlantic well off the Portuguese mainland — but they all share one thing: natural landscapes unlike anything else in Europe.

What’s waiting for you: green mountains, enchanted forests, waterfalls, natural thermal pools and hot springs, miles-long caves, pineapple plantations, and seas of flowers as far as you can see.

The ultimate postcard image is the Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde on the main island of São Miguel — their blue and green waters completely live up to their names.

There are also plenty of great beaches, from the remote black stone beach of Fajã de Lopo Paz on the island of Flores to the classic golden sands of Praia Formosa on Santa Maria.

Our Top 5 Things to Do in the Azores

• Lagoa Azul and Verde (on São Miguel)
• Mount Pico (on Pico)
• Poço da Dona Beija thermal springs (on São Miguel)
• Praia Formosa (on Santa Maria)
• Furna do Enxofre cave (on Graciosa)

Our Hotel Pick for the Azores (São Miguel)

Madeira

Like the Azores, Madeira — off the coast of Morocco — is a genuinely exotic destination. The small island is sometimes called “Portugal’s floating gardens” or the “Island of Flowers.” And for good reason: a colorful sea of flowers covers the island year-round — it’s simply stunning.

The island is defined by lush mountain landscapes and dramatic cliffs. Beach lovers won’t be disappointed either — there are secluded coves with jet-black sand that feel totally off the beaten path.

In short: Madeira is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. But don’t skip the towns — Funchal, Monte, and Santana are all worth exploring. We also really recommend booking a whale watching tour.

Our Top 5 Portugal Highlights on Madeira

• The lava pools of Porto Moniz
• Ponta de São Lorenço
• Levada hike to Caldeirão Verde
• Pico Arieiro
• Capital city Funchal

Our Hotel Pick for Madeira