Top 100 places to visit in Portugal
100 must-see places and attractions in Portugal, from famous landmarks to hidden gems, each with a map and photos.
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100 places
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1Landmark
Belém Tower
Manueline fortified tower on the Tagus, built to guard Lisbon's harbour in the Age of Discovery.
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2Religious site
Jerónimos Monastery
Ornate Manueline monastery with a vaulted cloister and the tomb of Vasco da Gama.
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3Castle & palace
Pena Palace
Colourful Romantic palace on a hilltop in the Sintra hills, surrounded by a wooded park.
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4Neighbourhood & street
Ribeira
Riverside quarter of tall, colourful houses and narrow alleys along the Douro.
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5Neighbourhood & street
Alfama
Lisbon's oldest district, a hillside tangle of lanes, viewpoints and fado houses.
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6Castle & palace
São Jorge Castle
Moorish hilltop castle with restored ramparts and wide views over Lisbon.
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7Lake & river
Douro Valley
Steep terraced vineyards along the Douro, the home of port wine production.
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8Castle & palace
Quinta da Regaleira
Romantic estate with a neo-Manueline palace, grottoes and a spiral initiation well.
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9
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10Landmark
Livraria Lello
Historic bookshop with a carved wooden interior and a sweeping red staircase.
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11Historic site
University of Coimbra
Historic university on a hilltop, with the Baroque Joanina Library and a bell tower.
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12Coast & beach
Ponta da Piedade
Headland of golden sea stacks, arches and grottoes, explored by boat or clifftop path.
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13Old town & city
Évora Historic Centre
Walled city with a Roman temple, a Gothic cathedral and the Chapel of Bones.
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14Religious site
Batalha Monastery
Gothic monastery built to mark victory at Aljubarrota, with the Unfinished Chapels.
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15Religious site
Convent of Christ
Former Templar stronghold with a round church and a celebrated Manueline window.
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16Coast & beach
Benagil Cave
Sea cave with a natural skylight in its domed roof, viewed by boat or kayak.
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17Old town & city
Óbidos
Walled medieval town of whitewashed houses, with a walkway along its ramparts.
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18Religious site
Sanctuary of Fátima
Major Catholic pilgrimage site marking the 1917 Marian apparitions.
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19
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20Religious site
Alcobaça Monastery
Cistercian abbey with a soaring Gothic church and the tombs of Pedro and Inês.
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21Landmark
Praça do Comércio
Grand riverside square rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, entered via the Rua Augusta Arch.
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22Museum & gallery
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Art collection ranging from ancient Egypt to Lalique jewellery, set in modernist gardens.
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23Mountain & viewpoint
Pico do Arieiro
Mountain summit reachable by road, start of the ridge trail to Pico Ruivo.
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24
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25
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26Nature & national park
Peneda-Gerês National Park
Portugal's only national park, with granite mountains, waterfalls and stone villages.
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27Mountain & viewpoint
Mount Pico
Volcanic peak and Portugal's highest mountain, climbed on a demanding marked trail.
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28Coast & beach
Nazaré
Fishing town with a long beach, known for giant winter waves off Praia do Norte.
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29Landmark
São Bento Railway Station
Early 20th-century station whose entrance hall is lined with blue-and-white tile panels.
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30
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31Museum & gallery
National Tile Museum
Museum of Portuguese azulejos in a former convent with a gilded chapel.
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32Theme park & attraction
Lisbon Oceanarium
Large aquarium built around a central tank representing the open ocean.
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33Religious site
Bom Jesus do Monte
Hilltop sanctuary reached by a monumental zigzag Baroque stairway.
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34Old town & city
Guimarães Historic Centre
Medieval town seen as Portugal's birthplace, with a castle and ducal palace.
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35Landmark
Monument to the Discoveries
Riverside monument depicting Henry the Navigator and figures of the Age of Discovery.
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36Castle & palace
Mafra National Palace
Vast Baroque palace-convent with a basilica and a celebrated Rococo library.
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37Religious site
Porto Cathedral
Fortress-like Romanesque cathedral on a hilltop, with a tiled Gothic cloister.
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38
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39Neighbourhood & street
Vila Nova de Gaia Port Lodges
Riverside wine lodges across from Porto offering tours and tastings of port.
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40Museum & gallery
Serralves Foundation
Contemporary art museum by Álvaro Siza with an Art Deco villa and large park.
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41
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42
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43Old town & city
Monsaraz
Walled hilltop village of whitewashed houses overlooking the Alqueva reservoir.
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44
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45Historic site
Sagres Fortress
Clifftop fortress on a windswept promontory linked to Henry the Navigator.
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46
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47Nature & national park
Ria Formosa Natural Park
Lagoon system of barrier islands, salt marshes and channels rich in birdlife.
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48Nature & national park
Serra da Estrela Natural Park
Mainland Portugal's highest mountains, with glacial valleys and cheese-making villages.
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49Coast & beach
Praia da Marinha
Beach set beneath golden cliffs and rock arches on the central Algarve coast.
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50
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51
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52Neighbourhood & street
Bairro Alto
Hilltop district of narrow streets known for bars, fado and nightlife.
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53Historic site
Carmo Convent
Roofless Gothic church ruined in the 1755 earthquake, now an archaeological museum.
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54Museum & gallery
National Museum of Ancient Art
Portugal's national collection of old master paintings, sculpture and decorative arts.
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55Castle & palace
Sintra National Palace
Medieval royal palace with distinctive conical chimneys and tiled rooms.
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56Castle & palace
Monserrate Palace
Exotic 19th-century palace set in botanical gardens with plants from around the world.
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57
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58Park & garden
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Hillside garden with exotic plants, lakes and tile panels, reached by cable car.
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59Nature & national park
Furnas Valley
Volcanic valley with hot springs, fumaroles and the thermal pools of Terra Nostra Park.
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60
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61Old town & city
Angra do Heroísmo
Historic port town on Terceira with Renaissance street plans and colourful churches.
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62Coast & beach
Porto Moniz Natural Pools
Seawater pools formed in black volcanic rock on Madeira's north-west tip.
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63Archaeological site
Côa Valley Archaeological Park
Open-air Palaeolithic rock engravings along the Côa river, with a museum.
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64Old town & city
Monsanto
Village of stone houses wedged among giant granite boulders beneath a castle.
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65
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66
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67
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68
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69
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70Nature & national park
Arrábida Natural Park
Limestone ridge dropping to sheltered turquoise beaches on the Setúbal coast.
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71Nature & national park
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Wild Atlantic coastline of cliffs and beaches, crossed by the Rota Vicentina trails.
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72Nature & national park
Bussaco National Forest
Walled historic forest with chapels, fountains and a neo-Manueline palace hotel.
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73Nature & national park
Paiva Walkways
Wooden boardwalks along the Paiva river gorge, near the 516 Arouca suspension bridge.
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74Market & shopping
LX Factory
Former industrial complex turned creative hub of shops, cafés and studios.
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75Market & shopping
Time Out Market Lisbon
Food hall within the Mercado da Ribeira, gathering stalls from local chefs.
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76Museum & gallery
National Coach Museum
Collection of ornate royal and ceremonial carriages from the 16th to 19th centuries.
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77Religious site
Lisbon Cathedral
Romanesque cathedral with twin towers and a cloister revealing archaeological layers.
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78Historic site
Águas Livres Aqueduct
18th-century stone aqueduct whose tall arches survived the 1755 earthquake.
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79Landmark
Cristo Rei
Monumental statue of Christ facing Lisbon across the Tagus, with a viewing platform.
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80
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81
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82Market & shopping
Bolhão Market
Restored 19th-century market hall selling fresh produce, fish and flowers.
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83
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84
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85Market & shopping
Mercado dos Lavradores
Art Deco farmers' market selling tropical fruit, flowers and fresh fish.
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86Nature & national park
Fanal Forest
Upland laurel forest of ancient, gnarled trees often wrapped in mist.
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87Nature & national park
Algar do Carvão
Volcanic chimney that can be descended into, with a lake and silica formations.
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88
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89Nature & national park
Capelinhos Volcano
Barren landscape left by a 1957–58 eruption, with an underground interpretation centre.
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90Historic site
Elvas Fortifications
Star-shaped bastioned defences and the Amoreira Aqueduct in a garrison border town.
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91Old town & city
Mértola
Hilltop town above the Guadiana with a castle and a church that was once a mosque.
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92Castle & palace
Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa
Marble-fronted palace of the Braganza dukes, with furnished rooms and armoury.
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93Castle & palace
Mateus Palace
Baroque manor house with formal gardens, featured on Mateus Rosé wine labels.
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94Religious site
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
Baroque church atop a long tiled staircase overlooking the town.
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95
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96Religious site
Santa Luzia Sanctuary
Hilltop basilica with a dome that can be climbed for views of the Lima estuary.
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97Castle & palace
Bragança Castle
Well-preserved medieval castle and walled citadel with a military museum.
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98Religious site
Braga Cathedral
Portugal's oldest cathedral, blending Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque additions.
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99Old town & city
Faro Old Town
Walled old town with a cathedral and bishop's palace, entered through the Arco da Vila gate.
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100
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