There's more to Portugal than Lisbon (but what a capital it is), from the secret surf scene of Sagres in the south to the underappreciated wine country of Alentejo. With its Atlantic coast & Mediterranean temperature, Portugal is scrappier than Spain & rougher than France - its charm lies in its unwillingness to be overly polished, and the country's most beautiful spots are raw, real, and natural. After all, when anything becomes excessively bright, it just reflects the familiar rather than its lovely, authentic self. Here are the fifteen most beautiful sites in Portugal, each worth every mile in between.
Portugal's most beautiful places
Monsanto - Most beautiful places Portugal
If you like the concept of Benagil for its geology (rather than just the photo opportunities), but your itinerary takes you to the towards the north, head to medieval Monsanto. A town which is built into giant stones boulders that look like they could roll down the narrow alleys clinging to the mountaintop at any moment. Because of the elevated location and terracotta rooftops, this is also a beautiful place to watch the sunset - Taverna Lusitana has the ideal tables.
What is the best way to get there?
The most convenient method to get to Monsanto is to rent a car and park either in the little lot within Monsanto or in the larger car park in Relva, which is about a 1km walk away. Alternatively, you might catch a bus from Sete Rios station in Lisbon to Monsanto-Relva. Taxis can occasionally transport you from Relva to Monsanto, although availability is not assured.
Comporta's Coast
Comporta's sandy beach spans for about 40 miles, making it one of the country's finest lengths of Atlantic coast. This means there's plenty of space even when Lisbonites flock here for weekend getaways and wellness retreats. The shallower, family-friendly seas are on the northern Tróia peninsula, and surfing is available at the southern end at Praia do Carvalhal. Try horseback riding along the beach with Cavalos na Areia, one of the sharpest stables in the area, and then position yourself outside Sal restaurant for dining at your daybed and easy access to one of the top beach restaurants.
What is the best way to get there?
There are no flights directly to Comporta, so you'll probably arrive in Lisbon, where you can take one of two routes to Comporta. The first option is to rent a car or arrange for a transfer from the airport to your hotel or Airbnb. The second option is to rent a car and drive to Setbal, where you can board the 25-minute ferry to Tróia. After landing, it's another 15-minute drive to Comporta.
You want to discover more? Find here the BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO. Lets continue with the most beautiful places Portugal:
Douro Valley Vineyards
The eighth wonder of the world, according to novelist José Saramago, is this northern region, and the visual ASMR of Porto's terraced topography is definitely captivating. The wine region's winding stream cuts through the beautiful countryside, which you can admire from the window of Six Senses' first European resort and the Vintage House Hotel in Pinho.
What is the best way to get there?
The Douro Valley is accessible from both Porto and Lisbon. True, driving or booking a private shuttle is the most convenient method to get to the Douro Valley, but there are public transportation options. If you're coming from Lisbon, the best way to get to Porto is to catch the train from Santa Apolónia Station. After arriving in Porto, board an urban train to Peso da Régua in the Douro Valley. There are also direct buses between Lisbon and Porto to the Douro Valley with Redes Expressos.
Sintra
Some believe King Ferdinand II created the Sintra castles to match Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, while others believe it was an act of love for his mistress, Elise Hensler. Locals think he would tell sailors and slaves to bring back flowers and seeds to plant particularly for her in the Parque da Pena, which surrounds the castle and is rich with rare varieties of roses and non-native plants. The colorful towers, curved cupola, and chemin de ronde pathways appear to be encased in fondant icing in ochre and red colors, and there are gargoyles, classic azulejos, and acres of history to discover.
What is the best way to get there?
We recommend taking a train from Lisbon to Sintra, which takes around 40 minutes. There is a direct train route from Lisbon's Rossio train station to Sintra, with services running every hour.
Benagile Caves Algarve
Instead of Benagil beach, which can get crowded, park near Praia do Carvalho and hire a stand-up paddleboard to visit the weather-worn limestone-layered Benagil Sea Cave. Pools of sunlight stream through the natural skylight, yet the shade formed by the rock structure provides relief from Portugal's extreme heat, which may reach the 40s in the height of summer.
What is the best way to get there?
It is recommended to rent a car or schedule a transfer to Praia do Carvalho. It is approximately three hours from Lisbon and one hour from Faro. Parking is available at Urbanizaço Clube Atlântico or along the cliffs that line the beach.
Evora
With its vineyards, heatwaves, Roman architecture, and cobbled squares, the Alentejo's hottest city draws visitors looking for culture, gastronomy, and climate all in one location. Evora, one of Portugal's most magnificently preserved medieval cities, is an exquisite destination to immerse yourself in history. Inside the 14th-century fortifications, small, twisting paths lead to impressive architectural achievements, including an exquisite medieval cathedral and cloisters.
What is the best way to get there?
From Lisbon, you can take a rail or a bus to Évora. The trains depart from Santa Apolónia and Gare do Oriente in Parque das Naçes, taking approximately one hour and thirty minutes. If you prefer to take the bus, Rede Expressos has regular departures from Sete Rios Bus Terminal.
Visit Alentejo
In the summer, hundreds of six-foot sunflowers bloom in Alentejo, a less popular region whose stunning scenery is attracting both tourists and hotel owners. Drive south from Cuba to Aljustrel, looking for jars of raw girassol honey produced by local beekeepers, as well as stopping to smell the beautiful fields of lavender, cork oak, olives, and wheat.
What is the best way to get there?
You must travel by automobile to visit Alentejo's sunflower fields, which are located on the roadway south from Cuba, Portugal, towards Aljustrel.
Praia De Odeceixe, Costa Vincentina
This cliffside, thumbprint-shaped beach, which also serves as the entrance of the River Seixe, is one of the south's best-kept secrets. It is part of a National Park, so its natural beauty makes it a fantastic site to conclude a hike along the Rota Vicentina paths and rejoice with a nice beer at Bar da Praia. At low tide, there are stones protecting little pools for playing and shallows for kayaking, and while the water on the riverfront is placid and pleasant, there are nice surfable waves on the oceanside as well.
What is the best way to get there?
The simplest way to get to Praia De Odeceixe is to rent a car or organize a transfer. There is, however, a weekday bus service between Lagos and Odeceixe. There also exists a Rede Expressos bus between Lisbon to the village center, although the beaches require a car transfer.
Obidos
Obidos is a fortified hilltop village about 1 hour outside of Lisbon with narrow cobblestone lanes and whitewashed buildings. Stay at the eco-design hotel Rio do Prado, which will begin greeting guests to its renowned new restaurant The Market Man in May 2021, a greenhouse that grows over 2,000 plants for use in its rural recipes. Try ginjinha, a regional liqueur made from Morello cherries, at Bar Ibn Errik Rex before strolling around the city walls - the walls rise up to 43ft and some don't have handrails).
What is the best way to get there?
It is most convenient to take a bus to Obidos. The Rodotejo express buses leave Campo Verde station and take approximately one hour to reach Obidos.
The Azores
The islet of Vila Franca do Campo is less than a mile from So Miguel, a volcanic crater encircled by underwater caverns and the Atlantic's (sometimes freezing) waves, and connected by a narrow canal called a boquete. Because the only residents of the nature reserve are sea birds like little egrets and Bulwer's petrels, fishing and camping are prohibited (and there are no facilities), but the clear lagoon is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving - bring a wetsuit, plenty of water, and a few pastéis de nata.
What is the best way to get there?
Fly into Joo Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada, the city of So Miguel, the largest of the Azores. There are ferry connections and aircraft connecting the islands.
Aveiro
The city's classic boats and crisscrossing canals are sometimes compared to Venice, but you won't find the crowds or sinking-city gloom here. Instead, the painted prows of moliceiro vessels, the town's Art Nouveau façades, and Costa Nova's brilliantly striped beach cottages serve as colorful reminders of the area's heritage. Avoid the obligatory Portuguese custard tarts in favor of the region's ovos moles de Aveiro, which are formed like shells and have protected status.
What is the best way to get there?
There are direct rail lines from Lisboa-Oriente to Aveiro that take around two to three hours. If you are coming from Porto, there is a nonstop train from Campanh Station to Porto.
Berlengas Islands
The Berlengas Islands archipelago, a few miles off Peniche's rocky coast, is a UNESCO-protected natural reserve with outstanding scuba diving conditions - superb visibility, calm waters, and abundance of species. Spot dolphins from the deck of your boat, then dive with elusive John Dory fish, octopus, manta ray, nudibranch. Such a great Fun!
What is the best way to get there?
Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from Lisbon to the Berlengas Islands. You can, however, take the bus from Lisboa Sete Rios to Peniche. From there, proceed to the Peniche Bus Station and take the bus to Campo da Feira, where you can walk to the Peniche Port and catch the ferry to the Berlengas Islands.
Ilha Deserta
Brush up on your tide tables and avoid the Algarve's tourists by taking a boat from Faro to Ilha Deserta, which seems like your own little island - or enormous sand dune - on a calm day.
What is the best way to get there?
Ilha Deserta can only be reached by ferry or speedboat shuttle from Faro's Cais das Portas do Mar.
Serra Da Estrela Natural Park
Although paragliding, trekking, and mountain biking are popular activities in Portugal, few people realize that skiing is also available - Serra da Estrela's National Park has a tiny resort just a few hours from Lisbon. Although February is the greatest month for snow, the hilly topography offers landscapes carpeted in wildflowers and crystal lakes all year, like Covo dos Conchos, which features an artificial spillway that looks (and operates) like a sinkhole. Include a cheese tasting in your agenda, and don't forget to pick up some chestnut liqueur from the medieval hilltop settlement of Piódo.
What is the best way to get there?
You can take the train from Lisboa - Santa Apolonia or a bus direct from Lisbon Sete Rios Station from Lisbon to Covilhã, where you must pay a tax to enter Serra Da Estrela Natural Park.
Arouca Geopark
Arouca Geopark launched the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge in May 2021, which hangs 574 feet over Paiva River and gives spectacular views of the conservation space, Aguieiras Waterfall, and Paiva Gorge - provided you can gather the bravery to cross it. After the adrenaline has worn off, visit the Pedras Parideiras, a geological phenomena whose name loosely translates to 'breeding stones' - small boulders that arise from larger ones. The location is the result of fluctuating temperatures and erosion, but tradition claims that it has the ability to get women pregnant.
What is the best way to get there?
The shortest method to get to Arouca Geopark from Lisbon is via rail and taxi. The train leaves from Lisboa - Santa Apolonia station and arrives in Ovar, where you can take a taxi directly to your destination. If you're coming from Porto, take the Line 9 bus from Porto — Campo 24 de Agosto to Rio Mau, then take a taxi to Arouca Geopark.
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