Between beaches, mountains and cliffs, Portugal also has a rich architectural offer.
In this article, you can find the best towns in Portugal, as well as the most beautiful cities in Portugal.
This guide includes map, tips and photos.
Note: this is more an article about visiting those towns and cities. If you are wondering where to stay in Portugal for your holidays, check out this other article.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Portugal:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Portugal: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Benagil sea cave from Portimao
My favorite excursion from Lisbon: Sintra Pena Palace and Cabo da Roca
My favorite places to stay:
- Lisbon: see best rated hotels – e.g. Santiago de Alfama boutique hotel
- Porto: see best rated hotels – e.g. Descobertas Boutique Hotel
- Lagos: see best rated hotels – e.g. Uma Cas A Beira Sol
Best towns and cities in Portugal – Map of top 10 to visit
Before all my pictures and tips, here is a map with my absolute top 10 in terms of best towns – the must-see when exploring Portugal.
Many places have a lot of charm, it was not easy to narrow it down!
Need to rent a car in Portugal?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
1 – Porto
Why I love this town
Porto is the northern capital of Portugal. It has a lot of charm, more than Lisbon, in my opinion, despite being overshadowed by it (see my battle article).
With the river in the middle, you can enjoy old streets, historical, architectural, impressive bridges and lots of wine! It has an old-world charm that you can enjoy at every corner. Even if you are not visiting the many churches and historical buildings, just walking around with captivating.
Things to do
- The entire Porto center
- Walk across the bridge
- Take a river cruise
- Enjoy the Porto seafront
- Visit of the Douro Valley
- Visit the Sé cathedral
- …
- Read my article about the best things to do in Porto
Practical tips
- Location: North-east of Portugal
- Lisbon to Porto = 3h drive
- How long: Plan at least 2 days, but 3 are better and more if you want to explore the region as well
- See the best rated accommodations in Porto
2 – Lisbon
Why I love this town
Lisbon is the most popular city in Portugal, and I understand why. Even though I have a slight preference for Porto, the capital city is a great place for a city-break or to settle in Portugal.
Lisbon has it all: rich history, captivating charm, many sights to explore, delicious Portuguese cuisine, lively city life… Plus it has several hills, which allow you to have wonderful panoramic views from different angles. I always love when I can see a place from above, not you?
Plus the climate offers abundant sunshine, and the town is just vibrant with life. There is always something to do!
Things to do
- Walk around the Alfama District
- Visit the Castle Sao Jorge
- Take the Santa Justa Elevator
- Visit the Cathedral and many other churches
- …
- Read my article about the best things to do in Lisbon
Practical tips
- Location: West coast, southern half of Portugal
- How long: Plan at least 2 days, but 3 or 4 are better and more if you want to explore the region as well.
- See the best rated accommodations in Lisbon
Plan your dream trip to Portugal with my guides!
- 13 easy-to-plan maps
- 120+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates
- Useful planning tips
- 200+ large photos
- 8 easy-to-plan maps
- 65+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates
- Useful planning tips
- 110+ large photos
3 – Sintra
Why I love this town
Sintra is probably the most unique town in Portugal, and even in Europe. It is almost magical or out of a fairytale… everywhere you look at, you either see nature or a castle or a palace! In its glorious past, it was a favored destination for royalty and nobility, as a summer retreat.
The most striking is, of course, the colorful Pena Palace. But my favorite is the castle of the Moors, because I love very old rocks.
Things to do
- Visit the Pena Palace and its park
- Visit the Castle of the Moors
- Walk around the historical town center
- Visit Quita da Regaleira
- Explore the Sintra-Cascais park around with Cabo da Roca
- …
- Read my article about visiting Sintra
Practical tips
- Location: West of Lisbon, on the West coast
- Lisbon to Sintra = 30min drive
- How long: Plan at least one day to visit the center and 2 places, but to see all of them you need 3 days and longer to explore the region.
- See the best rated accommodations in Sintra
4 – Guimaraes
Why I love this town
Guimarães is aquite captivating with a unique character. It is not a big town, but it has an abundance of churches, monuments, museums, squares, and old houses along medieval streets. It is known as where the country’s first king was born.
I love the streets in the town center, they have a lot of charm with cobbled stones, tiles and traditional houses. It is one of those cities where you feel you are traveling through time.
Things to do
- Exploring the old center
- Castle of Guimarães
- Paço dos Duques de Bragança (Palace of the Dukes)
- The churches
Practical tips
- Location: North-east of Porto
- Lisbon to Guimaraes = 3h30 drive
- Porto to Guimaraes = 45min drive
- How long: Plan 1 day to explore the town
- See the best rated accommodations in Guimaraes
5 – Tavira
Why I love this town
Tavira is a little gem on the East side of the Algarve.
If you are looking with charm and more authentic experiences, this is the place to go.
Simply walking in town is a pleasure: Moorish heritage, white buildings, cobbled streets, roman bridge, medieval castle…
It is very picturesque!
Things to do
- Bird watching at Ria Formosa
- Visit the Castle in town
- Walk around the salt pans
- Look at the wild flamingos in the low waterways
- Take a boat tour from the nearby Cabanas de Tavira – see options
Practical tips
- Location: east side of the Algarve, in South Portugal
- Lisbon to Tavira = 2h50 drive
- How long: Plan 1 day to explore the town, longer to explore the region
- See the best rated accommodations in Tavira
6 – Tomar
Why I love this town
It is not the most well-known town in Portugal, but it has something unique, probably for its rich history as the former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar.
The Convento do Cristo, constructed in 1160 is absolutely magnificent. It is my favorite architectural site in Portugal (and it is a Unesco site).
But go past the convent, and enjoy also the historical town that is a mix of vibrant and quiet.
Things to do
- Visit the Convento do Cristo in Tomar (quite long to visit)
- Stroll in the historical old town
- Explore the charming little churches
Practical tips
- Location: north-east of Lisbon
- Lisbon to Tomar = 1h30 drive
- How long: Plan at least 1 day to explore the convent and the town
- See the best rated accommodations in Tomar
And keep track of your own trip!
7 – Evora
Why I love this town
Evora is a famous walled city with Greek and Roman architecture. It combines traditional architecture, historical sites from various periods and a beautiful countryside.
I really enjoyed the fact that the entire old center is walled, so you feel like you are in a cocoon of history and architecture wiht an interesting mix. See the temple in the middle of the traditional white buildings!
Things to do
- Visit the cathedral
- Enter the Capela dos Ossos, filled with bones
- Explore the historical center
- Admire the temple
- …
Practical tips
- Location: East of Lisbon
- Lisbon to Evora = 1h30 drive
- How long = Plan 1 to 2 days to visit Evora, longer the explore the Alentejo
- See the best rated accommodations in Evora
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
8 – Obidos
Why I love this town
Obidos is one of the most famous village-towns in Portugal as it is located not far from Lisbon. It is a town, but the fortified center is like a village. This very picturesque town has a small center full of white houses, cobbled street and surrounded by a wall. At the top stands a castle overlooking the village.
The best part is that you can walk on the wall all around the town for amazing views!
Things to do
- Walk on the fortifications
- Explore the entire old town
- Visit the churches and chapels
- Taste the Ginja De Obidos (cherry brandy liqueur inside a chocolate cup)
- Read my article with the best things to do in Obidos
Practical tips
- Location: North of Lisbon
- Lisbon to Obidos = 1 h drive
- How long: Plan one day to explore, and I recommend one night to enjoy sunset and sunrise.
- See the best rated accommodations in Obidos
9 – Aveiro
Why I love this town
Because it is completely different to the other towns in Portugal. It is quite refreshing. Aveiro is considered the “Venise” of Portugal with the waterways in the city.
You can enjoy a tour in one of the colorful gondolas (known as Moliceiros).
Things to do
- Take a boat tour along the canals and to the salt farms
- Stroll along the canals, especially at night
- Walk around town to discover the churches and white buildings
- Visit the associated seafront town of Costa Nova with its colorful buildings
Practical tips
- Location: South of Porto
- Lisbon to Aveiro = 2h30 drive
- Porto to Aveiro = 30min drive
- How long: plan 1 day to explore
- See the best rated accommodations in Aveiro
Where to stay in Portugal?
My favorites:
- Lisbon to explore the vibrant city: see best rated accommodations
- Sintra to visit many palaces: see best rated accommodations
- Porto to feel the history: see best rated accommodations
- Obidos to walk on the medieval walls: see best rated accommodations
- Douro valley if you love wine: see best rated accommodations
- Lagos, charm in the Algarve: see best rated accommodations
- Portimao central to explore the Algarve – see best rated accommodations
10 – Coimbra
Why I love this town
Coimbra, on the Mondego River, is one of Portugal’s largest urban centers. Once the capital of the country, it is famous for being home to Portugal’s oldest university (originally founded in 1290 in Lisbon, this prestigious institution relocated to Coimbra, on top of a hill, in 1537).
It is a great place to stroll around the town, enjoy the vibrant center and feel the history.
Things to do
- Enjoy the riverfront
- Visit the university
- Explore the small streets of the old town
- Experience the old and new cathedrals
- Relax in the botanical gardens
- Visit the Portugal dos Pequinetos (miniatures of Portugal famous landmarks)
Practical tips
- Location: midway between Porto and Lisbon, a little inland from the West coast
- Lisbon to Coimbra = 2h drive
- How long: plan one or 2 days
- See the best rated accommodations in Coimbra
11 to 15 – other best beach towns in Portugal
11 – Lagos
On the west side of the Algarve, the most charming town is Lagos (in my opinion). I love the vibe of the old center and the beautiful beaches and cliffs (with Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade). In the old center, discover the church Santo Antonio, the Castelo dos Governadores and the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira
See best rated accommodations in Lagos
12 – Portimao / Ferrugado
Portimao is one of the best places in the Algarve to explore the region. It is central to all the most magnificent beaches in Portugal.
However, its center is not beautiful. But just across the river, is Ferrugado, the most photographed village in the Algarve…
So you can have it all: a charming old village, large sandy beaches, cliffs and easy access to the region.
See best rated accommodations in Portimao
13 – Costa Nova
Aveiro is actually inland past the lagoons. So you have to drive to reach the beaches.
Once at the sea side, white sand dunes, a lighthouse and an accessible path provide a breath of fresh air.
On the lagoon side, in Costa Nava, the visit is colorful with the famous striped houses and the laid-back atmosphere.
See best rated accommodations in Costa Nova
14 – Cascais
Cascais is a charming seaside town with historical buildings and many restaurants. It is considered the Portuguese Riviera. Here you can enjoy beautiful sand beaches, an historical center, a fort…
See best rated accommodations in Cascais
15 – Nazare
Nazaré is one of the most famous seaside resorts in Portugal. However, it is not because of the charm of the town or its architecture, but for its long beach and very high waves (some of the highest in the world!)
See best rated accommodations in Nazare
Need to rent a car in Portugal?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
16 to 18 – other most beautiful towns in Portugal (architecture)
Here are a few more towns to visit. They are not in the main list of towns, because they are interesting mostly for one architectural marvel.
16 – Batahla
As a whole, the town of Batahla is not the most fascinating. But it is home to one of the marvels of Portugal. The Monastery of Batalha was built in order to commemorate the Battle of Aljubarrota (1385). The construction began in 1386 and took almost two centuries and fifteen supervising architects to somewhat complete the monastery in the mid 16th century. It is famous for its Unfinished Chapels (Capelas Imperfeitas). Plan half a day.
See best rated accommodations in Batahla
17 – Braga
In the same way, the town of Braga is not the most fascinating to visit, but it is home to one of the most stunning staircases in the World at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. This is well-worth a visit! Plan half a day.
See best rated accommodations in Braga
18 – Mafra
After touring the Sintra region, you can go back to Lisbon. But if you are heading north towards Obidos, have a stop in the town of Mafra (outside the Natural Park).
The façade of the Mafra national palace is quite impressive and worth a stop. Built in the 18th century, it was also a monastery for a while.
See best rated accommodations in Mafra
19 to 21 – Best villages in Portugal
Portugal also has a lot of charming villages. Here are 3 of my favorites, but you can find more on my article about the best villages in Portugal.
19 – Monsanto
The boulder village of Monsanto should not be missed. It is one of the most amazing villages in Portugal.
The hilltop is covered with boulders and houses have been built around, using them as walls or roofs. This creates architectural wonders.
It deserves a long visit to take the time to explore all the streets and discover the many structures. Read my article.
Lisbon to Monsanto = 3h
See accommodations in and around Monsanto
20 – Monsaraz
Even though it is built with a similar structure as the other villages in Portugal with white houses, a castle and all of it on top of a hill, I think that Monsaraz has a very different atmosphere. It is difficult to explain but painters sure know about it. They sprinkle the streets, drawing and painting this stunning Portugal village.
This hilltop has been occupied by different people for a long time, making it one of the oldest settlements in the region.
Plus, from the strategic hilltop location of the village, you get wonderful views of the huge water system surrounding it.
See best rated accommodations in Monsaraz
20 – Marvao
Marvao is another one of the most famous villages in Portugal, probably because the New York Times included it in the 1000 places to see before you die.
The castle is not the most interesting one in Portugal, but the village sure has a lot of charm and the views from up there are wonderful. On a clear day you can see all the way to Serra de Estrela.
The remote Marvao has been a settlement for a long time. Dolmens and other ancient structures can be found in the area.
See best rated accommodations in Marvao
22 to 23 – best towns on the Portuguese islands
21 – Funchal in Madeira
Capital city of the Madeira Region, Funchal has a vibrant and historical vibe.
In the old center, you can find streets with a lot of charm, cathedral, chapels and museums, easy access to the seafront and Marina, many restaurants…
See best rated accommodations in Funchal – or see my article about where to stay in Funchal
22 – Ponta Delgada, Azores
Located on the Island of Sao Miguel, Ponta Delgada is worth a visit to take a break from the amazing surrounding nature. It is a city with stunning black and white Portuguese pavements and historical houses and churches.
See best rated accommodations in Ponta Delgada
FAQs
Best towns in Portugal to live / for expats
For those with an active lifestyle, I think the best towns to live in Portugal are:
- Lisbon, for its cosmopolite vibe and openeness
- Coimbra for its perfect side and vibrant cultural life
Best towns in Portugal to retire
If you are looking for a place to retire with charm, beaches and all the amenities, my favorites are:
- Aveiro for the access to beaches and water peaceful vibes
- Tavira, for its laid back vibe and access to long beaches
Best towns in Portugal for a short getaway
If you are looking for a great place to spend a few days chilling and exploring, my preferences are
- Lisbon, with airport, museums and great cultural experiences
- Porto also with airport, museums and great cultural experiences
Best towns in Portugal for a visit with kids
If you want towns with great activities that will please adults and kids, I recommend:
- Lisbon
- Coimbra
- Evora
- Aveiro
Towns in Portugal with UNESCO World Heritage
- Lisbon (with the Belem area)
- Batahla with the monastery
- Tomar with the convent
- Evora and its historical center
- Alcobaça and its monastery
- Sintra and its palaces
- Porto and its histprical centerl
- Guimaraes and its historical center
- Coimbra and its university
- Mafra and its palace
- Braga and its sanctuary / staircase
Want to see more of the best Portugal has to offer?
- 30 Most beautiful landscapes in Portugal – read article
- Best things to do in Portugal – read article
- The best beaches in Portugal – read article
- The best villages in Portugal – read article
- Lisbon vs Porto – where to go? – read article
- Driving in Portugal – read article
- The best of the Algarve region – read article
- The highlights of Sintra and the Sintra-Cascais Nature park – read article
Planning a trip to Portugal?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Portugal thanks to my guide
- 13 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 120+ pre-selected locations
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- Tips to make the most of your time
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And keep track of your own trip!
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