15+ Best Villages in Portugal (with Photos) – stunning!

Portugal offers many different beautiful landscapes... its villages are part of it!
Here is my top 5 of the most beautiful villages of Portugal: white villages or with rocks.
Must-sees to extend your itinerary, with photos, tips and map.

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The best villages in Portugal - Map and Intro

My top 5 selection

Portugal counts a high number of historical villages, especially close to the Border with Spain. Many of them are located on hills and fortified making them very scenic. If you can stray from the big hub of Lisbon - Sintra - Porto - Algarve, I recommend taking a road trip and exploring the countryside to discover those little gems of Portugal.

Here is my selection of the most charming ones, "the best villages in Portugal ", based on how scenic they were from the outside and the inside.

1. Monsanto and its huge boulders
2. Obidos where you can walk on the fortification wall
3. Mertola off the beaten path in the South
4. Monsaraz where the white houses inspire many artists
5. Marvao and its amazing views

They are all part of my eBook (with many other awesome locations) and identified on maps I created to facilitate the planning of your trip:

About the Portuguese village of Monsanto

Monsanto was my absolute favorite village in Portugal. From the outside it is not the most impressive one because its houses are not white, but walk inside and you will discover wonders after wonders. 

The village has indeed been built around the large boulders covering the hill and with a castle at the top. So, you get funny structures where they tried making it work around them.

Definitively a unique location not to be missed!

Note: It received the price for "Most Portuguese village in Portugal" in 1938, yet it was the most unique one!!!

Planning a visit of Monsanto 

LOCATION: Monsanto, one of the best Villages in Portugal, is located near the border with Spain, roughly, on the Mid-East section.

DISTANCE: Lisbon to Monsanto = 3h drive

MORE: Many photos, a video and info to plan your visit in the Monsanto Portugal Village article

STAYING IN MONSANTO: Few accommodations are available in the village and around it - Check out the options

About Obidos

Obidos is one of the most famous villages 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!

Note: every year Obidos has a chocolate festival and a medieval fair. The Town is then crowded. Check out the dates here.

Planning a visit to Obidos

About Mertola

Mertola is rarely mentioned in the lists of best villages in Portugal and yet it is quite a place to visit! 

Nestled between River Guadiana and one of its arms, this Portugal village is stunning with the white houses against the dry landscape.

Climbing to the top of the castle provides you with wonderful views of the region.

Planning a visit to Mertola

LOCATION: in the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana, near the border with Spain, just north of the Algarve region

DISTANCE: Lisbon to Mertola = 2h45 drive

MORE: Many photos, a video and info to plan your visit in the Mertola Portugal Article

STAYING IN MERTOLA: Few accommodations are available in the village and around it - Check out the options

About 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 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

Planning a visit to Monsaraz

LOCATION: at the border with Spain, East of Lisbon and Evora

DISTANCE: Lisbon to Monsaraz = 2h20 drive

MORE: Many photos, a video and info to plan your visit in the Monsaraz Portugal Article

STAYING IN MONSARAZ: Few accommodations are available in the village and around it - Check out the options

About 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.

Planning a visit to Marvao

LOCATION: Marvao is located by the Border with Spain in the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, North East of Lisbon

DISTANCE: Lisbon to Marvao = 3h drive

MORE: Many photos, a video and info to plan your visit in the Marvao Portugal article

STAYING IN MARVAO: Few accommodations are available in the village and around it - Check out the options

And for more historical villages, consider the 12 protected under the Historical Villages of Portugal program. We already considered 2, but the others are:

• Almeida,
• Belmonte,
• Castelo Mendo,
• Castelo Novo,
• Castelo Rodrigo,
• Idanha-a-Velha,  
• Marialva,
• Piódão,
• Sortelha
• Trancoso.

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