We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Church, Museum, Natural Feature, Historical Landmark, © Alice Dias Didszoleit / Alamy Stock Photo. One of the most beautiful small towns in Portugal, it sits at the edge of Europe and has charmed countless visitors for centuries. The best place to live in Portugal is down to personal preference, but with so many wonderful locations to choose from, deciding where you want to live in Portugal is a delight, not a chore. The town is centred around the 18th-century Praça Velha, a large, handsome square with numerous streets and winding alleys leading off it, taking the curious to beautiful palaces, churches and forts. And rightly so! Top tip: if you’re here in August a three-day historical recreation of the Siege of Almeida is well worth watching. Literary lovers will want to make a stop at the University of Coimbra to see the university’s beautiful Joanina Library. Viana do Castelo, near Portugal’s northern border, is like a Monopoly board, as you seem to land on impressive streets around every corner. Every street is lined with photogenic Portuguese architecture: idyllic whitewashed Mediterranean houses and traditional façades clad in azulejos, the glazed ceramic tiles for which Portugal is celebrated, in all colours and patterns. Porto is a lively yet peaceful city in Portugal. Meander throughout the town to see its fascinating collection of historic attractions, including the Old Cathedral and Gothic Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha. Make sure to see the 13th-century Cathedral of Evora, which is considered one of the country’s most important Gothic structures. Take in its neo-gothic, neo-Renaissance and neo-Islamic styles, photograph its vivid palette, and plan, if you can, to stay longer in this whimsical resort town. Travel to central Portugal to enjoy the charms of Monsanto, a small fortified village that is crowned by the ruins of a castle that offers views of the surrounding plains. Top 10 Portugal: the best towns and cities in Portugal Portugal is a fascinating and varied country, with vibrant cities, glorious beaches and wonderful climate. Also crucial to its status is the role it has played throughout Portuguese history, particularly in the formation of the nation. Explore the town’s winding lanes and bustling streets to discover white-washed houses and expansive groves of trees. Top 15 Under-the-Radar Travel Destinations, 11 Unique Reindeer Experiences in Finland, 14 Dreamy Airbnbs in Norway’s Lofoten Islands, 5 Ways Flying Private Can Make 2021 Safer, Easier, and More Exciting. The city cascades down the hillside towards the water, revealing at various levels new architectural treasures, from Renaissance and baroque cathedrals to Moorish-inspired palaces. Discover a country as vivid and original as the azulejos tiles that cover the facades of its baroque palaces. Make sure to visit the São Gonçalinho Chapel and the Convento de Jesus to admire architecture and artwork, while the Aveiro Cathedral features beautiful Baroque architecture. Óbidos has, for the most part, retained an unspoiled, time-warped ambience: cobbled streets wind past white-facaded houses bedecked with fragrant honeysuckle and pillar-box red geraniums, leading you to the impressive Moorish castle crowning the town. © 2021 Trips To Discover Like an open-air museum, its ancient archways and stunning views over the Alentejo plains and Alqueva reservoir offers a tranquil escape from the big city bustle. This archipelago is made of nine volcanic islands scattered over several hundred nautical miles and best known for the hot mineral springs, first-class whale watching (named one of the top ten spots on the planet), and lovely seaside towns. We have reviews of the best places to see in Portugal. It’s being thought of more and more amongst foreigners who want to relocate to Portugal. Get our latest advice & deals in your inbox! The area has been settled since prehistoric times, evidenced by remarkable megalithic monuments carved from rock. There’s more to Portugal than Lisbon. Azure beaches, dramatic geography, and warm people combined with Port wine and a lot of codfish are some of the reasons to visit. Home to some of the best beaches in Portugal, Nazare impresses with its long, sandy beaches and big waves. The surrounding terrain is idyllic, with sweeping green hills and pastures, dramatic cliffs and rolling, diaphanous ocean as far as the eye can see. Among all the cities in Portugal, Lisbon attracts the most visitors and attention. These are the best cities in Portugal: 1. On the picturesque banks of the Mondego River, and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, Coimbra has long been among Portugal’s key centres for arts and culture. OUR ULTIMATE COVID BOOKING GUARANTEE. We’ll send you our newsletter with travel destinations, deals, and more! Since the Moorish occupation, Portuguese royalty have recognized Sintra’s charm, and it’s a great place to explore major palaces tucked amongst the lush vegetation. From the Ponte de São Gonçalo which leads travelers into the town to the numerous churches, museums, and parks, there really is something for everyone in Amarante. Its most striking monument is Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary, overlooking the town, situated high on a hilltop. As Guimaraes isn’t as touristy as other places, this is definitely the best city in Portugal to stay on a budget! Jo Fernandez-Corugedo contributed additional reporting to this article. You’ll find whitewashed houses that were built between the 16th and 17th century, while miles of beautiful countryside with rolling hillsides, olive groves and the river Guadiana awaits further exploration. Portugal, maritime power and great empire at its peak, has a complicated history that matches its spectacular landscapes. As a result, it … Guimaraes is the birthplace of Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henríques, and its display of medieval architecture is one of the most authentic in the country. Embrace the laid-back lifestyle and cultural heritage of these 11 beautiful small towns in Portugal. Viana do Castelo, Norte. You’ll find colorful gondolas floating along the canals, while historic sites, gorgeous beaches, and an excellent food scene offers plenty of captivating scenery. It’s continually growing – in fact it’s currently the second-largest city in Portugal – but Porto hasn’t let go of its nostalgic charm. Weaving among Évora’s monumental chunks of history are winding lanes and bustling streets lined with traditional, red-roofed, whitewashed houses and peaceful groves of trees. © Ian Dagnall Commercial Collection / Alamy Stock Photo, © Alexandre Rotenberg / Alamy Stock Photo. The city was awarded a UNESCO World Heritage status for its well-preserved architecture and history, and the important role it played in Portuguese history. If you’re looking for a unique place to stay, check out the top Airbnb rentals in the area. Almeida, Portugal, Guarda District, Portugal. Douro is also a part of the 1-Week Portugal Itineraries. Angra do Heroísmo is one of the principal settlements, and the oldest continuously settled town. With roots in the Middle Ages, its rich historic core is situated by the Mondego River, where you’ll discover a treasure trove of historic sites, tranquil garden areas and Portugal’s second style of fado music. Here we list 10 unmissable towns to visit in Portugal, each unique and beautiful in its own way. Explore the walled village and discover the castle, shops and art galleries that dot the area, then visit a local restaurant to sample Alentejan cuisine and wines. Make time for a trip to the Berlengas Natural Reserve, just off the coast, home to a colony of puffins, with its surrounding waters rich in marine life. Just outside the town, the dramatic Cabo de São Vicente headland is the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe. Tavira is much appreciated for the dazzling natural beauty that surrounds it, with soft, white-sand beaches sloping gently down to the warm, clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Its landscapes are verdant, with rolling green hills and pastures and dramatic cliff tops, which are capped off with stunning azure blue ocean views as far as the eye can see. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Purchase artisanal goods from locals on the street, delight in seafood delicacies at local restaurants, or be mesmerized by the 78-foot waves that attract surfers from around the world. This quaint hilltop outcrop has evolved over the ages from a small Roman settlement into a thriving town on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. 1. From mid-2021, investors will be blocked from buying a property in Portugal’s key urban centers like Lisbon, Porto, and strips of the Silver Coast and the Algarve. Make sure to have some fun in the sun at the white sand beaches and take a dip in the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Proximity to major cities. They include the best suggestions on excursions, wine tasting and transportation. The periods of history it has experienced are manifest in everything from the fortifications built by the Knights Templar to the Moorish DNA in the town’s architecture. https://www.routeperfect.com/blog/charming-small-towns-portugal-road-trip Another of the many reasons to love the Silver Coast in Portugal is its proximity to Portugal’s major cities. Best places to stay in Amarante >> The peaceful town of Amarante in the north of Portugal is a cultural hotspot where there is so much to see, do, and learn. Look out for our newsletters in your inbox soon. You’ll find an array of castles and palaces to explore, including the grand Pena National Palace and its colorful architecture and unique blend of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Islamic styles. It’s authentic Portugal with a cherry on top. Expect to be spoilt for choice with local seafood, from octopus to sea bass, eased down with a glass of chilled Portuguese wine. 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