15 great places you must visit on your very first trip to Portugal

Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by

That moment is finally arrived. You booked that trip to Portugal you wanted to do for a very long time and now the real problems arrive. Where should I go? The reality is that Portugal offers so many different and amazing places to see that it’s hard to decide what to visit and what to skip on your very first trip. Therefore, in this blog you will find a selection of must visit places in Portugal to consider for your first trip. Of course, the top three Lisbon, Sintra and Porto are already part of a great itinerary. However, if you have time, is great to add other significant places like Coimbra, or Óbidos.

Tip for planning a great itinerary

When I planned my itinerary to Portugal, I considered firstly how long I would spent in the nation (in my case it was about a month long road trip). Secondly, (after reading all the guides possible), I decided to have a “taste” of the main regions of Portugal for each section of the trip. So, I focused on each region and searched what were the best places to see for a first time visitor to Portugal. For example, for the Algarve region I chose Faro and Albufeira etc. In this way, it was easier to decide. For your first time in Portugal, I suggest you to not choose too many places and choose them according to how much time you will have. The risk is always to put too much on the table and don’t enjoy your itinerary.

Having said so, enjoy this selection of must visit places in Portugal and have fun in the organisation of your trip!

15 must visit places in Portugal for your very first trip

1. Lisbon

I wouldn’t ever think to visit Portugal without stopping a few days at its beautiful capital, Lisbon. Especially if it’s your first trip, you should stop in Lisbon at least a few days. Lisbon is colourful and alive. It’s full of history and places that look frozen in time like the Carmo Convent. Whether you decide to have a stroll at the lovely Bairro Alto, have a fun ride on the historical tram n. 28 or enjoy the fresh breeze of Belém, Lisbon is always a good choice! Oh! and don’t forget to eat a Pastel de Nata or 10!

2. Sintra

There is no place in the world like Sintra. Luscious forest, enchanted castles, mysterious gardens. Sintra has it all. If you don’t believe in fairytales, in Sintra you will change your mind as everything you see look straight out of an fairytale book. Sintra is a convenient day trip from Lisbon (less than one hour driving). However, because of its many beautiful attractions that require at least some hours each to be seen, it’s better to spend a two-three days. You won’t regret them!

3. Cascais

Cascais is a lovely resort city at less than one hour from Lisbon. It’s perfect to visit during summer when the capital becomes very hot and you need a sea escape without travelling too far. Nevertheless, beware that even during early summer season, the city tend to be very crowded (even now with Corona restriction the city was very crowded). A day trip to Cascais is nice also if you don’t head to the beach. In fact, the city has many lovely attractions (e.g. the medieval bastions or the city park) that are nice to see even during other seasons.

4. Óbidos

Óbidos is so far one of my favourite places in Portugal! If you love history and pretty well preserved Medieval villages, this place is for you! Óbidos is just a short drive from Lisbon and it looks like frozen in time. Indeed, the village is still enclosed within its Medieval walls (that are walkable by the way!) and features some beautiful blue tiled artworks. Moreover, did you know that there are more than 11 bookshops? Only for this, it should be a must visit in your itinerary.

Plan your day trip to Óbidos with this guide!

5. Coimbra

If you want to get some serious Harry Potter vibes, visit Coimbra! Indeed, it looks like J.K. Rowling got inspired by the students from the University of Coimbra when she depicted Hogwarts students with their uniforms. In fact, Coimbra students have a peculiar uniform with a black cloak and you can see them wandering around the university and some of the city centre streets. Coimbra is a city that needs to be explored day by day and you will need at least two full days to fully appreciate its vibe.

6. Aveiro

Aveiro is often called “the Venice of Portugal” but with Venice doesn’t share even a inch of water (mine unpopular opinion). The city is nice, certainly a must visit place during an extensive trip to Portugal BUT don’t expect too much and most importantly, don’t compare it to Venice because otherwise you will be very disappointed. Aveiro has some lovely art nouveau architecture and its own traditional sweet treats called “ovo moles”. Moreover, the traditional boats on the main canal, make the city photogenically nice.

7. Costa Nova

Costa Nova is a natural stop when you visit Aveiro because it’s at a short drive from the city. This part of Portugal became famous for its lovely striped houses that used to be a storage space for local fishermen. Now the area is populated with restaurants and instagrammers who try to get the most perfect shots. If you are one of them, well this place should be on your list.

8. Piódão

Nestled in the scenic Serra do Açor, the village of Piódão still gives you the feeling of an unexplored place. Despite a renewed popularity among visitors, Piódão is far from being a tourist trap. Indeed, it was one of the few places where I felt I true Portuguese traditional feeling. It doesn’t take much to love its breathtaking views and its unexpected and lovely architecture. If you are planning a trip to Arganil municipality, Piódão is surely a must visit. Moreover, while there you can stop by the lovely village of Foz d’de Égua and admire its fairytale setting in between two rivers.

Would you like to organise a visit Piódão? Discover everything you need to know in my blog post here!

9. Porto

Like Lisbon, Porto is a must visit place if you are travelling to Portugal. There are so many things to do and see that you will need at least three days to fully enjoy the city. Search for all the blue-tiled churches, stroll the whole afternoon in the picturesque Ribeira or be enchanted at the magical Livraria Lello. Porto was one of my favourite places and I literally can wait to visit again! If you have more time, a great day trip from Porto is the Douro Valley. Here you can taste some of the most delicious wine of the region.

10. Évora

Old ladies who spy on you from tiny windows, cobbled alleys, Roman ruins, walls of bones. All of this is Évora. A mix of old and new in one of the oldest cities in Portugal. You can’t certainly be bored in the capital of the Alentejo region. You will spend your time checking the still visible city’s Roman past, enjoying the views from one of the most beautiful Cathedral I’ve seen in Portugal and be spooked at the unique Chapel of Bones. Évora is certainly a must stop for every first time visitors and you will appreciate its unique setting at the border with Spain. Be aware that being placed in this unique geographical inland location, Évora is always very warm. Even during early summer with peaks of 35-36° in June.

11. Elvas

I considered Elvas like a little sister of Évora. They are in a certain way quite similar but different at the same time. Elvas still preserves the glory of its important military past with its peculiar star-shaped forts and its well preserved castle. While Évora was more important from a religious point of view. Both cities deserve a stop for their uniqueness and if you have a drone, you will be happy to fly around the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça and capture its impressive star shape from the sky.

Note: to fly over Elvas and in Portugal you need to be authorised from the AAN.

12. Marvão

Marvão is perched over the top of a granite crag and lies on one of the oldest borders of the world. “La raia”, the border between Spain and Portugal. For this reason, this little photogenic village has a long and complicated history. Enclosed between the perfectly preserved medieval walls, the white-washed houses of the village guide you to the winding streets up to the castle. I personally remained enchanted by this silent, magnificent place over the mountain and I understand why it was included to the #1 New York Times bestselling book, ‘1000 Places to see Before you Die’. If you are touring the Alentejo region, I can’t stress enough that this is one of the places you must visit!

13. Faro

The Algarve region is one of the most famous part of Portugal. Known for its crystalline waters and vivid nightlife is surely an unmissable stop on a Portugal visit. The city of Faro is the capital of the Algarve region and it’s very nice to explore both in its Old Town and its sea side. If you visit Algarve, Faro should be on your list!

14. Albufeira

I personally loved Albufeira! I loved its beaches and white old town. Albufeira is known for clubbing but the covid-19 pandemic gave it a totally different vibe. Indeed, it’s now much quieter, the beaches are empty and you can stroll around admiring the landscape. It reminded me a bit of Santorini without its blue domes. I am not sure if Albufeira will become again that clubbing city that was before the pandemic, at the moment is one of the nicest places to visit in Algarve.

15. Ferragudo

If you are in Algarve for the first time, I think that Ferragudo deserves a little stop. We actually stayed the whole day here because it’s really nice and you can split your time between the beach and the nice fishing village. Grab a light lunch at Amigos and go for a walk in the most photogenic marina of the Algarve region. You can discover nice churches, fully bloomed alleys and amazing viewpoint. At the end of the day relax at the peaceful beach of the Castelo de São João do Arade.

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