Places

Lisbon is a bustling and exciting city that boasts a wide choice of activities and fascinating tourist attractions. The city has a welcoming and liberal atmosphere while still embracing its deep-rooted heritage and extensive history.

On Lisbon you can have a cultural trip, a nightlife extravaganza, a family holiday, a relaxed city-break or even as a base for a beach holiday.

Historically, Cascais was a minor fishing village, until King Luís I choose it as his royal summer retreat. Trailing the Portuguese nobility were the high society of Portugal, who in turn constructed lavish villas, ornate mansions and exquisite gardens. 

Today, Cascais is an elegant fusion of decorative 19th-century architecture, traditional Portuguese charm and outstanding tourist facilities, which together creates a magnificent holiday destination.

Sintra is a delightful Portuguese town situated within the hills nearby the ocean area. Hidden within these pine covered hills are extravagant palaces, opulent mansions and the ruins of an ancient castle.

The variety of fascinating historic buildings and enthralling attractions combine to form a fantastic tourist destination. Sintra is regarded as the best day trip from Lisbon and a visit to this wonderful town must be included in your holiday plans.

Comprising a palace, monastery and church, the vast Royal Palace of Mafra is one of the largest historical buildings in Europe and a must-see monument for people visiting the Greater Lisbon area. It was built in fulfilment of a vow he made should god grant him an heir to the throne.

Ericeira is a charming Portuguese fishing town situated along a coastline of outstanding surfing beaches. This powerful and reliable surf has transformed peaceful Ericeira into a surfing mecca boasting both a chilled daytime scene and a lively nightlife. Today Ericeira is a perfect fusion of Portuguese heritage with an ultra-cool surfing ambience.

This is one of the most important landmarks in the Marian worship drawing pilgrims from all over the world. Until 1917 this was an unknown place. That year a religious event changed its history and importance forever, when 3 little shepherds witnessed successive apparitions of Virgin Mary. The world renown of the Shrine during the papacy of John Paul II when we came there to give thanks for having survived an assassination attempt (one of the 3 secrets shared by the Virgin to the shepherds).

Tomar is the most important place of the Templar History in the whole world, since it has preserved an imposing castle and church, practically intact. The Order of the Temple existed from 1118 to 1308, when the Pope extinguished it and deprived it of its assets. The Portuguese King obeyed to the Pope command, however he kept the assets for the Crown and founded the Order of Christ. A century after, in 1415 with the conquest of Ceuta, D. Henrique became the Grand Master of the Order of Christ and lived for over a decade in Tomar. It was here that he designed the project of the Portuguese Discoveries.

Alcobaça owes its fame and development to the Monastery or Royal Abbey of Saint Mary founded by the Order of Cistercians in 1153. Building began in 1178 on land donated by the first King of Portugal to the founder of the Order of Cistercians, in fulfilment of a vow made after the Christian reconquest of Santarém, held by the Moors until 1147.

This town developed alongside its Monastery constructed in 1386 to keep a vow made by the King due to the win of battle of Aljubarrota with Castile (previous definition of Spain). This masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic is a magnificent piece of architecture that combines various influences from its lengthy period of construction, which lasted several reigns. Outstanding in the interior are the Founders’ Chapel with its fine stained-glass windows, the cloisters, the Unfinished Chapels with their Manueline and Flemish Gothic features and the Chapter House.

Encircled by a ring of medieval walls and crowned by the Moorish castle, Óbidos is one of the most perfect examples of our medieval fortress. Entering through the southern gate of Santa Maria you’ll see an extraordinary set of eighteenth-century tile decoration. Inside the walls, which at sunset take on a golden coloring, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambience of winding streets, old whitewashed houses bordered with blue or yellow, Manueline embrasures and windows and masses of colorful flowers and plants.

This charming and colorful village as become a seaside resort where you can still feel the huge importance of tradition. The development of Nazaré was made in a very sustainable way paying homage to its common heritage and historical memory.

One of the most moving images are the friendly women dressed in their 7 skirts selling dry fruits and talking out load. As if time stood still.

If “Coimbra is a lesson”, as the popular fado song says, Coimbra is firstly a lesson of Portuguese History. Here is the grave of the first two Portuguese Kings and, all over the city, you will discover landmarks left by those who built the nation, whether they are the outbuildings of the University or the monuments you should mandatorily visit. From the magnificent scale of the Joanine Library to the symbolism of the Santa Cruz convent, the old capital of the Kingdom is full of heritage from the past.

Known as the “Portuguese Venice”, the city is quietly dominated by the Ria de Aveiro, described by Saramago as ‘a living body that connects the land to the sea like a huge heart’. Get on board a moliceiro and go along the canals of the lagoon which, just like water roads, lead you through the city. See the Art Nouveau houses which decorate the banks or discover their every detail by taking a guided walking tour organized by the City Museum.

Porto is the second major city in Portugal. And it’s a city filled with history and incredible sceneries. You can see Clerigos Tower, Lello library (worldly known by its architecture), São Bento Station or the Main Cathedral. All monuments filled with History and architecture. And you can stroll through the narrow and picturesque streets of this town enjoying its special atmosphere.

This town has become the third largest port in Portugal as it well sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean. Setubal is very attractive with many pedestrian streets, gardens and interesting shops. The gastronomy mainly made of fish captured in its waters is one of the highlights as well as the Market, known worldwide for its beautiful and colorful building.

The town of Sesimbra is a fishing and bathing centre and the main tourist center, where several emblematic buildings are located, such as the Fortress of Santiago. The Castle is situated on the rural area, closely linked to agriculture. On the south coast, which stretches from the Sesimbra Bay to the Espichel Cape, are located some of the most beautiful beaches, especially Ribeiro do Cavalo, known worldwide. The western coast extends to Lagoa de Albufeira and includes the Meco beach.

Palmela is one of the oldest wine producing regions in Portugal. In the town’s first royal charter from 1185, there is already a reference to the vines and wines of this region, one of the biggest in Portugal. The traditional red wine grape variety and Muscatel have won countless international awards mainly through the investment and renewal of the major wineries. It’s worth getting to know this area rich in producers and products, where the red wines are smooth and spicy and the whites flowery.

Laid out over the right bank of Sado River, Alcaçer do Sal has archeological remains starting from the Neolithic period and through the Greeks, the Phoenicians and other Mediterranean peoples. Nowadays the salt is the main economy in the area – and heritage from the Roman times. Although the history also shows a big influence from the Moors – as the name shows.

This delightful city exudes Portuguese charm and boasts a vast array of fascinating historical monuments. Evora was historically a major trading and religious center, a former importance that is reflected in the sheer variety of tourist sites, all of which are all conveniently contained within the city’s ancient walls. From the Diana’s Temple to the Bone Chapel passing by the Cathedral all is history in this town and all is worth seeing.

Situated in one of the most fertile regions in the south of Portugal, Vila Viçosa was often the center of some of the most important moments in the country’s history. The Palace owned by the most powerful noble family in Portugal (with direct relations to the Royal Family). The Ducal Palace in the village is an extraordinary building and a must-see in the region.

This town has two main attractions: its castle and its carpets produced by the local craftsmen and women since the sixteenth century. Some art historians have devoted themselves to studying this art and divide it in three eras: the first period based on compositions that betrayed the decorative influences of Persian carpets; the second brought popularly inspired designs such as figures or animals; and the third period with much more stylized patterns.

This extremely beautiful medieval town has succeeded in preserving its own distinctive characteristics over the centuries. Walking through the streets of Monsaraz is like going back in time, for it’s a truly unique place. The most immediate visual impression is the whitewash and schist of its houses and buildings. Monsaraz is really an open-air museum of history.

Lagos is a historic and lively city situated on the beautiful western Algarve coastline. As a holiday destination Lagos offers visitors glorious beaches, buzzing nightlife and a charming historic center.

This town has a long fishing tradition that developed particularly between the 19^th and 20^th century with the canning industry and tourism. You shouldn’t miss the Senhora da Conceição Church built on the top of a hill and standing out in the city skyline. Although it was badly damaged by the 1755 earthquake it retains its beautiful original gothic portal.

Tavira is an ancient Moorish town with its unique character and heritage to become one of the finest resort towns of the Algarve. The town extends along the banks of the River and is a delightful mix of traditional Portuguese architecture with deep-rooted Moorish influences. Tavira is a joy to explore with its plethora of historic buildings and decorative churches, all of which are set around charming plazas and cobbled streets.

Sagres is like no other destination in southern Portugal. These landscapes are dominated by nature’s raw power; from the raging seas that carve immense cliffs, the bracing winds that create barren landscapes, through to the intense summer sun, which burns careless tourists.

This town is a charming Portuguese resort located in the heart of the beautiful Alentejo coastline. Milfontes is adored by the Portuguese because of its glorious beaches, delicious food and social nightlife. Foreign visitors are slowly discovering Alentejo region, but it is still one of the least visited coastlines of Portugal; with vast stretches of wild and deserted beaches.

Aljezur is a small market town of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets located near the border between the Algarve and the Alentejo in south west Portugal. The town is dominated by the ruins of a tenth century Moorish castle, which sits at the top of a narrow and very steep cobbled hill. Entry to the ruins is free and the views from the top of the hill are spectacular.

Around Odeceixe the countryside rucks up into rolling, large hills. The Algarve’s northernmost coastal settlement before the Alentejo is an endearing small-town clinging to the southern side of the valley that divides the two regions. Sleepy for most of the year, it gets packed with Portuguese and European visitors in high summer, including surfers hitting its beach.