7 Best Places to Visit in Portugal

Portugal runs from Lisbon's hilltop neighborhoods to Porto's port-wine cellars, with medieval walled towns, Atlantic coastline, and a wine valley in between. These seven destinations cover the country's best-known cities, coast, and countryside.

1. Belém, Lisbon

Belém, on the western edge of Lisbon, is where Portuguese ships set out during the Age of Discoveries, and it's home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the fortified Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, both built in the early 16th century in the ornate Manueline style. The neighborhood is also where the original pastéis de Belém custard tarts are still baked.

2. Porto

Porto's Ribeira district is a UNESCO World Heritage riverside neighborhood of narrow lanes and tiled facades along the Douro, crossed by the two-tier Dom Luís I Bridge. Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, port wine has aged in cellars for centuries, and most are open for tastings and tours.

3. Sintra

Sintra, in the hills west of Lisbon, is best known for the Pena Palace, a brightly colored 19th-century Romanticist palace perched on a hilltop above the town. The wider Sintra landscape, dotted with palaces, castles, and forested estates, is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape.

4. Algarve coast (Lagos and Ponta da Piedade)

The Algarve is Portugal's southern coast, and Ponta da Piedade, just outside Lagos, is its signature stretch: ochre limestone cliffs, sea arches, and grottoes reachable by boat or kayak. The wider Algarve is lined with similar coves and beach towns for most of its length.

5. Óbidos

Óbidos is a small medieval walled town north of Lisbon, its whitewashed houses trimmed in yellow and blue beneath a hilltop castle. A walkway along the top of the town walls circles most of the old town, and the single main street is normally closed to cars.

6. Madeira (Funchal)

Madeira is a volcanic island in the Atlantic, and its capital, Funchal, sits on steep hillsides above the harbor. The island is known for its levadas — centuries-old irrigation channels that double as hiking trails through subtropical forest — and for Monte Palace's gardens above the city.

7. Douro Valley

The Douro Valley, inland from Porto, is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, established by royal decree in 1756. Terraced vineyards climb the steep hillsides along the Douro River, and river cruises and quinta (wine estate) visits are the main ways to see the valley.

Staying connected while you travel

Portugal's mobile networks (Vodafone, MEO, NOS) cover the mainland cities and coast well, including Madeira and the Algarve, with lighter signal in the more remote parts of the Douro Valley. An eSIM lets you land with data already active instead of hunting for airport Wi-Fi — compare current Portugal eSIM plans below.

Running a promo code for Portugal right now:

ETravelSim

25% off all eTravelSim eSIMs — September offer

-25%

Applies to every eSIM plan at checkout. Announced in eTravelSim's September newsletter.

Public promo Ends Sep 30, 2026

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Telekonek

15% off your first order — WELCOME15

-15%

Stay connected in 200+ countries the moment you land — skip the roaming bills and SIM swaps on your very first trip.

Public promo Ends Oct 21, 2026

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Airalo

15% off your first Airalo eSIM with NEWTOAIRALO15

-15%

New customers only, first order; the discount is capped at $3 per Airalo's terms.

Public promo Ends Dec 31, 2026

NEWTOAIRALO15 Get this deal

For more on how eSIMs work before your trip, see our beginner's guide to eSIMs. You can also browse the full list of Portugal eSIM plans sorted by price.