Best Places to Visit in Portugal
Find the best places to go in Portugal based on insights from travel experts
May 29, 2026
6 minute read
Portugal is an easy place to visit and has a lot to offer travellers — walls and streets decorated with colourful tiles, open countryside, and island escapes. Many travellers comment on how comfortable they feel walking around cities like Lisbon and Porto, including in the evening, and how welcoming locals are throughout the country.
Whether you want to relax and enjoy authentic food and drink in Portugal or are ready for adventure this is your guide to some of the best places to visit in Portugal.
Quick Answer: Where Are the Best Places to Visit in Portugal?
To find the best places in Portugal, I turned to Sandra C., a seasoned traveller from Lisbon who has been designing Collette’s Portugal tours since 2022.
According to Sandra, some of the best places to visit in Portugal include Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Alentejo, and the islands of the Azores and Madeira. This list includes cities you can wander through, quiet countrysides to explore, and coastlines that vary in personality from dramatic to restorative.
How Do You Choose Where to Go in Portugal?
A good place to start is to think about what you want your trip to be like.
If you enjoy city energy and neighbourhood wandering, Lisbon and Porto are strong choices. Both are good places to explore on foot and feel most alive when you explore slowly.
If you want a slower rhythm built in, the Algarve and Alentejo naturally encourage you to pause, linger, and settle into a relaxed pace.
If you want scenery to lead the experience, the Azores and Madeira offer a side of Portugal shaped more by landscape than by cities.
If you’re more concerned about perfect weather or smaller crowds, our guide to Portugal weather by season has you covered.
What Are the Top Places to Visit in Portugal?
1. Lisbon
Why go to Lisbon?
Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city, invites you to wander along patterned sidewalks, explore neighborhoods, and take in views of the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean from Miradouros, elevated viewpoints. It’s a city where you can delight in ornate details and pastel-coloured buildings.
Who it’s best for:
Travellers who enjoy walking cities and don’t mind hills and cobblestone
People who like cafés, viewpoints, and neighbourhood atmosphere more than a checklist
Tours that include Lisbon: Sunny Portugal; Portugal’s Old World Charms; Flavours of Portugal and Spain; Spain’s Classics with Portugal; Azores: Jewels of Portugal.
2. Porto
Why go to Porto?
Porto feels compact and eclectic — in the best way. The city is known for port wine, and travellers can explore the history of wine trading here.
Exploring on foot is part of the charm here, allowing you to experience the architecture, history, and colourful neighbourhoods. Streets rise and fall toward the river, and the historic centre pulls you into a smaller, older version of the city.
Who it’s best for:
Travellers who like dense cities with strong personality
Foodies who want to try out wine
People who don’t mind hills and enjoy discovering a city step by step
Tours that include Porto: Sunny Portugal with Porto; Portugal’s Old World Charms; Flavours of Portugal and Spain.
3. The Algarve
Why go to the Algarve?
The Algarve is Portugal’s southern coastal region. Days here are slower, shaped more by coastline, daylight, and simple pleasures than by a packed schedule. It’s often where travellers notice their shoulders drop, especially after several days of city walking.
Who it’s best for:
Travellers who want downtime
People who enjoy coastal scenery and space to relax
Tours that include the Algarve: Sunny Portugal; Splendid Portugal: From Porto to the Algarve.
4. Alentejo
Why go to Alentejo?
Alentejo is a rural region in Portugal’s interior. Think small towns, open landscapes, and traditions shaped by the land.
One of the most interesting experiences included on Collette’s Portugal tours is visiting a cork factory. Portugal produces more cork than anywhere else in the world. Seeing how cork is harvested and shaped, and how many everyday products come from, it adds a new layer of appreciation for its importance to the region.
Who it’s best for:
Travellers curious about local crafts and everyday industries
People who prefer countryside over cities
Those who enjoy a slower, more grounded pace
Tours that include Alentejo: Sunny Portugal; Portugal’s Old World Charms; Sunny Portugal with Porto.
5. The Azores
Why go to the Azores?
In the Azores, the landscape takes over. Volcanic terrain, crater lakes, and deep green hills shape what you see each day. Standing above two lakes — one blue, one green — is the kind of moment that stays with you long after the trip ends.
Who it’s best for:
Nature lovers who don’t need monuments to feel satisfied
Travellers comfortable with internal flights and flexibility
Tours that include the Azores: The Azores: Jewels of Portugal.
6. Madeira
Why go to Madeira?
A visit to Madeira is restorative. Green hillsides, flowers, and dramatic coastline define the island, whether you’re looking out over volcanic pools along the shore or taking in views from high above the sea.
Who it’s best for:
Travellers drawn to scenery, gardens, and great views
People who want to enjoy an island experience from one home base
Tours that include Madeira: Madeira is included as an optional extension on select tours.
What Smaller Towns Are Worth Adding to a Portugal Trip?
Including smaller towns when planning a trip to Portugal lets you get to know different aspects of the country. These are a few of the best small towns to visit in Portugal.
Óbidos
A compact town with a storybook feel, known for blue‑and‑white details, flowers, and lanes that are easy to explore on foot.
Tours that include Óbidos: Sunny Portugal; Spain’s Classics with Portugal.
Évora
A walled city where the historic centre is best experienced on foot, naturally slowing you down and making the visit feel immersive.
Tours that include Évora: Sunny Portugal.
Fátima
This town is best known for its evening atmosphere and a candlelight procession that many people find quietly moving.
Tours that include Fátima: Sunny Portugal with Porto; Pilgrimage to Fátima and Lourdes; Sunny Portugal (pre‑tour extension).
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Portugal
What is the best tourist destination in Portugal?
There's no "best" destination in Portugal — it's all up to what you're interested in. But, if you ask us, Porto & the Douro Valley are a can't-miss.
Where should you go in Portugal if you want a slower pace?
The Algarve and Alentejo tend to feel more relaxed than major cities.
Are the Azores and Madeira worth visiting?
Yes. Both offer landscape‑driven experiences that feel very different from mainland Portugal.
Is Portugal a good choice if you don’t love a lot of walking?
Many historic areas involve walking because vehicles can’t always access the centre and Lisbon and Porto are both steep and hilly. It helps to choose places and pacing that match your comfort level. Collette includes activity levels on our tour descriptions, so be sure to look for those when making your decision, and check out this post on how to get ready for a walking tour.
Are there small group tours to Portugal?
Yes, we offer several small group tours that include Portugal. Learn more about Collette's small group tours to Portugal.
What’s the Easiest Way to Pick the Best Places for Your Trip to Portugal?
Guided tours are a really good choice if you want to see the best places in Portugal at a travel-tested pace. Many first-time travellers over- or underestimate the time needed to enjoy each place or get tripped up on logistics. Collette’s Tour Designers like Sandra know how to piece together all the great things to do in Portugal with plenty of time for you to relax or explore on your own.
Leave the planning to us and choose a guided tour to Portugal.
