In northern Portugal, Vila Real is a town in a hilly landscape, clinging to a headland far above the Corgo River. The Corgo is a tributary of the Douro and meanders down to the main stream through an epic landscape of terraced vineyards. Around the town you can visit a noble family’s palace, which was …
Defending a plateau on the right bank of the Tagus River, the city of Santarém was the home of Portugal’s kings throughout the middle ages. It was also where the Cortes, the country’s earliest parliament would sit. This has left the city with Portugal’s finest ensemble of Gothic architecture, in its walls, churches, convents and …
On the left bank of the Tagus, the town of Montijo is minutes from Lisbon, but with a character that will make the capital feel a lifetime away. Few tourists make it to Montijo; it’s just a placid, village-like community with bars where you can get a bico for 50 cents. There’s a charming old …
The city of Tomar was founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th century on land granted by Portugal’s first king. The order set up a convent on a hill and by the riverside plotted what would be the last Templar town in the world. The Convent of Christ is a World Heritage Site, with …
Gondomar is a municipality just east of Porto. It’s a sizeable chunk of land, pushing from the eastern quarters of the city out into the countryside, and running along the right bank of the Douro for several kilometres. The area has opulent Baroque churches to poke around in, and a gorgeous 18th-century riverside estate with …
In the Braga District, Vila Nova de Famalicão is an unpretentious working town. There may not be many show-stopping sights, but the town makes up for this with enigmatic medieval churches, the homes of famous historical figures and also museums that shed light on the town’s industrial past. And for day trips, it couldn’t be …
Opposite Porto on the River Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia is a city that occupies the south bank and also continues down the coast. For a lot of its lifetime, Vila Nova de Gaia has been renowned for its port cellars. The fortified wine would arrive here by water from the east and would be …
In the Eastern Algarve, Olhão da Restauração is a coastal town on the Ria Formasa lagoon. Despite its phenomenal setting Olhão has only recently begun to attract tourists. The ocean and shellfish beds in the lagoon have always been the main source of income, and the fish market in the town is a sight for …
This town in the east of the Alentejo was the first line of defence between two warring nations, and it certainly shows. Evora has the largest set of bulwarked fortifications in the world. These are so large and have so many layers of history that you’ll need a guide just to make sense of all …
The town of Valongo is in the hills 10 kilometres from the centre of Porto. You can take in every inch of Norte’s capital and then return to a quiet residential community, near forested mountains and vineyards, and with a handful of its own attractions to keep you diverted. In June one of Portugal’s most …