Portugal’s Top 10 Attractions
From the gorgeous beaches and balmy waters of the Algarve to the intellectual buzz of medieval Coimbra, the pleasures of the Alentejo Wine Route, and Lisbon’s sights, tastes and sounds.
Top Attraction 1
Algarve. The region has the greatest choice of beaches and warmest waters, from the semi-wild beaches on the windy west coast, like Monte Clerigo, to the more sheltered stretches around Lagos with gorgeous rock-framed sandy coves nearby. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 2
Sintra. Once a cool summer residence for kings, Sintra is a magical place that has kept the character that was a lure for poets and rich foreigners alike. Its beautiful royal palace, splendid quintas (estates), the extraordinary Pena palace, and some good museums all add lustre. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 3
Évora. Gleaming above the Alentejo plains, Évora traverses the ages with amazing megaliths nearby, a glorious Roman temple, spectacular churches, shops under ancient arcades, and great food and lodgings. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 4
Reserva Natural das Berlenga. This protected archipelago 10km (6 miles) offshore from Peniche on the west coast is characterised by a dramatic rocky terrain home to thousands of nesting sea birds, especially guillemots. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 5
Vila Nova de Milfontes. The most charming of the Alentejo seaside resorts, Vila Nova de Milfontes is a white-washed, laid-back town close to some lovely golden-sand beaches. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 6
The Convento do Cristo, Tomar. This Unesco World Heritage Site is a dazzling Manueline maze of winding passageways, irregular cloisters and extraordinary carving, centred around the mystical octagonal Templar church. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 7
University town Coimbra. Once Portugal’s medieval capital, Coimbra combines beautiful ancient buildings and a sense of tradition with the buzz from the population of present-day students, dressed in their traditional black capes. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 8
Lisbon. The Portuguese capital is stunningly rich in historic sights, led by the great Jerónimos monastery at Belém. Picturesque neighbourhoods, like Moorish Alfama or the Beira Alta, are architecturally pleasing and full of colour, music and good places to eat. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 9
The Alentejo Wine Route. This route offers a chance to explore the ancient bleached landscape of the Alentejo. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 10
Porto. This glorious city has a beguilingly pretty river front, wonderful azulejos, a cutting-edge Casa da Musica and lots of lively places to eat, drink and sip port. For more information, click here.
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