Barcelos has a rich medieval history, once serving as an important seat of power for the Dukes of Braganza. The town’s architecture reflects its past, with Gothic ruins, Romanesque churches, and a beautifully preserved medieval bridge over the Cávado River.
The Barcelos fortifications refer mainly to the ruins of the Paço dos Condes de Barcelos, a 15th-century fortified palace overlooking the Cávado River. Today, its surviving tower walls, arches, and scenic riverside setting form one of Barcelos’ most picturesque historic landmarks.
The Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary in Braga is a stunning pilgrimage site known for its grand baroque stairway that winds dramatically up the hillside. At the top, visitors are rewarded with a beautiful church, serene gardens, and sweeping views over the city below.
Bragança, in Portugal’s far northeast, is a historic city known for its beautifully preserved medieval citadel and stone walls,
The Citadel of Bragança is a prominent landmark, perched on a hill overlooking the city, with well-preserved Gothic walls, watchtowers, and a keep.
The Igreja Matriz de Caminha is a beautiful Gothic church located in the heart of Caminha. Built in the 15th century, it features impressive stonework, intricate portals, and stunning stained-glass windows that reflect the town’s rich maritime and religious history.
São João da Pesqueira is nestled in the heart of the Douro Valley wine region. It’s known for its terraced vineyards, traditional architecture, and stunning views over the Douro River.
The lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente was built in 1846 on the site of a former Franciscan monastery to guide ships along the treacherous Algarve coast. Today, it’s one of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe, its beam visible for many miles out to sea.
Guimarães, often called the “birthplace of Portugal,” where the nation’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born.
Guimarães Castle is one of Portugal’s most iconic medieval fortresses and a powerful symbol of Portuguese identity. Often called the “Cradle of Portugal,” it is strongly associated with the early formation of the Portuguese nation.
Montesinho Natural Park is a vast, unspoiled wilderness of mountains, oak forests, and remote stone villages. It’s known for its rich biodiversity— including Iberian wolves, deer, and rare birds.
The Castle of Penedono is a small but striking medieval fortress sitting on a granite hill overlooking the village of Penedono. Built mainly in the 14th–15th centuries, its compact, hexagonal layout and tall battlemented towers give it a fairy-tale appearance.
Ponte de Lima, one of Portugal’s oldest towns, sits gracefully along the Lima River with its iconic medieval bridge and charming historic center. Nearby river beaches offer calm, scenic spots for swimming and relaxing, blending the town’s heritage with peaceful natural landscapes.
The Main Church of Ponte de Lima was built by King João I in 1425 and has had several interventions over the years preserving its Romanesque, Gothic and Neoclassical style.
Ponte de Lima’s civic square, Largo de Camões, is the lively heart of the town, opening onto the Lima River with views of the medieval bridge. Lined with historic buildings, outdoor cafés, and a central fountain, it’s a vibrant gathering place that blends heritage, scenery, and relaxed Portuguese charm.
The Ponte da Arrábida bridge at sunset. When it opened in 1963 it had the longest arch of any concrete bridge in the world at 885 feet (270 meters). A road bridge with six lanes, it is the nearest bridge to the mouth of the River Douro and the Atlantic Ocean.
In Porto, river cruises on the Douro River are one of the city’s signature experiences, offering beautiful views of the historic Ribeira district, the port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, and the iconic bridges.
Boats that carried port wine in Porto are called Rabelo boats. They are traditional Portuguese vessels used historically to transport barrels of port wine down the Douro River from the vineyards to the aging cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Porto is the Clérigos Tower, a stunning 18th century Baroque tower that dominates the city skyline. Known as the Torre dos Clérigos in Portuguese, this is a monument that has stood the test of time, surviving wars, earthquakes, and fires.
Porto’s coastline features several long, open Atlantic beaches, especially as you move north and south from the city center.
Beach leisure activities include sunbathing, volleyball, swimming and beach walks. Many also have seaside cafés, cycle paths and long promenades perfect for biking, skating, or watching the sunset over the ocean.
Fort São João Baptista da Foz is a 16th-century coastal fortress located at the mouth of the Douro River in Porto, built to defend the city against maritime attacks. Its star-shaped layout, thick granite walls, and commanding ocean views make it one of Porto’s most distinctive historic strongholds.
Póvoa de Varzim is a lively coastal city in northern Portugal known for its long sandy beaches, fishing traditions, and vibrant seaside atmosphere. It combines a historic old town, a bustling marina, and a promenade lined with cafés, making it a popular destination for beachgoers, surfers, and summer festivals.
The Aqueduct of Póvoa de Varzim is a historic 18th-century stone aqueduct built to supply water to the town’s monastery. Although only sections remain today—mainly tall granite arches stretching across open fields—it’s still an impressive landmark and one of the area’s most recognizable historic structures.
Soajo is a traditional mountain village in northern Portugal, famous for its cluster of communal stone granaries. Surrounded by the Peneda-Gerês National Park, it offers a rustic atmosphere of stone houses, narrow lanes, and stunning natural scenery.
The communal stone granaries of Soajo (espigueiros) are a remarkable group of granite structures built on a rocky platform above the village to store and dry corn safely. Dating mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries, they stand on stone legs topped with flat slabs to keep out rodents.
The Santa Luzia Cathedral (Basilica of Santa Luzia) in Viana do Castelo is a striking hilltop church known for its grand rose windows and neo-Byzantine style. Perched high above the city, it offers one of Portugal’s most breathtaking panoramic views over the Lima River, the coastline, and the surrounding hills.