Cities in Portugal: how to choose the right ones for your trip

Planning a trip to Portugal but not sure which cities to visit? Portugal has far more to offer than just Lisbon and Porto. So many cities in Portugal are worth building a trip around, and each one pulls you into something different: history, wine, festivals, or just a slower kind of morning. We've broken down the best cities in Portugal, plus how to link them together into one route.

A quick breakdown before we get into the cities in Portugal:

In Portugal, the cities to visit that suit almost every itinerary are Lisbon, Porto, Braga & Faro

Braga and Guimarães are easy to visit as a day trip from Porto.

Aveiro, Viana do Castelo and Viseu are some of the prettiest cities in Portugal.

Coimbra is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe.

April-June or September-October give you cities without the summer heat or crowds.

Portugal packs an enormous amount of variety into a fairly small country, and that's exactly what makes picking where to go so tricky. Within a couple of hours, you can go from the steep tram tracks of Lisbon to the cobbled streets of Óbidos. So let’s take a look at some of the best cities to go to in Portugal and find out what suits you.

Lisbon or Porto, which one to pick?

Most first trips to Portugal start with one question: Lisbon or Porto? Neither answer is wrong, though they give you a fairly different few days, so it helps to know what you're picking between before you book flights. If you've got at least a week, we'd recommend visiting both. They're well connected by train, and each city offers a completely different experience.

Lisbon, for capital energy

Seven hills make up Lisbon, and its trams, viewpoints and tiled facades mean there's always another climb waiting around the corner. Plan for two to three days to explore neighbourhoods like Alfama and Belém, ride the historic trams and experience Bairro Alto after dark. Between the famous sights, leave some time to wander, because Lisbon is at its best when you stumble across a quiet square or a local bakery. It's also Portugal's biggest international gateway, with plenty of direct flights from around the world.

Day trips you can take from Lisbon:

Óbidos: Fancy a medieval town? Walk the old walls, browse small independent shops and try a glass of ginjinha before heading back to Lisbon.

Sintra: Love palaces and nature? Spend the day exploring colourful castles, forest trails and hidden gardens, all less than an hour from the city.

Évora: Need a break from the coast? Évora is one of the best places to experience the Alentejo, with Roman ruins, the Chapel of Bones and long lunches in lively squares.

Looking for a ready-made city itinerary? Our Lisbon in 3 days guide takes the planning off your hands.

Porto, for a slower riverside stay

If Lisbon feels a little too busy, Porto offers a more relaxed alternative. The Douro River shapes daily life here, with colourful streets, historic wine cellars and nice viewpoints all within easy walking distance. A day or two along the Ribeira waterfront, a stop in a port wine cellar across in Vila Nova de Gaia, and a short trip into the Douro Valley for some proper wine tasting will fill a visit here nicely.

Need some inspiration for a short stay? Our Porto in 3 days itinerary helps you experience the best of the city at a relaxed pace.

Day trips from Porto:

Guimarães: Head here if you enjoy medieval Portuguese towns and castles. The compact centre is easy to explore on foot, with Guimarães Castle, historic squares and plenty of cafés for lunch.

Aveiro: Into canals and coastal towns? Aveiro is known for its colourful boats, Art Nouveau streets and nearby Costa Nova, where you'll find the famous striped beach houses.

Braga: Go to Braga if churches, viewpoints and local culture are more your thing. Don't miss the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary, reached by the world's oldest water-powered funicular.

Viana do Castelo: Looking for somewhere a little quieter? Viana do Castelo combines a walk through the old town with panoramic views from the Santa Luzia Sanctuary.

Coimbra: Breaking up the journey between Lisbon and Porto? Spend a day exploring Portugal's oldest university city, visit the Joanina Library and wander down to the Mondego River.

Want more detail on any of these? Our guide to the best places to visit in Portugal covers Guimarães, Aveiro and Évora, along with nearby villages like Monsaraz, in full.

Braga, one of Portugal's oldest cities

North of Porto, Braga has a completely different atmosphere. Ancient streets, a lively student population and centuries-old traditions like Holy Week give the city a character all of its own. If you'd like to experience a more authentic side of Portugal without the crowds of Lisbon or Porto, Braga is a great place to spend a day or two.

The city's main landmark is Sé de Braga, one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal. Just outside the centre, Bom Jesus do Monte is even more impressive. Climb the famous zigzagging Baroque staircase, or take the historic water-powered funicular to the top, where panoramic views stretch across Braga and the surrounding countryside.

The prettiest towns in Portugal

Looking for somewhere a little quieter? Portugal is full of beautiful towns that offer a completely different experience from Lisbon and Porto. These are two of the best to add to your itinerary if you want to explore Portugal’s towns.

Óbidos, the walled village

If you're looking for a town that feels like stepping back in time, Óbidos is hard to beat. Walk along the medieval walls, walk through cobbled streets lined with white houses and stop for a glass of the local cherry liqueur, ginjinha. While many people visit on a day trip from Lisbon, staying overnight lets you experience Portugal’s village once the crowds have disappeared.

Monsanto, built into the rock

Unlike anywhere else in the country, Monsanto, Portugal's village with granite boulders, is built around and beneath enormous rocks that have shaped daily life for centuries. You can spend a few hours walking its winding streets, discovering houses built beneath massive rocks and hiking up to the castle for panoramic views. The village is about 3.5 hours from Lisbon by car.

Looking for a complete overview before planning your trip? Take a look at our Portugal travel guide, where we cover regions, food, transport and itinerary ideas.

Faro and Tavira, the Algarve's cities and towns

The best Portuguese cities to visit if you want to combine exploring shops and culture with relaxing at the beach are Faro and Tavira. Faro is much more than the Algarve's main airport. Spend an afternoon exploring its walled old town, marina and the beautiful Ria Formosa lagoon before heading to the coast. Looking for somewhere a little quieter? Tavira offers a slower pace, with whitewashed streets, riverside cafés and easy access to some of the Algarve's most beautiful beaches.

Want to know more about Algarve’s beaches? Our guide to the best beaches in Portugal covers the Algarve coast, Comporta and Nazaré in full.

Day trips from the Algarve

Silves: More interested in history? Silves is home to one of Portugal's best-preserved castles, surrounded by narrow streets and local cafés.

Farol Lighthouse: Looking for a different side of the Algarve? Take the ferry from Faro to Ilha do Farol for quiet beaches, seafood restaurants and the iconic lighthouse.

Viana do Castelo and Viseu: the prettiest cities in Portugal

If you're looking for a city in Portugal that feels more local, Viana do Castelo and Viseu are excellent choices. You'll find colourful streets, impressive architecture and a much slower pace than Lisbon or Porto. Both combine history, local culture and beautiful old streets without the busy tourist scene.

Viana do Castelo

Where the River Lima meets the Atlantic, in the far north of the country, you'll find Viana do Castelo. A short funicular ride up to the Santa Luzia Basilica gives you a view over the whole town and river mouth. If you're visiting in August, try to time your trip with the Romaria d'Agonia festival, one of the biggest and most colourful folk celebrations in Portugal.

Not sure if August is the right time for your trip? Take a look at our guide to the best time to visit Portugal, where we compare the weather, crowds and events throughout the year.

Viseu

In central Portugal, you'll find Viseu, which is one of the best cities to visit in Portugal if you enjoy exploring by foot. With a compact historic centre and the Grão Vasco Museum holding a genuinely good collection of Portuguese art.

Elvas, the walled city on the Spanish border

Elvas sits close to the Spanish border, making it an easy stop if you're travelling between Portugal and Spain or exploring the Alentejo region. Walk through the old town, follow the city walls for views across the countryside and visit the Amoreira Aqueduct before heading to the hilltop Forte da Graça. If you have more time, Forte de Santa Luzia is also worth adding to your route.

Best time to visit cities in Portugal

Portugal's cities are great to visit throughout the year, but each season offers a different experience.

April to June: Warm temperatures, colourful streets and fewer crowds make this one of the best times for sightseeing.

July and August: Expect lively festivals, long evenings and busy city centres. Book accommodation well in advance, especially in Lisbon and Porto.

September and October: Pleasant weather, quieter attractions and outdoor dining without the peak summer crowds.

Not sure which month suits your trip? Our guide to the best time to visit Portugal breaks down what to expect season by season.

How to travel between Portugal’s cities?

Getting between Portugal's major cities is surprisingly easy, and you won't need a car for much of your trip.

Travelling by train through Portugal is easy

Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga and Aveiro are all connected by frequent trains, making them ideal if you're planning a city-hopping itinerary. The fast Alfa Pendular train gets you from Lisbon to Porto in around 2 hours 50 minutes, while Porto to Braga takes less than an hour.

Looking for one of Portugal's most scenic journeys? Hop on the Douro Line from Porto, where the railway follows the Douro River past vineyards and small villages all the way to Pocinho. Even if you don't plan to continue further, it's a great day trip on its own.

Do you need a car to visit the cities of Portugal?

A rental car becomes much more useful once you leave the main railway line. It's the easiest way to explore the Alentejo, visit places like Elvas or Monsaraz, or discover smaller towns throughout the Algarve. If your trip mainly focuses on Lisbon, Porto and a few nearby day trips, you can comfortably rely on trains and public transport.

Wondering how safe Portugal is for solo travellers, driving or exploring cities at night? Read our Portugal safety guide before you go.

City combinations that work really well together

Not sure which cities to combine? Luckily, Portugal's compact size and excellent train network make it easy to visit several cities in one trip. Here are a few combinations that work particularly well:

First trip, short on time: Lisbon and Porto only, linked by train, gives you two completely different sides of the country.

North loop: Porto, Braga and Guimarães connect easily by train and make a good three to four day loop.

Central route: Coimbra, Aveiro and Viseu sit close enough together for a slower few days between the north and south.

Off the common route: pair Elvas with Évora, or Viana do Castelo with a couple of nights in Porto, for a trip that looks less like everyone else's.

Planning a longer route? Our 1 week in Portugal itinerary maps out a full Lisbon to Algarve trip, stop by stop.

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