Portugal: Cities and Regions

Lisbon Hip and cheap, Portugal’s easy-going capital offers hilltop vistas of the Tagus River that vie for attention with fantastic food and the aging, melancholic beauty of its buildings. See our Lisbon Travel Guide

Porto It may have taken 3,000 years, but the capital of Portugal’s north has finally caught up to Lisbon. Go for the port wine – stay for the art, architecture, and Old-World ambiance. See our Porto Travel Guide

Coimbra The ex-capital of Portugal is now the country’s third largest city, with one of Europe’s oldest universities, established in 1290, plenty of historical sights, and a vivacious student vibe.

The Algarve Beach worshippers flock to this sun-kissed province at the southwestern tip of Europe, which is graced with gorgeous sand strips, rocky coves, limestone grottos, orange groves, seaside resorts, and quaint fishing villages.

Alentejo Endless wheat fields, cork and olive tree forests, whitewashed villages, and windswept Atlantic beaches adorn this unsullied province, which is known as Portugal’s breadbasket.

Douro River Valley The pretty hillside villages, sloping wine terraces, and port wine lodges that dot the river banks of this scenic valley are best explored by river cruise or car.

Óbidos With its twisting streets, whitewashed houses, and cobbled streets, “The Wedding City” (the city itself has traditionally been the symbolic bridal gift of Portuguese kings to their queens) is the most picture perfect of Portugal’s medieval walled towns.

Madeira The famed sweet Madeira wine, a profusion of flowers, and a lovely subtropical climate, make this autonomous Portuguese island chain near the coast of Africa a coveted, year-round destination.

Azores This Atlantic archipelago of nine volcanic islands 800 miles from Lisbon is a treasure trove of lush flora, rugged coastlines, azure-blue lagoons, sandy beaches, banana groves, and sleepy villages.