Portugal unusual places to visit

If it feels as though there are no almost-deserted beaches left in Portugal, but one beach proves otherwise. Just a few minutes’ drive from Cabo da Roca, in the municipality of Sintra, this stretch of sand remains one of the great secrets of the Portuguese coast.

For many people, July is the “official” month for summer holidays. Schools are closed, the days are long, the sea is warmer, and the calendar fills up with festivals.

Portugal is much more than popular beaches and historic cities.

There’s a village in Serra da Estrela with more than a dozen natural swimming pools linked by hiking trails. Clean, icy water tumbles down the hillside, filling rock pools that look almost hand-carved.There’s no airport, no five-star hotels, and no queues outside museums.

Out in the mid-Atlantic, there’s a wild Portuguese island where a single volcanic cone dominates the skyline.

If someone tells you that you can experience a tropical setting without leaving Europe, they’re not exaggerating.

When you first see the photos, it is easy to swear you are looking at some cove in Croatia: turquoise water, rocks and greenery in contrast.

As June rolls in, Porto slips into full festive mode for Festa de São João, the city’s much-loved St John Festival and the highlight of the Santos Populares celebrations in Portugal.

The Serra da Estrela mountain range is the highest point in mainland Portugal and one of the country's most sought-after natural destinations. Every year, thousands of people visit to explore trails and search for snow in winter.But why is it called Serra da Estrela?

Completely empty beaches are rare these days, especially in summer.

Portugal has become one of the strongest options in Europe for a lads holiday.

Portugal doesn’t do national parks in the same way as Spain or Italy. Instead, most protected areas fall under the natural park label.

The Azores are one of those places that still feel like a bit of a secret in the middle of the Atlantic.

A solar eclipse is one of those rare sky shows Europe actually gets to enjoy properly this year. 2026 is extra special because a total solar eclipse in Portugal has not been visible since 1912.

UNESCO cities in Portugal may be few – there are five in total across the mainland and islands – but they tell a disproportionate amount of the country’s story. Each one has a historic centre recognised by UNESCO for its “outstanding universal value”.

A small northern Portuguese town has been picked as one of the world's best travel destinations for 2026.

A street in Porto has just been named the 3rd coolest street in the world for 2025 by Time Out.

When crowds head for Madeira and São Miguel, Portugal's lesser-known islands keep their easy rhythm.

Skyscanner’s fare trends put Madeira in Portugal firmly in the frame as one of the best-value destinations for 2026.

A quieter season suits Portugal’s smaller places: medieval walls without tour groups, fog lifting over terraced vineyards, and cosy taverns serving bowls of caldo verde.

Lisbon’s magic hides in its bairros; for secret places in Lisbon, it’s the backstreets and hilltops where everyday life hums. Stumble across pocket miradouros, shrine‑tucked alleys and family‑run tascas. The focus here is on non-touristy things to do in Lisbon.

Lisbon hides many of its loveliest corners in plain sight. The magic turns up in everyday rhythms: a counter-side coffee in a family-run tasca, a pocket-sized miradouro with seagulls over the River Tejo, a quick ginjinha on streets paved in black and white mosaics.

Lisbon’s iconic Glória Funicular, a historic transport link between Restauradores Square and Bairro Alto, is set to undergo a major safety redesign following a tragic accident that left 16 people dead and 22 injured on 3rd September 2025.

Floating in the Atlantic Ocean, closer to Africa than to mainland Portugal, Madeira is an island with a character all its own. It's often called the 'island of eternal spring', and for good reason, as the weather stays mild throughout the year.

Set along the Atlantic coast in the municipality of Sintra, the name Azenhas do Mar originates from old watermills that once harnessed the flow of a local stream to grind grain before it reached the ocean.