Cool and unusual places to visit in Portugal

If you are an adventurous and travel loving person, you would love to visit Europe. Because there are so many beautiful places in Europe. If you aren’t sure which country you should choose to go to, then the answer is Portugal. The reason behind choosing Portugal is there are many cool and unusual places to visit in Portugal. You would love them and you would be so happy to explore this kind of adventurous and unique places in Portugal.

Portugal is one of the most visited countries in Europe located on the western coast of Iberian peninsula. People visit Portugal due to its idyllic climate, affordable travel costs and exceptional attractions.

Portugal’s varied geography ranges from the verdant mountains and vineyards of the north to the glamorous beaches of the Algarve along the southern coastline. Also belonging to Portugal but lying in the Atlantic ocean are the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira known for their lush landscapes and flower gardens.

The southern part of the country is still a popular vacation spot, thanks to its pristine beaches and world-class golf courses. When it comes to the country’s interior, you’ll find a wide variety of landscapes, including rolling plains, wide rivers, lush valleys, and far-off mountain peaks.

In this article you will know about some of the most adventurous and unique places to visit in Portugal.

Discover Lisbon:

About 15 million people from around the world visit Portugal every year. The capital city of Lisbon is one of the major tourist attractions in Portugal. It is a picturesque town on the banks of the river Tagus, consisting of seven large hills. It’s an architecture buff’s paradise, with buildings dating all the way back to the Moorish invasion in 711. A town both vibrant and traditional, you’ll find art, music, and plenty of opportunities to drink cocktails and eat delicious food.

The sea, the mountains, the riverine natural environment, along with many world heritage and cultural sites. The city of Lisbon is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is Jeronimos Mongstery in Lisbon. Originally it was the tomb of the discoverer Vasco da Gama. It is a large church or monastery and is considered to be one of the most handsome monasteries in the world. Built in the 16th century, the cemetery or church is recognized as a World Heritage Site. Castelo de são Jorge is situated in the heart of Lisbon, at the foot of the hill next to Alpha.

This palace is one of the tourist attractions. It offers a 360 degree view of Lisbon up close. There is also Belem Tower which is also historical. Oceanario de Lisboa-A Modern Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It is an aquarium rich in biodiversity in marine wildlife sanctuaries, especially in the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. There are also Vasco the Gama bridge and Elevador de Santa Justa.

Discover Sintra:

Get ready for an adventure in Portugal’s Sintra! The town is known as the oldest palace, and it houses some amazing architecture. It’s a municipality of Lisbon. So many people visit here every year. In 2019, 19.8 million people visit Sintra. Park and National Palace of Pena is a must go landmark for the tourists. This is the oldest palace in Portugal. It’s a romanticist castle. Castelo Dos Mouros is a hilltop mediaeval castle in Sintra.

It was built by the moors. There is Sintra National Palace an important landmark for the visitors. It’s also known as Town Palace. The Portuguese Air Museum is also situated at Sintra. It is a collection of vintage aircrafts. It pays tribute to the achievement of Portugal in aviation.

There are also many other beautiful landmarks in Sintra like Pelourinho de Sintra, St. Martin Church, Fonte dos Pisoes, Villa Sassetti etc.

Discover Porto:

Porto is also an attractive city. Especially for those who enjoy that seemingly nostalgic and tasteful old town. There are some cool  landmarks in this small city. Porto’s Cathedral is the most important religious landmark of porto.

The other landmark of Porto is The Lello Bookstore. This bookstore has become a must for those who visit Porto, and it is really valuable, because it is the most beautiful bookstore of Europe. Sao bento Railway Station, is an excellent example of the Beaux-Art architectural style. It’s so beautiful to watch. There are also many other landmarks in Porto such as Port wine, Douro River, Luis I bridge, Bolsa palace and so on.

Discover Évora:

Evora is a great destination to visit. It’s a historic city of Portugal. The town has a nice and pleasant pace of live. It also has many beautiful landmarks which attract the tourists. Evora was a town where romans trade back then. So there is a landmark named Roman Temple of Evora. Évora is a historic temple. Praca do Giraldo is the heart of Evora. It is the central plaza of the city. People comes here to relax them. The Bonu Chapel is one of the most memorable monument of Evora. The walls of the chapel are line with bones.

Discover Óbidos:

Obidos is in central Portugal. The city is well worth a visit. It’s an hour’s drive from Lisbon. Obidos has so many attractions, features and distinctions which makes a place cool and unusual to the visitors. The main gateway into obidos is the Porta da Vila. The designs of Porta da Vila are amazing to see. The town wall of Abidos is also beautiful. The height of the wall is 13 meter. It originated from the moors era and was strengthened by Portuguese rulers. Castelo de Obidos is an amazing mediaeval castle. The castle was built with solid stone walls. There is also Santa Maria Church.

Discover Tavira:

The city is on the southern coast of Portugal. The city has an amazing collection of  grand old architecture.  The charming Gilao River flows straight into the nearby ocean through the center of the city. If you are planning to visit just one place,  Tavira is it.

Tavira is a kind of traditional city full of white walls and red terracotta roofs, cobblestones small fishing boats on the river. Castelo de Tavira is one of oldest buildings of the city. The castle is on the highest point of the region. You can enjoy a 360° view of Tavira here. There are also other places like Palácio Galeria,  Igreja da Misericórdia,  Núcleo Museológico Islâmico,  Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo etc.

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa:

Ria formosa is located at Algarve in Southern Portugal. This city truly a special place with its crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, deserted island and many other cool things. It’s a heaven for the beach lovers. Praia da Ilha da Farol,Praia de Faro,Praia da Fuseta,Praia da Cacela Velha are some of beaches of Ria Formosa. This is also a good place to visit for the nature lovers. Some of the parks are Parque Natural da Ria Formosa Visitor Centre, Ludo Trail, Ilha da Culatra.

You can enjoy boat trips here. You can also do some amazing adventurous things like Surfing, Cycling, Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking. 

Discover Coimbra:

Coimbra is famous for its artistic treasures and cultural traditions. This city is one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. You can spend one night in Coimbra on your way to Lisbon or Porto. There are amazing sights to explore. Velha universidade de Coimbra is one of the oldest universities of Europe. Capela de São Miguel is another eye catching sight. Igreja de Santa Cruz is a beautiful place. The inside of the church is so beautiful with its wall designs. Se Velha is the old cathedral of Coimbra. It’s a solid building with all crenellated walls and narrow windows. There are some other beautiful sights like Sé Nova, Mondego River Cruise, Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, Museu Nacional Machado de Castro. 

Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela:

This park is situated the largest mountain range in Portugal, the serra de strella. And this one is the largest conservation area of Portugal. The are of this place is 888 square km. This park will offer you hiking and skiing. You can enjoy the view from the top of the mountains. You can hike up the Torre Mountain. The cheese museum in peraboa is an attractive sight too. You can visiting Piodao if you go to this park. Some more top attractions are Vale Glaciar do Zêzere, Covão Dos Conchos, Covão D’Ametade. This place is perfect for the peoples who love Adventure.

Discover Elvas:

This fortified and historical city is a hidden gem of Portugal. It is situated by the border of Spain. If you look from above This fortified and historical city is a hidden gem of Portugal. Elvas is situated by the border of Spain. If you look from above you will see an unique and beautiful star shape of houses. Santa Luzia fort is a beautiful place of Elvas. There are stunning views and concealed passages inside the fort. Amoreira Aqueduct is also magnificent sight to watch. Praca da Republica is the heart of Elvas. It’s an ancient place. The rugged landscapes make Elvas more beautiful. The yellow city walls of Elvas are amazing. The inside of castelo de Elvas is attractive. This city is amazing for the visitors. So this is worth it to visit Elvas.

Discover Guimarães:

Every corner of Guimares is full of fun and attractions. There plenty of things to explore. If you love cycling, hiking,  Guimares is a good place for you. There are also beautiful landmarks too. Bom Jesus do Monte is a beautiful and famous church. The floor designs are eye catching. There is a small church just outside the castle. It is Igreja de S. Miguel.Palace of dukes is a historical place. It’s beside The Castle of  Guimaraes. Both are worth a trip.

There so mane beautiful places like Estátua do Papa Pio IX, Stairway to Heaven, Largo da Oliveira, Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

Discover Braga:

The religious capital of Portugal is Braga. This is one of the oldest city of Portugal. This city has some beautiful, well designed old 18th century mansions. The cathedral is so beautiful to see. Museu de Arte Sacra is a beautiful Museum. It has some rich religious artwork.

Antigo Paço Episcopal is a beautiful landmark building of Braga. There are beautiful flowers outsid of this. The most impressive religious sanctuary is also in this city. It’s Bom Jesus do Monte. There are some rich museums such as Museu Pio XII, Museu de Arqueologia Dom Diogo de Sousa,  Museu dos Biscainhos.

There is a beautiful fountain also. It’s Fonte do Ídolo.

Discover Faro:

Faro is the gateway to the southern Portugal. It’s the largest city in Algarve. Faro is full of rich cultural wealth and stunning natural beauties. Ciadade Velha is a old town of Faro. This town is so beautiful. Faro cathedral is also nice to visit. Museu Municipal contains outstanding and award winning show pieces. There is a beautiful way to discover Faro. It’s The Comboio Turística, the land train. Faro’s recreational park Parque Ribeirino de Faro provides the visitors and citizens peace from the busy life of town. There are so many attractions like Faro Jewish Heritage Centre, Centro Ciência Viva do Algarve, Milreu and Estoi, Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

If you are looking for a cool and unusual destination to visit, here is Portugal for you. Every corner of this country is beautiful. There are everything a visitor likes. Ocean, Beaches, Fountains, Hills, Museum, Colourful houses, Parks everything. Just go and explore this beautiful Cities of Portugal.