Set your sail and off you go to the country of Fedinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama, where the patchwork of color is as dazzling and surreal as Mário Cesariny's palette. The emerald waters of Algarve, the red-tiled roofs of Madeira, the soothing whiteness of Belem and the luscious greenness of the Azores are all for the taking. And so is the tranquility Alentejo's sleepy fishing villages, the rambling of trams in the narrow, ascending streets of Lisbon, the nostalgic tunes of fado, and the blissful intoxication with Vinho do Porto. Portugal has everything you need plus a bunch of things to surprise you.
Following some research into the preferences and opinions posted by users of various social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as own resources and reviews by the most popular travel sites, Open Travel has compiled a list of top 25 things to see or do on your Portugal Vacations. Zoom between the country's cosmopolitan and provincial quarters to find out what it means to be living in a place where modernity thrives without encroaching a single step on the ever vital past, and even if it does at times, they coexist in harmony unparalleled anywhere else in Europe. Just hit the Bairro Alto after dark and see for yourself.
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1
Belem
Photo by dynamosquito
If it's the Age of Discovery that has always spurred your imagination, drop the anchor at Belem, where Magellan and da Gama once prepared for their New World voyages. With a stunning selection of cultural venues, some of Lisbon's most striking historic monuments, and a palette of heart-melting wa...
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Photo by Tiago Rïbeiro
"I must just observe that the village of Cintra in Estremadura is the most beautiful in the world." So wrote Lord Byron to his friend Francis Hodgson 1809, and if we assume that good things are getting better and better with age, no wonder UNESCO took this tiny gem under its auspices. Don't be mi...
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Location: Portugal
Photo by tuergeist
Craving for a romantic evening? Just get into your car and make for the Cape St.Vincent to witness some of the most spectacular sunsets ever. Honestly, the cape is a sight to behold at any time of day. The rocky windswept headland rising 60m above the sea really gives you the feeling of being at...
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Photo by Allie_Caulfield
There is probably no better suited place to experience the nostalgia of fado than Alfama, the oldest district of Lisbon spreading down the slope between the Castle of Lisbon and the Tejo river, one that withstood the earthquake of 1775. Switch your inner compass on because you are bound to get lo...
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5
Azores
Location: Portugal
Photo by Luissilveira
Like nine precious gems scattered on the azure sheet of velvet, the paradisaical Azores adorn the Atlantic 930 miles from Lisbon. A two-hour flight takes you to the realm of flower-clad fields, verdant valleys, sleepy villages, dreamy lagoons and inspired folklore that never fails to grab the hea...
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Photo by Josep Renalias
As a Portuguese saying goes: "Lisbon shows off, Braga prays, Coimbra studies and Porto works". And indeed, this commercial hub at the delta of the Douro River is a grittier, more down-to-earth, and unashamedly industrious element of the "big four", with the thriving center of the Port wine indust...
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Photo by romainmo
A common stopover on Algarve tour, Lagos itself is an attractive town with 8th century fortifications, bustling nightlife and a new marina area. Yet nothing about the city really foreshadows the aesthetic blow you are dealt when you head further south. Not only is the headland of Ponta da Piedad...
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Photo by Mozo Man
The list of Portugal attractions is definietly topped with Evora. Seducing with whitewashed houses decorated with colorful azulejos and romantic wrought-iron balconies, the place is a real treat to any beauty lover. The Roman Evora is not only an intriguing alloy of Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque, R...
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Photo by [charlie cravero]
Lisbon's cultural and bohemian heart, the nightlife and shopping mecca are probably THE words to introduce Bairro Alto in a nutshell. The quarter has a streak of Jekyll-and-Hyde to it, for with its calm and relatively quiet streets at daytime, it does not resemble the vibrant and jostling party-l...
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Monsaraz
Photo by Fr Antunes
Monsaraz is surely the place to let you breathe in the truly medieval Portugal. Sitting above the River Guardiana on the frontier with Spain, the tiny Middle Age walled town is one of the most atmospheric places in the region of Alentejo. The massive castle keeps a wary eye on the Spaniards in th...
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Photo by ptL2007
Clinging to the northern border of Spain, the park, known simply as Gerês, is a sight not to be missed. Created in 1971, the area is the only natural reserve of this kind in Portugal. Just put on a pair of comfy hiking boots and let yourself be delighted in its turquoise waters, oak-clothed mou...
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Photo by Flávio de Souza
Facing the Moors at Santarém, Afonso Henríques invoked God's blessing and vowed he would erect an impressive monastery if God granted him victory. God yielded to his prayers and Alfonso kept his promise. Today the fascinating UNESCO-protected complex is one of the most important national legaci...
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13
Madeira
Location: Portugal
Photo by Ville Koistinen
You definitely are in a hot spot here for not only is Madeira sitting atop a submarine volcano but also because of its all-year-round popularity among holidaymakers and travelers. The archipelago equals untouched nature, tranquility, breathtaking mountain views and a wrap of abundant greenery tha...
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Photo by Paulo Juntas
It is not hard to explain the hordes of day-trippers swarming the walled interior of Obidos. Just imagine a town of dreamy whitewashed houses with a zesty splash of blue and yellow on the walls, winding stone-paved streets draped with blossom and ...aha! there YOU go, trying to find your own cozy...
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Ria Formosa
Location: Portugal
Photo by fotografar
As far as the eye can see, the Ria Farmosa will bewilder you with golden dunes, sand banks, canals and marshes running along the distant line of the horizon. The extensive lagoon area that covers 60km of coastline between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo delights with shimmering freshwater lakes and a...
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Photo by Alvesgaspar
The Holy Grail, the Knights of Templar, power and mystery? If you are into all of these, explore the Covent of the Order of Christ in Tomar. Originally a Templar stronghold erected in the 12th century, Tomar is one of Portugal's most valued historical and artistic monuments on the World Heritage...
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Photo by Leandro's World Tour
Inaugurated in 1998 as one of the attractions of the World Exhibition of Lisbon (EXPO'98), the Oceanário de Lisboa is the second-biggest aquarium in the world. The impressive stone-and-glass structure features four aquariums replicating the abundant ecosystems of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, a...
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Photo by Jsome1
If tourist brochures can be believed, Braga is a Portuguese equivalent of Rome, and far-fetched as this may be, the fact remains that the city was a thriving Roman settlement from 20 BC onwards and is today a pounding heart of the country's ecclesiastical body, with stunning Bom Jesus do Monte, t...
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Photo by JoJan
Among the natural wonders, the Boca do Inferno or ‘The Mouth of Hell', proudly tops the list of attractions. This breathtaking chasm located on a cliffy seashore close to the Portuguese city of Cascais will attract you with roaring waves crashing vigorously against the rocks. Leisurely strolls...
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20
Conimbriga
Photo by Andreas Trepte
Situated about ten miles (16 km) from Coimbra, the ruined Roman town of Conímbriga is one of Portugal's largest and best preserved Roman sites. The complex is vast and quite impressive. What you can explore on the premises are some worship sites, a forum and a theater as well as a ruined noblema...
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Location: Porto Moniz, Portugal
Photo by brx75x
If you have ever savored port wine, you already have the taste of the Douro Valley inside you. Caressed with sun, blue skies and clear waters, the valley thrives bearing luscious grapes and cherries. The 560-mile Rio Douro (River of Gold) winds past spectacular quintas (vineyards), olive groves a...
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Photo by Andreas Trepte
Boy, you feel like coming back to school on seeing this! With foundations back in the 13th century, the spirit of Enlightenment echoing in its old walls, a magnificent library with resources ranging almost every possible field of study, and several species of birds sheltered in its sprawling bota...
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Location: Portugal
Photo by michael clarke stuff
The park has drawn hordes of visitors since its establishment in 1976. Filled with rocky, barren mountains and emerald green rivers cutting the glacial valleys, the region attracts with perfect hiking trails that shall take you from peaceful plateaus and green pastures to craggy, rugged mountain...
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Photo by Jsome1
The historical Portuguese capital, Guimaraes or the 'Cradle City', is a small town in the north-western region of the country. It prides itself on its glorious past, which is reflected in the town's impressive architecture including a 10th century castle and many traditional buildings from the 15...
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Photo by Henrique Matos
This magnificent pre-historic complex of Paleolithic engravings was discovered in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in north eastern Portugal. Dating from 22,000 to 10,000 BC the rock-sites of Penascosa, Ribeira de Piscos and Canada do Inferno constitute an amazing source of information about the early sta...
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Stumble
hello! I was stumbling when I found this and I was thrilled to see these beautifull places! I am portuguese and I have been in most of those absolutely stunning sites. I do sugest you adding also the Convento de Mafra, the Mosteiro da Batalha, and the horse footprint in the cliff in Nazaré - it is told that the horse and his knight were chasing a deer that was in fact the Devil and when it jumped off, expecting to take the knight down with him, the Virgin Mary saved him by holding back the horse, hence the print on the tip of the cliff
Thanks for sharing, rute
Wow what scenery. We had an exchange student from Portugal and want to visit some day.
And while you're at it, don't fail to go and visit the castle complex in Lisbon - but make sure to not fall into the same trap that a fellow traveller did: http://wp.me/ppqxP-52
To find out more about Azores islands, please follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Praia-da-Vitoria-Portugal/Teles-Travel-Azores/1090...