12 Beautiful Villages in Portugal That’ll Have You Dreaming of Your Next Getaway

Portugal is a beautiful country with stunning scenery, plenty of culture and history, delicious food, and a mild climate that makes it ideal for visiting year-round. There are exciting festivals, amazing architecture, and plenty of outdoor activities.

If you haven’t traveled to Portugal before, it should definitely be on your list of destinations to visit. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and it is an affordable place to visit. Here are 12 of the most beautiful villages in Portugal that you should see.

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Monsanto, Portugal

12 Fairytale Villages in Portugal You Have To See To Believe Monsanto — © Analisisgadgets / Adobe Stock

Monsanto is known for being the “most Portuguese village in Portugal,” and people have lived here since the 12th century. This small medieval village is built between and around the boulders of the mountains.

Follow the winding, narrow cobblestone path up to the top of the mountain to the castle, which House of the Dragon fans may recognize as Dragonstone. You won’t find any dragons, though! The quiet village is the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying a meal and exploring the homes and shops tucked in among the rocks.

Estremoz, Portugal

The historic village of Estremoz, known as the “white city” can be seen from afar thanks to the bright white marble buildings located inside of it. Estremoz has been famous for its marble quarries for centuries.

This area of Portugal is very agricultural, with plenty of farms, olive groves, rolling hills, and vineyards. The city itself is divided into two villages: the upper village, built in the early 13th century, and the lower village, built in the 17th century. Both have lovely shops, restaurants, architecture, and a laid-back way of life… no one is in a hurry here.

Ericeira, Portugal

This quaint fishing village in Portugal is known as the “surfing capital of Europe”; it was declared a “ World Surfing Reserve” in 2011 and remains the only European destination to have that distinction. Surfing, yoga, and shopping are some of this village’s favorite pastimes.

Ericeira is also known for its large, friendly expat community, delicious cuisine, and affordability. Spend a day on the gorgeous beaches, or out in nature hiking the rugged coastline.

Obidos

Step back in time with a visit to Obidos, one of Portugal’s medieval walled cities. The stone-walled village was a wedding gift from King Dinis to Queen Isabel in 1282. Here, you will find whitewashed homes with beautiful yellow and blue trim that look as though you’ve just stepped into a postcard.

Be sure to walk along the castle walls for a full view of this gorgeous village. Before you leave, you must try a Ginja, a local fruit-flavored liquor sipped from a chocolate cup.

Belmonte

Belmonte is the birthplace of Pedro Alvarez Cabral, the Portuguese man who discovered Brazil and forever changed his country’s fortunes. The village has a rich Jewish heritage that dates back to the 13th century. Although it has a population of less than 10,000, there is plenty to see and do here.

The village is bursting with charm, history, and tradition and the locals are proud and happy to share it with tourists. There is a lot to see here including the castle, the Museum of Discoveries, the Jewish Museum, and the Santiago Church and Cabrais Pantheon.

Tavira

Tavira, a fishing village on the banks of the Gilao River, boasts ancient culture from as far back as the third century. Walk the cobble-stoned streets in the town center lined with whitewashed houses with tile roofs where you will find cafes and bakeries luring you in with their sweet aroma on every corner.

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Walk across the ancient Roman bridge and visit the castle ruins. Once you have walked around the village, and stopped in a bakery or two, don’t miss the chance to visit the golden, long sandy beaches of Tavira.

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Nordeste

Nordeste is a small sleepy little village on the remote island of Sao Miguel. with beautiful oceanfront views everywhere you look, a lot of history, and plenty of opportunities to explore the natural beauty of the island by foot or by Jeep.

Make sure to visit the nearby Arnel lighthouse and the 15th-century Sao Jorge church. Also of architectural interest in Nordeste is the Seven Arches Bridge, also known as Viaduto.

Aveiro

Aveiro, a fishing village, is often referred to as the Venice of Portugal, and they even have similar brightly colored gondola-like boats called Moliceiros. This charming Portuguese city has colorful Art Nouveau architecture that you can enjoy as you walk along the beautifully patterned streets.

If you enjoy shopping and restaurants, you will love the themed cafes, gourmet shops, and the outdoor craft markets. Don’t forget to try the local delicacy ovos moles, a sugared egg yolk encased in rice paper. Be warned though, they are very sweet and very rich.

Tomar

Tomar was once home to the famous Knights Templar, and the castle and convent complex built here for them is not to be missed. Both are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and they offer beautiful examples of intricate Manueline architecture.

As you wander through Old Town, you’ll find quirky shops, cafes, and family-owned businesses. If you are looking for a unique attraction that you are unlikely to find anywhere else, visit the Museu dos Fosforos. It’s a matchstick museum with over 40,000 matchbooks in the collection.

Sintra

Sintra is a charming village in Portugal known for its gorgeous palaces, beautiful villas, and several historical sites. Historically, Sintra was where noble, royal, and wealthy Portuguese citizens would spend their summers.

The Pena Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is brightly colored, and the interior has been refurbished to its former glory of 1910. There are plenty of other historic palaces and villas to visit here, as well as friendly locals, lots of culture, and outdoor activities to explore.

Azenhas do Mar

If you are looking for a quaint, quiet Portuguese village to visit, then the picturesque cliffside fishing village of Azenhas do Mar is the place for you. This village hasn’t been discovered by many tourists just yet.

Here you will find friendly locals, delicious Portuguese cuisine and fresh seafood, and a slower pace than many tourist areas. Make sure to explore the village from the cliffs high above for amazing views, and from down below, where you can visit the saltwater pool that the tides have made.

Faro

If you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation location where there are still plenty of historical and outdoor experiences to enjoy, then the village of Faro is it. Not only is it beautiful and mild year-round, but there is plenty to do outside of the beach and the relaxing spas.

Whether you want to explore the national park, go for a cliffside hike, surf on a world-famous beach, visit a historic church, or shop for fresh foods in the traditional market, there is something here for everyone. The locals are friendly, the food is amazing, and there is always something else to see and do.