12 Surreal Places in Portugal You Have To See To Believe

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Generally, Portugal is a special place to visit. No matter where you go, you’ll come across historic landmarks, fascinating landscapes, unique attractions, and beautiful places. With that being said, it’s no surprise the ‘Land of Poets’ has captivated the imaginations of travelers for centuries.

However, while bustling cities like Lisbon and Porto are magnificent and well worth visiting, Portugal is also home to some of Europe’s most surreal places and sights. We’ve compiled a list of 12 surreal places in Portugal to learn more. We’ve selected areas that are distinct, historic, and beautiful. You have to see all these places to believe they exist.

Sintra

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Let’s start how we mean to go on with the spectacular Sintra. If you love history, you’ll quickly fall in love with this charming town in Portugal’s Lisbon district. A fairytale-esque destination, this town is nestled in the pine-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra mountains. It’s best known for its natural beauty, ancient castles, and impressive historic landmarks.

The brightly colored National Palace of Pena is the town’s crown jewel. This multi-colored Romanticist palace, which belongs to a storybook, stands tall above the town. Other masterpieces of architecture that add to Sintra’s surreality include the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, and Sintra Old Town.

Covão dos Conchos

Covão dos Conchos is one of Portugal’s most unique places to visit. At first glance, this location appears to be a natural sinkhole in a natural lake. However, it’s a man-made wonder of engineering. Located in the Serra da Estrela mountains in Central Portugal, Covão dos Conchos is an artificial lake featuring a mesmerizing Bell-mouth spillway.

The spillway was constructed in 1955 and has drawn in tourists ever since. The spillway wasn’t designed to be a tourist attraction, but watching this hidden gem is great fun. It was built to divert water from Ribeira das Naves to Lagoa Comprida. That doesn’t sound as fun, though, so we like to imagine the sinkhole is a portal to another world.

Boca do Inferno

If you’d prefer to admire natural beauty instead of man-made engineering, Boca do Inferno, or the ‘Mouth of Hell’ is somewhere you should visit. Boca do Inferno is a beautiful cliff formation in a set of seaside cliffs near Cascais. This breathtaking cliff formation takes its name from the powerful waves which crash against the rock face.

These waves force into a deep chasm and spray into the air. Aside from being an utterly stunning place to visit, Boca do Inferno also has an exciting story. In 1930, famed magician, astrologer, and mystic Aleister Crowley faked his death at the cliffs. He then secretly reappeared at an exhibition of his work in Berlin, Germany.

Elevador de Santa Justa

Elevador de Santa Justa can be found in Lisbon. It might not sound that exciting, but this surreal place has a unique elevator. We know—it sounds pretty terrible, right? However, this elevator is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Also referred to as the Carmo Lift, it symbolizes architectural elegance in the city.

It stands proudly above the historic center of Lisbon, connecting the lower streets of Baixa with the elevated Carmo Square. The elevator features a fascinating architectural style that blends Gothic and Neoclassical styles. You’ll be treated to panoramic views of Lisbon and its iconic landmarks from the top. What’s not to like?

Monsanto

Popularly known as ‘the most Portuguese village of Portugal,’ Monsanto is a small village in the Castelo Branco District of Central Portugal. Although it’s tiny and home to less than 1,000 people, it’s famous worldwide for its mind-blowing and bizarre appearance. Many of the houses in Monsanto are sandwiched between gigantic boulders.

Yes, you read that right; residents in Monsanto live in properties that look like enormous rocks are crushing them. The sight is quite unbelievable, so you need to see it with your own eyes. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the village and its surroundings are known for their scenic landscapes. Better still, the village is crowned by the remains of a Templar Castle. Don’t miss out on exploring the narrow cobblestone streets of Monsanto.

The Drowned Village of Vilarinho da Furna

Not every surreal place you’ll visit in Portugal is filled with excitement, adventure, and entertainment. Some surreal places have a tragic story to tell. Take Vilarinho da Furna, for example. Vilarinho da Furna, in the Braga district of Northern Portugal, was once a 2,000-year-old village built during Roman times.

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However, it was erased from the map in 1972 when a dam was constructed nearby. A reservoir on the River Homen was filled, and the village went underwater. Today, the water level drops at certain times of the year, and the ghost village emerges. When it does, it’s possible to see the ancient ruins of Vilarinho da Furna by boat.

Praia da Ursa

The next place on our list is famed for its pristine beach, jagged rock formations, and powerful tides. Arguably one of the most beautiful places in Portugal, Praia da Ursa is a secluded beach near Cabo da Roca cape. What makes this beach so special is its untouched natural beauty.

A dreamy destination you’re likely to find on the front of a travel magazine, this beach sits at the bottom of a steep hill. As a result, you won’t find hordes of tourists, tacky souvenir shops, and rows of sun loungers and umbrellas. Instead, you’ll discover a long stretch of soft golden sand, verdant cliff faces, strong turquoise waves, and an outcropping of pointed rocks.

Bom Jesus do Monte

If you love architecture and history, visit Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga. This gorgeous 18th-century site is a work of art. It also holds great historical significance that’s worth learning about, as its history dates back to the 14th century. This vast complex took almost a century to complete, and it’s not hard to see why.

Every detail is intricately designed, from the beautiful stone sculptures and Baroque stairway to the tall stone walls and shrine spires. Bom Jesus do Monte is an excellent example of Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims would climb the 380-foot (116-meter) steep staircase before returning via a funicular. Make sure you climb the 577 steps and admire the Portuguese Catholic shrine at the top.

Costa Nova

Costa Nova is a vibrant resort area and promenade that stretches along the dunes of Praia da Costa Nova in Aveiro City and near Porto. This quaint place is renowned for its brightly colored houses, lively fish market, and outdoor activities, mainly fishing. Most of the action in Costa Nova can be found along Avenida José Estêvão.

This avenue is the main tourist area in Costa Nova, and with good reason. Here, you’ll find the area’s famous 19th-century colorful striped houses. Make sure you walk along the avenue, admiring the houses and coastal views. Afterward, head to the beach to soak up the sun and swim in the sea. Alternatively, visit the fish market or Mercado da Costa Nova, where you’ll find cafes, ice cream shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Casa do Penedo

Unbelievably, Monsanto isn’t the only place in Portugal with houses sandwiched between rocks. In Moreira do Rei near Fafe, Northern Portugal, a house was built in the middle of four gigantic boulders. Casa do Penedo, which means ‘Boulder House’ in English, is an otherworldly property the Flintstones would love to call home.

The house was initially built in the 1970s as a vacation home. Incredibly, today, the owners still use it as such. However, we’re unsure it would meet our expectations as a holiday home because it’s very rustic. It doesn’t even have electricity. Nevertheless, a visit to the house is a must. You can find the house on Google Maps by searching “Casa do Penedo” or “Boulder House.”

Benagil Caves

A serene site along the Algarve coastline, Benagil Caves is a beautiful sea cave or grotto whose shape is credited to the mighty Atlantic Waves. Located in the Portuguese fishing village of Benagil in Southern Portugal, this cave is unlike any other grotto.

While still very much spectacular, most sea caves along Portugal’s coastline are dark and secluded. However, Benagil Caves are spacious, easily accessible by boat, and exposed to the sun. Quite brilliantly, the main cave features a wide opening. The sunlight shines through this opening, lighting up the cave below. If you time your visit right, you might even see the sunlight shine directly through the opening.

Santana

Finally, we have Santana, a gorgeous town located in Northern Madeira. This vibrant coastal town is best recognized for Casa Típicas de Santana, a cultural site featuring traditional triangular-shaped stone houses with thatched roofs. You can also view these traditional dwellings at Madeira Theme Park, which has exhibitions regarding island history, culture, and traditions.

However, that’s not all this surreal place has to offer. Santana is home to other architectural masterpieces like Igreja de Santana Church. It’s also surrounded by lush nature that can be likened to Hawaii. Therefore, when you’re not experiencing local traditions and architecture, you’ll likely find yourself hiking along the verdant cliffside.