The 15 prettiest towns in Portugal

The most gorgeous villages scattered from near Comporta to the Algarve

7 February 2024

It’s truly hard to name the prettiest towns in Portugal, a country so varied in landscape and style that the north – home of mountains and flora and fauna – differs almost entirely in look to the south – where stunning coastlines and whitewashed villages dominate. That’s not to say we won’t try, though.

While the busiest areas of the country are undoubtedly stunning, there's more to Portugal than Lisbon and Porto – more than the golden coast of the Algarve and the hippy beach clubs in Comporta. There are undiscovered gems where you can hike through forests and local favourites that become a hive of activity in the summer months.

Beyond the big names, there are alluring villages and beautiful towns to seek out throughout Portugal – these are our favourites across the country.

Alamy
1. Vila Nova de Milfontes
The Alentejo coastline is known by most because of Comporta or, at a push, Melides, but there’s so much more to see on this wonderful stretch of the country. Vila Nova de Milfontes sits at the mouth of the Mira river and the still water attracts people from all over the country who spend their summers picnicking and paddleboarding the days away. Over on the coast, there’s a great surf scene (although that’s not unusual in Portugal), and beaches tend to be quieter than their more popular neighbours – except in August when locals cover every square inch of sand with colourful beach towels.
The town itself is sleepy but offers plenty of restaurants (serving up local cuisine and fresh seafood) and bars to keep you busy in the evenings. If you’re driving from Lisbon to the Algarve, or vice-versa, this sleepy, sunny town makes an ideal detour.
Getty Images
2. Azenhas do Mar
It doesn’t get more picturesque than this: a small village of whitewashed houses with stereotypical terracotta roofs perched atop a hill overlooking a rocky coastline. Located within reach of Sintra and Lisbon, Azenhas do Mar is probably one of the most photographed towns in Portugal – and it’s not hard to see why when you look out over the beach pool towards the crashing waves. Aside from the breathtaking coastal views, the town has plenty to offer in the way of pretty spots, and there’s even a signposted walking trail to help you make the most of it. The winding roads and steps to reach the beach means this town isn’t for the faint-hearted, but hard work reaps rewards – and you’ll be thankful for your exploring when you see those views.
Getty Images
3. Évora
A little over an hour away from Lisbon, settled in the wonderful Alentejo region, is Évora – a medieval town dating back to Celtic times, surrounded by Roman city walls. Within them, the scene is a picture-perfect image of Portugal; cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with blue or yellow accents, and grand church buildings to explore (including the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal). It’s rare to find anything that feels remotely modern here; even the souvenir shops are housed within narrow alleyways, below small flats belonging to locals. There are tourists around, sure, but the care locals have taken to preserve the charm of Évora means you don’t feel trapped in a crowd of people carrying cameras – the vibe remains calm, and – crucially – welcoming.
The best way to explore the town is on foot; be sure to take in São Francisco, a 15th-century church once part of the Franciscan Monastery and whose main draw now is the Chapel of Bones, and the Diana temple, an iconic landmark that’s believed to have started the period of prosperity in the Roman Empire. Other sites not to miss are Évora Cathedral, Cadaval Palace and Praça do Giraldo, which leads to streets where you can shop and dine on local cuisine.
Alamy
4. Paredes de Coura
Outside of Porto and the Douro Valley, the north of Portugal is often overlooked by tourists – but that’s most certainly a mistake, since it offers some of the most impeccable views and serene fresh air in the country. It’s hard to get further north than Paredes de Coura, which is almost on the Northern border of Spain, and therefore benefits from a green and lush landscape, with the Coura river running through – almost like a Portuguese Lake District, if you will. It’s an ideal place to experience pure tranquillity, go hunting for waterfalls and hike through fauna and flora.
The style of houses in the village here is distinctly different to the whitewashed buildings seen throughout the Alentejo and Algarve; here, they are made from dark slate to provide shelter from the mountainous weather and various elements. Every August, the town welcomes its annual music festival and the entire place is suddenly animated, as Portugueses and tourists spend a week sunbathing, lake swimming and dancing until the early hours.

Getty Images
5. Sete Cidades
It’s almost hard to believe that a place as otherworldly as the Azores can exist, and no more so than when you explore Sete Cidads (Seven Cities) for the first time. Located on the island of São Miguel, the iconic twin lakes – one blue, one green – take centre stage here, surrounded by green cliffs so bright they have a fairytale quality about them. There’s actually a legend that says the two colours are represented by a princess and a shepherd, who fell in love before the princess’ dad forbade the relationship. When they met one last time the princess, whose eyes were blue, and the shepherd, whose eyes were green, cried so much they gave colour to the lakes. The reality is far less beautiful – one is coloured by the vegetation, and the other by the sky – but the magic and mystery of this part of Portugal remains. Experience it fully by hiking one of the many trails, or visiting a miradouro (viewpoint) that gives perfect vantage for overlooking the area.
Getty Images
6. Amarante
Amarante is one of the hidden gems of northern Portugal, where rows of 17th-century mansions with brightly painted wooden balconies line narrow streets. Next to the 16th-century church of St. Goncalo – a saint who holds a particular place in the heart of the locals for his matchmaking skills – is the Museum of Amadeo de Sousa-Cardoso. One of Portugal’s leading 20th-century artists, Sousa-Cardoso was a native of Amarante, and there is a collection of his Cubist works here. Try the northern Portuguese specialities of duck rice or grilled goat at one of the restaurants that hang over the Tâmega River.
Getty Images
7. Monsanto
Moorish occupied Monsanto was conquered by the first Portuguese King, D. Afonso Henriques. He gave it to the Knights Templar, who rebuilt the ancient Roman castle, now in ruins. Strikingly authentic, Monsanto was, in 1938, voted ‘the most Portuguese village in Portugal’. Little houses are squeezed between vast boulders of granite; gardens seem to sprout from the rock. Cars cannot venture into the village centre – wander up to the castle ruins for the best views and then settle in for lunch at Petiscos and Granitos restaurant and order the typical broad bean and coriander soup.
Getty Images
8. Sortelha
Sortelha sits on a granite outcrop offering mesmerising views over the landscape from the high keep of its 13th-century castle. Just in front of the castle entrance is a 16th-century pillory with an armillary sphere on top. Bizarre looking granite formations surround the village; one is called The Old Woman’s Head due to its likeness. Another is called The Eternal Kiss. Surrounded by its defensive wall, the houses have changed little since Renaissance days providing a time travel feel and a perfect platform for their annual mediaeval fair.

Getty Images
9. Alte
Alte is a dreamy mix of white-washed houses, cobbled streets and scarlet bougainvillaea. In the heat of summer, refresh with a dip in the Fonte Grande – one of the village's natural springs known for their purity, now river pools. Picnic on the grassy banks or try one of the many cafés, where locals go for snails and a Sagres beer. Alternatively, buy some carob brownies and head for the shade of the small village museum
Getty Images
10. Talasnal
The 27 schist (shale) villages that have – beautifully preserved in the centre of Portugal – are scattered across the countryside with the most crucial cluster in the Lousã Mountains. Historically important, they have been linked by walking trails and deliver a taste of the region's cuisine and crafts. Talasnal is considered the prettiest example, with much loved Ti Lena restaurant at its heart. Try the goat, baked with chestnuts from the surrounding mountains, or stop at one of the village shops for a talasnico, a pastry made with local honey, chestnuts and almonds.
Getty Images
11. Carvalhal
This little village sits among the pine forests, rice fields and dunes near Comporta with a wonderful white-sand beach that is the perfect setting for a gallop as the sun sets. Rent a horse from nearby Cavalos na Areia and pick your way over the dunes to the foam-flecked turquoise waters. Alternatively, try the Sublime Comporta Beach Club on Praia de Carvalhal and lunch on the freshest oysters with your feet in the sand before winding back through the village past storks nesting on telegraph poles and houses in the characteristic thatch and reed vernacular architecture.
Getty Images
12. Lindoso
Lindoso in the Peneda do Gerês National Park, one of Portugal’s greatest natural attractions, is known for its collection of over 50 espigueiros or little granaries. They look like miniature tombs with crosses on the top and are made from granite, raised on columns and slatted for ventilation. The design keeps grain and maize at the right humidity. The village lies in the shadow of a medieval castle that played a part in the Portuguese Restoration wars, due to its position on the Spanish border. Surrounded by wild, dramatic scenery and forest-clad peaks, the park is home to wolves and golden eagles.

Roy Johnson / Alamy Stock Photo
13. Marvão
By the time you arrive at the 13th-century walls of Marvão, Alentejo’s most beautiful hamlet, you will already have fallen for its charms. It sits at 862 metres on a majestic escarpment facing Spain, its walls and buttresses indistinguishable from the granite of the mountain it sits on. These walls completely enclose the tiny white-washed houses, cobbled streets and 15th-century churches that make up Marvão. Stop for a few days at the charming little Pousada in the main street and soak up the views from its terrace.
Getty Images
14. Cacela Velha
This tiny village sits on a hill at the eastern end of the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park, protected by the ruins of an 18th-century fortress. White-washed houses are trimmed with blue to ward off the devil and topped by intricate chimney pots characteristic of the Algarve – just one of the signs of the long Moorish occupation here. The 16th-century village church was rebuilt after Portugal’s devastating earthquake of 1755, complete with a Renaissance-style portico. Beneath it are golden sands, home to warm lagoons at low tide and probably the best off-the-beaten-path beach in the Algarve.
Celli07 / Alamy Stock Photo
15. Belmonte
The home of Pedro Álvares Cabral is also known for its strong Jewish connections. Uniquely, it seems to be the only place on the Iberian Peninsula that retained its Jewish heritage and culture, albeit in secret, from the 16th century until the present day. Step into the Belmonte Jewish Museum to learn more. Also worth visiting are the 13th-century castle and the little church of São Tiago with its pleasing Romanesque simplicity. Look out for the beautiful pietà, carved in granite.