Cities & Towns of Portugal
Working guides to 30 Portuguese cities and towns: facts, climate, what to see, and what living there actually costs.
Lisbon
The capital: hills, tiles, trams and a deep Atlantic harbour
Cascais
The royal coast turned most international suburb
Sintra
Palaces in the fog forest above the coast
Estoril
Casino coast, thermal baths and the old royal line
Faro
Algarve capital, airport city and gateway to the Ria Formosa
Albufeira
The holiday capital with 30-plus beaches
Lagos
Cliff coves, the Age of Discovery harbour and expat favourite
Portimão
Working city, sardine wharves and the Rocha strip
Tavira
Church spires, island beaches and the calm Algarve
Vilamoura
Purpose-built marina resort with golf country
Loulé
Market town behind the coast, artisan capital
Olhão
Cubist fishing quarter and the Ria Formosa islands
Sagres
The end of the world: fortress, cliffs and surf
Aljezur & the Costa Vicentina
Wild west coast: castle village, surf valleys and empty beaches
Carvoeiro
Cliff village turned polished bay resort
Setúbal
Dolphin bay, wine slopes and a working port
Ericeira
Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve
Nazaré
Giant waves, dry fishermen and the sit-down dress
Óbidos
A walled medieval town you can walk the perimeter of
Porto
Granite, port lodges and a UNESCO riverfront
Vila Nova de Gaia
The port wine lodge shore
Braga
Portugal’s Rome: baroque stairways and a young city
Guimarães
The birthplace of Portugal
Aveiro
Canals, moliceiro boats and art-nouveau façades
Coimbra
The university city on the Mondego
Viseu
Granite plateau city, consistently ranked Portugal’s most liveable
Tomar
The Knights Templar city and its Convent of Christ
Évora
Roman temple, bone chapel and wine capital of the Alentejo
Comporta
Rice fields, dune beaches and discreet luxury
Funchal
The amphitheatre capital of the Atlantic garden
Ponta Delgada
Gateway to São Miguel’s calderas