Top 20 Most Beautiful Small Towns and Villages in Portugal

Visiting the coastal cities of Lisbon and Porto is what comes to mind when most people imagine their holiday in Portugal. If you dare to venture inland, away from the big cities and major attractions, you will be rewarded with the most charming fairy tale villages and the cutest small towns you’ve ever laid eyes on.

From traditional coastal fishing villages to enchanting hilltop towns, these beautiful villages in Portugal are packed full of culture, history and incredible cuisine. Just picture white washed buildings, tiny walled hilltop villages, epic medieval castles and so much more! You certainly won’t regret getting off the beaten path in Portugal.

So why not escape the hordes of tourists and enjoy the peace and quiet of the idyllic Portuguese countryside? Here are 20 of the most beautiful small towns and villages in Portugal as shared by travel bloggers. Some are popular and well known while others are still relatively undiscovered but no matter which ones you choose to visit, they’re all bound to steal your heart!

The Top 20 Most Beautiful Small Towns and Villages in Portugal

Obidos 

-By Ann from The Road Is Life

Obidos is without a doubt one of the most popular and beautiful villages in Portugal to visit. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the picturesque little hilltop village each year, most of them on a day trip from Lisbon. It’s no surprise that Obidos draws the crowds, its pretty white washed buildings with flowers creeping up the sides, winding cobblestone lanes and majestic medieval castle certainly add to the town’s charm.

One of the best things to do while visiting Obidos is taking a walk around the town’s ancient walls. Spectacular views can be seen over the red rooftops and surrounding countryside, but be warned: there are no hand railings!  Make sure sure to check out the amazingly well preserved medieval castle that sits on a hill dominating over the town below.

Obidos Castle has protected the region for over 800 years and has been named one of the 7 wonders of Portugal! Exploring the streets of the town center is another huge highlight. It’s only small but wandering through the maze of narrow streets will lead you to all the prettiest corners and hidden secrets around the town.

As previously mentioned, Obidos makes an excellent day trip from Lisbon but it’s also the perfect stop on a road trip from Porto to Lisbon. Spending a few nights in Obidos allows you to explore the town when it’s quieter in the morning and evening, ie. before and after the day trippers arrive.

If you choose to visit on a day trip, Obidos is easy to reach from Lisbon by taking the express bus from the Campo de Grande station. Buses depart from Lisbon regularly throughout the day and the journey takes one hour.

Monsaraz

-By Marco from Travel-Boo

Mention medieval towns and villages in Portugal and most travellers and locals alike will likely mention the walled city of Obidos. But, only about a 2-hour drive inland from Lisbon, you’ll find the gorgeous, white-washed, walled city of Monsaraz.

Given its close locality, around an hour, to another famous walled city, Èvora, you simply have to swing by this fortified village perched up high on a hilltop, especially if planning a day trip from Lisbon to Evora!

Entering through one of the cities gates you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a bygone era as you walk along the cobbled streets, admire the white-washed homes and buildings and explore the castle walls and bullfighting arena.

We visited late afternoon which was perfect. We were able to grab a spot up top the castle walls and watched the sunset over the Alentejo countryside. From these walls, you can admire the Algueva river that divides Portugal from Spain’s Beja district, also within view.

Some of the top things to do in Monsaraz include exploring all the quaint craft and boutique shops that line the main street as well as explore the actual castle too. If you’re up for something different, then you can also hop in your car and drive 10 minutes down to the Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz, a man-made beach on the river’s edge.

To get to Monsaraz you will definitely need to be travelling by car. As already mentioned, it is located approximately 2 hours from Lisbon when travelling via the A2 and A6 motorways.

If you’re visiting this part of the Alentejo province I would highly recommend you stop by this beautiful example of a medieval Portuguese city. It’s definitely one of my favourites!

Nazare

-By De Wet from Museum of Wander

Halfway between Lisbon and Porto you’ll find the stunning seaside town of Nazare. Here on the Costa da Prata, or Silver Coast, the Atlantic ocean meets the land at her most powerful. Nazare is home to the largest surfing waves in the world, but you should still come to Nazare even if you’re not a surfer.

The lighthouse on Praia do Norte is where you can see the monster waves crash into the cliffs. The lighthouse is also home to a small surf museum with surfboards and stories of famous surfers who had braved Nazare’s monster waves.

The small plaza in Sitio, a short walk away from the lighthouse has a sweeping view over the ocean, beach and red tiled roof tops of Nazare below. Also on the plaza is the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, a church frequented by pilgrims. The church has a small statue of the Virgin, which they say was carved by Virgin Mary’s husband in Nazareth. This is the reason why the town is called Nazare.

Ride the funicular down to Nazare where you’ll find some amazing seafood restaurants and cafes along the beach.

The beach in Nazare is much calmer than on Praia do Norte and is perfect for swimming. A walk along the promenade will take you past traditional fishing boats and woman drying the catch on racks in the sun. Seaside Nazare is a beautiful town and still quite traditional, as you’ll see by the woman still wearing their traditional dress of 5 underskirts.

Nazare is a beautiful small town in Portugal with excellent beaches, fantastic food and friendly people. There is no train station in Nazare. If you’re not driving, a bus from Lisbon will take about two hours, while Porto is just over three hours away.

Marvao

-By David from Delve Into Europe

Marvao is one of the most remote and spectacular villages in Portugal. It’s a mountain-top eyrie with one of the finest castles in Portugal. It’s located in the Serra de Sao Mamede range in the north of the Alentejo region, overlooking the Spanish border.

It’s quite a long way from anywhere else, and it’s quite a trek to get there, but it’s absolutely worth it. A meagre two buses per day stop there so unless you’re driving – and even if you are driving – it’s worth staying at least a night to experience the atmosphere of this amazing place.

Marvao is built on a narrow ridge along the top of a steep mountain, with its castle at the highest point and the whitewashed village below. There’s a sheer drop either side, with views of the Portuguese mountains one side and the plains of Spain fading away into the distance on the other.

The castle is hugely impressive and its stout, think walls were never breached by attackers, until someone betrayed the defenders. Marvao is best experienced at sunset and overnight, it’s so remote and isolated that it’s almost completely silent, and at sunrise the sound of birdsong is all you can hear.

It’s worth setting the alarm clock in Marvao because the castle isn’t locked at night, so you can let yourself in and enjoy a superb sunrise from the ramparts.

Pinhão

-By Priya from Outside Suburbia

Pinhão, a main port wine-producing town in the Douro Valley sits pretty on the banks of the Douro river. The drive from Porto to Pinhão is scenic as the road takes you along the river and through the terraced hills where grapes and olives are grown. Once you cross the bridge from Peso da Régua into Pinhão, stop at the train station even if you are not taking the scenic train.

The train station is decorated with lovely Portuguese blue and white tiles. There are several pretty hand painted Portuguese tiles at the Pinhão train station.  Each depicts different scenes from the Douro valley.

The train that runs from Porto to Pocinho, high up in the Alto Douro stops at Pinhão. Take a break for coffee or have a nice lunch of traditional salted codfish before driving up the valley to find a few scenic viewpoints in the Douro Valley.

Another way you can get to Pinhão is by taking a river cruise from Porto.  If you are staying in the Douro Valley, Pinhão makes for a great base. While there are many little towns in Douro Valley, Pinhão has a wider choice of hotels and a nice riverside promenade from where you can go on a short boat trip. There are several vineyards nearby, the main reason you are probably visiting the Douro Valley.

Aveiro

-By Marie from A Life Without Borders

Often referred to as the “Venice of Portugal” due to its colourfully painted boats and winding canals, the charming town of Aveiro nevertheless has a unique personality all of its own. Located in central Portugal, just 75 kilometres south of Porto, this popular day trip destination is situated around the Ria de Aveiro lagoon famed for its salt, seaweed and abundant fish.

With an interesting architectural heritage, ancient maritime history and spectacular natural wonders, there is no shortage of things to do in Aveiro. Full of Art Nouveau architecture, opulent churches and a plethora of interesting museums, Aveiro charms with its pretty cobbled pavements and houses covered in colourful Portuguese tiles.

Of course, the highlight of any visit to Aveiro is taking a traditional boat ride along one of its canals to discover Aveiro’s maritime past. Originally used for harvesting seaweed, the colourful local boats, known as moliceiros, are brightly painted with illustrations depicting traditional Portuguese life.

Visit an open-air museum showcasing traditional salt extraction methods at the Troncalhada salt flats and treat yourself to a rustic salt spa nearby. Get an early start to visit the town’s fish market where you can experience the local fishermen hauling in their catch of the day before auctioning off to the highest bidder.

Who could resist sampling some of that abundant seafood with many local restaurants and cafes offering the freshest seafood including mussels, clams, crabs and the local specialty, eel.

A favoured getaway destination for many Portuguese locals, Aveiro is a pretty Portuguese town definitely worth putting on your Portugal to do list.

Ferragudo

-By Sabrina from Moon & Honey Travel

Ferragudo is a white-washed fishing town in the municipality of Lagoa in Algarve. Situated at the mouth of the Arade River along the Southern Algarve Coast, Ferragudo occupies a heavenly location. This hidden gem is the perfect base for coastal walking, local-living, and offbeat exploration. The best way to get here is by car. It takes 35-minutes to drive from Lagos to Ferragudo and 50-minutes from Faro.

When you arrive, start your day by exploring the town center and the streets leading up to Igreja de Ferragudo (church). Eat seafood at A Ria or Borda Do Cais, and walk across the Arade River to Rua Infante Dom Henrique (street) for the best views of the town.

The best place for sunset is the sun-kissed Praia dos Caneiros. This gorgeous beach also marks the beginning of the Trail of Headlands, a coastal walk that starts in Ferragudo and ends in Carvoeiro. This 6 km trail takes 2 hours one-way. When you make your way back to Praia dos Caneiros, treat yourself to dinner at Rei das Praias.

If you’re looking for more beach options, also check out Praia da Angrinha and Praia Grande. Use this Algarve road trip to plan out your days in Ferragudo and the Algarve.