The Best Places to Visit in Portugal
Portugal is southern Europe’s sunny Atlantic destination, and a place where amazing beaches meet some really beautiful and historic cities. Plus, Portugal also controls some of the most breathtaking and stunning islands far out into the Atlantic Ocean. Saying that, Portugal really is a destination nobody dislikes - it’s got so much to offer for everyone. Portugal had a lot of influence back in the day, as Portuguese explorers sailed to Africa, India, and South America, leaving behind a legacy of trade, culture, and architecture. It’s a country that just feels so alive and so much like a holiday, that the vibrant nature of it all makes you ‘fall in love'.’
Capital: Lisbon
Currency: Euro
Language: Portuguese
When to visit: March to November
1) Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is situated up in the north of the country. It’s instantly recognizable as one of southern Europe’s most amazing cities with it’s colorful rows of houses, narrow riverside streets, and incredibly vibrant and beautiful districts everywhere. It’s a big wine city, with exports leaving from the port all the time and you can feel the charm all over the city.
Things to do:
The world wonder in question is of course the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue. Sitting high on Corcovado Mountain, the statue itself is 30m tall and the views stretch across the entire city all the way out to the ocean. It’s such a dramatic place to be, but be aware it gets very crowded. You can also cable car from Rio up to Sugarloaf Mountain, which is one of the best viewpoints in Rio 396m above the city. In terms of Rio’s buzzing beaches, go to either Copacabana Beach or Ipanema Beach which are filled with life and quite long. To experience the importance of football, Maracanã Stadium is one of the most legendary football stadiums in the world that you can visit. The big district of Santa Teresa has a colorful vibe with a bunch of old winding narrow streets, and if you’re walking around Rio take a detour through. Rio has a lot of modern architecture as well, often integrated into museums. Visit Museu do Amanhã, Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (which is next to the historic Arcos da Lapa), Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, and Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói. Overall there is a bunch of museums, promenades, and energetic areas especially near the coast, so you can’t really get bored in Rio.
How to get there:
Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG) is the city’s international airport with global connections around multiple continents.
You can also easily take a bus from many other major Brazilian cities (Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, etc).
2) Lisbon
Iguaçu Falls, often called Iguazu Falls, is one of the most jaw-dropping natural sights in the world. They sit on the border between Brazil and Argentina, deep in the rainforest where the Iguazu River suddenly explodes into hundreds of waterfalls spread across nearly three kilometers. It’s not really just one big drop, but actually an entire wall of roaring waterfalls. Mist and rainbows always fill the air and the whole area is pretty protected.
Things to do:
Inside the National Park there are a few different areas, and Devil’s Throat is the most powerful and unforgettable part of it all. You can walk the long walkway which leads you right to the edge of the U-shaped chasm where massive volumes of water crash down below. The Brasilian side has very different views compared to the Argentinian side, so on this side walk the Brazilian side Panoramic Walkway which allows you take in all the views.
How to get there:
You can fly domestically within Brazil to Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU).
You can hypothetically take long buses but flying is easier.
3) Sintra
Salvador is a city on the coast of Brazil in the state of Bahia, and is one of the historic cities many choose to visit as they travel up Brazil. It was Brazil’s first capital city back in the 1500’s, so you can see stuff which has been developed from centuries ago and remains today, especially in the old city areas. Salvador is the heart of Afro-Brazilian Brazil, so African traditions are still proudly implemented into a lot of cultural aspects here.
Things to do:
The Historic Center of Salvador is called Pelourinho, and it is just absolutely filled with pastel colored buildings and loads of churches and museums too. You’ll see a bunch of landmarks just strolling around, and São Francisco Church is one of the most famous Brazilian churches because the interior is basically 100% gold, it’s just crazy. Since the city is split into upper city and lower city, you have to take Elevador Lacerda down to the lower city, and then you can walk to Mercado Modelo which is the large market by the waterfront. Go to either Porto da Barra Beach or Itapuã Beach, and down on the southwest coast you can find Farol da Barra, which is a lighthouse by the water and one of the city’s most scenic spots, especially at sunset.
How to get there:
Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA) is the city’s gateway, and has both domestic and international flights.
You can also bus around northern Brazil and take long distance routes from the south.
4) Madeira
The Amazon Rainforest is the most famous rainforest on earth, and ~60% of its enormously vast territory belongs to Brazil, making the country the best gateway to this wildlife haven. The Amazon has been inhabited for thousands of years by Indigenous communities, many of whom still live deep within the forest today. These groups have an intimate relationship with the land and rivers and have such a deep knowledge of survival skills allowing them to live amongst endless different wildlife species under the thick green canopies.
Things to do:
The capital and main base for travelers within the Amazon is the city of Manaus. It’s where most tours and explorations start and it sits right by the Amazon River and Rio Negro. If you have some time and want to see something in this city, visit the Amazonas Theater. From Manaus is where many like to explore with a multi-day river boat trip. You’ll drift past jungle lodges, hopefully see a bunch of wildlife, and just be covered in forested area. If your tour includes it, you can stay at an eco-lodge deep in the rainforest and immerse yourself into the rainforest. If you do participate in some wildlife spotting, you may be able to see a bunch of types of monkeys, sloths, birds and so much more.
How to get there:
Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO) is the airport of Manaus, and mainly operates domestic flights.
From there, your tour will probably start from somewhere in the city.
5) Algarve
Lençóis Maranhenses is one of the most surreal landscapes in Brazil, and one of the most uniquely stunning places you’ll ever see. It’s located in the northeastern state of Maranhão along the Atlantic coast, and is a huge area with rolling white dunes that are literally filled with green and blue freshwater lagoons.
Things to do:
The best access points are the towns of Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro, and the village of Atins. You’ll need to book a guided tour usually done with a 4x4 vehicle, and it’ll take you out into the dunes to see the lagoons and sand. If you visit in the wet season which is between May and September there’s a good chance you can swim in the lagoons as they are full and create crystal clear swimming spots. The park is genuinely massive, so the tour will allow you to see the scale and walk around on foot.
How to get there:
Unfortunately, the closest airport is São Luís International Airport (SLZ), and from there you need a bus transfer to your gateway town.
6) Azores
São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and one of the biggest urban centers in the world with 20 million people in the metro area. It’s not a beautiful destination like Rio de Janeiro, instead skyscrapers fill the area and it’s more of a place where business and urbanism come into play. The nightlife is still great, and there is some awesome museums plus an epic creative scene.
Things to do:
Like I said, there are so many awesome museums in the city. You can use the subway to get around, and make your way to MASP, Pinacoteca, Teatro Municipal, and the Museu do Futebol. For more football stuff, go to some of Brazil’s best stadiums which include the stadiums of Brazilian giants Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Santos and Palmeiras. Though stadiums do tend to be quite far from the city center. In central Sao Paulo alone, there’s a lot to see. You have the Sé Metropolitan Cathedral, the Pateo do Collegio, the Mercado Municipal de São Paulo, plus most of the museums I mentioned and a few more. If you’re tired of the extreme urbanism and tall skyscrapers surrounding you everywhere, Ibirapuera Park is the top 1 place to escape out to a green area. While it’s still in the city, the park is big enough to relax and it contains a lot of cultural spaces too.
How to get there:
São Paulo has 3 airports (GRU, CGH, & VCP). GRU is the busiest one with a lot of long haul international flights coming in.
It’s also very easy to take a bus from other large cities in Brazil to Sao Paulo.
7) Evora
Chapada Diamantina is another one of Brazil’s stunning landscapes, found inland in the state of Bahia. It’s known for the wide plateaus which dominate the very deep canyons which go on forever. It’s a good place for hiking as it has some long trails which take you through the best viewpoints of this incredible region which includes sights of caves and rivers, too.
Things to do:
The best base for the national park is the town of Lençóis. You need a car (or you’ll have to make use of hitchhiking) to get to most of the starting points for hikes. The best hike is often known to be Cachoeira da Fumaça, AKA Smoke Waterfall. You start in Vale do Capão village, and return the same way. It’s one of the highest waterfalls in Brazil. A hike starting in Lencois is Cachoeira do Sossego, and it takes you to Sossego Waterfall and you return back the same way. You can swim in the pools of the waterfall here as well. For an easy one, hike up to the top of Morro do Pai Inácio. This will give you the iconic viewpoint of the forested plateaus and you can see far out into the distance past endless rows of trees. This hike starts roadside at the Pai Inácio parking area. These are really just a few options, and it’s really worth renting a car here so you can explore even more than my suggestions.
How to get there:
You need to fly to Lençóis Airport (LEC), and the only flights there go from Salvador first.
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