8 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Portugal
To really experience the culture, history, and scenic beauty of Portugal, avoid the frenetic and more modern pace of its cities and visit smaller towns that allow you to find out the true beauty of this country. Evidence of Portugal's long history is not hard to find. Remnants of Roman conquest beginning in the late 3rd century BCE are everywhere, along with almost uncountable numbers of medieval castles and plenty of samples of true Portuguese culture. Visit Tomar or Marvão if you would like to feel as though you have stepped into a medieval fortified town, complete with a castle. To dig into the unique Portuguese culture, check out the warm community atmosphere of Ponte de Lima or the ancient fishing community of Nazaré. For scenic beauty, the southern town of Lagos with its towering cliffs and sea caves is the place to go.
Ponte de Lima
You can't help it. Arrive in Ponte de Lima and you'll feel yourself relax immediately. Often called "the prettiest town in Portugal," the easygoing atmosphere is compelling. Sit by the Lima River and watch the water drift by, or lounge in one of many town squares, surrounded by old white stucco buildings, and drink a café com leite (similar to a latte). Wander around aimlessly along the Avenida dos Platanos, which follows along the river's edge and then cross over the combined Roman and Medieval eras arched bridge, known simply as the Ponte Romana e Medieval.
The people are welcoming in this flower-adorned town and in the bucolic countryside outside of town. They've had a long time to practice, since this is the oldest chartered town in Portugal, founded in 1125. Traditional festivals, local vineyards, and antique stores complete the experience of this lovely non-touristy town.
Sortelha
Another town that is not heavily visited by tourists is the tiny village of Sortelha. Somehow commercialism and the hustle of modern life has not found this walled village, one of the most authentic in Portugal. It is a perfect gem of Renaissance and Gothic era construction, from the large castle that looks over the village, to the medieval gates, and the heavy, granite buildings that sit along tiny and irregular streets. A visit here means walking into history.
Parts of the stone buildings literally melt into the granite boulders that border the town, some even seeming to creep inside of it. Walk up to the castle above and climb its ramparts and you will immediately understand why this village so successfully protected itself from marauders. You can see for miles across rugged landscape toward Spain, only 12 miles away, or north to the distant tall mountains of the Serra da Estrela Nature Park.
Nazaré
One striking feature of the town of Nazaré is the surf that hits Praia do Norte, where a submarine canyon funnels Atlantic swell into some of the largest surfable waves on Earth. The Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed was set here in October 2020, when Sebastian Steudtner rode a wave measured at 86 feet. Visit between late fall and early spring to see the most spectacular ones.
There is another even more captivating reason why Nazaré is on this list, though. It has a long history of fishing. Once upon a time, the beach was covered with traditional, colorful wooden fishing boats. Today, that history as a fishing town carries on, although now most of the boats set out to sea via the modern marina. However, you can still find women, dressed in the traditional seven-layered costumes of their ancestors, hanging freshly caught fish out to dry on racks and fishermen repairing their nets on the pier. And needless to say, the fish that was caught today is served up on your plate tonight in a number of excellent restaurants. Want to learn more about the fish tradition? You won't find anything like the Museu do Peixe Seco, the Sun-Dried Fish Museum, anywhere else. A funicular offers a two-minute ride up to Sitio to take in a spectacular view from Miradouro do Suberco, or you can get your exercise in by climbing up many stairs to the top.
Tomar
The Convent of Christ in Tomar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1983. The Castle of Tomar was the historical headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal, and the Convent of Christ, within its walls, was begun by the knights around 1160. The whole complex is a remarkable blend of Renaissance, Gothic, Manueline, and Romanesque architecture.
All around town you can find many other sites that tell the story of the Templar legacy, including the Church of Santa Maria do Olival, where many of the knights were buried. Prince Henry the Navigator laid out the village in the 15th century. It's a rare existing example of the traditional chessboard pattern of that time. And then there are the pastries. Some of them were created by the nuns of Tomar, who needed to find a use for surplus egg yolks leftover after using the whites to starch their habits. A favorite is Beija-me Depressa, or Kiss Me Quickly in English.
Marvão
Until you've seen Marvão in person, it's difficult to convey the drama of the setting of this town. It is in the Serra de São Mamede mountains, so when you climb atop the castle keep, it feels as though you are almost in the clouds. From here, you can see 360 degrees around, across the Alentejo plains and into Spain to the town of Valencia de Alcántara. The border is about a 10-to-12-minute drive away. Similarly to Sortelha, the buildings seem to just melt into the surrounding countryside. Outside of the village walls, there is hiking and mountain biking.
Marvão and the town of Castelo de Vide, which is next on our list, are compelling for another historical reason as well. Sancho II granted Marvão its first charter in 1226, intended to settle and defend an exposed frontier outpost against raids from Castile. In 1492, the country of Spain created the Alhambra Decree, forcing the expulsion of every one of its Jewish residents. Five gateways were permitted out of the country into Portugal. At the base of Marvão's hillside was a toll bridge, commissioned by King João II to control and tax the crossings, where an estimated 15,000 Jews entered and integrated into Portuguese life. For a time.
Castelo de Vide
Close to Marvão is Castelo de Vide. This town is also set on a hillside. It is lovely, with a romantic atmosphere created by whitewashed homes along meandering lanes that were created in medieval times. The town is on the edge of Serra de São Mamede Natural Park. Hiking in the park offers incredible views of these mountains and on a clear day, you can see Spain, 7.5 miles away. Climb to the top of the castle keep of the Castle of Castelo de Vide and you'll have a magnificent view of the town itself, across the winding streets and into the Jewish Quarter.
Sitting so close to Marvão, this village became a major refuge for Jews who had been forced out of Spain. Although it already had a small population of Jews, that increased by about 4,000 people. Their safety in Portugal was short-lived, however. In 1497, King Manuel I announced that all Jews must either leave the country or agree to conversion. The entire population of Castelo de Vide was taken to the town fountain to be baptized en masse.
The conversion was not too successful, however. Instead, Judaism went underground, with traditions such as the Sabbath candle lighting done behind closed doors, while appearing Catholic to the outside world. Many in Castelo de Vide did not even know about their Jewish heritage until much more recently, while others just thought their way of doing things were a unique offshoot of the Jewish faith, rather than a secret that their ancestors created to protect themselves. Within the Jewish quarter is the Synagogue of Castelo de Vide, which was only rediscovered in 1972 during the renovation of a 14th century building.
Óbidos
The town of Óbidos will have you feeling as though you've just walked into a romance about castles, knights, and fair maidens. It's not as if just parts of the town are out of an old tale. The whole place feels as though it is still in the medieval age, including the shops, businesses, and locals' homes, whitewashed with yellow and blue trim (traditional Portuguese colors) and flower boxes. The streets are paved with cobblestones. Even its history is romantic, since King Dinis gifted it to Queen Isabel on their wedding day. For centuries after that, it was considered to be part of the reigning queen's private estates.
Circling the town are the castle walls. You can walk all around them but be careful. There are almost no modern guard rails along the edges, truly preserving the medieval history. It is even possible to continue the fantasy of this remarkable town by staying in the Óbidos Castle itself, a part of which is in the Pousada system, a network of historic castles and other buildings you can stay in throughout the country.
For those attracted to the arts, culture, and all things literary, the town of Óbidos is known for literary festivals, galleries, and handcraft boutiques.
Lagos
All the way south is the Algarve region, famous for its beaches. Lagos certainly has those but what's different about it from other towns along the south are its spectacularly tall golden-orange cliffs. It's home to incredible sea caves and grottoes, such as those at Ponta da Piedade. Not only does Lagos attract vacationers, expats, and surfers, but also photographers and painters, drawn inexorably to its natural beauty.
There are so many ways to really enjoy this. It's possible to hike along the top of the cliffs. Down below, boat tours can take you actually inside of some of the sea caves, sea tunnels, and through naturally formed stone arches. An even better way to enjoy some of that is by renting a kayak.
And of course, there are the spectacular beaches to sit on or swim in, depending on the time of year, although it rarely goes below the low 50s. The clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean are compelling.
Finding a Captivating Small Town in Portugal
Choosing between captivating small towns in Portugal is a real challenge, because there is so much history, so many spectacular natural features, and myriad cultural traditions to learn about. Pick any one of the towns featured here to explore and you can't go wrong.
