Like any country in Europe, Portugal has its own rich culture and heritage, as well as beautiful tourist spots to boast about. It is famous for its beautiful cities and picturesque landscapes. So, if you are inclined to travel to Portugal, here are the ten wonderful and beautiful places that you should never miss.
1.) The Gulbenkian Museum
If you like history and culture, then this museum located in Lisbon is for you. There are many ancient Egyptian artifacts here, as well as paintings by famous artists. The museum garden alone is enough to captivate the amazement of tourists.
2.) St. George’s Castle
This castle is also located in Lisbon. Once you reach the hill where the castle stands, prepare for the view of the city and river below you. You can also visit Alfama on the way.
3.) Trading Square
This is a beautiful square that can also be found in Lisbon and is a must see in this city. This overlooks the river, giving a wonderful view of that body of water. What is also good about this place is that it is part of the center of Lisbon, so it is a good place to walk around.
4.) Belem
This is a wonderful neighborhood to visit if you love to see historical monuments and buildings. Here you can see the Torre de Belem and the Cultural Center of Belem. You can also visit the Royal Palace of Belem here, which is now the Presidential Palace of Lisbon.
5.) Chiado
This wonderful historic street in Lisbon offers any visitor a great shopping, dining and entertainment experience. Here you can also see and be photographed with the statue of Fernando Pessoa. He was a famous modernist poet from Portugal.
6.) April 25 Bridge
If you think San Francisco’s Golden Gate is magnificent, wait until you see this bridge. The man who designed this bridge was the same man who designed the Golden Gate Bridge. This bridge connects Lisbon with the Setúbal peninsula.
7.) Christ the King of Portugal
If Rio de Janeiro has the statue of Christ the Redeemer, then Portugal has Cristo Rei. This statue is over 100 meters tall and overlooks the Tagus River. Once you reach this statue, be overwhelmed by the magnificent view of the city and the river below.
8.) Aveiro City
This is the so-called Venice of Portugal because it also has its own canals and bridges where you can stroll peacefully in its moliceiros, comparable to the gondolas of Venice. You will be able to see so many beautiful historical buildings in this city like the Cathedral of Aveiro, the Municipal Chamber, the Carmelite Church, etc., or you can visit its parks like the Santo Antonio Park and the Dom Pedro Children’s Park. The city of Aveiro still has much more to offer any visitor, such as surfing and windsurfing on its Costa Nova beach and river, or you can always go shopping at Forum Aveiro or Rua dos Combatientes de Guerra, as well as shopping on Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho.
9.) City of Coimbra
This is another famous tourist spot where you will be able to see the great University of Coimbra. Here you can take leisurely walks through the university’s botanical garden. There is also much to see here, such as the Roman ruins of Conimbriga and the city’s cathedrals.
10.) Evora
In Évora, you must visit the Temple of Diana, an ancient Roman ruin. Here, you will also be able to see the University of Évora, once a former convent converted into a university. You can also take a nice walk in Évora’s park, Jardim Publico.