All Portugal

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Portugal

145 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Portugal

Updated December 20, 2022

Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Braga
  2. Colares
  3. Évora
  4. Faro
  5. Funchal
  6. Lisbon
  7. Porto
  8. São Miguel
  9. Sintra
  10. Tomar
  11. Viana Do Castelo
  12. Vila Nova De Foz Côa
  13. Vila Nova De Gaia

Unusual Attractions in Portugal

See All 145 Things To Do in Portugal

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Portugal

See all 9 Places to Eat in Portugal
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

Lisbon: Tracing the Roots of an Imperial Cuisine

Journey beyond the city’s tiled buildings and narrow streets to discover the long legacy and vibrant presence of culinary inventiveness in Lisbon.

Learn More

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Lisbon

In the homeland of explorers, your best bet is to keep looking.

View Itinerary

Explore Portugal

History & Culture 14
Museums And Collections 14
Geology 13
Sacred Spaces 13
Art 10
Churches 10
Abandoned 9
Collections 9

Portugal Leaderboard

Recent Portugal Activity

Stories About Portugal

Why a 224-Year-Old Human Heart Is Touring Brazil

This piece of Dom Pedro I, who declared Brazil's independence, is causing controversy in two countries.
by Dania Rodrigues

The Priest Who Resurrected an Island’s Cider Tradition

Father Rui Sousa saw opportunity in the parish orchards.
by Rafael Tonon

Meet the Sweet Sea Monster of Portuguese Christmas

Lampreia de ovos comes loaded with sugar, eggs, and the long history of glorifying a most peculiar parasite.
by Dania Rodrigues

The Team Resurrecting Ancient Rome's Favorite Condiment

Making umami inside 2,000-year-old ruins.
by Rafael Tonon

Podcast: Mafra Palace Library Bats

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

At This Portuguese Bakery, the Recipes Were Written by Nuns Centuries Ago

The owner of Alcôa has devoted decades to recovering lost pastries.
by Dania Rodrigues

The Mystery of a Medieval Blue Ink Has Been Solved

Turns out it was hiding in plain sight by the side of a Portuguese road.
by Isaac Schultz

Holed Up in a Portuguese Cave, Neanderthals Supped on Seafood

For skeptics, no amount of crab legs and speared shark are enough to upend the caveman stereotype.
by Isaac Schultz

Lists Featuring Portugal

Covão dos Conchos.
A roof for eternity.
Opening to a cave at Boca do Inferno.

16 Hidden Gems to Visit in Portugal

From bone houses to library bats, here are some of the most unique Portuguese locales that Atlas Obscura users want to visit.

17

Including Covão dos Conchos, The Village of Monsanto, and Livraria Lello

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More