If you’re a cool and hip mom who loves to go on adventures and outdoor activities with your kids, you will undoubtedly find it thrilling to go on a Portugal guided tour. From hauntingly beautiful villages, pristine thermal springs, powder-soft white beaches, and fairytale castles, Portugal has so much to offer to tourists of all kinds. In recent decades, Lisbon and Porto are usually the favorite destinations of travelers from all around the world. But for dauntless travelers, the off-the-beaten tracks are the better option. In this guide, we’ll take you on a virtual tour through the best of Portugal’s hidden gems you can explore with your family.
Costa Nova
Bring a splash of color into your and your family’s world by appreciating one of the most vibrant corners of Portugal—the Costa Nova. This fisherman’s village turned coastal resort town is loved by tourists and locals alike for its lively, bountiful fish market and, of course, the colorful houses lining the main avenue—Avenida José Estevao. These houses were once used to store fishing equipment and were later on converted into vacation houses for tourists.
Vila Nova de Mil Fontes
Tucked away in Alentejo, southward of Portugal, is a charming coastal town fondly called by locals as the “Vila Nova de Mil Fontes,” which literally means “New Village of a Thousand Fountains or Springs.” This picturesque town is renowned for its picture-perfect beaches and bountiful natural landscapes. Among the best beaches to choose from are the Praia do Malhão, Praia das Furnas, and Praia da Franquia, which are beloved for their clear turquoise waters and golden sands. It is also surrounded left and right by the stunning Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (The Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park), which provides stunning grounds for outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, and even surfing. And if you want to explore its historical footprints, just visit its ancient churches, forts, and monuments.
However, despite possessing such unspoiled beauty, the Vila Nova de Mil Fontes is often forgotten to be included in trip itineraries, which is such a shame! This is why Vila Nova de Mil Fontes should be a must-visit spot for your trip.
Ericeira
There is no shortage of picturesque coastal towns in Portugal. Ericeira is a testament to this. Located near Lisbon, Ericeira is known for its breathtaking cliffs, powder-soft beaches, and world-class surfing hotspots that can even rival those in Algarve.
You will find the town in the heart of the Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais. In this biodiverse nature reserve, you and the kids can engage in adrenaline-pumping activities like cycling, hiking, and wildlife spotting. Ericeira is also known for its tall waves that arguably make for the best surf spots, such as the Ribeira d’Ilhas and Coxos.
Once you are done admiring the rugged cliffs and pristine beaches, head over to the old town to stroll its narrow streets dotted with traditional houses, churches, and historical monuments. Don’t miss the chance to join the lively nightlife scene, as there are plenty of bars and restaurants here serving scrumptious local cuisine.
Lamego
If you are on a road trip in the Douro Valley, you must not miss the chance to visit the idyllic town of Lamego. A hidden gem indeed, this enchanting town is located 20 minutes away from the more popular Peso de Regua. What Lamego lacks in popularity, it makes up for its immense beauty that enchants tourists with its narrow, cobbled streets, quiet, idyllic air, and numerous historical sites.
You can explore Lamego in two ways: go to the uppermost part of the town to explore the historical, archaeological area, where you will find a small, well-preserved castle. Alternatively, you can take a peek at its museum, strewn with archaeological artifacts from the area of Lamego. And a stone’s throw away from the charming alleys, you will come across a simple access door to a building filled with a vaulted stone cistern noted for its Arabic influence.
On to the lower part of Lamego, it is best to start at the newest part of the town, where you can visit one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal—the Se Cathedral. From the promenade adjacent to the Cathedral, you can see the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary, perched atop the town. It is connected with the cathedral via a quintessentially Baroque-style staircase comprising 686 steps zigzagging from top to bottom. While it may be a steep climb, we assure you that the hard work will be well worth it once you appreciate the view from the top.
Talasnal
Talasnal is a quaint Schist village and is definitely one of the most fascinating hidden gems of Portugal. Schistic villages in Portugal are those that are characterized by having houses, roads, and central squares constructed using schist, a coarse-grained metamorphic rock that is native to this region.
This is but an incredibly tiny village with a total of 10 to 20 houses, and it has only one restaurant, one coffee shop, and one art and gourmet shop. This tiny village used to be inhabited by small groups of people, but due to the lack of jobs and lousy living conditions, they abandoned the town. So, nobody lives in Talasnal anymore, but it is still maintained as it is used for tourism and the preservation of Portugal’s historical legacy.
If you are wondering what it is like to spend the night in one of these unusual schistic houses, you can actually rent it out for a night. This incredibly tranquil place is the perfect spot to rest and drown out the hustle and bustle of the city. You can even go hiking, biking, and strolling along the closest city—Lousã—to visit the castle and its river beach. And since you’re already in the area, you can easily hop on to the other schistic villages near Talasnal, such as Cerdeira, Casal Novo, and Candal.