15 Best things to do in Portugal that aren’t the beach
Portugal’s famous Blue Flag beaches may get all the glossy magazine covers, but when the skies turn moody, the waves get wild, or you’re simply ready for something different, there’s a whole other Portugal to discover. Think mist‑shrouded castles, bustling morning markets perfumed with citrus, palace gardens tucked behind wrought‑iron gates, vineyard sunsets, and hands‑on creative experiences whispered about by locals.
Quick Answer: If it’s not a beach day, Portugal is overflowing with options. Explore Sintra’s royal palaces, sip wine in the Douro Valley, wander Lisbon’s markets, hike cork forests in Alentejo, soak in Europe’s largest zen garden in Bombarral — and that’s just the start.
1. Live like a local in the markets
A Portuguese market is part theatre, part pantry, and part family reunion.
In Lisbon, the Time Out Market fuses traditional stalls with gourmet kiosks headed by Michelin‑star chefs.
Mercado do Bolhão in Porto is a kaleidoscope of fishmongers shouting the morning’s catch, spice scents hanging in the air, and buckets of bright flowers.
In towns like Évora or Viseu, weekly markets swap tourist noise for genuine local rhythm — seasonal fruit piled high, loaves of warm pão caseiro, and handmade linens folded just so.
Insider tip: RuaMar can arrange private market tours where you shop with a chef, then cook what you’ve gathered.
2. Journey through time: castles, palaces & legends
Portugal is both a living storybook and a history molded in stone and tile – each castle wall, palace corridor, and cobbled street holding centuries of intrigue.
In Sintra, the jewel‑bright Pena Palace seems lifted from a fairytale. Nearby, the mystical Quinta da Regaleira hides an enigmatic Initiation Well and gardens laced with symbols of alchemy and myth, while the Monserrate Gardens showcase rare plant species from around the world in an elebaorate Anglo‑Moorish palace.
The Mafra National Palace stuns with its grand baroque façade and sheer scale – 1,200 rooms, 4,700 doors and windows – and a library of 36,000 leather‑bound volumes guarded by a resident colony of bats.
Óbidos, encircled by medieval walls, charms visitors with turreted gates, whitewashed houses draped in bougainvillea, and seasonal festivals celebrating literature and chocolate.
In the Alentejo, the hilltop village of Monsaraz offers cobblestoned lanes, castle ruins, and sweeping views over the shimmering expanse of Alqueva – Europe’s largest man‑made lake.
And for history buffs, Tomar’s Convent of Christ – once a Knights Templar stronghold – reveals layer upon layer of Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture, dripping with symbolism and stories that shaped Portugal’s Age of Discovery.
Here, the past isn’t just preserved – it’s alive, waiting to be wandered, touched, and imagined.
3. Raise a glass in Portugal’s wine country
Here, wine is a landscape you can taste.
Cruise the Douro River, passing centuries‑old terraced vineyards and stopping at Pinhão station, where azulejo panels depict the region’s winemaking heritage.
Savor rare Colares reds, coaxed from vines rooted directly in Atlantic‑lashed sand.
In Alentejo, deep reds pair with tangy sheep’s cheese beneath the shade of cork oaks.
In Minho, Vinho Verde’s crisp sparkle is perfect with grilled sardines.
RuaMar can open cellar doors to small producers who skip the tourist route altogether.
4. Find Zen in Gardens & Creative Spaces
When the weather turns drizzly, seek out Portugal’s green sanctuaries and art spaces:
Estufa Fria in Lisbon — a vast greenhouse of ferns, orchids, and dripping rock grottos in Eduardo VII Park.
Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira — 17th‑century gardens mosaic‑ed with azulejo panels depicting hunts and battles, fringed by fountains and citrus groves.
Buddha Eden in Bombarral — Europe’s largest Asian‑inspired garden, sprawled over 35 hectares with giant Buddhas, pagodas, terracotta warriors, and lily‑dotted lakes.
LX Factory — an industrial‑turned‑cultural hub with rooftop gardens, galleries, artisan shops, and street art.
Museu Nacional do Azulejo — the country’s tile history told in exquisite panels dating back to the 15th century.
Rua de Miguel Bombarda in Porto — an ever‑changing art mile where galleries and murals trade places season by season.
5. Chase Thrills Without the Waves
Trade the beach towel for an adrenaline rush.
Float above the Douro Valley in a sunrise hot‑air balloon.
Tandem para‑glide from Algarve clifftops.
Kayak into the sapphire grottoes of Arrábida Natural Park.
Cycle the Ecopista do Dão rail trail.
Hike Serra da Estrela peaks or follow the Rota Vicentina along the wild Costa Vicentina.
6. Cook, Eat, Repeat
Portuguese cuisine is half the reason to visit, so why not get hands‑on?
Learn how to master the perfect flakiness of a pastel de nata.
Shop the fish stalls and simmer a cataplana seafood stew.
Dine at a chef’s table in a converted Alentejo wine press.
Sweet tooth? Time your trip for Óbidos Chocolate Festival — RuaMar can get you in before the crowds.
7. Wellness & Local Rituals
Portugal’s wellness scene is deeply rooted in tradition where the slower pace is a gift.
Soak in thermal springs in Monchique or Vizela.
Join vineyard‑view yoga in the Douro.
Learn the delicate craft of azulejo tiles.
Learn fado’s minor‑key soul, either Lisbon’s raw style or Coimbra’s academic serenades.
8. Cultural Festivals & Living Traditions
Plan around a festival and watch Portugal turn vibrant. Because festivals here are unfiltered joy.
Santo António in Lisbon — grilled sardines, paper garlands, and dancing in the streets.
São João in Porto — plastic hammers, sky lanterns, and midnight swims.
Medieval Fair in Óbidos — knights, jesters, and mead in earthen mugs.
Évora’s Jazz & Classical Music Festivals — melodies winding through a walled city.
9. Literary & Artistic Escapes
Portugal is a dream for the book‑obsessed and art‑inclined:
Bertrand Bookstore (Lisbon) — the world’s oldest still trading.
Óbidos, a UNESCO City of Literature — its bookshops hidden inside chapels and alcoves.
Coimbra — Europe’s oldest university town with the baroque Joanina Library, buzzing book fairs, poetry nights, and its own unique fado.
LX Factory and Rua de Miguel Bombarda for Portugal’s gallery scene.
Lisbon’s Alfama and Mouraria — street murals layered over centuries of history.
10. Go Off the Beaten Path
Leave the tourist trail and stroll:
Conímbriga — haunting Roman mosaics still in place.
Alentejo cork oak forests.
Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve — one of the best stargazing spots in Europe.
Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz in the Azores for views that rival any coastline.
Beach day or not, escape to the nearby Berlengas Islands — a wild, protected natural reserve just offshore with a historic lighthouse and seabird colonies. The island’s dramatic coastline offers hiking trails and rocky coves perfect for bold adventurers and curious photographers seeking something off the usual path.
11. Garden & Estate Hopping
Many grand estates hide stunning gardens —Portugal’s estates weave together art, nature, and history.
At Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira in Lisbon, symmetrical hedges lead to tiled terraces telling stories in blue and white, fountains play in lemon‑scented courtyards, and statues stand guard like silent witnesses to centuries past.
The lush gardens of Pestana Palace offer palm‑lined walks and wandering peacocks.
In Alentejo, Convento do Espinheiro’s cloisters open onto botanical gardens edged by ancient olive trees.
Across the country, aristocratic manor houses hide rose‑wrapped pergolas and shaded stone benches — perfect for contemplative afternoons.
12. Sunset Without the Sand
You don’t need a beach for a great Portuguese sunset. Sunset is a national pastime, and not just by the sea.
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte in Lisbon — light spilling across red rooftops to the Tagus.
Boa Vista in Gaia — wine glass in hand as the Douro River turns molten.
Ericeira — even if you’re not in the water, the dramatic clifftop coastal energy lingers in the salty breeze.
Braga — climb to the sanctuary at Bom Jesus do Monte for a sunset framed by manicured baroque staircases and panoramic views over the entire city and surrounding hills.
13. Food & Wine Pairing Journeys
Taste the terroir with a twist
From Vinho Verde tasting in Minho to port and chocolate in Porto, pairings here are a cultural deep‑dive. Even olive oil tastings in Alentejo tell centuries of history.
Vinho Verde paired perfectly with seafood in Minho.
Port and artisan chocolate in Porto.
Olive oil tastings with rustic bread in Alentejo farmsteads.
Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, offers rich regional wines and traditional northern cuisine for tasting journeys infused with history and flavor.
And for something unexpected, explore tea tasting and pairing experiences — a nod to Portugal’s little‑known role as one of Europe’s first tea importers in the 16th century, when ships from the East brought the leaves to Lisbon and, through Catherine of Braganza, into the English royal court, sparking Britain’s enduring love affair with tea.
14. Hands-On Craftsmanship
Portugal’s crafts are living traditions passed down through generations.
We invite you to slow down and create something truly authentic.
Join a weaving class in Serra da Estrela, where skilled artisans work with thick wool to produce warm blankets perfect for the mountainous climate.
Venture to Madeira to learn basket-making—a hands-on way to connect with the island’s rural heritage.
Discover cork carving in a sleepy Alentejo village for creative expression rooted in nature.
Experience contemporary craft workshops in Aldeias do Xisto amid the striking schist villages of Central Portugal.
15. Sailing & River Adventures
Trade waves for waterways.
Sunset cruises on the Tagus in Lisbon.
Colourful moliceiro boat rides in Aveiro.
The Guadiana River — drifting the Spanish border under a vast sky.