Top Places to Visit in the Centre of Portugal
Portugal is well known for famous cities like Lisbon, Porto and Sintra or Algarve beach region. I love those destinations, but I also like to explore some more off the beaten tracks that are totally worth to explore – my top places to visit in the centre of Portugal.
In this blog post I will share some of my favourite places in the centre of Portugal in Medio Tejo area, spread across 3 different districts in Portugal – Ribatejo, Beira Baixa and Alto Alentejo.
It is about 1h30 half driving from Lisbon so it is perfect for a day trip – in that case I suggest to pick some of the attractions that I mention in this post. But I recommend to take at least 2 or 3 days to be able to explore this beautiful region.
At the confluence of river Tagus (the same river that drains in Lisbon) with plain fields, mountain ranges, dams and templar castles, this area is full of diversity and it is a great option to complement your trip to Lisbon.
Vila Velha de Ródão
At the crossroads between South and North of Portugal, Vila Velha de Ródão is a village at the shores of Tagus river with impressive geological formations called Portas de Ródão, resulting from the intersection of hard quartzite with the river.
At the fluvial harbour in Vila Velha de Ródão there are some boat tours to navigate the river to Portas de Ródão, the most famous natural attraction of the village. But it’s also possible to admire it from a viewpoint in the road to the castle.
Another great place to visit in Vila Velha de Rodao is King Vamba Castle, at the top of a hill facing the river. Explore the area around the castle and don’t miss the viewpoint with a stunning view to Tagus river.
According to the legend, the castle belonged to King Vamba, a Visigoth king married to a beautiful queen. But the queen fell in love with another king that lived at the other side of Tagus that built a tunnel beside the river to see her in secret. King Vamba found out the betrayal, got mad with jealousy and killed the queen, throwing her over the cliff. The legend says the queen cursed that land and in the cliff where she felt, no vegetation would ever grow.
Vila de Rei
At the exact center of Portugal, Vila de Rei is a village located in a mountain area with a lot to offer to visitors from mountain viewpoints and trails, hiking paths and adventure sports like BTT and wakeboard.
Near Vila de Rei is also possible to visit the Geodesic Center of the country in Picoto da Melriça. If you were able to symmetrically fold a map of mainland Portugal in four parts, at the point where the folds meet you would find Vila de Rei.
Penedo Furado
Around Vila de Rei I also recommend to visit Penedo Furado, with a river beach at the bottom of a hill. Its fresh and crystal clear waters and the thick vegetation around, makes it very popular in Summer for locals and visitors.
Don’t miss Penedo Furado wooden walkways close to the beach, leading to some beautiful small waterfalls. The walkways are less than 1km each way and they are very easy to do. Just don’t forget to take some water with you, as this area is quite hot in Summer time.
Almourol Castle
Located in a small island at the middle of Tagus river near Vila Nova da Barquinha, Almourol Castle is one of the most iconic castles in Portugal (and also one of my favourites).
This castle was part of the defensive line controlled by the Templar Knights in the Reconquest of the Portuguese territory during the Middle Ages. When the Portuguese soldiers arrived there in 1129 the castle already existed, but it was reconstructed in 1179 by the Order of the Knights Temple.
You can visit the castle taking a short boat tour from a small harbour near Tancos village. There is also a great viewpoint at the other side of the river, near Arripiado Village.
Belver
Even if Belver is technically part of Alentejo, to which I have dedicated a full blog post, I include it in this itinerary because it is less than 30m driving from most of the places that I mention in this post.
Belver is a beautiful traditional village at the shores of Tagus river with an impressive castle overlooking the white typical houses and the river. This was the first and most important ones to be built by the Hospitaller Order in the Middle Age. Dating back to 1194, the castle had the objective to defend the access along the river. At the entrance of the castle there is a great viewpoint to Tagus. I recommend to visit at sunset, it gets magical at that time of the day.
Walk around Belver traditional streets and visit one of the only Soap Museums in the World, as this area had an important role in the soap national industry since the second half of the 16th century.
Alamal Beach and Walkways
At the other side of river Tagus, crossing the bridge at Belver, you get to Alamal beach and walkways, one of my favourite places in the region.
This river beach gets quite popular especially in Summer time for its fresh waters and the amazing views to Belver village and castle.
Alamal walkways start at the beach up to Belver’s bridge. They are in my opinion at the top of Portugal trails due to the surrounding nature and the stunning views at every step of the path. They are quite easy to do even if you are not used to trails and hikes.
Next to Alamal Walkways I recommend to stay in Gavião Nature Village, that just opened. It has ecological bungalows lined with cork, glamping tents and a regular camping area. I stayed in a glamping tent and it was a great experience in the middle of the nature.
Abrantes
Located on a hill next to Tagus river, Abrantes is city full of history that should be included in your visit to this area.
As many cities in Portugal, it is dominated by the castle which played an important historical role being a strategic defence settlement throughout the years. Due to its location at the highest point of the river, it provides panoramic views to a vast surrounding area.
Abrantes city centre is characterised by whitewashed houses with floral decorations, so take some time to walk around and to try Tigeladas, a famous regional confectionery cooked with eggs and sugar.
The area by the river is also beautiful and peaceful, making it a good option for a relaxing walk.
For more travel inspiration in Portugal, check my blog posts Alentejo Perfect Roadtrip or One Weekend Around Comporta.
