TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN PORTUGAL THIS SUMMER

When my friend Zoe and I were looking for places to go for two weeks one summer, Portugal was the furthest thing from my list. Turkey, India, Morocco, Egypt- those were the places I wanted to go. So when Zoe's dad, a native from Germany who used to travel all over Europe during his youth, offered Portugal as what he believed to be our best option, I was a little sad. What could Portugal possibly have to offer that would be better than somewhere in a more exotic location? Well... let me show you. Below are reasons why Portugal is THE PLACE to go to when you're looking for the perfect European summer vacation and ten things to do while in Portugal.

1. VISIT THE BEACHES

If you grew up in the United States, like I did, the best beaches in our country are either in Hawaii, California, or maybe even Rhode Island. The water is usually a little murky and tends to be full of this rust-colored seaweed. But in the south of Portugal? The water is a crisp, crystal blue. There are enormous rock formations that dot the entirety of the beach, some in the water that children swim to and jump off of like natural diving boards, some forming beach caves that tourists wander.  Most of the beaches are located below streets, so they have steps that begin at street level and descend about three stories to the beach, making it more secretive and mysterious. Beaches like the Praia da Rocha in Portimao, and Camilo Beach and Ponta da Piedade in Lagos are just some of the South's most beautiful beaches that begin with picturesque wooden or stone stairways, holding breathtaking views of the water's rock formations. A MUST VISIT!!

2. GO TO A BEACH CONCERT

If you go almost anywhere in Europe during the summer, the night life is spectacular. Nobody knows how to party like Europeans. What makes Portugal stand out, in my eyes, was the amount of beach concerts they have.The first night Zoe and I arrived in Portimao, the owner of our airbnb met with us and the first thing he said was that there was a beach concert nearby. Our apartment was directly across the street from the beach, a five minute walk at most, and we could see the concert stage from our balcony. So, at 8pm that first night we wandered our way over to the beach concert. It was free to get in, and we watched a DJ who grew up in that area play a handful of EDM songs as the crowded individuals on the beach, of all ages, danced to the music. 

The next concert we went to was by far one of my favorite memories thus far in my life. It was an event called Solaris that was 18 euros to get into and the main act was Afrojack. That night, Zoe and I had been roaming the boardwalk in sweatshirts and jeans, looking for souvenirs for our families. Once we got to the end of the boardwalk, we saw the stage on the beach below and were DYING to go. It was 11 o'clock at night by this time though, so we approached the guards at the entrance to ask when the concert was open until. When they said 2 am, we quickly took an uber back to our airbnb, changed into better clothes, dropped our bags off, and rushed off to this concert. 

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​Once we were in, it was sooo easy to push our way to the front of the stage. Looking around there were people of all ages and ethnicities, vacationing from all over Europe, fist bumping to the music. Zoe and I danced for hours that night, powered by the booming from the nearby speakers and the contagious energy from the crowd. We even met a few boys who were vacationing from France and Italy for the month who explained to us they came here every single year. I left that night feeling awakened and invigorated by the music, calling my parents at 2am (Portuguese time, so 8pm Eastern Time) to tell them about the amazing experience I had just had. 

3. EXPLORE THE CAVES

One reason why Portugal's beaches are so different from any other beaches in the world is the amount of caves each beach contains. Therefore, one HUGE reason to travel to the south of Portugal is to see the caves. Now, there's a ton of ways that you could go see the caves. You could beach hop, and visit a different beach every day. You could hike the tops of these caves, which offer panoramic views of the water, as well as birds-eye views into the caves. Zoe and I, however, opted to do a day tour that took us to a few diverse terrains, a boat tour of the caves being one aspect on the agenda. We rode into caves such as the famous Bengali Secrets Cave, Arcos de Marinha and more which was awesome because we got to see over 15 caves in a matter of two hours. Plus Zoe and I love boat rides, so we were having a great time anyway!!

4. GRAB A GLASS OF WINE AT A VINEYARD

Another thing we did on this day tour was we visited a distillery and a vineyard. The distillery was family owned and part of someone's house. There, we spent forty minutes learning about how Portugal's famous drink medronho or "fire water" is made, which is a strong brandy from Portuguese strawberry trees. The distillery also made jams from locally grown fruits, like orange, fig, strawberry, tomato, and more. We got to sample every jam and drink made in the distillery, as well as the opportunity to buy anything to bring home. I chose to bring home a few jars of the orange jam because i was OBSESSEDDDD with it and needed my whole family to try it. I also brought home some liquor for my brother. A lot of other people in our group chose to bring home bottles of the fire water, other liquors, or the homemade olive oil. Everything was amazing, and it was definitely cool to understand how it was all made. 

Next, we visited a new vineyard that had just opened the previous year. The white wash walls, as well as the open floor plan and artsy modern restaurant makes this a must visit to try Portugal's wine as well as local cheeses, meats, bread and jam. 

Linked here is one of the highest rated wine tours in the country of Portugal. If you're near Douro Valley and looking to go to a couple fantastic vineyards, take a look at this tour here.

5. HIKE THE MOUNTAIN TERRAIN FOR GREAT VIEWS

The last part of our day tour was the jeep safari portion. During this time, we spent an hour driving through the mountains of southern Portugal, learned about cork trees and how Portugal makes most of it's money through growing and selling cork, and saw amazing views of the villages. 

6. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO THE CRISTO REI IN ALMADA

The Cristo Rei or "Christ the King" is one of the most famous monuments in all of Portugal. Located in Almada, you must take a ferry and a bus to get to this massive statue, but it's worth it. At the Cristo Rei, you can explore the inside (but the line is always suuuuper long so go early!!), take pictures, and look at the view of the 25 April bridge across the way that resembles a smaller Golden Gate Bridge. On the property, there is also a restaurant and gift store, so you can make this place a stop on a day trip. 

7. SPEND A COUPLE HOURS AT THE NATIONAL TILE MUSEUM

This spot was one of my favorite things we did on the whole trip. It was something that was on more of a whim than really planned out, but if you're traveling to Portugal, definitely put it on the itinerary. The opening for the museum is huge wrought iron gates with a small garden that lead up to the entrance. Once inside, immediately to the left is a little desk where you can buy tickets (and students almost ALWAYS get discounts at these things, don't forget!) or you can buy them in advance with an audio guide. Straight ahead in the museum there is also a bistro/cafe where you can purchase food and sit in their indoor garden to eat it. 

The museum is mostly made up of historical tile pieces pulled from old buildings and such. The tiles are usually comprised of blues, greens, and yellow hues and showcase flowers or important scenes in history. My favorite part about this museum trip is the open room about halfway through the museum. Its four walls covered in the same Portuguese tile pattern, with stone columns and an open square in the middle, which was great for pictures.

8. GO TO THE BELEM TOWER FOR SUNSET

The Belem Tower is another one of the most historical places to see in Portugal. This also tends to have a very long line, so Zoe and I didn't have time to go in, but the view is fantastic. Though this tower is located in the city, it is by the shore and surrounded by a park. It has a bridge that leads to the entrance of the tower, and is yet another popular place for pictures, especially during sunset. 

9. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO BAIXA CHADO

There's lots of towns that you can go to visit for day trips in Portugal, especially surrounding the capital, Lisbon. When first researching, Zoe and I were sure we wanted to visit Sintra, a town of colorful houses and a yellow castle at the center. However, after talking to my brother's boss Nelson, who grew up in Portugal, I was told that there were better towns to spend time at than Sintra. He said it was good to see, but for the most part was a tourist trap that would take the whole day and be overly crowded. 

For that reason, when Zoe and I had half a day left after seeing the Cristo Rei, we wandered into the town Baixa Chado. Immediately after getting off the metro, we fell in love. Baixa Chaido is one of those places where you could just feel the energy of the city and nightlife buzzing all around you. The streets were narrow and filled with people, restaurants and stores dotting each side. We got the opportunity to sit and read on a blanket in Rossio Square, a famous portion of the town that is known for its gray and black wave-like patterned floor and huge seafoam green fountain. In addition, there is also a huge elevator that anybody can buy a ticket to ride, with the top being about 5 stories up and showcasing a breathtaking view of the entire city. This night was also the last night that we stayed in Portugal, so we found a restaurant near the elevator that had a view of the city and the setting sun, and had dinner and wine there. It was stunning, and a great way to end seeing Portugal.

10. FIND A GREAT RESTAURANT FOR DINNER ON pink street

Pink Street is one of those places that you hear about, read about, and see thousand of instagram pictures of. It's known for all the clubs and restaurants, and of course for the pink strip that lines the entire street. This was a cool spot to visit and easily find a good restaurant and great bars. While it's busy and lively throughout the year, there's something really special about coming here in the summer.

Ready to Explore More of Portugal?

Whether you're lounging on a golden beach, hiking dramatic cliffs, or wandering through sun-soaked villages, summer in Portugal offers unforgettable adventures around every corner. I’ve been lucky enough to visit 17+ countries, and Portugal remains one of my favorite spots for its charm, scenery, and warmth. If you want more tips on what to do in Portugal—and other amazing destinations—be sure to subscribe to the blog. And don’t forget to scroll down to discover more Portugal travel guides and insider recommendations!