Discover Portugal: heritage, wine and walking trails

Portugal combines UNESCO World Heritage Sites with cultural history, geoparks, walking trails and culinary traditions. This offers a range of options when planning your trip, which you can take into account when choosing a destination and accommodation.

Heritage and historical periods

Portugal has 17 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They include the Alto Douro wine region, the cultural landscape of Sintra and the Laurisilva of Madeira, which is listed as a natural heritage site. The Alto Douro wine region is described as the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. A route along the Douro can connect Vila Nova de Foz Côa, the Alto Douro wine region and Porto. You can also explore the Douro region by car, for example to visit viewpoints and wineries.

Fado has been part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2011. The permanent exhibition at the Museu do Fado traces its history from its origins in the 19th century to the present day. The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, offers another historical landmark. In the Côa Valley, an open-air gallery of rock art stretches for 17 kilometres.

The Museu Nacional do Azulejo presents the history of Portuguese azulejos. Its collection spans from the second half of the 15th century to the present day; the museum is housed in the former Convento da Madre de Deus. It is currently closed for temporary renovation.

Geoparks and walking trails

Naturtejo Geopark has 17 geomonuments and also includes Tejo Internacional Natural Park. Arouca Geopark has 41 geosites, and the Paiva Walkways cross the park over a distance of 8 kilometres. Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark has around 180 kilometres of walking trails. At Arouca, 8 kilometres refers to the specific Paiva Walkways route, while at Terras de Cavaleiros, around 180 kilometres refers to the trail network.

The Rota Vicentina offers another point of reference for walking trips. Its complementary circular routes cover around 263 kilometres in total and lie between Santiago do Cacém and Lagos. Many of the Rota Vicentina’s trails were already known to pilgrims setting out from Cabo de São Vicente for Santiago de Compostela.

Birdwatching can also be a focus of an outing. More than 100 bird species can be relatively easy to spot in a day in the Tagus Estuary; actual sightings depend on observation conditions. The estuary is 20 minutes from Lisbon.

Wine, olive oil and regional cuisine

The Mediterranean diet is part of Portugal’s gastronomic identity and is recognised as UNESCO World Heritage. It includes knowledge, skills, rituals, symbols and traditions related to cultivation, harvesting, fishing, livestock farming, preservation, processing and cooking. Sharing and eating food are also particularly important.

Portugal has six olive oil regions with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. In several municipalities within these regions, visitors can visit agricultural cooperatives and taste the olive oil produced there. At wine tourism establishments, you can learn about vineyards and wineries and sample wines. It is also possible to take part in the grape harvest there in September and October; availability varies by producer.

Getting around the Douro

The historic Douro train runs between Régua and Tua from June to October. Since seasonal dates may change, it is advisable to check the current timetable before your trip. The Portugal Rail Pass gives travellers who do not live in Portugal unlimited train travel throughout Portugal for three or seven days. It must be used within one month of the purchase date. As conditions may change, it is best to check them before buying.

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