10 Beautiful Castles In Portugal You Need To See Before You Die

Scattered across green meadows and rocky hills, Portuguese castles make up a small but important part of the vast historical heritage of the country. Here are the most beautiful and enchanting castles in Portugal.

1. National Palace of Pena

Building, Monastery, Park

The National Palace of Pena is the most famous castle in Portugal due to its colourful appearance and imposing location atop the highest hill above Sintra. It’s a monument of national and international importance and a Unesco World Heritage site. The story of the palace dates back to the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to the Lady of Pena was established. It eventually grew into a monastery and then a castle. The building’s facade is outstanding, borrowing elaborate details from the Manueline and Moorish styles of architecture. The clever design of the palace ensures that it’s visible from anywhere in the surrounding gardens and forests.

2. Belém Tower

Monastery, Building, Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

Belém Tower, Av. Brasília, Lisbon, Portugal

View Tours

The 16th-century Belém Tower is adorned with the symbols of the house of King Manuel I, including the thick rope that encircles the castle and terminates in elegant nodes and crosses at different angles. In the late 16th century, the tower became a prison during the Spanish invasion of Portugal, holding upper-class criminals and political dissidents in the dungeons. Belém Tower protected the Portuguese capital, which was vulnerable to attacks from pirates and neighbouring states. Today, it’s a key symbol of Lisbon and serves as a reminder of the former power of the Portuguese on land and at sea.

3. Castle of the Moors

Building, Forest

View Tours

The Castle of the Moors was built during the eighth and ninth centuries, making it one of the oldest preserved fortresses in Portugal. This Moorish fort sits atop a steep hill in the middle of a thick forest and is surrounded by a high wall. The castle was altered to survive long sieges, with a reservoir for drinking water built inside. However, despite its vital geographical location, the fortress was abandoned by its inhabitants in the 15th century and quickly lost value and started to decay. Today, climb to the top for impressive views of the beautiful valleys that stretch towards the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Guimarães Castle

Building

Guimarães Castle, Rua Conde Dom Henrique, Guimaraes, Portugal

View Tours

Guimarães Castle is one of the most important Medieval fortresses in northern Portugal. Its walls were built in the shape of a pentagram, complete with eight rectangular crenellated towers. Constructed in the 10th century, it later became the official royal residence of Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal, the father of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. The castle withstood the Battle of São Mamede in 1128, which resulted in the victory of Afonso and signified the starting point of an independent Portugal. Since then, the castle has been dubbed the birthplace of the Portuguese nation.

5. Almourol Castle

Building

Almourol Castle in Vila Nova da Barquinha (Portugal).

View Tours

On the top of a small rocky island in the middle of the Tagus River, this sandstone castle is one of the most picturesque fortresses in the country. It dates back to the 12th century, and despite its respectable age, the Almourol Castle is in good condition. The isle has long been a strategically important point, controlling the waterway along the Tagus, and it’s widely accepted that its name comes from the Arabic word almorolan, which means “high rock”. Indeed, this definition perfectly describes the location of the castle.

6. Tomar Castle

Building

View Tours

Erected in the 12th century, the Tomar Castle, once belonging to the Knights Templar, is also a convent. The structure was groundbreaking at the time in Portugal due to the incorporation of unusually rounded towers. Its original mission was to protect Portuguese land from the intrusion of Arabs (known in Iberia as the Moors). In 1312, Pope Clement V disbanded the Templars, and in the 15th century, the castle became the residence of King Manuel of Portugal, who made the most notable changes in the castle’s design when graceful decorations in the Manueline style were added.

7. Óbidos Castle

Building

View from the castle in Óbidos, Portugal

View Tours

The construction of Óbidos Castle dates back to the Roman presence in Portugal. It has cylindrical and square-shaped towers, while limestone and marble adorn the facade. It’s a fine example of a well-preserved fortification and has escaped the fate of being turned into woeful ruins. Today, it’s a small romantic hotel. The village surrounding the magical castle is known for its appealing landscapes and exuberance of greenery, along with quaint cobblestone streets and alleys. Visit the hotel to learn the hidden secrets of this Moorish castle.

8. Castle of Evoramonte

Architectural Landmark

View Tours

Another example of an interestingly shaped castle is the Castle of Evoramonte, which has four cylindrical towers. It’s where the Concession of Evoramonte was signed, thereby marking the end of a six-year civil war in Portugal in the 19th century. During his reign, King Afonso Henriques, accompanied by his wife, Queen Mafalda of Savoy, used the castle as his summer residence.

9. Castle of Belver

Building

The Castle of Belver was built to prevent enemy access to the Tagus River. After the defeat of King Sancho in the 12th century, he transferred the castle to the Order of the Hospitallers, which entrenched its monopoly of power over the entire region. Throughout the centuries, the fortress stood unaffected by external influences and has retained its archaic military construction of the Medieval period.

10. Castle of Viana do Alentejo

Building

One castle often overlooked by tourists is the Castle of Viana do Alentejo, which is a shame since this gothic masterpiece is one of the more beautiful fortresses in Portugal. In the heart of Alentejo, the white-and-grey pentagonal structure dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and has undergone a few restoration efforts – the last taking place around 2005. Topped with romantic towers and bordered on one side by a cathedral, it’s a lovely representation of Portuguese architecture from the 1300s.

If the National Palace of Pena in Sintra is calling your name, discover what else you can do here and see our favourite hotels in the area, now bookable via Culture Trip. Afterwards, head back to Lisbon, where you can continue your cultural expedition with these art galleries and museums. Make sure to try the famed pastéis de nata (custard tarts) before relaxing in one of the boutique hotels in the city.

This article was written in collaboration with Nina Santos.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.