Travel Tips Travel Photography 23 Photos That Will Have You Planning a Trip to Portugal ASAP By Erika Owen Erika Owen Instagram Website Erika Owen is a writer, editor, and author of three books. A self-proclaimed Iceland enthusiast who’s penned more than 350 travel stories, she's constantly on the search for the quirkiest and most beautiful corners of the world. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 14, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto If you haven’t been—and even if you have— Portugal should be next on your vacation list. While we could ramble on for hours about the unforgettable food, Instagram-worthy vistas, and hotels worth planning a trip around (and we have), there are a few obvious reasons this spot stood out among the rest when it came to choosing the Editor’s Pick for this year’s Destination of the Year poll. There are a few things that make a place vacation-worthy: delicious cuisines with a strong regional bond, sights that just can’t be found anywhere else, and the ability to attract travelers from the far ends of the budget (and everywhere in between). Portugal ranks in all of these—and it’s not just one city shadowing other less-visited destinations. Although Lisbon remains a must-stop on itineraries (as it should), head three hours north and you’ll find the cultural hub of Porto, where port tastings are the perfect option for filling lazy vacation days at the vineyard. If you’re looking for ancient ruins and enough castles to fill a volume of photo albums, head to Sintra. The Pena Palace remains a favorite, with its bold color palette that’s best seen against a sunrise or sunset. Don’t forget to take in the Moorish architecture of the Sintra National Palace—it’s not hard to see why Danish fairy tale author Hans Christian Anderson was so inspired by this city. An hour north of Sintra, you’ll find Obidos—a medieval town that dates back 700 years, topped by a castle that you can now spend the night in. And that’s only half of the country. Head south to see the pristine beaches or hop on a quick plane ride to Madeira, a series of four islands off the western coast that are known for their volcanic terrain and botanical gardens. Give yourself a couple of weeks, and you can get a solid taste for what this country has to offer. There is no wrong itinerary when it comes to Portugal—you just need to submit yourself to the fact that you’re going to have to visit more than once to truly experience everything it has to offer. Just in case you need a jump-start, we’ve wrangled up 23 photos that are sure to kick your wanderlust (and vacation planning) into hyperdrive. After all, you deserve a break from the day. 01 of 23 The Dom Luis Bridge Over the Douro River Alvaro Leiva 02 of 23 Zambujeira do Mar Alanna Hale 03 of 23 Vineyards Over Douro Valley Getty Images/iStockphoto 04 of 23 Praia da Rocha, Algarve Alanna Hale 05 of 23 A Serene Setting at Cabanas No Rio, Comporta Christopher Wise 06 of 23 The Church of Saint Ildefonso, Porto Getty Images/iStockphoto 07 of 23 Aerial View of Porto Alanna Hale 08 of 23 Casa Serralves, Porto Alvaro Leiva 09 of 23 Stretch of Beach at Porto Covo Christopher Wise 10 of 23 Coliseu do Porto Armando Rafael 11 of 23 Fishing Village Porto Covo Christopher Wise 12 of 23 Rooftops Across Lisbon Anna McKerrow 13 of 23 Getty Images/iStockphoto Gale Beach, Comporta 14 of 23 Cobblestone Street in Lisbon Anna McKerrow 15 of 23 Angra do Heroismo, Azores Getty Images/iStockphoto 16 of 23 Intricate Building Facade in Lisbon Anna McKerrow 17 of 23 Villa Extramuros, Horta do Chaveiro Christopher Wise 18 of 23 The Douro River in Porto Alvaro Leiva 19 of 23 Statue of Sao Jorge in Lisbon Anna McKerrow 20 of 23 Rooftops Across Porto Alvaro Leiva 21 of 23 Casa Serralves Gardens in Porto Armando Rafael 22 of 23 Beach at Cabanas No Rio, Comporta Christopher Wise 23 of 23 Palácio da Bolsa in Porto Armando Rafael Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit