Discover the Most Beautiful Castles in Portugal, the Best Castles and Fortresses in Portugal await you.

For those who venture beyond the coast, Portugal is full of treasures and beauties and has one of the most important heritage in Europe with castles straight out of children's tales.

Put on your armor and dive into the history of the Knights Templar to discover the castles of the first kings of Portugal.

Need more inspiration? Discover the Best Secret Destinations in Portugal, Best Things to do in Portugal, Best Natural Wonders in Portugal, Best Places to Visit in Portugal as well as the Best Beaches in Portugal.

Travel more and spend less by booking your flights, accommodation and tours & activites in Portugal at the best price.

1. The Castle of the Moors

Sintra

The castle of the Moors of Sintra is not the most famous or the most visited but historically speaking it is one of the Most Important Castles in Portugal. 

Walk around the ramparts of the castle and enjoy a magnificent view of the entire region. You can even see the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day.

Enjoy a short walk in the shade of the beautiful trees that surround this castle and the many laurels that perfume your way.

Opening hours: The castle is open every day from 9h to 18h.

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation in Sintra at the best price and your tours and activities in Sintra such as your "Castle of the Moors fast track ticket".

 How to get there: Book your flights to Lisbon (30 min by car, 50 min by public transport). 

 Where to stay: For a 100% Portuguese stay, book your room at the "Villa Estefania", an elegant, fully renovated centenary house with views to the Moorish Castle.

2. São Jorge Castle

Lisbon

It is 5.30 pm now, the sky is setting on the horizon, the sun's rays are reflected on the Tagus also called "sea of straw" for its thousand reflections. You contemplate the 7 hills of Lisbon, the 25th April bridge, the Cristo Rei.

Overlooking the typical Alfama neighbourhood, you are on the ramparts of São Jorge Castle, one of the Best Castles in Portugal, facing one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in Lisbon such as the "Sao Jorge Castle skip-the-tail ticket with escort" or an "Alfama and Sao Jorge Castle 3-hour tour".

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon. 

 Where to stay:  "Lisboa Pessoa Hotel" located in the centre of Lisbon. 

3. Obidos Castle

Obidos

The city of Obidos, the castle and its ramparts are superb. Do not miss a visit to this castle during the medieval festival of Obidos: it takes place the first week of July.

The castle is open every day from 9h to 17h. It is located one hour from Lisbon and 15 minutes from the beautiful city of Peniche.

Book your hotel at the best price in Peniche or Lisbon as well as your tours and activities in Obidos such as a "Fatima, Obidos, Batalha & Nazaré day tour from Lisbon" and discover one of the Most Beautiful Castles in Portugal.

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon (1h by car). 

 Where to stay:  "Casal Da Eira Branca - Obidos" set in Óbidos Medieval Centre.

4. Leiria Castle

Leiria

Open every day of the week from 10h to 18h, the castle of Leiria, one of the Best Castles in Portugal, is perched on the heights of this charming city, is worth a visit.

You will feel like a chatelain while strolling through this castle. There is only one way to get to it: walk up the endless steps to the top. The view of the entire region  from this castle is breathtaking ( entrance ticket: 2 euros).

Leiria Castle is located 1h30 by car from Lisbon and only 30 minutes from the charming city of Nazaré. 

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation in Leiria at the best price and your tours and activities in Leiria

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon (1h30 by car).

 Where to stay: "Hotel Leiria Classic".

5. Pena National Palace

Sintra

Ranked first among the most beautiful castles in Europe, Pena Palace seems straight out of a fairy tale. 

Sintra is a must-see destination for history and castles lovers, and for hikers too. Several magnificent palaces and castles await you in Sintra, just 30 minutes by car or train from Lisbon.

During your stay in Sintra do not miss the Moors Castle, the Monserrate Palace, the Regaleira Palace and also Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent. 

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation in Lisbon or Sintra at the best price and your tours and activities in Sintra such as a "From lisbon: Sintra highlights full-day tour". 

Opening hours: The National Palace of Pena is open every weekday from 10h to 18h. 

 How to get there: Book your flights to Lisbon (30min by car). 

 Where to stay:  For a 100% Portuguese stay, book your room at the "Villa Estefania". 

6. Almourol Castle

Constancia - Centro de Portugal

Alone on its island, in the middle of the Tagus River and 1.5 hours from Lisbon, Almourol Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal.

This castle was erected by the Templars in the 12th century but was almost completely destroyed and rebuilt in the 19th century in a medieval style.

After welcoming kings and knights, the castle became an official residence of the republic and is open to the public today. The entrance is free of charge except for the crossing ( two euros).

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation at the best price in Portugal and your tours and activities such as a "Tomar and Almourol private tour". Go on a quest for the knights templar legacy!

The castle is open every day of the week from 9am to 5.30pm.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Lisbon (1h30 by car). 

 Where to stay:  "Casinha da Praça" situated in the historic centre of Constância, 6km from Almourol Castle.

7. Governors Castle

Lagos

This "Governors Castle", one of the Best Castles in Portugal, is located in Lagos, one of the cities with the highest tourist growth in Portugal.

Lagos is a mix of history, beaches, nightlife, shops, good restaurants; it is a perfect destination for family holidays or couples in the south of Portugal.

This castle previously surrounded the entire city of Lagos which was contained inside its enclosures. It was built to defend the inhabitants of Lagos from any invasion. 

The monumental gate of this castle will take you to the Lagos Marina; experience a passage between tradition and modernity.

Book your flights to Faro, your accommodation at the best price in Lagos and your tours and activities in Lagos. 

 How to get there: Book your flights to Faro (1h by car) and your transfer.

 Where to stay:  "Lagos Atlantic Hotel" a charming 3-star hotel with an outdoor pool. 

8. Forte de São Filipe - Setubal Castle

Setubal

Located on the heights of Setubal, this castle was recently transformed into a hotel with restaurant. So you can stay or just have a drink and enjoy a panoramic view of Setubal and the Arrabida Natural Park.

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation at the best price in Lisbon or Setubal and your tours and activities such as a "Lisbon Private Setubal region wine tasting tour" or a "Full-day dolphin watching tour from Lisbon". 

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon (50 min by car). 

 Where to stay: "Lisboa Pessoa Hotel" located in the centre of Lisbon. 

9. Guimaraes Castle

Guimaraes

Guimaraes Castle is located in northern Portugal, just 40 minutes drive from the beautiful city of Porto (1h30 by train from Campanha station).

This castle, of medieval style, is famous: it was inhabited by the first king of Portugal, King Alfonso I. The interior of the castle was partly destroyed but is worth a visit for the breathtaking view of the city of Guimaraes from its towers.

The entrance ticket is only 2 euros (6 euros altogether with the entrance ticket to the House of the Dukes of Braganca).

Opening hours: The castle is open every day of the week from 10h to 18h.

Book your flights to Porto and your accommodation at the best price and discover  this nation’s birthplace.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Porto (40 min by car / 1h30 by train from Campanha Station). 

 Where to stay: "Porto Moments", located in the heart of the historical district of Gaia.

10. Silves Castle

Silves

It's like an apparition: you are driving on the beautiful sunny roads of the Algarve and all of a sudden this incredible landscape is offered to you: Silves and its magnificent medieval castle ranked among the Best Castles in Portugal.

Do not just get around the castle, visit it, if you are not passionate about history you can enjoy magnificent views of Silves and the area.

If you are a connoisseur you will have noticed its architecture: this castle is the work of the Moors who have long occupied the region. Silves is also the last Arab kingdom of Portugal before the reconquest.

Book your flights to Faro as well as your accommodation at the best price in the Algarve. 

Opening hours: Silves Castle is open every day from 9am to 10pm (except Sunday when it closes at 17h).

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Faro (30 min by car) and your transfer. 

 Where to stay: We recommend the "Algarve Moments", a beautiful apartment located in Porches; it is a perfect place to discover the whole Algarve.

11. Arraiolos Castle

Arraiolos - Evora - Alentejo

The castle of Arraiolos is located at the top of Arraiolos (more than 300 metres high), a pretty little town located in the Alentejo region. It is one of the Best Castles in Portugal.

This castle is quite surprising since it is completely circular. Being located on the heights it can be very windy and colder than in the valley in the heart of winter.

In the 14th century the inhabitants were fed up  with this wind and cold and decided to leave the place. Helpless, the lords, told them that they would no longer receive the sacrament if they left the castle but the inhabitants although they very religious, could not stand the cold and wind any longer and left the castle all the same, too bad for the sacrament.

Book your flights to Lisbon and your accommodation at the best price in Lisbon or in the Alentejo region. 

Arraiolos Castle is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, admission is free.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Lisbon (1h20min by car). 

 Where to stay: "Pousada Convento de Arraiolos", a former convent dating from the 16th century. 

12. Sabugal Castle

Sabugal - Centro de Portugal

The castle of Sabugal is located 2h20 from the very romantic city of Porto.

Visiting this castle is like diving into centuries of history, invasions and reconquests. 

Opening hours: Open every day of the week from 10h to 18h, except Sunday and Monday. 

 How to get there: Book your flights to Porto (2h30 by car), your accommodation at the best price and your tours in Portugal and discover the most beautiful castles of Portugal. 

 Where to stay: "Casas da Lagariça" 2 houses with stone walls set in a traditional farmhouse (5 minute drive from Sabugal).

13. Castle of Santa Maria da Feira

Santa Maria da Feira

Located between the beautiful cities of Porto and Aveiro (the Venice of Portugal), the Santa Maria da Feira Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal.

It is one of the most important Portuguese monuments: its architectural aspect is unique and so is its importance in the history of Portugal. The name "Feira" comes from the medieval fair (fair is called "Feira" in Portuguese) that used to take place at the foot of the castle in the past; the tradition of the fair resurrected a few years ago. 

Opening hours: The castle is open from 9:30 to 18h on weekdays (break time from 12h30 to 13h) except on Mondays when it is closed.

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Porto (20min by car), your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in Porto. 

 Where to stay: "Porto Moments", located in the historic heart of Porto & Gaia.

14. Tomar Castle

Tomar - Centro de Portugal

Located 1h30 from the Portuguese capital, Tomar Castle is worth a visit as well as the Almourol Castle, also ranked among the most beautiful castles in Portugal and just 20 minutes drive from Tomar Castle.

This region is known for the beauty of its castles and will immerse you in the Knights Templar times. The city of Tomar is also known as the "Cidade dos Templarios", the city of Templar: if you look at the historic centre from the sky, you will see that it was built in the shape of a cross.

Come and discover all the secrets of this castle it is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm (closed from 13h to 14h30).

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon (1h15 by car), your accommodation at the best price in Lisbon or Tomar and your tours and activities such as a "From Lisbon: Tomar templar full-day private tour".

 Where to stay: "Hotel Dos Templarios". It features a spa and lagoon-style pool with wiews of Tomar Citadel. 

15. Belver Castle

Belver - Alentejo Region

Only 1h30 from Lisbon, Belver Castle dominates the Tagus River and is one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal.

Enjoy a magnificent view of the Tagus River and this beautiful part of the Alentejo region from the top of the castle.

Book your flights to Lisbon, your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in the Alentejo such as an "Evora full-day tour with wine tasting from Lisbon".

Opening hours: Belver Castle is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm (it is closed at lunch time from 1 pm to 2 pm and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).

 How to get there: Book your flights to Lisbon (1h30 by car).  

 Where to stay: "Quinta do Belo-Ver Turismo de Habitacao" is situated in historic Belver. 

16. Marvao Castle

Marvao

Want to leave the beaten tracks and venture inland? This castle will be your favourite! Many tourists use to simply visit the coast of Portugal, but many treasures and heritage riches are hidden inland.

Marvao is located 2h30 from Lisbon and 5 minutes from the Spanish border. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, this very well preserved medieval castle was built by an Islamic Knight before the region was conquered by the first king of Portugal, King D. Afonso 1 in the 12th century.

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Lisbon (2h30 by car), your hotel in Marvao at the best price and your tours and activities such as a "Full-day private Marvao & Roman Ammaia tour".

 Where to stay: Looking for an unusual accommodation? Book your room at the "Train Spot Guesthouse".