What is Portugal famous and known for? First of all, it’s known for being one of our absolute favorite countries in Europe!
But really, there is much more to Portugal than our personal opinion and love for the country.
Portugal is known for so many great things such as incredibly colorful tiles, sunny cities, Christiano Ronaldo’s right foot, delicious food and wine, and much more!
In this blog post, I’ll share everything (at least as far as my knowledge goes) that Portugal is famous and known for – both the obvious stuff and the unusual things that you maybe didn’t know about Portugal. I really enjoy putting these kind of posts together, so I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Now let’s jump right into it! Here are 30 GREAT things that Portugal is famous and known for.
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1. Portugal is famous for Port Wine
Port wine, which is also known as Vinho do Porto, is a Portuguese type of red wine that is made in the Northern region of Portugal. It’s one of the most famous drinks produced in Portugal, and it’s really a must try – especially if you find yourself in Porto or the Douro Valley in general.
Port wine is sweet, and it’s therefore often served as a dessert wine. If I’m being completely honest with you, I actually really don’t like Port wine, it’s waaay too sweet for my taste. But I find it excellent to cook with! (Blasphemy, I’m sure the connoisseurs think…)
During our trip to Porto, Glenn and his best friend went on this great Port wine tour. The tour took 4 hours during which they went to 3 Port houses and tasted 7 different port wines – plus their guide was also amazing!
Related blog post: Best Viewpoints in Porto
2. Vinho Verde is a special type of Portuguese wine
Sticking to the wine category, Portugal is in general known for producing many great wines. One of the more special wines that you should try if you’re a connoisseur is the Vinho Verde.
Vinho Verde literally translates to “Green wine”, but actually refers to a “Young wine.” It’s a young wine because it’s often consumed within just a couple of months after the harvest of the grapes. Vinho Verde also often have small bubbles in it, which I absolutely love!
The wine is produced in the Northern regions, but you can usually find Vinho Verde on the menu in most restaurants in Portugal. So, make sure to try this fizzy, young wine on your next trip to Portugal!
If it’s your first time in Portugal, then we can definitely recommend you to do a wine and food tour, so you know what to look for on the menu. Check out this wine and food tour from Porto where you get to taste 3 different Vinho Verdes and 12 Portuguese finger food tastings.
3. Pastel de Nata is Portugal’s heavenly custard tart
All right, moving on from all the wine talk… and jumping straight into the food talk. Portugal is famous for so many great dishes, yet one of their most popular things to try is the Pastel de Nata.
Also known as Pastéis de Nata or Pastéis de Bélem, the Pastel de Nata is a delicious custard tart that’s creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Basically, it’s a little bite of heaven!
You can find Pastel de Nata in many bakeries around Portugal. However, it originates from Lisbon where it’s custom to enjoy a Pastel de Nata with an espresso on the side as a light breakfast. This little custard tart is a MUST TRY on your trip to Portugal, and they only cost around €1-2 per piece. Just heavenly!
4. Portuguese cheese is made from sheep milk
A thing that people rarely talk about, yet it’s definitely something we find Portugal famous for, is the incredible cheese. The Portuguese cheese is much different from your Dutch Gouda or English Cheddar.
Why? Because a lot (not all) of the cheeses are made from sheep milk, which gives a different kind of texture and flavor compared to the classic cow cheeses.
So make sure to try out some of the local cheese when you’re in Portugal! Preferably combined with a glass of Vinho Verde, and you got yourself a little tapas! If you want to learn more about which Portuguese cheeses to try, then you can check out this cheese and wine tour in Lisbon.
5. Grilled sardines is a classic Portuguese dish
You know what? I’m just going to stay in the food corner in this first part of this blog post, now that I got the ball rollin’!
So another one of the most known and popular things to try in Portugal are the grilled sardines. So yummy! Even though we’re not the biggest fan of sardines, they just taste delicious when grilled!
In Portugal, grilled sardines are often served on a plate with sides of boiled potatoes, salad and bread. The grilled sardines can also be served just as is on a plate, and you can share them as a snack with a special someone. GOD! They’re good.
6. Bacalhau is on (almost) every menu in Portugal
THE MOST FAMOUS thing to eat in Portugal is probably Bacalhau. “Bacalhau” literally translates into “codfish”, and it’s on sooo many menus all over Portugal.
According to Wikipedia (Yep, strong on my sources here!) there are more than 1000 different recipes in Portugal for how to cook codfish. So, you’ll most likely not eat the same type of Bacalhau dish in the restaurants.
If you want to try something really Portuguese, then Bacalhau is a must!
7. Piri Piri Chicken comes from Portugal
All right, LAST food item on the list, promise! But isn’t it lovely that Portugal is famous for so many great things to eat and drink? Being a big foodie myself, it’s one of the reasons why I love this country.
The list of great famous things from Portugal simply wouldn’t be complete without a spot for the Piri Piri Chicken.
Piri Piri Chicken, also known as Frango Assado, is a super flavorful grilled chicken dish that originates from Algarve. It’s basically a chicken slapped on a grill with piri piri sauce, which is made of chili and other goodies. So, if you need a break from all the delicious fish in Portugal, you should try their chicken.
8. Portugal is famous for its colorful tiles
Portugal is known for having the most beautiful, colorful, and detailed tiles placed on the facade of the houses, which creates a unique look for each building.
The tiles, which are also known as Azulejos, are basically tin-glazed ceramic tile- and artwork. Azulejos can be found on official buildings, churches, schools, regular houses – basically everywhere in Portugal!
Unfortunately, I don’t know much about Azulejos, but if you’re interested in learning more, then you can book a guided full-day tour to a Tile Workshop.
One of the BEST places to appreciate the beautiful tilework (for free!) is in Lisbon’s neighborhood, Alfama. Here most of the buildings have Azulejos on the outside, which creates a colorful, beautiful, and vibrant neighborhood. It’s our absolute favorite neighborhood in Lisbon, and it’s a MUST VISIT on any trip to Portugal’s capital!
Related blog post: The best things to do in Alfama
9. The Rooster of Barcelos is a Portuguese symbol
When visiting Portugal, you’ll most likely find small rooster figurines in the tourist shops. These figurines are known as the “Rooster of Barcelos”, which refers to one of Portugal’s most famous legends and folk tales.
According to the legend, a pilgrim was falsely accused of terrible crimes while he was passing by the city of Barcelos. The pilgrim went before the judge and pledged innocent. He told the judge that he was condemning an innocent man to death, and to prove it, a rooster would crow before he would be hanged.
Just as the pilgrim was sent to the gallows, a rooster jumped up in front of the crowd and started crowing. The judge realized his mistake, and the pilgrim was saved.
Isn’t this a cool legend?
10. Portugal is a big football nation
Portugal is a huge football nation, and we think it would be a fun place to be during the UEFA Cup and the World Cup! I can only imagine how crazy it must have been to be back in Portugal in 2016 when they won the European Championship.
While they have several good players, it’s no surprise that the all-time most popular player is Christiano Ronaldo. His right foot still holds the record for most scored goals on the National Team of Portugal. I mean, even people who doesn’t watch football still knows who Christiano Ronaldo is… Am I right?
11. Portugal is famous for its 7 wonders
Did you know that Portugal actually made their own “7 Wonders”-list of the most precious, cultural places in the country? Back in 2007, the Portuguese people voted for what should become the 7 wonders of Portugal.
Here is the list of the top 7 incredible places that Portugal is famous for, according to its own people:
- Belém Tower
- Pena Palace
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Castle of Óbidos
- Alcobaça Monastery
- Batalha Monastery
- Castle of Guimarães
All of these places look out of this world! And we’re pretty sure they’re all on the UNESCO World Heritage List – or at least included in areas, which are on the list. How many of the 7 wonders have you been to? We’ve only visited two sites, so far.
Related blog post: 10 Things to do in Guimarães – Portugal’s Beautiful Birthplace
12. Portugal is known as one of Europe’s oldest countries
The Kingdom of Portugal was founded on the 25th of July in 1139, which makes Portugal one of the oldest countries in all of Europe!
This means that Portugal is FULL of history. There are so many great buildings, castles, monuments, and ruins that you can explore all over Portugal. And the history (of course) dates back to way before the kingdom was actually founded. Did you for example know that Lisbon has a Roman amphitheater? Or that the Moors had many settlements in Portugal? – one of them being the incredible castle in Lisbon.
We’re not going to dive deeper into the history of Portugal because that could take a while…plus, we’re not historians. BUT you should definitely learn a bit about the history of Portugal if you’re planning a trip to this magnificent country.
Related blog post: All you need to know about Castelo de São Jorge
13. Lisbon has the oldest bookstore in the world
Livraria Bertrand is the oldest functioning bookstore in the world! Isn’t that cool?!
So basically, there were many bookstores before this one, but Bertrand is the one to hold the world record as the oldest one in function. The bookstore was founded back in 1732, and it can be found on a shopping street in Chiado, Lisbon.
It’s such a cool store! The outside is covered with blue Azulejos, and the inside is beautifully decorated in a way that gives an old, classic feel to the store.
It’s completely free to visit Livraria Bertrand on your trip to Lisbon! And what better souvenir to bring home than a book? They even have a good selection of English books, so don’t worry if you can’t read Portuguese.
Related blog post: What to see in 2 days in Lisbon?
14. Fado music originates from Lisbon
Portugal is famous for having its own music genre, Fado, which is so different from other music genres. Fado translates into “Destiny” or “Fate”, and is referred to as a melancholic “saudade”, which means “longing.”
The music genre originates from the 1820s in Lisbon. It’s a melancholic way of singing about the hardships of everyday life. It’s often just one female or male singing to the sound of guitars. While we’ve never experienced Fado, we’ve heard it should be a beautiful experience!
There are several restaurants in Lisbon where you can eat while listening to Fado live – or you can visit the Fado museum in Alfama for just €5 if you want to know more.
15. Portugal is the biggest cork producer in the world
Yep! You heard it right. One of the things that Portugal is most famous for is being the biggest cork producer in the entire world! Thus, cork is one of Portugal’s most important export industries.
Cork is made from the bark of tree, and Portugal has the biggest cork tree plantations in the world. Therefore, it’s common to find things in Portugal made of cork. You can even find stores that are dedicated to only sell handbags, shoes, and belts made out of cork!
So, think about Portugal next time you open a bottle of wine, because there is a good chance that the cork comes from this lovely country.
16. Portugal is known for quality shoes and bags
Apart from shoes and bags made out of cork, you can also find high-end quality leather shoes and handbags in Portugal. It’s a great country to go do some shopping if you want to buy something that lasts!
While vegans might not want to buy leather products (which I totally respect!), I find that a great leather bag can last me up to 20 years, whereas a bag made from plastic will only last me 1-2 years. That’s why I prefer to buy less often, but when I get something, it must be high quality.
So, I of course got my own quality leather bag last time we were in Lisbon, which barely looks or feels used. That bag will be with me for many years to come.
17. Portuguese people are super friendly
One thing we learned from living in Lisbon for 3 months is that the Portuguese people are the friendliest! No, seriously! The amount of smiles we got during our time in Portugal was crazy. No offence to the rest of Europe (we’re European ourselves), but it’s not a continent that’s exactly known for smiling… At least not when you compare it to other world regions like Southeast Asia.
But in Portugal, we met so many friendly people during our walks. We even noticed that going back to the same restaurant twice often resulted in free drinks and snacks! WHAT?! Thank you, Portugal.
Portugal will always have a special place in our hearts, because it’s where Glenn and I could be together as an international couple during the world lockdown in 2020. So, in our personal opinion, one of the things that Portugal is most known for is friendliness!
Related blog post: What we did in Lisbon during lockdown
18. The sun is (almost) always shining!
Portugal is known for having some of the best weather in Europe. In fact, Lisbon is the sunniest capital city in all of Europe! So, you’ll most likely see the sun here, even if you only head for a short weekend trip to Lisbon.
We believe that Faro is the most sunny place in all of Portugal, so if you want to make sure to get a clear blue sky, you need to head further down south.
Many regions in Portugal never experience a cold winter because it’s simply too hot for minus degrees. But that doesn’t means that it never snows in Portugal – the further north you go, the more chance you’ll have of snow. But in general, Portugal is a great winter destination for those looking to escape the cold North of Europe.
19. Portugal has many famous explorers
Portugal played a big role in the Age of Discovery and is known for its many famous explorers. Together with Spain, Portugal dominated the 15th century and claimed many territories around the world. Portugal colonized several countries in Africa, parts of India, many islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and of course, Brazil.
Here are a few known Portuguese explorers:
- Vasco da Gama (1460–1524) was the first European to reach India in the late 15th century.
- Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467–1520) accidentally discovered Brazil in 1500.
- Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was the first person to sail around South America. In fact, the Magellanic penguins in Patagonia are named after Ferdinand Magellan because he discovered the bird!
Related blog post: A guide to the Magellanic penguins in Punta Arenas, Chile
20. More than 250 million people speak Portuguese
Even though Portugal only have 10 million inhabitants, more than 250 million people in the world actually speak Portuguese! It’s estimated to be the 9th most spoken language in the world.
The reason why so many people speak the Portuguese language is because of all the Portuguese colonies. As we just mentioned above, Portugal was very busy during the Age of Discovery with colonizing several places around the world.
Learn more here: Facts about Portuguese
21. Famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) was one of the greatest poets in Europe during the 20th century. Pessoa created remarkable literature in his time, and he was known for using heteronyms (alter egos), which meant he was publishing under other names than his own. He created characters under these heteronyms of his, who all had different personalities regarding temperament, appearances, and writing styles.
Isn’t this cool? He somehow allowed himself more creative freedom by writing as different characters.
The day before Pessoa passed away in the hospital, he wrote this famous quote: “I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.” – What remarkable last words!
Fernando Pessoa is known for being one of the most famous people in Portugal, and you can find the popular statue of him next to the Baixa-Chiado Metro Station in Lisbon.
22. The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge
So here is the thing, several bridges around the world claim to be the “World’s longest pedestrian bridge”, but Portugal’s newly opened 516 Arouca Bridge surely takes the first place.
The 516 Arouca Bridge is a suspension bridge, which is hanging 175 meters above the Paiva River in Northern Portugal. And as the name indicates, the bridge is a total of 516 meters long!
Sooo… If you’re afraid of heights like me, then walking this incredible bridge could be a challenge. However, if you’re a thrill seeker, then this is surely an item that needs to be on your bucket list! I mean, you cannot hang 175 meters above ground and not feel any adrenaline! Right?
Plan your trip: book a tour to Arouca 516 online.
23. Portugal is famous for the Azores
The Azores are a unique group of 9 islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands should be incredibly green and lush because of the volcanic activity on the islands and in the ocean surrounding the islands.
This means there are some incredible hiking trails here.
We haven’t been yet, but can’t wait to go some day!
24. Rota Vicentina is a popular hiking network
Rota Vicentina is a network of hiking trails in the Southwest of Portugal. While there are many beautiful walks in Portugal, the Rota Vicentina hiking trails stand out.
Rota vicentina includes two multi-day hikes, which are the Fishermen’s Trail and the Historical Way, but you can also find several day hikes on the trail. The Fishermen’s Trail takes 4 days and follows the coast down to Cabo de SãoVicente, whereas the Historical Way takes 10+ days to finish and follows the trail inlands down to Cabo de São Vicente.
If you’re a keen hiker, you should definitely look into doing one of the hiking trails at Rota Vicentina as it’s one of the most popular, beautiful, and famous places for hiking in Portugal.
25. Family matters in Portugal
One of the things that we think Portugal is best known for is the importance of family. In Denmark, where I, Cecilie, come from, we’re known for just putting our older generations in nursing homes, and then we’ll come and revisit for the big holidays. I actually find this really sad!
Family is SO important! And in Portugal, you’ll often see the younger generations take care of the older generations. It’s also not uncommon to see several generations live under the same roof.
So in my opinion, this is one of the things that some of us could learn from Portugal. Cherish your family!
26. Portugal is known for its yellow trams
When many people think of Lisbon or Porto, they imagine the yellow trams. It has even become quite the tourist attraction to jump on Tram #28 in Lisbon as they’re often filled to the brim with tourists wanting a ride.
The trams in these big cities were introduced in the 1870s, but back then it was mules that was dragging the trams. Poor creatures! Luckily, they soon figured out how to make the trams run on cables, which is what we see today.
These yellow trams are so iconic to Portugal and it’s one of those things that the country is known for by tourists.
27. Portugal is famous for surfing
There are several good surfing spots in Portugal, but nothing quite beats Nazaré. In fact, Nazaré has some of the biggest waves on the planet, which can go up to 30 meters!
Portugal is definitely famous for its great surf spots, and it’s therefore a MUST-VISIT destination for all enthusiastic surfers.
28. Portugal is one of the world’s best golf destinations
Apart from football and surfing, Portugal is also known for golf. Especially in the Algarve region, you’ll find some incredible golf courses and resorts.
Portugal has won the award for the “Best golf destination in the World”, multiple times! So, if you love golfing, then Portugal should be on the top of your bucket list.
29. Portugal has some of Europe’s best beaches
Portugal is also famous for its incredibly beautiful beaches! With great weather and a 900+ kilometer long coastline, Portugal has some of Europe’s best beaches.
The most popular ones are located in the Algarve region, however, did you know that you can actually also go to the beach in Lisbon? Not many capitals in Europe can can brag about having their own beaches.
Related blog post: Where to stay on the Algarve Coast?
30. Portugal is known as a budget-friendly destination
We wanted to end this blog post on a note that might push you over the edge to visit this incredible country – Portugal is known as a budget-friendly destination. And it’s really true!
After spending more than 3 months in Lisbon + 1 whole month traveling through the country, we can confirm that everything is much cheaper than where we’re from in the cold North of Europe. An espresso will only set you back €1, whereas the average price for a glass of wine is about €3. We also found grocery prices pretty cheap and museum prices very affordable.
Portugal is honestly (in our opinion!) one of the BEST and most AFFORDABLE countries to travel in Europe. So what are you waiting for?
Thanks for reading this blog post about what Portugal is famous and known for! We hope that you feel like you know a bit more about Portugal now. And if you’re planning a trip to this amazing country, then we wish you all the best!
Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you think that we missed some important things that Portugal is famous for! We’d love to hear your input.
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What a fantastic list! I love how you highlighted both the well-known and lesser-known aspects of Portugal. The mention of pastel de nata made me crave one immediately! It’s also great to see the emphasis on the country’s rich culture and history. Can’t wait to explore these wonders on my next trip!
I loved this post! Portugal has such a rich culture and history. The spotlight on its delicious cuisine, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant music really captured my interest. I can’t wait to visit and experience everything firsthand!