Looking to add a little adventure to your European vacation in Portugal? From incredible hiking to surfing in the Algarve, here are 9 of the best adventurous things to do in Portugal.
Portugal is a beautiful country and is way under-hyped in the adventure travel world. Before my trip to Portugal in November 2021, the country was not even on my radar for adventurous places to visit. However, mainland Portugal is filled with some of the most incredible outdoor views, hiking, and epic adventures.
Located on the west coast of Europe, Portugal features some of the best hiking I have ever done. There are both multi-day trails and day hikes to partake in. The country also has a portion in the south known as the Algarve that features world-class surfing and some incredible sea cliffs. On top of all this, Portugal’s mild climate welcomes visitors at all times of the year.
If you love visiting the sights but also want a taste of adventure when you travel, then you are in the right place! Here are 9 of the best adventurous things to do in mainland Portugal.
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9 Adventurous Things to Do in Mainland Portugal
1. Hike the Sintra Coastal Trail and Visit Cabo Da Roca
In my books, this activity deserves first place on this list of adventurous things to do in Portugal. The Sintra Coastal Trail was the best thing I did on my entire trip and one of the best hikes I’ve done in all of my travels (and I’ve hiked in the Himalayan mountains!). On this hike you’ll experience some jaw-dropping cliff views, a super unique trail, insane beaches and more. Hiking the Sintra Coastal trail is a must if you love adventures in the outdoors.
This trail is super accessible from Lisbon and is only a short bus ride away from the popular World Heritage Cultural Landscape site of Sintra. You can add this into your itinerary from either Lisbon or Sintra. Check out the guide below for full details on how to hike the Sintra Coastal Trail in Portugal.
Read Related Post: A Full Guide to Hiking the Sintra Coastal Trail in Portugal
2. Take a Bike Tour Through the Douro Valley
Another popular adventure to do in Portugal is to take a bicycle tour through the Douro Valley. Located near Porto and home to some of the best wine in the world, the Douro Valley features gorgeous rolling hills and beautiful vineyards. The Douro Valley is considered UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to some of the oldest vineyards in Europe. The area is filled with charming towns and an impressive natural landscape.
Bike tours are an excellent way to see the region while getting in a little adventure. You’ll be able to explore at a pace that allows you to take it all in.
How to Book:
There are several companies that run bike tours through the Douro Valley. You can book with Portugal Bike Tours or through your accommodation when you get there. You will likely be staying in Porto to partake in a tour of the Douro valley and many of the hotels and hostels will offer partnered tours.
When to Go:
With Portugal’s climate remaining comfortable throughout the year, you can partake in a bike tour at any time. However, I would be cautious about booking a bike tour in the middle of summer because the temperatures can get quite hot. Keep this in mind and bring lots of water if you decide to go.
3. Go Surfing in One of Portugal’s Many Surf Spots
Next on our list of adventurous things to do in Portugal, we have surfing! The surfing in Portugal is fantastic. There are several locations you can surf along the coast in Portugal. However, surfing is particularly popular in the Algarve, which is an excellent place you should have on your itinerary anyways.
I took a surfing tour while staying in Lagos and was blown away. No matter what level of experience you have, surfing is an awesome adventure activity to do in Portugal. By joining a surfing lesson, the company will transport you to and from the beach and include all the equipment needed to surf. They check the surfing conditions every morning and take you to whatever beach will suit your level of difficulty. Plus you’ll be hanging out on one of Portugal’s beautiful beaches all day!
Where to Book:
You can sign up for a surfing tour by visiting one of the nearby surf shops. I simply walked into a surf shop nearby and signed up for the next day. They have options to sign up for multi day tours, where you can take lessons for multiple days in a row to fast track your surfing abilities.
When to Go:
Plus there is surfing at all times of year. Once the fall and winter season come along, you can still surf but will be given a wet suit to keep you warmer in the water. I visited in November and with a wet suit was perfectly warm the entire time.
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4. Go Sea Kayaking Along the Cliffs and Caves in the Algarve
Lagos’ coast is lined by large yellow coloured sandstone cliffs. Featuring different shapes, caves, arches and grottos, these coastal cliffs are an incredible sight. And what better way to view them by getting up close and personal?
Sea kayaking tours along the cliffs in Lagos are an incredible adventure to experience the beauty of Portugal’s cliffs while having an epic adventure. On the tour, you will kayak right up to the cliffs, through archways and explore hidden caves. To make it even better, the guides have an awesome knowledge about the different beaches and have some interesting stories related to them.
Where to Book:
You can book a kayaking tour at any of the tourist stands in town. You can also potentially book through your accommodation. Many hotels and hostels in this area of Portugal will offer tours partnered with local tour companies.
When to Go:
Sea kayaking is a seasonal activity in Portugal due to the ocean conditions in the late fall and winter months. Tours start operating sometime in May and run through until about late October. However, I visited Portugal in mid November and the season had continuously been extended because the conditions were good. I was still able to partake in an awesome kayaking tour, the waves were just a little rockier. Nothing we couldn’t manage though!
5. Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Hike
Continuing on with another gorgeous hike, the Seven Hanging Valleys hike is a great adventurous activity to do in mainland Portugal. The trail is located in the south of Portugal in the Algarve. It hugs the southern coast and takes you through several beautiful beaches with incredible views of the cliffs along the way. You’ll be hiking along the top of the coastal cliffs offering perfect views of the impressive seascapes.
The trail is a 12 km one way hike and can be done in either direction. If you are driving and parked in one spot, then you will likely be hiking there and back. You can easily just hike portions of the trail and back if you don’t want to hike the entire distance.
How to do the Hike:
The hike starts in Praia da Marinha and ends in Praia de Vale Centeanes. You can either drive and park nearby the trailhead, take a taxi/uber or take public transportation depending on where you are staying.
When to Go:
Again, due to Portugal’s mild climate year-round, this hike can be done anytime. However, the summer months can get quite hot in the summer. If you are hiking in the summer, I recommend starting on the trail early to avoid the brunt of the mid-day heat.
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6. Swim into the Benagil Cave
The Benagil cave is one the most popular attractions in the south of Portugal, and for good reason. The Benagil cave is a sea known for its beautiful natural formations and a distinct hole in it’s top.
Accessible only from the water, there are a variety of ways you can visit the cave. These may include boat tours, kayaking, party boats, and more. My personal favourite… a swimming tour! There are several tour companies that provide you the opportunity to swim into the cave and get out and explore while inside. Bring a waterproof bag with your small camera or phone and take some unbeatable pictures while inside.
How to Book:
Similar to the sea kayaking tours, there will be many tour companies located around the towns in the Algarve. You can also potentially book the tour through your accommodation. If you are visiting in peak season around July and August, you may want to book online in advance, as this region does get pretty crowded.
When to Go:
Swimming into the Benagil cave is also a seasonal activity due to the winter weather conditions. Once fall and winter hit the sea levels become too high and the water too rough. The best time of year to swim into the Benagil caves will be from June until September.
7. Take a Dolphin Watching Tour
Another fantastic adventure activity to do is take a dolphin watching tour off of Portugal’s beautiful south coast. If you love animals and want the experience the rush of trying to find a pod of dolphins, then this adventure is for you. The tours will take you out on a boat along the coast in the Algarve where you’ll see jagged cliffs and incredible views of the coast. You may even have the chance to get out and go for an ocean swim!
There is obviously no guarantee for dolphin sightings because they are wild animals. Worst case, you get a great day of boating and swimming around the coast. The tour lasts for about 2 hours.
How to Book:
There are several tourist stands that offer tours all over the popular towns in the Algarve. However, if you’d like to book in advance here are some companies that offer dolphin watching tours:
- In Lagos: SeaLife Dolphin Watching
- In Faro: Formosamar Boat Tours
- In Albufeira: Dream Wave
When to Go:
In most locations in Portugal, Dolphins can be seen year round. However the best months to go are in the peak summer months when they are most active between June and September. This is also when tours will be operating at the most capacity, because a lot of tour companies will actually close for the winter months between November and May.
8. Hike a Portion of the Rota Vicentina Trail Network
The Rota Vicentina is a network of different hiking routes that takes up 226 km along Portugal’s coast. The trails mostly consist of waterfront hiking, where you’ll witness impressive seascapes and towering cliffs. There are several routes you can take on this hike. It largely depends on how long and far you are wanting to hike. The trail is known to be relatively easy to navigate and hike.
The most popular portion of the hike is known as the Fisherman’s trail and is 75 km long. The Fisherman’s trail begins in Porto Covo and takes 4 days to hike, ending in Odeceixe.
Accommodation Along the Trail:
A great feature of this hike is that you will have multiple options for accommodation. You can choose to camp at each of the stops or you can even stay in hotels or hostels. Each of the portions of the hike end in towns along the way, so if you are not a big fan of camping or would prefer not to have to carry your accommodation and food on your back this is a great option!
9. Try Wind Surfing on Portugal’s Stunning Coast
Finally, last on the list we have wind surfing as a popular adventurous thing to do in Portugal. Water sports are pretty big in Portugal and wind surfing is a popular addition to this list. This sport can be found all over Portugal. Don’t know exactly what wind surfing is? Picture a surf board with its own mini sail attached to it. You stand on the board, holding a handle attached to the sail and well, surf the wind!
Wind surfing is definitely a challenging sport, however there are some wind surfing camps and schools that offer lessons in several great spots in Portugal. Learn from some experts and spend a day or few learning a new sport. Or if you are interested check to see if there is a wind surfing competition nearby to watch the experts at work!
How to Book:
There are a few great companies out there that offer windsurfing in Portugal. Check out Algarve Watersport in Lagos.
When to Go:
The best time of year to go wind surfing is in the summer months of July and August. This is when you’ll find peak conditions and most of the wind surfing competitions. However, it is still possible to wind surf in Portugal between the months of March and October.
Final Thoughts on the Best Adventurous Activities to Do in Portugal
Portugal is an incredible country that can leave adventure lovers and travellers blown away! From the amazing natural landscape and rugged features found along the country’s coasts to the large amount of sports and other epic activities, Portugal should be next on your adventure travel bucket list.
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Happy adventuring!
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Great list! I have been looking for places to visit outside of the US and Portugal is high on that list!
Portugal is definitely an amazing country to visit! I highly recommend it for your upcoming travels.
Nice post 🙂