Northern Portugal is a diverse and fascinating region. It encompasses the beautiful Douro Valley, the pristine coastline north of Porto, the mighty castles of the Beira region and the dramatic scenery of the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Into this mix are vibrant cities such as Porto, Braga and Viana do Castelo, or picturesque towns including Guimarães, Lamego and Ponte de Lima. With so much variety, it can be challenging to plan where to visit during your holiday.

To help you, we have created three detailed maps which show the very best of the region. The first details the main towns and cities that are of interest to visitors. The second map shows the location of the finest tourist attractions, and the third map marks the region’s best beaches.

Obviously, Northern Portugal is a large area, but these maps provide insight into what areas to further research for your trip.

Note: The definition of what is Northern Portugal is very subjective, but for this guide, we have based it upon the A25 road and included everything north of it. Also, this guide is not really focused on Porto; full details of this fantastic city can be found here.

The following interactive map shows the location of the main tourist towns and cities of Northern Portugal. Note: zoom in or out to see all of the points

Legend: 1) Porto 2) Viana do Castelo 3) Braga 4) Viseu 5) Aveiro 6) Guimaraes 7) Lamego 8) Peso da Régua 9) Vila Nova de Foz Côa 10) Ponte de Lima 11) Valença 12) Chaves 13) Almeida 14) Trancoso 15) Amarante 16) Bragança
Coastal towns: 17) Vila do Conde 18) Póvoa De Varzim 19) Caminha 20) Matosinhos 21) Costa Nova 22) Espinho

For a detailed guide to the best towns of northern Portugal please click here.

The following map guides you through Northern Portugal's most fascinating attractions, from historic sights and grand palaces through to wild national parks. Each location reveals a different aspect of the region's rich heritage and natural beauty. This map does not include any sights within Porto itself. For a detailed guide to the sights of Northern Portugal please click here.

Legend: 1) Bom Jesus do Monte 2) Pinhão (Douro Valley) 3) Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês 4) Basílica de Santa Luzia 5) Palheiros da Costa Nova 6) 516 Arouca and Passadiços do Paiva 7) Almeida 8) Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa 9) Castelo de Guimarães 10) Ponte Romana (Ponte de Lima) 11) Sé de Braga 12) Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Lamego) 13) Aveiro canals 14) Valença 15) Palácio de Mateus 16) Paço dos Duques de Bragança 17) Vidago Palace 18) Igreja de Válega 19) Castelo de Bragança 20) Citânia de Briteiros 21) Gil Eannes 22) Museu do Douro

The following map highlights the finest beaches along Northern Portugal's dramatic coastline. From pristine sandy shores to hidden coves, these beaches blend Atlantic beauty with Portuguese charm. The map also includes the region's excellent river beaches and swimming spots, where clear waters provide a refreshing alternative to the coastline.

Beaches: 1) Praia de Vila Praia de Âncora 2) Praia do Paredão Barra 3) Praia Redonda (Póvoa de Varzim) 4) Praia de Afife 5) Praia do Cabedelo 6) Praia da Costa Nova 7) Praia de Miramar 8) Praia da Baía (Espinho) 9) Praia de Leça da Palmeira 10) Praia de Esmoriz 11) Praia de Matosinhos 12) Praia da Ladeira Norte
River beaches: 13) Praia Fluvial de Crestuma (Douro River) 14) Praia fluvial de Alqueirão (Zêzere River) 15) Praia Fluvial de Melres (Douro River) 16) Praia Fluvial de Lomba (Douro River) 17) Praia Fluvial do Rabaçal (Rabaçal River)
River swimming (no sand): 18) Praia Fluvial de São Martinho (Côa River) 19) Praia Fluvial de Ponte da Barca (Lima River) 20) Praia Fluvial do Faial (Cávado River)

The Linha do Douro is the scenic railway which follows the Douro River as it meanders eastwards to the town of Pocinho. This map illustrates the railway's route and marks the stations along its course. For a full guide to the Linha do Douro please click here.

Stations along the Linha do Douro: 1) Pala 2) Mosteirô 3) Aregos 4) Mirão 5) Ermida 6) Porto de Rei 7) Barqueiros 8) Rede 9) Caldas de Moledo 10) Godim 11) Régua 12) Covelinhas 13) Ferrão 14) Pinhão 15) Tua 16) Alegria 17) Ferradosa 18) Vargelas 19) Vesúvio 20) Freixo de Numão 21) Pocinho

The best sights of Northern Portugal
Bom Jesus do Monte
A magnificent baroque sanctuary near Braga, featuring a monumental baroque stairway with 577 steps. The zigzagging stairs represent a sacred journey, with fountains representing the five senses. The funicular railway, built in 1882, is the oldest water-powered funicular still operating in the world.

Pinhão
A picturesque town in the heart of the Douro Valley, that is surrounded by terraced vineyards and sits at the meeting point of the Pinhão and Douro Rivers. While here, take a boat trip, go wine tasting or simply admire the scenery.

Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
Portugal's only national park, a wilderness of rugged mountains, ancient Roman roads, and pristine waterfalls. Found within this unspoilt region are wild Garrano ponies and rare species like the Iberian wolf, and 600km of hiking trails.

Basílica de Santa Luzia
Standing high above Viana do Castelo, this neo-Byzantine church offers panoramic views of the Atlantic coast. Brave visitors can climb to the top of the dome for spectacular views over the region.

Palheiros da Costa Nova
These distinctive striped houses along the coast near Aveiro were originally built as fishermen's storage huts. The colourful wooden buildings which are painted in bold vertical stripes, have become one of Portugal's most photographed sights.

516 Arouca and Passadiços do Paiva
Ancient forest and rugged landscapes that is home to the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge (516 metres) and over 8km wooden walkway along the Paiva River. The bridge hangs 175 metres above the river, offering thrilling views of the surrounding wilderness.

Guimarães
An ancient city, where Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. The UNESCO-listed medieval quarter winds through cobbled streets and granite-built mansions, while its formidable 10th-century castle stands at the town’s summit

Almeida
A formidable star-shaped fortress town with wonderfully preserved 17th-century military architecture. The hexagonal walls and deep moat form one of Europe's finest examples of military engineering from this period.

Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa
The world's largest open-air Palaeolithic rock art site, featuring thousands of stone engravings dating back 22,000 years.

The modern Museu do Côa standing at the top of the Côa valley

Ponte de Lima
Ponte de Lima is Portugal's oldest town, and is famous for its Roman bridge which crosses the Lima river. The town is only small, but is one of the prettiest in northern Portugal.

Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
An impressive baroque sanctuary in Lamego, with a magnificent staircase featuring 686 steps adorned with azulejos tiles and ornate fountains. The town of Lamego is also one of the hidden gems of northern Portugal.

Aveiro Canals and moliceiro Boats
A charming network of waterways that once formed the heart of the city's salt and seaweed trade. The distinctive moliceiro boats, with their colourfully painted hulls and curved prows adorned with traditional artwork, glide through canals lined with splendid art nouveau buildings.

Palácio de Mateus
A stunning baroque palace featured on Mateus Rosé wine bottles. The formal gardens are particularly impressive, featuring a 115-metre cedar tunnel and intricate boxwood topiary.

Paço dos Duques de Bragança
A medieval palace with impressive Gothic architecture and a significant collection of medieval weapons, tapestries, and furniture.

Igreja de Válega
A stunning church near Ovar known for its extraordinary azulejo tile coverage, both inside and out. The detailed tile work creates a stunning visual narrative of religious scenes.

Citânia de Briteiros
One of the most significant Celtic settlements in Portugal, featuring well-preserved circular houses and defensive walls dating from the Iron Age. The site offers insights into pre-Roman life in the region.

Gil Eannes
A former hospital ship turned museum in Viana do Castelo, which supported Portugal's cod fishing fleet off Newfoundland. Contained within the boat are the original operating theatres, ward, and bridge, offering a unique insight into Portuguese maritime history.