When people think of Portugal, they usually picture port wine cellars in Porto or wandering through the narrow streets of Lisbon’s old town. But there’s so much more to discover here. Between these famous cities lie the hidden gems of Central Portugal. This is where you’ll find the real, non tourist Portugal – ancient stone villages, medieval castles, and natural wonders that most visitors never see. Some of the country’s most authentic Portuguese towns are hidden in these hills and valleys. The best part? These hidden gems are perfect for both day trips from Porto and day trips from Lisbon, showing you a completely different side of Portugal.
Aldeias do Xisto: ancient stone villages
Aldeias do Xisto is a network of 27 authentic Portuguese villages built from schist stone. Among this group of villages, there are three that I’d like to highlight: Talasnal, Cerdeira, and Gondramaz. Talasnal has narrow stone streets and beautiful views over the valley. Local restaurants here serve traditional dishes like oven-roasted kid goat and chestnuts. Cerdeira works as an artist village—no cars, just ceramic workshops and sculptors working in their studios. You can even try making something yourself here. Gondramaz shows how these villages looked centuries ago—dark stone houses fit perfectly into the mountain landscape, but inside they have all modern comforts. You’ll find traditional craftspeople in all these villages, making textiles and baking bread using old recipes.
Ponte 516 Arouca: a bridge in the clouds
Ponte 516 Arouca is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. It’s 516 meters long and hangs over the Paiva River gorge. The bridge has a transparent walkway, letting you see the river 175 meters below. The Ponte 516 Arouca connects to the Paiva Walkway (Passadiços do Paiva), a famous 8-kilometer wooden walkway along the river. All of this is part of Arouca Geopark, a UNESCO site with some amazing geological features. You can easily spend a whole day here exploring the trails and viewpoints.
Buddha Eden: an Asian garden in Portugal
Buddha Eden is Europe’s largest Oriental garden, created in 2006 as a response to the destruction of ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan. This vast garden combines Asian architecture, modern art installations, and impressive Buddha statues. The Buddha Eden garden stretches for 35 hectares, with sculptures scattered among trees and ponds—you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Asia and forget for a moment that you’re actually in Portugal.
Cabeça: first ecological Christmas village
Cabeça is a tiny village in the Serra da Estrela mountains. This is Portugal’s first ecological Christmas village. Every December, the locals transform their village using decorations made only from natural materials—pine cones, branches, and dried flowers from the surrounding forests. During the holiday season, local markets in Cabeça offer farm products and the famous Serra da Estrela cheese, a creamy sheep’s milk cheese that has won multiple international awards.
Foz d’Égua: hidden mountain village with river beach
Among the hidden gems of Central Portugal, Foz d’Égua stands out with its unique character. This tiny mountain village that still lives its traditional way. Two wooden bridges connect clusters of traditional stone houses, and two rivers meet here to create a beautiful river beach. The locals have been cooling off in these crystal-clear pools of Foz d’Égua for generations, and in summer, you can join them for a refreshing dip in the mountain water. The village sits on an ancient trade route that once connected mountain settlements, and today these old paths offer beautiful hiking trails
Praia da Costa Nova: the striped houses beach
Located about an hour south of Porto and 20 minutes from Aveiro, Praia da Costa Nova is one of the best beaches in Central Portugal, stretching for kilometers with wooden walkways along its entire length. These paths are perfect for long walks by the ocean. The main attraction at Praia da Costa Nova is the palheiros—houses painted in bright stripes of blue, green, and red. Local fishermen built these houses to store their gear, but now they’re one of Portugal’s most distinctive coastal landmarks.
Piódão: the blue window village
Piódão sits in the mountains of Central Portugal. Hidden in the Serra do Açor mountains, this historical village stayed isolated for centuries and preserved its traditional way of life. The entire village of Piódão is built from dark schist stone, and every house has bright blue doors and windows. The main attraction here is a snow-white church from the 18th century—Igreja Matriz—which stands out against the dark stone buildings.
Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira: a Portuguese medieval castle
This 10th-century castle is one of the best-preserved in Portugal. Massive castle walls show both military power and elegant living spaces, mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles. The castle is especially fun to visit during the Festa Medieval festival when the whole town celebrates its medieval heritage. Right next to it, there’s Quinta do Castelo—a nice park with ponds and shaded paths where locals love to have picnics.
Why visit Central Portugal?
Central Portugal is one of the most underrated regions among tourists. Most visitors travel between Porto and Lisbon, seeing only the highway that connects these cities. But the real treasures are hidden just off this main road. Turn away from the highway, and you’ll discover the authentic Portugal—ancient castles, car-free mountain villages, one of the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridges, and huge parks where you can spend an entire day exploring. While most tourists focus on big cities, Central Portugal keeps its traditions and authentic character. Exploring these hidden gems of Central Portugal makes for perfect day trips from Porto or day trips from Lisbon, offering a completely different side of Portugal that most visitors never see.