Best Medieval Old Town Tours in Portugal — Our Top 8

1.Walking Tour with Palace, Castle, and Old Town Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 66 reviews · 4 hours · from $47Our pick

Review of Sintra’s private walking tour to Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, and old town, with practical advice on hills, tickets, guides, and value.

“João was an excellent guide! He introduced us to the highlights of Sintra and provided an in-depth tour that was well paced and thoroughly enjoyable. He included visual aids, and maps that provided a better understanding of the history and a sense of place. Highly recommend this tour!”

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2.Schist Villages and medieval castles tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $129

Explore Portugal’s Schist Villages and medieval castles from Coimbra with a private guide, local traditions, nature, and an optional traditional lunch.

“It was just me and Monica so it felt very personal. It was great having my own private guide. She’s very knowledgeable and a sweet person.”

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3.Schist Villages and Medieval Castles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120Top rated

Explore Lousa Castle, Candal, four Schist Villages, and Penela Castle on a private half-day tour from Coimbra.

“The Schist Villages tour was really great and a nice change of pace from the other experiences we have had in Coimbra, Lisbon, Nazare, etc. Our guide, Monica, was the absolute best and was very knowledgeable about each of the villages that we visited. We walked through four villages and in each one Monica was pointing out interesting things and talking with local residents that she is friends with. As a part of our group, we were traveling with an older family member and Monica was very attentive to their needs and comfort with the walking paths. Highly recommend this tour if you are looking for something a little different…”

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4.From Albufeira: Benagil Tour, Bones & Medieval Silves Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Review of Albufeira’s Benagil, Silves Castle, and Algarve coast tour, with practical advice on stops, value, timing, transport, and summer heat.

“Lovely trip - plenty of sights seen and history learnt. Jamie our tour guide was friendly and funny. Highly recommend!”

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5.Medieval Castles from Porto – Private All‑Inclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 10 hours · from $204

Explore medieval castles near Porto, enjoy a traditional lunch, and discover Guimarães, Barcelos, Faria, Arnóia, and Leça do Balio.

“This day trip was amazing! From the moment it started, our guide was genuine, considerate, and interested in providing us the best experience possible! We had a day packed full of adventure and fun at each destination! It was a well designed itinerary that allowed us to enjoy the castles and towns in a nicely paced manner. Each stop was truly unique and beautiful! We learned more historical insights than we ever expected and loved how easily our guide could share this information with such passion and enthusiasm. We also have rave reviews for the yummy and authentic Portuguese food, drink, and snack choices-Wow! Overall, we were really blessed to…”

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6.Sines: Tour of the historic center, museum & castle of Sines

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 2 hours · from $16Best value

Explore Sines Castle, Vasco da Gama’s birthplace, Roman ruins, museum treasures, and sea views on a gentle two-hour walk.

“This a great tour! I highly recommend this if you have a few hours in Sines. She was knowledgeable and so friendly. The museum was so interesting. Loved it!”

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7.Castro Marim Medieval Trip: Visit Castle + Medieval Tavern

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Step into medieval Castro Marim for a castle tour, costumes, a small banquet, local beer, and views over the salt flats.

“De l'arrivée à la Taverne en passant par la visite du château, avec un détour par un producteur de bière, puis par une boutique des plus originales, nous clôturons ce voyage hors du temps par une dégustation de mets et breuvage d'époque. Un grand merci à Carlos, notre cher guide qui a rendu ce moment unique, riche, mais surtout inoubliable. Aux personnes souhaitant faire une coupure avec notre temps moderne, allez y les yeux fermés. Et laissez vous porter par ce voyage hors du temps.”

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8.Private Tour to Silves Castle Old Town stop at Chapel of Bones

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $75

Review of a private Algarve tour to Silves Castle, Silves Old Town, and Alcantarilha’s Chapel of Bones, with tips on value, timing, and stops.

“Stunning castle with epic views. The chapel of bones was intriguing. The guide was very knowledgeable and down to earth, we couldn't fault Luis one bit. Thank you so much for a superb experience. We were a family of 6 including an 18 year old, 16 year old, 7 year old and 3 year old.”

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