9 Best Things To Do In Guarda, Portugal

1. Sé da Guarda: two letters that define a striking place

Sé da Guarda stands tall and imposing right in the heart of the city and has stood there since the 16th-century, although it started being built two centuries before. The cathedral is now one of the most emblematic churches in Portugal, with its daunting architecture and fortified look. Be sure to visit it and look closely at its magnificent altarpiece dating back to the Renaissance period. Don’t miss climbing all the way to the top of the cathedral and get a wonderful view of the city below.

Sé da Guarda

Address: Praça Luís de Camões, 6300 Guarda, Portugal

Opening times: Mondays - Sundays: 9 am - 12:30 pm / 2 pm - 5.30 pm

Website: Sé da Guarda (in Portugese)

2. Explore Serra da Estrela

The truth is: 90% of the people who visit Guarda are there to visit Serra da Estrela. And rightly so: the place is beautiful, especially in spring and winter, where you can either watch all the wildlife closely or slide down the mountain in the snow. Serra da Estrela (“Star Mountain Range" in English) is the highest point of mainland Portugal. With its stunning mountain streams and lakes, forests and incredible landscapes, Serra da Estrela is one of the most famous attractions in the country. It is a great place to visit with both friends and family, to go for a walk or explore thoroughly.

Serra da Estrela

Address: 40º 19’ N 07º 37’ W

Website: Serra da Estrela (in Portugese)

3. Poço do Inferno: a Heaven for nature lovers

Poço do Inferno is one of the most famous places to visit in Serra da Estrela. It is a waterfall running through granite rocks, and comes across a resistant natural barrier made of hardened rocks, falling off after hitting them. If you’re traveling by car, you’re in luck: you will find Poço do Inferno close by the road, after a journey through the amazing landscape. It is best to see it in the winter, as the waters will be stronger, and from the top of a bridge, which you’ll find if you choose to follow the trail next to the waterfall.

Poço do Inferno

Address: Rua 1º de Maio 6260-101, Portugal

Website: Poço do Inferno

4. Visit Fundação do Côa Museum

Fundação do Côa was created in 2011 to manage the Côa Valley Archaeological Park and the Côa Museum (the Côa Park) is a foundation that fights to safeguard the Côa Valley. The foundation means to protect, investigate and publicise Rock Art, the human-made markings on stone that characterise the region. The museum is beloved for its incredible architecture and exhibitions, but also for its terrace with a stunning view over the Côa Valley. If you’re interested in prehistory and in the mysterious ways humans used to communicate, this is a museum you will surely love.

Fundação do Côa Museum

Address: Rua do Museu, 5150-610 Vila Nova Foz Côa, Portugal

Opening times: see full schedule here

Prices: from 11 USD

Website: Fundação do Côa Museum

5. Trancoso: castle, walls and greatness

The ancient village of Trancoso will take you to medieval times with its unique and well-preserved architecture. Located on a vast plateau, Trancoso is set in a beautiful landscape, with its imposing castle and surrounding walls. As you approach the walls you will find yourself in the iconic setting of the village: the Portas d'El Rei. In the historic centre, you will be able to visit the old Jewish Quarter, the Town Hall, the Manueline Pillory, the Church of the Mercy and the Church of St. Peter among many other important monuments that illustrate the Portuguese history.

Trancoso village

Address: 40º 47’ N 7º 21’ W

Website: Trancoso village (in Portugese)

6. Almeida: a fortified village

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A mere 30 minute journey from Guarda’s city centre, there is a beautiful little village that looks like a twelve-pointed star if you see it from above. Almeida is one of the best fortified areas that still exist in Portugal and a place where many battles were fought, including the Restoration Wars, in which the Spanish were removed from the Portuguese throne. Walk along the narrow streets of this historical village and allow yourself to learn a bit more about the history of the country by visiting its many religious and civil buildings.

Almeida village

Address: 40º 44’ N 6º 54’ W

Website: Almeida village

7. Linhares da Beira Castle: for a birds-eye view

If you really love castles, Linhares da Beira Castle has to be on your itinerary. It is a medieval castle located in the civil village in Linhares, 40 minutes away from the city centre. It dates all the way back to the eleventh century and it is a remain of the Roman Gothic architectural style. From the top, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the region so make sure you bring your camera with you, as you’ll get to take the most beautiful pictures.

Linhares da Beira Castle

Address: Rua do Castelo, 6360-080 Linhares da Beira, Portugal

Website: Linhares da Beira Castle

8. Sortelha: a charming town with the most amazing views

Sortelha is one of the oldest but most beautiful villages in Portugal, with its intact architecture and unique charm. Go back in time to the 17th-century by walking through its streets and alleys, alongside its defensive ring, and don’t forget to visit the castle where you’ll find medieval graves, a Manueline pillory and a Renaissance church nearby. It is a lovely place to visit if you enjoy historical villages and places that look like the years haven’t gone by.

Sortelha village

Address: 40° 19’ 53" N 7° 12’ 41" W

Website: Sortelha village

9. Enjoy the pure beauty of Praia Fluvial de Loriga

If you’re traveling by car, you seriously have to go here. It is an hour and a half from the centre of Guarda and it is completely worth the journey to and from the city. Praia Fluvial de Loriga is situated within Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in the Loriga Glacier Valley, and is an incredible beach of stunning beauty. Its pure crystalline waters come from a natural spring and the whole beach is surrounded by nature in its most preserved state. It is an unforgettable place that you should visit if you love secluded places and need some privacy and tranquillity.

Praia Fluvial de Loriga

Address: N231, 6270 Loriga, Portugal

Website: Praia Fluvial de Loriga

Guarda: pristine nature and history reminders

Guarda is one of the most famous districts of Portugal, beloved by both the old and young. It is unique not just for its heart but for its many other parts; the scattered historical villages and the most stunning natural spots are as important to visit as the city centre. Serra da Estrela is essential and will delight any kind of visitor, from the fittest to the laziest, with its never ending trails winding through the mountains and vast wildlife. Explore it as much as you can and if you’re still deciding on the means of transport you should get to travel to Guarda, choose to go by car, as it will be difficult to see the district in its entirety if you don’t have one. Guarda has every kind of beauty you can possibly imagine and it will impress you in every way a person can be impressed.