This Coastal Town in Portugal Is a Hidden Gem — With Scenic Beaches, Beautiful Architecture, and Few Crowds

When you hear people chatting about traveling to Portugal, popular cities like Lisbon and Porto or the beautiful beaches of the Algarve region likely come up. However, the country known for its delicious seafood, award-winning wines, and milder temperatures is also full of natural, cultural, and historical wonders.

Those wonders (and more) can be found in a hidden-gem spot along the coast. Located less than an hour's drive from Lisbon, Azenhas do Mar is a stunning town in Sintra with just about 800 inhabitants. It's situated on top of a cliff by the sea and features an eye-catching cluster of traditional white houses with terracotta-tiled roofs.

Before exploring the village, stop at the Azenhas do Mar Viewpoint to observe the Portuguese jewel from afar. If the day is warm and the sea calm, it can be a tempting invitation to bathe in the natural pool at the base of the rocky wall, allegedly carved in the mid-20th century. When the tide is high, the pool becomes invisible, and you'll see only the waves crashing against the immense cliff.

The origin of the village is not fully known, but it is linked to the several water mills called azenhas, which gave the place its name; it is speculated the first water mills here were from the Arab occupation period. The local tradition had agriculture, milling, fishing, and shellfish gathering as its main activities, and its development as a seaside resort only happened in the mid-1930s, shortly after the Sintra tramway was inaugurated. If you're in the historical center of Sintra, a trip to Azenhas will take between 15 and 20 minutes by bus. It's also possible to visit Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, and Praia da Ursa, one of the best beaches in Portugal, on the same day.

It's easy to see why Azenhas do Mar is one of the best places to visit in Portugal. In addition to boasting beautiful scenery, it's a great spot to taste regional delicacies. Next to the ocean pool lies the popular Restaurante Azenhas do Mar, an eatery built into the rock with excellent seafood and tables overlooking the ocean. After spending some time at the beach, stroll around the village filled with buildings that follow the Português suave (soft Portuguese) architectural style that emerged in the 1940s.

The Azenhas do Mar landscape is like a postcard. While it's still unknown to many foreigners, it's popular among the Portuguese — so much so that it inspired Nobel Prize-winning writer José Saramago. The place is perfect for a relaxing getaway, to feel and listen to the energy of the sea, away from the crowds.