Portugal Instagram Spots

Portugal is perfect for Instagram photography.  Most Instagrammable places in Portugal include;

• Beaches
• Colorful Portuguese buildings
• Trams
• Traditional cobbled streets
• Castles and palaces
• Tiled buildings

The most popular places in Portugal are Lisbon, Sintra and the beaches of the Algarve.  You’ll find lots of beautiful locations in these popular places.  Additionally, in the smaller and lesser visited towns you’ll find some hidden Portugal Instagram spots!

Instagrammable Places in Sintra – Castle of the Moors and Pena Palace

You must visit the Castle of the Moors in Sintra.  From this location you’ll get 2 Portugal Instagram spots in one shot.  Not only do you get the Pena Palace in this shot but you also get the steps of the Castle of the Moors.  An incredible set of stairs and the red facade of Pena Palace will get you likes on Instagram.  Most pictures you see of the palace will be of the yellow facade.  However, the yellow facade is perfect for the Instagram girls (or boys) to model in front of!

This picture was taken from the Castle of the Moors looking towards Pena Palace.  These are part of the UNESCO area of Sintra.  I took this photograph with a fisheye lens.  If you use a bridge camera or lens with good zoom you’ll get a rare close up of the red facade of Pena Palace.

Popular Places in Portugal – The Algarve

In Portugal the sky is almost always clear and a sunset is guaranteed.  I was visiting a small town in the hills of the Algarve for some cake and a coffee.  I was gifted with this popcorn sky.  You don’t need an amazing camera to make a shot like this, the sky does it for you.  Nothing gets likes on Instagram like a good sunset shot!

The sunset shot was taken from Santa Catarina which is a small village in the Eastern Algarve.  I took it with a Canon bridge camera.

The traditional Portuguese cobbled streets

The traditional cobbled streets of Portugal photograph well for Instagram.  I was up late to find an empty street in the Portugal Instagram spot of Sintra.  If you visit lesser know villages you’ll find lots of empty and picturesque cobbled streets.  If it rains (which is not often in Portugal) the cobbles become shiny.  When the cobbles are wet they become shiny.  As a result you’ll be able to make some unique reflection shots with them.

The Streets of Sintra photograph was taken using a fisheye lens late at night in Sintra village.

Porto Instagram Spots

The colorful houses are one of the most Instagrammable places in Porto.  Additionally, I have found that photos of colorful houses always get more likes on Instagram.  In the UNESCO historic city of Porto there are thousands of colorful houses waiting to be photographed.  Those who like to make poses in front of them will love searching for Porto Instagram spots.  Another bonus of this city is that in front of the colorful houses is the Douro river.  The Douro river is lined with colorful port boats which are full of barrels of port.  Furthermore, you can also take a boat tour giving incredible views of the historic city and views of several Porto Instagram spots.

This shot was taken from Vila Nova de Gaia looking over to the colorful houses.  I used a Canon bridge camera and zoomed in.

Pictures of Portugal – Azulejos

You’ll see lots of buildings in Portugal covered in light blue tiles.  As a matter of fact these tiles are known as azulejos in Portuguese.  You’re guaranteed to see azulejos everywhere.  The more you see and read about them, the more interesting they’ll become.  Any small Portuguese village will have houses covered in azulejos.  A famous Instagram spot in Porto to make Instagram poses in front of are the azulejos of Carmo and Carmelitas Church.

This shot was taken from the interior of Sao Bento train station in the center of Porto.  It was taken with a fisheye lens.

Unique doorways and archways

If you pay attention to the doorways and windows in any Portuguese village you’ll come across some very unique designs.  If you like this type of photography then you’ll need a decent sized memory stick as you’ll be taking lots of photos!  Moreover, you’ll find lots of Portugal Instagram spots with the archways as a backdrop.

This window frame is part Pena Palace.  I took this shot with a Canon bridge camera

Architecture Designed by Legends

Gustave Eiffel is one of the biggest names in architecture.  You’ll be thinking of his masterpiece in Paris, the Eiffel Tower.  He has designed a bridge in Porto called the Maria Pia Bridge.  There is also an elevator in Lisbon and a 2 story bridge in Porto that were designed by his students.  If his masterpiece in Paris is Instagrammable then his other pieces around the world are too.

This photo was taken from the banks of the Douro river with a fisheye.  On the far left is the bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Smaller Towns of Portugal

Definitely make time to visit the smaller towns and villages of Portugal.  You’ll be gifted with incredible views you’ve never even seen on Instagram.  Tavira is a small town in the Eastern Algarve which offers all that the major cities do but without the crowds.  Foodies will love Tavira too, there are plenty of dining options.

This reflection photograph was taken from the main plaza of Tavira.  I took this with a fisheye lens.

The End of Europe

Where else can you get a picture of the most western point of continental Europe?  Of course, you could argue that the continental divide is in Iceland but that’s not part of the mainland.  Look out for a marker stating the fact that this is the westernmost point of mainland Europe.  This marker is perfect for those Instagram poses.

This picture was taken from the Cabo da Roca marker looking towards the light house.

Beaches of the Algarve

The beaches of the Algarve are beautiful.  As a matter of fact, there are endless perfect beaches.  Barril beach in Tavira is separated from the mainland.  You’ll pass several anchors as you take the train or walk a kilometer to the beach.  One side of the anchors are restaurants and the other side is the beautiful beach.  In addition, there are several beaches in the Algarve which require a boat or train to arrive at.  As a result of the beaches separation from the mainland it makes them isolated and Instagrammable.

This photo of the anchors at Barril beach was taken with my fish eye lens.

Most Instagrammable Places in Lisbon

There are thousands of Instagram worthy places in Lisbon.  As a result you could spend hours walking around the city posing for photographs.  Moreover, any Instagrammable places in Lisbon with a yellow tram in front of them become even more Instagrammable!  Examples of Instagram worthy locations in Lisbon are Belem Tower, Santa Justa Lift, Sao Jorge Castle, Commerce Square as well as several colorful houses and trams.  Finally, read more about the Lisbon Instagram spots.

Coimbra

Coimbra is a decent sized city in between Lisbon and Porto.  In my opinion, Coimbra is like a small version of Porto.  What’s more, there are much few tourists.  In addition, hotels and restaurants are much better value.  For this reason, I highly recommend you visit Coimbra.  Lastly, there are many colorful houses in Coimbra as well as a river running through it.  Photographers will not be disappointed!

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima is close to Spain in the north of Portugal.  Like Coimbra, it receives relatively few tourists.  It also has a river running through it.  Food lovers will enjoy the good value restaurants.  The photo is taken looking across the river at the church after sunset.

Enjoy searching for Portugal Instagram Spots!

Enjoy taking photos of the Instagram worthy locations of Portugal.  Keep your eyes open as there are beautiful things everywhere to photograph.  Always have your camera ready as you never know when a great Instagrammable opportunity will come your way.

What to see and photograph in Lisbon, Porto and Sintra.