Visit Beja: The Best Castles in Southern Portugal
Updated on June 22nd, 2024
![A white building with a clock tower, set against a vivid blue sky in Portugal.](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03317.jpg?width=1000)
Castles aren't exactly what you expect when you think of Portugal. Believe it or not, Portugal does have some of the best castles to visit.
This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us.
Table of contents
MinimizeWe nearly traveled back in time by visiting the medieval villages of the Alentejo Baixo region of Portugal, where the castles and small lanes make you feel like you’re in another era.
Where is Beja?
Leaving Evora, we traveled south on one main highway, stopping for a coffee in Beja. This town gets few non-Portuguese tourists, and its list of attractions is small, but it does have a museum, a few nice look-out points, a church and a pedestrian street with shops and some cafes.
This was an authentic slice of local life at the biggest city in this region of Portugal. There were no tour groups or rip-offs. We walked around and looked at the tiled buildings, the pedestrian streets and the outside of the main church.
The castle of Beja, which in Portuguese is Castelo de Beja is located here, too.
![Buildings in Beja](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03306.jpg?width=1000)
![Scooters in Beja](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03326.jpg?width=1000)
![The flag of Portugal](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3099.jpg?width=1000)
![Dan having coffee in Beja](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3097.jpg?width=1000)
![Tiles on a house in Beja](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3101.jpg?width=1000)
Finding views atop the castle in Serpa
We continued on for the day’s second stop, Serpa, population 15,000. Serpa came recommended to us by Becca’s business contact in Lisbon He mentioned Serpa as a place where foreigners wouldn’t really find their way, but with a car, we were able to get there.
This charming (and quiet) little low-lying village has a castle and a famous aqueduct. The beauty of Serpa was that there was nothing going on. We couldn’t even find anywhere to eat because it was the time of day when restaurants close and then reopen for dinner.
Be sure to admire the hundreds-of-years-old wall surrounding the historical center, and then climb the steps to the roof of the Castelo de Serpa.
From there, the view was great, with not only a view of the tops of the church and all the buildings but also the countryside and farms, framed by the castle.
![View of houses in the Castle of Serpa](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03341.jpg?width=1000)
![Looking at a map in Serpa](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03364.jpg?width=1000)
Medieval castles in Mértola
Our road trip in Portugal wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Mértola, a tiny medieval village of 7200 people. Driving next to farms and pastures during golden hour, we admired the emptiness of the roads.
We arrived as the sun was setting in the valleys and found parking near the hotel we had booked only a few hours before on Booking.com.
Although we couldn’t see many other people around, we found that somehow, the town’s top restaurants were all full, with long waits, or were booked up for the whole night! We found an open table at Migas, where we had a happy hour of beer, wine and olives.
The town got quiet early, and we woke up the next morning for some exploring in the whitewashed alleyways, the historic medieval Castelo de Mértola, where you can climb and get some nice views and a few small markets with fresh fruit and tons of olives. We had a picnic at the river and then said “adeus” (goodbye, in Portuguese) to the Alentejo.
It was time to drive to the Algarve region of Portugal and we were so excited.
![Fruit from a farmers market in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03378.jpg?width=1000)
![The top of the castle in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03387.jpg?width=1000)
![View from inside the castle in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03392.jpg?width=1000)
![View of homes in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03413.jpg?width=1000)
![View of a river and driving bridge in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/DSC03432.jpg?width=1000)
![View of homes in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3133.jpg?width=1000)
![Dan in the castle of Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3138.jpg?width=1000)
![A castle in Mertola](https://images.halfhalftravel.com/portugal/road-trip/medieval-castles/IMG_3134.jpg?width=1000)
You may also like
-
Essential Tips to Know When Planning a Trip to Vietnam
Our tips for how to travel in Vietnam include trip preparation like getting a travel visa, how to get Vietnamese currency and how to get around Vietnam.
-
2024 Guide to Renting an Apartment in New York City
How do you rent an apartment in NYC? Here, I'll discuss how to find the best NYC apartment for renting, with tips on what to ask when renting an apartment in NYC.
-
Can't-Miss Things to Do on a Weekend Trip to Beacon, New York
What are the best things to do for a weekend getaway trip to Beacon in an upstate New York road trip itinerary? See our guide for how to get to Dia Beacon, downtown Beacon and the top places of interest.
-
How to Beat the Crowds at Chichen Itza
Thinking about how to beat the tourist crowds and get Chichen Itza to yourself? We found a way to avoid the tour groups and take the best photos, here at this guide.
-
How to Hike El Teide National Park in Tenerife (Our Guide)
Check out how to get to El Teide National Park in Tenerife, and see our Mount Teide walking routes as a trip idea for Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
-
A Santa Marta & Taganga Travel Guide for Any Type of Traveler
Should Santa Marta or Taganga be on your Colombia itinerary? Our travel guide outlines top tips for where to stay, what to see and where to watch a beautiful beach sunset.