Portugal is famous for its beaches, port wine, and custard tarts, but its history is full of surprises, from a king who reigned for about 20 minutes to a queen crowned after her death. Here are 12 fun facts about Portugal that will make you want to book your trip.
1. Portugal Is One of Europe's Oldest Nations
Portugal became an independent kingdom in 1143, and its borders with Spain have barely changed since the late 13th century, making them among the oldest in Europe. It also signed the oldest alliance still in force, with England, in 1373.
2. Lisbon Has the World's Oldest Operating Bookshop
Livraria Bertrand in Chiado opened in 1732 and is recognized as the oldest bookshop still in operation.
3. Azulejos Tell Stories
Portugal's painted ceramic tiles, often blue and white, cover churches, train stations, and houses. They help keep buildings cool and protect them from damp, and many depict scenes from history. São Bento station in Porto and the National Tile Museum in Lisbon are the best places to see them.
4. Lisbon's First Trams Came From America
Lisbon's first public trams, introduced in 1873, were horse-drawn carriages on rails called americanos, because the design came from the United States. They were later electrified, leading to the famous yellow trams that still climb the city's hills today.
5. A Queen Was Crowned After Her Death
According to legend, King Pedro I loved the noblewoman Inês de Castro, who was murdered on his father's orders. When Pedro became king, he declared that they had secretly married and honored her as queen. Their beautifully carved tombs face each other in the Alcobaça Monastery.
6. One King Reigned for About 20 Minutes
In 1908, King Carlos I and his heir, Luís Filipe, were shot in Lisbon. The king died at once, and Luís Filipe died from his wounds shortly afterward, so some historians count him as king for around 20 minutes.
7. An Earthquake Reshaped Lisbon
On November 1, 1755, a powerful earthquake, followed by a tsunami and fires, destroyed much of Lisbon and killed tens of thousands of people. The city was rebuilt with wide, planned streets in Baixa and some of the world's first earthquake-resistant buildings. The ruins of the Carmo Convent still stand as a reminder.
8. Pastéis de Nata Were Invented to Avoid Waste
Monks at the Jerónimos Monastery used egg whites to starch their clothes and turned the leftover yolks into custard tarts. When the monastery closed in the 19th century, the recipe was sold, and the bakery that opened nearby in 1837 still sells the original pastéis de Belém today.
9. Portugal Made the World's Largest Omelet
In 2012, chefs in Santarém set a world record with an omelet made from 145,000 eggs, weighing more than 6 tonnes.
10. Half the World's Cork Comes From Portugal
Portugal produces around half of the world's cork, harvested by hand from cork oak trees in the Alentejo every nine years without cutting the trees down. Much of it ends up as wine stoppers.
11. Portugal Has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
They range from the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower in Lisbon and the historic centers of Porto and Évora to the cultural landscape of Sintra, the Douro wine region, and the laurel forests of Madeira.
12. The Azores and Madeira Are Portugal Too
The Azores, a group of nine volcanic islands about 1,400 km west of Lisbon in the middle of the Atlantic, and the island of Madeira, off the coast of Africa, are both autonomous regions of Portugal.
See Portugal for Yourself
Ready to experience these wonders? Plan your trip with our Portugal travel guide, our 10-day Portugal itinerary, and the best time to visit Portugal. Stay connected throughout your trip with an egoViet Portugal eSIM.
FAQs: Fun Facts About Portugal
What is Portugal most famous for?
Portugal is famous for port wine, pastéis de nata, azulejo tiles, fado music, the beaches of the Algarve, and its history of exploration.
What language is spoken in Portugal?
Portuguese. It is also spoken in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and several other countries, making it one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
Is Portugal the oldest country in Europe?
Portugal is one of the oldest nation-states in Europe, with borders that have remained largely unchanged since the 13th century.
Why are there so many tiles in Portugal?
Azulejos are decorative, durable, and practical. They protect walls from damp, help keep buildings cool, and have been used to tell stories for over 500 years.