Castelo Branco is not one of the first travel destinations in Portugal. In fact, it is perhaps one of the least popular district capitals in the country, but it is still a historic city with some points of interest and a very beautiful surrounding region.
Located right in the center of Portugal, Castelo Branco is only about 50 km from Spain, but more than 200 km (2 hours) from Lisbon and 250 km from Porto (2h30).
Although not a tourist town, Castelo Branco has at least three very interesting and remarkably distinct attractions, Paço Episcopal Gardens, the Barrocal, and the Swimming Pool/Beach. These alone justify a trip to Castelo Branco, but they are far from the only things to visit in Castelo Branco, as we will see below.
In this quick guide, we will answer all your questions about visiting Castelo Branco – what to see, do, eat, where to stay and when to go.
Best things to do in Castelo Branco
Garden of the Episcopal Palace
When we ask ourselves what to visit in Castelo Branco, the obvious answer is the Jardim do Paço Episcopal (Gardens of the episcopal palace), as it is by far the best-known monument in the city and it may well be the most beautiful garden in the country. A strong and perhaps debatable statement, but this is an amazing and magical Garden.
Built in 1720 by D. João de Mendonça, the Bishop of Guarda, the garden of the Episcopal Palace is one of the ex-libris of Baroque in Portugal and the most outstanding historical monument in Castelo Branco.
Located in the north of the city, Palace’s garden was part of a large agricultural area that belonged to the Episcopal Palace. Although the author is not known, it is organized in an Italian style with different levels, thematic areas, and avenues with fountains and various statues.
The statues are one of the outstanding elements of this garden. These are alluding to various themes such as the signs of the Zodiac, the continents, the seasons, the virtues, and the Kings of Portugal. The statues of the Kings of Portugal are especially curious, namely the delightful detail of the Kings of the Philippine Dynasty, when Portugal was under Spanish rule, being clearly smaller than all other monarchs.
In addition to the statues, the water features, fountains and lakes are essential to creating a beautiful and very pleasant environment, making this Garden an essential attraction whenever you visit Castelo Branco.
Entrance to Jardim do Paço Episcopal costs €2, with the first Sunday of each month being free.
Municipal Garden
Across the street from the Episcopal Gardens, we have the Municipal Garden, also called City Park. It’s a completely different space. It’s free and with unrestricted access, but it’s also worth taking a walk, both because of the space itself and for the views of Jardim do Paço and the Castle.
Built in the place where Episcopal Palace farm used to be, the Garden preserves some historical elements such as the pergola, the cedars, Laurel forest, Rome gate, and the imposing railings and entrance gates. The garden also has small vegetable gardens scattered with vegetables which makes it interesting to explore and see what is growing in each season.
The Municipal Garden is a space where water is the fundamental element, both through the lakes and the channels in the ground. It is also a place with plenty of shade, benches, and lawns, ideal for resting after a day of walking and exploring the other tourist attractions in Castelo Branco.
Barrocal
Continuing through the outdoor spaces to visit in Castelo Branco, the Barrocal is the most recent tourist attraction in the city and one of the best things to do in Castelo Branco. It is possibly one of the most impressive parks in the country featuring a mix of urban and natural landscapes.
Built as a natural, lively, and dynamic museum, the Barrocal Park features several viewpoints, fascinating geological formations, footbridges and nature trails, a bird observatory, among other natural attractions.
Opened only in 2020, Barrocal Park quickly became a reference in Castelo Branco, having even won international architectural awards. Save a few hours to visit as a family or simply to take a pleasant and surprising hike.
We just loved going through the Barrocal Key, going up to the rock sanctuary, crossing the suspension bridge, and walking through the lizard tunnel. Everything in Barrocal has been thought out in detail and that is noticeable because we always have something surprising and different to marvel at.
The Castle
The Castle of Castelo Branco dates back to the Middle Ages, having been built by the Templars. The date of construction is not known for sure, but it is believed to have been between 1214 and 1230. The limits of the castle and walls were expanded several times and in the 16th century, Castelo Branco was a typical fortified city, with narrow streets. Inside the fortress were the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo and the Palace of the Mayors.
Part of the defensive system built along the Tagus River valley, Castelo Branco Castle was fundamental in the Portuguese defensive system, namely the Raia line. The castle has been severely damaged over the centuries, and currently, only its ruins can be visited.
Still, it is a must-visit place, both for its history, for the beauty of the ruins, and the spectacular views of the city. Within the castle grounds, we must highlight the Romanesque Tower, the Gothic tower, the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo (though it has nothing to do with the original), and the arch that separated the public access courtyard and the palace courtyard (this yes original).
Visit the historic center of Castelo Branco
The historic area of Castelo Branco has several monumental buildings, old squares, and narrow streets full of charm. It is undoubtedly an area with enormous potential, but it is also an area of the city that still needs to be worked on, as it has many abandoned and ruined (or almost) houses.
In any case, it is well worth walking through its streets and enjoying the historic center of Castelo Branca. One of its most striking features is the beautiful sixteenth-century portals built using the so-called popular Manueline style. Given the amount of these 16th-century ported books, we can even say that they are one of the city’s hallmarks and a testament to other times.
The portals are well marked and identified so you will have no problem locating and appreciating them. The decorative details in high and low relief that can still be seen today were indicative of the residents’ profession, economic situation, and social status.
Cargaleiro Museum
One of the main attractions in the historic center of Castelo Branco is the Cargaleiro Museum, dedicated to the local artist Manuel Cargaleiro. Opened in 2005 at Solar dos Cavaleiros, this museum promotes the “fruition and understanding of contemporary art and culture”, namely those of Manuel Cargaleiro.
Born in Vila Velha de Ródão, in the Castelo Branco district, Manuel Cargaleiro is considered one of the most important Portuguese artists of the 20th century, particularly in painting and ceramics. If you already know the artist this is an opportunity to enjoy his works, if you don’t know him yet you will probably be surprised by the exhibitions.
Concathedral of Castelo Branco
The Castelo Branco Cathedral is another of the monuments to visit in the city center. Built on the same site as a 13th-century Templar temple, the Castelo Branco Cathedral is much less monumental than other Portuguese churches and cathedrals.
Also known as São Miguel church, it was only raised to the rank of Concathedral in 1956, but its main features date from the 17th to 19th centuries. Originally it would be a Romanesque temple, but successive renovation works mean that currently most of the visible elements are Baroque and Rococo.
Among the main features of this church, we must highlight the Renaissance cross arch from the 16th century, the altarpieces and panels from the 17th century, and the chancel and sacristy from the 18th to 19th centuries.
Castelo Branco Beach Pool
Still in Castelo Branco, but outside the historic center, in the city’s leisure area we have the Castelo Branco Beach Swimming Pool – one of the city’s great attractions in the summer season and one of the most fun things to do in Castelo Branco.
With a water surface of around 3,300m2 and a lawn almost three times larger, this is one of the biggest and most popular pools in Portugal. In addition to its enormous size, it also has a maximum depth of 1.6 meters and the particularity of not having steps and its depth increasing gradually.
The Castelo Branco beach pool is ideal for the whole family but is particularly good for children. It is also common to have group classes of aqua Zumba, water aerobics, body combat, etc. Opened in 2004, it has hosted almost 1,000,000 people and it is considered one of the best leisure areas in Portugal.
The big downside of this equipment is that it’s only open for about two summer months, during the school holidays. It’s way too little, and there’s a much longer summer in Castelo Branco.
Medieval villages
Another thing to visit in the Castelo Branco region is the old medieval villages, namely Monsanto, Idanha-a-Velha, and Penha Garcia. These are already well outside Castelo Branco, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, but they are incredible destinations only about an hour away by car, so they are places not to be missed on a trip to Castelo Branco, or in an interior road trip through Portugal.
Known as the most Portuguese village in Portugal, Monsanto is perhaps the most popular and with good reason. Located on top of a granite hill, it forms a cinematographic setting with streets and houses hidden between huge boulders and boulders. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful villages in Portugal.
Idanha-a-Velha is another of the historic villages very close to Castelo Branco. Known for its remarkable ruins, it has traces of different periods in Portugal, from the Roman foundation, through the Suevi and Visigothic domination, to its donation to the Templars in the 13th century. A walk through the center of Idanha-a-Velha is like a journey back in time.
Lastly, we have Penha Garcia, the only of these villages that is not on the list of historic villages, but it could very well be. It is perhaps the least known, but it is not far behind. Built on the crest of the mountain, it faces Monsanto and offers fabulous views. Penha Garcia has a castle, fossils, one of the best river beaches, and one of our favorite trails.
When to visit Castelo Branco?
As we mentioned initially, Castelo Branco is not a very touristy destination, never getting too crowded. So this is not a very worrying issue when we are selecting the best time to visit Castelo Branco.
On the other hand, it is an area of the country with extreme temperatures. In other words, winters are very cold and summers are usually very, very hot. At the same level as much of the Alentejo. So, if you are looking for mild temperatures, it is best to travel in spring, autumn, and early summer.
Finally, we have to note that despite the high temperatures, probably the best time to go to Castelo Branco is in the summer, as it is when Beach/pool is open. As mentioned above, the beach/pool of Castelo Branco only opens during the summer school holidays. If you don’t want to visit Praia Piscina, then Spring and Autumn is our suggestion.
Where to stay in Castelo Branco?
Although not extremely touristy, Castelo Branco is a district capital and has a relatively large population and as such has many hotels and accommodation options.
For the most youthful or anyone looking for an excellent value for money, we recommend the Castelo Branco youth hostel. It has private rooms at very reasonable prices and even includes breakfast. It is also very well located in the center, very close to the historic area. See availability here.
If you are looking for accommodation with higher comfort and quality, our suggestion goes to Hotel Meliá Castelo Branco. Located on a hill, it offers panoramic views of Castelo Branco. It has spacious and comfortable rooms. As usual in these hotels, there is a SPA with an indoor pool, sauna, and Turkish bath to relax at the end of the day. See Prices here.