Looking for the best things to do in Lousã? This beautiful destination in Central Portugal is best known for its schist villages, mountain landscapes, viewpoints, river beaches, hiking trails, and amazing traditional food.

Lousã had been on my list for a long time. The photos I had seen looked too beautiful to ignore, I kept hearing great things about its gastronomy, and all I really needed was the right opportunity to visit.

So, I took advantage of a long weekend and spent 4 days relaxing and exploring some of the best places to visit in Lousã.

From wandering through the magical schist villages of Talasnal, Candal, and Cerdeira to visiting Lousã Castle, discovering the “This is Lousã” viewpoints, and trying chanfana in local restaurants, this region has far more to offer than I initially expected.

In this guide, I’ll share my favorite places in Lousã, practical tips to plan your trip, where to stay, where to eat, and how many days you need to visit.

🎫 If you’re planning a longer trip through the region, I also recommend reading my guide to the best places to visit in Central Portugal.

Lousã is located in Central Portugal, making it an easy destination to reach from some of the country’s main cities.

If you’re traveling by car, the journey takes approximately:

• 30 minutes from Coimbra (30 km / 19 miles)
• 1 hour 45 minutes from Porto (150 km / 93 miles)
• 2 hours 15 minutes from Lisbon (225 km / 140 miles)

The best way to explore Lousã is by car. While the town is relatively compact, many of the region’s highlights are spread throughout the Serra da Lousã.

The famous schist villages, scenic viewpoints, hiking trails, and river beaches are all located a short drive from one another, making a car by far the most convenient way to get around.

Having your own car also gives you the flexibility to visit several places in the same day, stop whenever a beautiful viewpoint catches your eye, and explore the region at your own pace.

If you need to rent a car in Portugal, I recommend comparing rental prices on Discover Cars, as it allows you to compare offers from different rental companies in one place and often find some of the best deals.

💡 Don’t have a car? If you’re staying in Coimbra, this guided day trip to the Lousã Schist Villages is a great alternative. It includes transportation, making it easy to visit some of the region’s most beautiful villages without having to drive.

When planning a trip to Lousã, many people immediately think about staying in one of its beautiful schist villages. Although I haven’t had the chance to do that yet (next time!), it looks like such a unique experience.

That said, most of the villages have very limited services and are around a 20-minute drive from the center of Lousã, where you’ll find most restaurants, cafés, and shops.

If it’s your first time visiting Lousã and you plan to explore several places around the region, I’d recommend staying in the town center. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a quieter getaway surrounded by nature, spending a few nights in one of the schist villages in Lousã should be an unforgettable experience.

If you decide to stay in one of the villages, I’d also recommend choosing accommodation with a kitchen, as dining options nearby are quite limited.

These are my recommendations for where to stay in Lousã:

» Louzan Places

This vacation rental is located in the center of Lousã and was my choice for this trip. The house is spacious, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a fully equipped kitchen, making it perfect for a longer stay. It also has air conditioning, which is especially welcome during the colder months.

One of the highlights, though, was the host. He was incredibly welcoming and always happy to share recommendations on restaurants, places to visit, and local tips. If you’re looking for a comfortable base to explore all the main attractions in Lousã, I’d happily stay here again.

» Cerdeira – Home or Creativity

Although I didn’t stay here, this is easily one of the most unique places to stay in Lousã. Set in the heart of Cerdeira, one of the region’s most beautiful schist villages, it offers beautifully restored stone houses that blend traditional architecture with modern comfort.

After visiting Cerdeira, I immediately added this place to my list for my next trip. Waking up surrounded by nature in one of these restored schist houses must be an unforgettable experience.

There are plenty of things to do in Lousã, from exploring its picturesque schist villages and hiking through the Serra da Lousã to discovering scenic viewpoints, river beaches, and historic landmarks.

To make this guide easier to follow, I’ve grouped the main attractions by category. This way, you can quickly find the places that interest you most and build an itinerary that suits your travel style.

» Explore the Schist Villages

One of the best things to do in Lousã is exploring its beautiful schist villages. The municipality is home to five of the 27 official Schist Villages in Portugal—Talasnal, Cerdeira, Casal Novo, Chiqueiro, and Candal—and each has its own unique character.

In the map below, you can see where each of them is located.

In fact, there are two more schist villages that are less well known and, for some reason, are not qualified as such: Vaqueirinho and Catarrador. 

We might think that at the end of the first or second visit to these villages, they would all be similar. But this is not the case at all! 

Although I easily chose my favorite (Talasnal), they all tell a different story. If in some there is not a single living soul, and we are only welcomed by the silence that fills the village, in others, we still feel a strong presence of the community that once lived there. 

The truth is that most of these villages are uninhabited. During the 20th century, many of these villages saw their inhabitants migrate to the cities and become increasingly deserted.

The Schist Villages project clearly brought some life to these places and some curiosity, so people visit them more regularly.

If you only have time to visit one schist village in Lousã, make it Talasnal.

It was love at first sight when I arrived at this village. It was very cold, and at the entrance of the village, there was a small fire burning outside Montanhas de Amor restaurant and lodge. We entered this place for lunch and the service was very nice.

Of all the villages visited, this is the one with the largest crowds. It is also the village that offers more services: 2 to 3 restaurants, some cafés, and also some local handicraft shops.

There are also some options for local accommodation, certainly perfect for a few days close to nature.

I fell so much in love with this place that I had to go back there on my last day in Serra da Lousã.

At the end of the day, we entered a small café – Curral – where we ate a nice slice of chocolate and honey cake. All this while watching a beautiful sunset from their balcony. I mean, just look at the picture below.

💡 EXTRA TIP: When visiting the village of Talasnal, don’t miss one of the best viewpoints of this village. Here you can frame in your memory (or in a photo) the charm of the Talasnal village. Here are the coordinates of the viewpoint: 40°05’26.5 “N 8°13’47.2 “W.

When visiting Talasnal, you can embark on a small adventure and walk part of the Serranos Route (route identified as PR5). Starting the route in the Talasnal village, it takes only 1.5 km (0.9 mi) to reach a smaller village – Chiqueiro.

However, do not be fooled (like me!) by the trail’s short distance. The beginning of the trail is quite flat, but halfway (as soon as you reach the main road), the path becomes quite steep.

I was not prepared for this kind of adventure, but the landscapes along the way certainly made up for it.

When we arrived at Chiqueiro, we only came across a person who was doing maintenance work on the electrical system.

The houses seemed uninhabited, and here, neither tourism seemed to have arrived yet. However, we saw some projects under construction for local accommodations, which could certainly boost the village’s tourism in the near future.

I believe that in this case, the description of the Schist Villages project is the one that best describes it: “Only the herd bells seem to counteract the feeling that time has long since stopped here”.

From Chiqueiro, you can continue along the Serranos Route to Casal Novo. This section is around 1.1 km (0.7 mi) long and offers beautiful views over the surrounding mountains.

This route, much nicer than the previous one, gave us beautiful views. We were also lucky to meet a shepherd who was grazing his herd.

Like Chiqueiro, Casal Novo is an almost deserted village, yet it has a charm that’s hard to describe.

The sun was about to set, and we had to return to Talasnal, where we had started this adventure. This time, we would return by the route PR2 – Schist Villages Route, which takes about 40 minutes.

This was clearly the route that most surprised me.

Besides the lush vegetation, the trail passes by several small streams, making the walk even more enjoyable. There are also several viewpoints overlooking the village of Talasnal, so don’t forget to stop and take in the scenery.

This village is one of the easiest to access in terms of parking. We easily park the car at the village’s entrance and the best way to explore it is on foot.

The village has some points of interest, from the fountain to the water mills or even the olive oil mill.

However, go up to the viewpoint with spectacular views of the village. If you are facing the village, the viewpoint is on the left side.

This is still one of the few villages that has a small restaurant and a shop to buy some regional products. I recommend having lunch at Sabores da Aldeia, where the food is wonderful and homemade.

If you have some extra time, I also recommend visiting Candal Waterfall. The trail is around 1 km (0.6 mi) each way and is an enjoyable walk through the surrounding forest.

The start of the trail can be a little tricky to spot at first. Just opposite the Sabores da Aldeia restaurant, you’ll find a small water channel. Walk down the nearby steps and follow the well-marked trail from there.

Unfortunately, we did not see the waterfall in all its splendor because at a certain point, we considered the route a little more complicated and chose not to continue further. Anyway, we could see the waterfall from above.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have a little extra time, be sure to walk part of the PR3 – Levada Route. This trail connects the villages of Cerdeira and Candal and it’s one of the best hiking trails in Lousã. The trail between the two villages is about 4 km /2.5 mi round trip.

Cerdeira is probably the most photogenic of all the schist villages.

According to the Schist Villages project, Cerdeira is “where inspiration lives”. After a rehabilitation project of the village, Cerdeira is now a place of artistic creation.

The houses are well maintained, and it is a delight to walk along its streets. If you have the opportunity, do not miss a night in the fantastic Cerdeira – Home for Creativity.

Although it is not officially considered a Schist Village, Vaqueirinho village is also full of small schist houses.

When we arrived there, we came across a van, where you could see exposed animal bones on the dashboard. While we were there, we saw absolutely nobody.

Clearly more degraded than the other villages, here we were welcomed by a lovely family of cats who ended up accompanying us throughout the visit.

The cats were present in almost all of our visits to the Schist villages. In almost all of them, we were received by these extremely docile cats that just wanted to interact with us.

One of the most unusual features of Vaqueirinho is the bar called “End of the World”. Combined with the trance music playing through the village during my visit, it gave the place a quirky atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Serra da Lousã.

Like Vaqueirinho, Catarredor isn’t officially part of the Schist Villages network, but it’s still worth a quick stop if you’re exploring the area.

The village has a noticeably different atmosphere from the others, with a more alternative feel. During my visit, trance music echoed through the streets, and there was even an unusual café that added to its quirky character.

Curious about this contrast, I did some research afterwards and discovered that both Catarredor and Vaqueirinho have attracted a small international community over the years.

Their presence has given these villages a unique identity, quite different from the more traditional atmosphere you’ll find in the official Schist Villages.

» Visit the “This Is Lousã” Viewpoints

One of the most unique things to do in Lousã is to visit the viewpoints created as part of the “This Is Lousã” project.

Created by two local friends, the project aims to showcase some of the most beautiful views across the Serra da Lousã through a series of scenic installations.

They installed a set of elements in Serra da Lousã, which were strategically placed in places with superb views. Here you can find their locations:

Located at the highest point of Serra da Lousã, this is probably the most famous swing in Portugal.

The drive to the top is spectacular, but the panoramic views are the real highlight.

On a clear day, you can see for miles across Central Portugal.

Located on the road between Lousã and Talasnal, this viewpoint features a large picture frame overlooking the mountains.

It’s one of the most popular photo stops in the area, so it’s worth pulling over if you’re driving between the schist villages.

Another great photo spot with beautiful views over the surrounding landscape.

It’s a quick stop, but well worth adding to your itinerary if you’re already exploring Serra da Lousã.

Set beside the beautiful Senhora da Piedade River Beach, this swing offers another scenic viewpoint in a peaceful setting.

Keep in mind that it’s removed during the winter months for safety reasons, so it may not be there during your visit.

» Visit Lousã Castle & the Nossa Senhora da Piedade Complex

Lousã Castle is one of the region’s most iconic landmarks and should definitely be part of your itinerary. Nestled in the Serra da Lousã, the castle is surrounded by several attractions that are all within walking distance of each other.

If you’re driving, park near the castle or by the wooden walkway.

Start by exploring the medieval castle before making your way down to the Nossa Senhora da Piedade River Beach. During the summer, it’s a great place for a swim, while in the cooler months, it’s perfect for a peaceful walk surrounded by nature.

Just below the river beach, you’ll also find a small waterfall where, during spring and summer, the famous “This Is Lousã” swing is suspended above the water.

Before leaving, don’t miss the beautiful Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, one of Lousã’s most picturesque chapels.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are nearby, take the opportunity to stop at the Nossa Senhora da Piedade viewpoint or at the Gevim Balcony for views over the city of Lousã.

» Walk around the historic center of Lousã

If you’re staying in the center of Lousã, take some time to explore its historic streets.

As you wander around, you’ll come across charming squares, traditional buildings, local cafés, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes the town a pleasant place to slow down between visits to the surrounding schist villages.

» Get lost at Casal Ermio Village

Lousã is much more than its famous schist villages, and Casal Ermio is well worth a stop if you have some extra time.

The village is home to Bogueira River Beach, a peaceful spot that’s perfect for a swim during the summer or a relaxing walk surrounded by nature in the cooler months.

If you’re visiting in peak season, it’s also a great alternative to the more popular Nossa Senhora da Piedade River Beach.

The food in Portugal is simply amazing and Lousã is no exception! Known for chanfana, there are several restaurants that prepare wonderful versions of this traditional dish. Don’t miss the opportunity to try it.

If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to try some of the local sweets as well. Many are made with typical Lousã ingredients, such as Licor Beirão, chestnuts, and honey. Simply not to be missed!

The schist villages have few services, so it’s best to plan your meals in advance or bring some snacks with you. Of the 7 villages we visited, only Talasnal and Candal had restaurants. Cerdeira also has a small café and the restaurant at Cerdeira – Home for Creativity.

During busier periods, and because options are limited, these places can fill up quickly. If you already know where you’d like to eat, I recommend booking a table in advance.

Anyway, here are my top picks for restaurants in Lousã.

Nossa Senhora da Piedade Complex

• O Burgo (€€€): located next to Lousã Castle, this is one of the best-known restaurants in Lousã. It is usually difficult to get a table here, so booking ahead is highly recommended. We started with a very generous plate of starters, which were simply divine. For the main course, we had the chanfana, and it was excellent. The meat was very well seasoned and incredibly tender.

Candal

• Sabores da Aldeia (€€): with homemade food and a cozy dining room, this is a great option if you’re visiting Candal. The food is simple, traditional, and very tasty.

Talasnal

• Montanhas de Amor (€€): located in Talasnal, this tavern mostly serves meat dishes and is a good option if you want to have lunch while visiting one of the most popular schist villages in Lousã.
• O Curral (€): a small café, perfect for having a drink, trying something sweet, or buying regional products. The terrace is also extremely pleasant.

Lousã

• a Burguesa (€): for those who want a break from more traditional flavors, this is where you’ll find some of the best burgers in Lousã. If you’re staying in the center of Lousã, you can also order directly through their website.
• Casa Velha (€€): with a varied menu, we tried the pataniscas with bean rice. Besides being tasty, the portion was also generous.
• Propoli Geladaria (€): if you feel like a refreshing dessert, this is the place to go. We had heard they served some of the best ice cream in Lousã, and I can confirm it was delicious.

Lousã is a destination you can visit year-round. However, because it’s located in the mountains of Central Portugal, the weather varies quite a bit depending on the season.

Spring (April to June) and early fall (September and October) are, in my opinion, the best times to visit. Temperatures are pleasant, making it ideal for exploring the schist villages, hiking the surrounding trails, and enjoying the viewpoints.

I visited in December, and although the landscapes were beautiful, it was quite cold. Summers, on the other hand, can be very hot, especially if you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors. If you’re visiting during July or August, try to start your days early and take advantage of the river beaches during the hottest hours.

Although I spent 4 days in Lousã, I think you can comfortably see most of the places included in this guide in 2 days.

That said, my goal wasn’t just sightseeing. I also wanted to slow down, enjoy the local food, and spend time exploring the schist villages at a more relaxed pace. If that’s your travel style too, I’d recommend staying for 3 to 4 days.

I hope this guide has helped you discover the best things to do in Lousã and inspired you to plan your own trip to this beautiful corner of Central Portugal.

Whether you’re exploring the picturesque schist villages, hiking through the Serra da Lousã, or simply enjoying the local gastronomy, I’m sure you’ll leave wanting to come back.

If you’ve already visited Lousã, I’d love to hear about your experience. Is there a place you think deserves a spot on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Planning to explore more of the region? Don’t miss my guide to the best places to visit in Central Portugal, where you’ll find plenty of ideas to help you plan a longer itinerary.

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