I confess that it had never crossed my mind to visit Caldas das Rainha. And you know what? It was one of those pleasant surprises 😊. Although the city is quite small, it’s rather cute and perfect for a weekend getaway.

Besides, it is very close to other wonderful cities in the centre of Portugal, such as Peniche, Óbidos or Nazaré, thus allowing you to complement a trip to Caldas da Rainha with a visit to these other cities.

The climate in Caldas da Rainha is very similar to the Portuguese coast. Cold winters and hot summers, but not too extreme. The temperature ends up being relatively mild throughout the year! So, any time of year is a good option to visit Caldas da Rainha 😉.

Caldas da Rainha is a very small city! One day in the city is more than enough to get to know its main points of interest at a slow pace.

However, you can add 1 or 2 days to your stay in Caldas da Rainha to visit other cities close by. I especially suggest combining your visit to Caldas da Rainha with Óbidos (20-min drive), Nazaré (30-min drive) or Peniche (35-min drive).

You can also take the opportunity to visit Alcobaça (30 min by car) or Batalha (40 by car) with its famous monasteries.

Caldas da Rainha is easily accessible for those coming from Porto or Lisbon. The journey by car takes 2h10 or 1h10 respectively, making this city the perfect day trip from both these cities 🥰

For those who do not plan to visit Caldas de Rainha by car, there are some bus options available:

• From Porto: bus from Rede Expressos
• From Lisbon: bus from Rede Expressos, Flixbus or Rodoviária do Oeste

Plus, for those who wish to travel from Lisbon, there is also the alternative of travelling by CP train. However, this alternative may take longer.

Let me tell you that I ABSOLUTELY loved my accommodation in Caldas da Rainha. I stayed in a flat of Bordallo’s Prime Apartments. These flats are located in a recently restored building right in front of Fruit Square. Needless to say, the location couldn’t have been better 😊

Although I booked the flat for 2 people, it had an additional bunk bed. Bordallo’s Prime Apartments also have a living room and a small, fully equipped kitchen.

Nevertheless, I want to share with you some other accommodation options in Caldas da Rainha:

Before we start the list of places to visit in Caldas da Rainha, I leave here a map version of the main points of interest for those who want to download it:

Park D. Carlos I is the most well-known and emblematic park in the city of Caldas da Rainha. It was built by D. João V and used to serve as a support to the thermal hospital that existed there. However, over the years its purpose has changed and nowadays, it is a place where locals hang out.

When visiting the garden, don’t miss the old thermal hospital building. Despite several projects to restore this place, the building is still abandoned.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Inside D. Carlos I Park, you can also take the opportunity to visit the José Malhoa Museum, with paintings by the painter. You can better plan your visit by clicking here.

Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is one of the main churches in the city and is part of the current D. Leonor Thermal Hospital.

Relatively close to the church, you can also see Fountain of Five Spouts. This is an 18th century fountain which, as its name indicates, has 5 spouts.

In the middle of Republic Square, the most famous market in Caldas da Rainha is held every day. Its colourful awnings and vibrant colours make it one of the must-visit places in Caldas da Rainha.

According to a legend, this square was offered by queen D. Leonor to the region’s agricultural producers, so they could sell their produce.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: This market runs daily from 8 am to 3.30 pm.

Caldas da Rainha will always be associated with Bordallo Pinheiro and ceramics. That is why I could not leave out of this list of places to visit in Caldas da Rainha the Ceramics Museum.

The museum has existed since 1983, and it is located in the former Visconde de Sacavém Farm. Inside the museum, you can admire several works of Portuguese and foreign ceramics and, in particular, works by Bordallo Pinheiro.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the Ceramics Museum costs 3€, but is free every Sunday and public holidays for citizens living in Portugal.

If you are interested, take advantage of your visit to the Ceramics Museum to visit the Bordallo Pinheiro factory shop, where you can buy some ceramics.

If you want to find nature in the middle of the city, I also suggest a stop at Mata da Rainha D. Leonor. This forest was planted in the reign of D. Leonor and has 17 hectares. It’s the perfect place to forget for a few moments that you’re in the city 😊

And my last recommendation to visit in Caldas da Rainha is the Water Garden. Although it is kind of abandoned, here you will find an artistic installation (and a quirky one) by Ferreira da Silva.

I was lucky enough to have tried some amazing restaurants in Caldas da Rainha and nearby towns:

• [Caldas da Rainha] Solar dos Amigos (€€): a well-known restaurant in the area where the speciality is grilled meats. I recommend booking in advance as the restaurant is very popular. The service was amazing, and the place is absolutely lovely.
• [Nazaré] Rosa dos Ventos (€€€): despite its small size, you can eat very good fish here, which is no surprise to Nazaré 😊
• [Alcobaça] António Padeiro (€€€): a more intimate restaurant with delicious food. The starter plate is absolutely divine, and so is the octopus with sweet potatoes!

As I mentioned before, Caldas da Rainha is very close to other amazing places in Portugal. This way, I leave here some suggestions of additional places you can visit departing from Caldas da Rainha:

• Peniche (30 min by car)
• Óbidos (20 min by car)
• Beaches (for example, Foz do Arelho or Rei Cortiço beaches)
• São Martinho do Porto (22 min by car)
• Nazaré (30 min by car)

Alcobaça has little to visit other than its incredible Monastery, which is one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal. The ticket to visit costs 10€, but is free on Sundays and holidays for all residents in Portugal. You can check the most up-to-date timetable here.

Similar to Alcobaça, Batalha is mostly known for its Monastery, also one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal. The price of the tickets is the same and it is also free on Sundays and public holidays. Information about the opening hours can be found here.

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