Domestic Tourism in Portugal: The New Focus on Non-Urban Areas

Rent2You |July 10, 2025

Domestic Tourism in Portugal: The New Focus on Non-Urban Areas

In recent years, tourism has grown in low-density population areas — especially in the country's interior — driven by the search for tranquility, contact with nature, and safety, as well as the development of infrastructures like fiber optics and coworking spaces. Learn More. Turismo de Portugal has also launched campaigns to attract those seeking a more authentic and local tourism experience.

What does this trend include?

  1. Rural tourism and mountain villages Popular examples: Schist Villages in Serra da Lousã and Serra do Açor, featuring heritage restoration and local experience offerings. Learn More

  2. Traditional Village Tourism Small villages like Gondramaz (Serra da Lousã) and Almargem (Viseu region) preserve living traditions and offer river beaches, pilgrimages, and local accommodations. Learn More

  3. Attracting new audiences Tourists, remote workers, and entrepreneurs seek investment in the countryside — in agriculture, renewable energy, rural accommodation, and coworking.

Main reasons explaining the increase in domestic tourism

  • Seeking peace, security, and connection with nature, away from urban pressure.
  • Recovery of heritage and enhancement of traditional and mountain villages.
  • Public and private investment in infrastructure: telecom, roads, accommodations.
  • National promotion with campaigns positioning Portugal as an innovative and sustainable destination turismodeportugal.pt.

Exemplary domestic tourism destinations

  • Schist Villages (Center): over 80 restored villages — Talasnal, Gondramaz, and others, with local accommodation, trails, and culture. Learn More
  • Mountain villages (Serra da Estrela): 41 preserved villages with local development programs. Learn More
  • Interior of Viseu: villages like Almargem, part of the Portuguese Way of St. James, featuring a river beach and traditional festivals. Learn More

Opportunities for investors and operators

  • Renovation of historic houses: for local accommodation with regional charm.
  • Development of themed tours: nature, heritage, gastronomy, and traditions.
  • Coworking and teleworking: opportunities to integrate tourists into local communities, leveraging fiber optics and living conditions.
  • Sustainable tourism: the profile of the conscious traveler values authenticity and eco-responsibility.

How Rent2you can support

  • Selection of properties in restored villages and traditional mountains.
  • Rehabilitation and typical decoration, respecting the local charm.
  • Complete management: licensing, marketing, reservations, and maintenance.
  • Local experiences: route suggestions, festivals, gastronomy, and community spaces.
  • Access to new visitors: promotion among audiences who value inland tourism.

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