Castelo Branco is the main city of the Beira Baixa, built on the slope of the hill of Cardosa in the interior of central Portugal, near the Spanish border. The historic centre, the garden and the museums are within walking distance, and the river beaches and villages of the municipality lie in the countryside around.

This page covers how to reach Castelo Branco, what to see in and around the city, its embroidery and its food.

Getting to Castelo Branco

By road: the A23 motorway runs through Castelo Branco, connecting it with the A1 to the west and with Guarda to the north-east.
By train: the Beira Baixa line connects the city with Lisbon and with Covilhã.

In the city of Castelo Branco

Historic centre: the streets of the old town below the castle, with the Domus Municipalis on the Praça Velha and the Arco do Bispo.
Sé de São Miguel: the church that has been the cathedral of the city since the 20th century.
Centro de Cultura Contemporânea: a modern building with exhibitions of contemporary art.
Parque da Cidade: the city park, facing the museum.

River beaches in Castelo Branco

Almaceda beach

Location⁨Castelo Branco⁩
Beach type⁨Inland beach⁩

Sesmo beach

Location⁨Castelo Branco⁩
Beach type⁨Inland beach⁩

Near Castelo Branco

Monsanto: a historic village of houses built among granite boulders, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova.
Idanha-a-Velha: a village with Roman and Visigothic remains, near Monsanto.
Naturtejo Geopark: a UNESCO global geopark that covers Castelo Branco and neighbouring municipalities, with sites such as the Portas de Ródão and the fossil trail of Penha Garcia.
Serra da Estrela: the highest range of mainland Portugal, north of the district.

Embroidery and food

Castelo Branco embroidery: silk thread worked on linen cloth, with floral patterns, made in the city since the 18th century and still taught at its embroidery school.
Food: bucho recheado, roast kid, and the cheeses of the Beira Baixa, among them the Castelo Branco cheese.
Sweets: tigeladas, broas de mel and Easter cakes.