//
City in Central Portugal
Photo: JMFH4778, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Leiria is a city of 127,000 people (2011) in Beira Litoral in central Portugal. It is home to a restored medieval castle.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The castle of Leiria was built by D. Afonso Henriques in the 12th century to create a line of defence against the Arabs. The keep (Tower of Menagem) was begun in the 14th century. It was badly damaged during the French invasion, and restored in the early 20th century.
Civic museum housed in the 16th-century Convent of St. Agostinho.
Museum of the Moving Image
Portugal's only Museum of the Moving Image.
Museu do moinho do papel
At the site of Portugal's first paper mill.
Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação
A small sanctuary on top of a long staircase, overlooking the city.
Homey and rustic. A wine enthusiast's favourite. Michelin rated as Bib Gourmand for "good quality, good value cooking".
Vegan and vegetarian Indo-Portuguese cooking.
2-star hotel.
4-star hotel.
By train
There are daily connections between Paris and Lisbon (Sud-Express), entering by the Vilar Formoso border; between Lisbon and Madrid, by the Marvão border; and between Porto and Vigo (Spain), by the…
By bus
There are 3 bus companies linking Porto (Internorte), Lisbon (Intercentro) and Faro (Intersul) to several European cities.
By car
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Lisbon · International · LIS
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Leiria and Portugal.
Travel tipsDiscover the cheapest countries to visit in Europe in 2026. Compare daily budgets for Albania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Portugal with real costs.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
ItinerariesExplore Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto with this 7-day Portugal itinerary for 2026. Practical train tips, palace timings, wine tastings, and costs.
8 min read
ItinerariesDecide between São Miguel and Terceira in the Azores. Compare crater lakes, thermal hot springs, UNESCO heritage, local cuisine, and direct flights.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.