List of cities in Portugal

This is a list of cities in Portugal. In Portugal, a city (Portuguese: cidade) is an honorific term given to locations that meet several criteria, such as having a minimum number of inhabitants, good infrastructure (schools, medical care, cultural and sports facilities), or have a major historical importance. The country's demographic expansion of the 1980s prompted the elevation of several towns to city status and, as of 2018, 159 locations in Portugal are considered a city.

Overview

In Portugal, the city is not an administrative division, therefore a city generally does not necessarily correspond to a municipality, with the exception of the entirely urban municipalities, such as Lisbon, Porto, Funchal, Amadora, Entroncamento, and São João da Madeira.

The municipality with the most cities is Paredes Municipality, which contains four cities.

Until 1910, a location was proclaimed city by royal charter, which happened 25 times to current Portuguese cities (royal charters were also granted to cities of the Portuguese Empire; for example, São Paulo in 1711). During the Portuguese First Republic, the process was transferred to the parliament, which elevated three towns to the category of city. The dictatorial Estado Novo regime proclaimed seven cities on the Portuguese mainland (as well as some more in the colonies), this time by government decree. After the 1974 Carnation Revolution, proclamation of cities returned to parliament and now, Portugal has 156 cities, one of the consequences being that the title no longer holds the prestige it once had.

Eight locations have been always considered cities since Portugal became an independent kingdom (de facto 1128): Braga, Coimbra, Lamego, Porto and Viseu, as well as Évora, Lisbon and Silves, which were annexed at a later date. Guarda was the first city proclaimed as part of the independent kingdom, in 1199.

The most recent cities are : Albergaria-a-Velha, Alfena, Lagoa (Azores), Valença, Senhora da Hora, São Pedro do Sul, Samora Correia, and Borba.

The most populous cities are: Lisbon (Lisboa), Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga, Amadora, Queluz, Funchal, Coimbra, Setúbal, Agualva-Cacém, Almada, Rio Tinto, Aveiro, Viseu, Odivelas, Leiria, Guimarães, Barreiro, Évora, Faro, Portimão and Ponta Delgada.

List

Coat of
Arms
City Municipality District or
autonomous
region
Population[1] A city since
Abrantes
Abrantes
Santarém
18,600
1916-06-14
Agualva-Cacém
Sintra
Lisbon
81,845
2001-07-12
Águeda
Águeda
Aveiro
11,357
1985-08-14
Albergaria-a-Velha
Albergaria-a-Velha
Coimbra
2011-04-06
Albufeira
Albufeira
Faro
16,237
1986-08-20
Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal
Setúbal
9,118
1997-07-12
Alcobaça
Alcobaça
Leiria
15,800
1995-08-30
Alfena
Valongo
Porto
17,800
2011-04-06
Almada
Almada
Setúbal
101,500
1973-06-16
Almeirim
Almeirim
Santarém
11,607
1991-08-16
Amadora
Amadora
Lisbon
175,135
1979-09-17
Amarante
Amarante
Porto
11,000
1985-08-14
Amora
Seixal
Setúbal
48,629
1993-07-02
Anadia
Anadia
Aveiro
3,533
2004-12-09
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
Azores
21,200
1534-08-21
Aveiro
Aveiro
Aveiro
67,003
1759-04-11
Barcelos
Barcelos
Braga
20,000
1928-09-06
Barreiro
Barreiro
Setúbal
78,764
1984-06-28
Beja
Beja
Beja
23,475
1521-04-10
Borba
Borba
Évora
2009-06-12
Braga
Braga
Braga
143,532
20 BCE
Bragança
Bragança
Bragança
19,998
1464-02-23
Caldas da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha
Leiria
30,006
1927-08-26
Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos
Madeira
16,842
1996-08-02
Caniço
Santa Cruz
Madeira
11,586
2005-06-09
Cantanhede
Cantanhede
Coimbra
7,066
1991-08-16
Cartaxo
Cartaxo
Santarém
10,115
1995-08-30
Castelo Branco
Castelo Branco
Castelo Branco
34,525
1771-03-20
Chaves
Chaves
Vila Real
19,307
1929-03-18
Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra
143,396
c. 200 BCE
Costa da Caparica
Almada
Setúbal
14,100
2004-12-09
Covilhã
Covilhã
Castelo Branco
36,147
1870-10-20
Elvas
Elvas
Portalegre
28,106
1513-04-03
Entroncamento
Entroncamento
Santarém
20,065
1991-08-16
Ermesinde
Valongo
Porto
40,139
1990-08-10
Esmoriz
Ovar
Aveiro
11,200
1993-07-02
Espinho
Espinho
Aveiro
10,500
1973-06-16
Esposende
Esposende
Braga
9,148
1993-07-02
Estarreja
Estarreja
Aveiro
7,000
2004-12-09
Estremoz
Estremoz
Évora
9,011
1926-08-31
Évora
Évora
Évora
46,417
c. 600 BCE
Fafe
Fafe
Braga
15,323
1986-08-23
Faro
Faro
Faro
43,757
1540-09-07
Fátima
Ourém
Santarém
10,302
1997-07-12
Felgueiras
Felgueiras
Porto
15,100
1990-08-10
Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz
Coimbra
36,500
1882-09-20
Fiães
Santa Maria da Feira
Aveiro
13,100
2001-07-12
Freamunde
Paços de Ferreira
Porto
7,452
2001-07-12
Funchal
Funchal
Madeira
111,892
1508-08-21
Fundão
Fundão
Castelo Branco
8,957
1988-04-19
Gafanha da Nazaré
Ílhavo
Aveiro
14,021
2001-07-21
Gandra
Paredes
Porto
5,200
2003-08-26
Gondomar
Gondomar
Porto
25,000
1991-08-16
Gouveia
Gouveia
Guarda
3,500
1988-02-01
Guarda
Guarda
Guarda
32,274
1199-11-27
Guimarães
Guimarães
Braga
66,912
1853-06-23
Horta
Horta
Azores
9,000
1833-07-04
Ílhavo
Ílhavo
Aveiro
17,200
1990-08-09
Lagoa (Algarve)
Lagoa (Algarve)
Faro
5,000
2001-07-12
Lagoa (Azores)
Lagoa (Azores)
Azores
2012-03-22
Lagos
Lagos
Faro
20,000
1573-01-27
Lamego
Lamego
Viseu
12,000
c. 200 CE
Leiria
Leiria
Leiria
50,264
1545-06-13
Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon
547,631
c. 800 BCE
Lixa
Felgueiras
Porto
5,500
1995-08-30
Loulé
Loulé
Faro
24,000
1988-02-01
Loures
Loures
Lisbon
26,000
1990-08-09
Lourosa
Santa Maria da Feira
Aveiro
11,300
2001-07-12
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Bragança
7,800
1999-06-24
Machico
Machico
Madeira
13,700
1996-08-02
Maia
Maia
Porto
40,000
1986-08-23
Mangualde
Mangualde
Viseu
8,107
2001-07-12
Marco de Canaveses
Marco de Canaveses
Porto
9,000
1993-07-02
Marinha Grande
Marinha Grande
Leiria
29,100
1988-04-19
Matosinhos
Matosinhos
Porto
49,486
1984-06-28
Mealhada
Mealhada
Aveiro
5,500
2003-08-26
Mêda
Mêda
Guarda
2,004
2004-12-09
Miranda do Douro
Miranda do Douro
Bragança
2,000
1545-07-10
Mirandela
Mirandela
Bragança
11,000
1984-06-28
Montemor-o-Novo
Montemor-o-Novo
Évora
14,000
1988-04-18
Montijo
Montijo
Setúbal
30,486
1985-08-14
Moura
Moura
Beja
10,000
1988-02-01
Odivelas
Odivelas
Lisbon
59,559
1990-08-10
Olhão da Restauração
Olhão
Faro
31,100
1985-08-14
Oliveira de Azeméis
Oliveira de Azeméis
Aveiro
15,000
1984-05-16
Oliveira do Bairro
Oliveira do Bairro
Aveiro
5,005
2003-08-26
Oliveira do Hospital
Oliveira do Hospital
Coimbra
4,400
1993-07-02
Ourém
Ourém
Santarém
11,100
1991-08-16
Ovar
Ovar
Aveiro
18,900
1984-06-28
Paços de Ferreira
Paços de Ferreira
Porto
9,000
1993-07-02
Paredes
Paredes
Porto
12,500
1991-08-16
Penafiel
Penafiel
Porto
10,000
1770-03-03
Peniche
Peniche
Leiria
17,500
1988-02-01
Peso da Régua
Peso da Régua
Vila Real
10,000
1985-08-14
Pinhel
Pinhel
Guarda
3,500
1770-08-25
Pombal
Pombal
Leiria
18,500
1991-08-16
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
Azores
46,102
1546-04-02
Ponte de Sor
Ponte de Sor
Portalegre
11,000
1985-08-14
Portalegre
Portalegre
Portalegre
15,700
1550-05-23
Portimão
Portimão
Faro
45,431
1924-12-11
Porto
Porto
Porto
237,559
c. 275 BCE
Vila Baleira (a.k.a. Porto Santo)
Porto Santo
Madeira
4,475
1996-08-02
Póvoa de Santa Iria
Vila Franca de Xira
Lisbon
28,000
1999-06-24
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
Porto
38,257
1973-06-16
Praia da Vitória
Praia da Vitória
Azores
6,500
1981-06-20
Quarteira
Loulé
Faro
21,000
1999-06-24
Queluz
Sintra
Lisbon
75,179
1997-07-24
Rebordosa
Paredes
Porto
12,100
2003-08-26
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Évora
7,900
2004-12-09
Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande
Azores
6,350
1981-06-29
Rio Maior
Rio Maior
Santarém
11,102
1985-08-14
Rio Tinto
Gondomar
Porto
64,815
1995-08-30
Sabugal
Sabugal
Guarda
2,300
2004-12-09
Sacavém
Loures
Lisbon
17,000
1997-06-04
Samora Correia
Benavente
Santarém
17,123
2009-06-12
Santa Comba Dão
Santa Comba Dão
Viseu
3,200
1999-06-24
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz
Madeira
6,500
1996-08-02
Santa Maria da Feira
Santa Maria da Feira
Aveiro
16,900
1985-08-14
Santana
Santana
Madeira
3,300
2001-01-01
Santarém
Santarém
Santarém
30,100
1868-12-24
Santiago do Cacém
Santiago do Cacém
Setúbal
7,753
1991-08-16
Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso
Porto
14,100
1985-08-14
São João da Madeira
São João da Madeira
Aveiro
21,102
1984-06-28
São Mamede de Infesta
Matosinhos
Porto
27,000
2001-07-12
São Pedro do Sul
São Pedro do Sul
Viseu
2009-06-12
São Salvador de Lordelo
Paredes
Porto
11,000
2003-08-26
Seia
Seia
Guarda
7,000
1986-08-23
Seixal
Seixal
Setúbal
31,101
1993-07-02
Senhora da Hora
Matosinhos
Porto
2009-06-12
Serpa
Serpa
Beja
9,990
2003-08-26
Setúbal
Setúbal
Setúbal
90,640
1860-04-19
Silves
Silves
Faro
11,000
c. 0 CE
Sines
Sines
Setúbal
15,555
1997-07-12
Tarouca
Tarouca
Viseu
3,200
2004-12-09
Tavira
Tavira
Faro
13,300
1520-03-16
Tomar
Tomar
Santarém
20,000
1844-02-12
Tondela
Tondela
Viseu
10,120
1988-02-01
Torres Novas
Torres Novas
Santarém
14,900
1985-08-14
Torres Vedras
Torres Vedras
Lisbon
27,200
1979-02-03
Trancoso
Trancoso
Guarda
3,350
2004-12-09
Trofa
Trofa
Porto
22,000
1993-07-02
Valbom
Gondomar
Porto
14,100
2004-12-09
Vale de Cambra
Vale de Cambra
Aveiro
4,200
1993-07-02
Valença
Valença
Viana do Castelo
2009-06-12
Valongo
Valongo
Porto
27,900
1990-08-10
Valpaços
Valpaços
Vila Real
4,102
1999-06-24
Vendas Novas
Vendas Novas
Évora
10,103
1993-07-02
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo
36,750
1848-01-20
Vila do Conde
Vila do Conde
Porto
32,257
1988-02-01
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira
Lisbon
19,000
1984-06-28
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Braga
30,100
1985-08-14
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Guarda
3,303
1997-07-12
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Porto
186,503
1984-06-28
Vila Nova de Santo André
Santiago do Cacém
Setúbal
12,123
2003-08-26
Vila Real
Vila Real
Vila Real
27,250
1925-07-20
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António
Faro
11,000
1988-04-19
Viseu
Viseu
Viseu
66,143
c. 0 CE
Vizela
Vizela
Braga
10,100
1998-09-01

Notes

  1. Although the cities list does not indicate the cities' population, it indicates the parishes that compose them, therefore, this number is the sum of the population of the parishes. The population data was taken from the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and is from 2004.
  • Except the city of Figueira da Foz

See also

References

  1. "Cidades Portuguesas". Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Archived from the original on 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
  2. "Municípios Portugueses". Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses. Retrieved 2006-03-27.
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