Districts Map of Portugal
Explore Portugal's administrative divisions with our interactive map. Portugal is divided into 18 districts on the mainland plus 2 autonomous regions - the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
Portugal's Administrative Structure
Portugal is divided into 18 districts (distritos) on the mainland, plus 2 autonomous regions with their own governments. Each district is named after its capital city and is further divided into municipalities (concelhos) and parishes (freguesias).
Northern Districts
Porto District
Capital: Porto. Population: ~1.8 million. Portugal's second-largest city, famous for Port wine, the historic Ribeira district, and beautiful azulejo tiles.
Braga District
Capital: Braga. Population: ~850,000. Known as the religious capital of Portugal, home to the famous Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary.
Viana do Castelo District
Capital: Viana do Castelo. Population: ~245,000. Scenic coastal district with traditional fishing villages and Lima River.
Vila Real District
Capital: Vila Real. Population: ~207,000. Home to the Douro Valley wine region and stunning terraced vineyards.
Braganca District
Capital: Braganca. Population: ~136,000. Remote northeastern district with medieval castles and natural parks.
Central Districts
Aveiro District
Capital: Aveiro. Population: ~714,000. "Venice of Portugal" with canals, colorful moliceiro boats, and beach resorts.
Coimbra District
Capital: Coimbra. Population: ~430,000. Home to Portugal's oldest university, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Viseu District
Capital: Viseu. Population: ~378,000. Historic city in the Dao wine region with medieval center.
Guarda District
Capital: Guarda. Population: ~160,000. Portugal's highest city at 1,056m, gateway to Serra da Estrela.
Castelo Branco District
Capital: Castelo Branco. Population: ~196,000. Border district with historic villages and natural landscapes.
Leiria District
Capital: Leiria. Population: ~470,000. Includes the Silver Coast and famous sites like Fatima and Batalha.
Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Lisbon District
Capital: Lisbon. Population: ~2.8 million. Portugal's capital and largest district, including Sintra and Cascais.
Setubal District
Capital: Setubal. Population: ~850,000. South of Lisbon, includes the Arrabida Natural Park and Troia peninsula.
Santarem District
Capital: Santarem. Population: ~454,000. The "capital of Gothic" with important medieval monuments.
Southern Districts (Alentejo)
Portalegre District
Capital: Portalegre. Population: ~118,000. Rural district with cork forests and marble quarries.
Evora District
Capital: Evora. Population: ~166,000. UNESCO World Heritage city with Roman temple and historic center.
Beja District
Capital: Beja. Population: ~152,000. Agricultural heartland with rolling plains and ancient traditions.
Faro District (Algarve)
Capital: Faro. Population: ~467,000. Portugal's southernmost district, famous for beaches and tourism.
Autonomous Regions
Azores Autonomous Region
Capital: Ponta Delgada. Population: ~242,000. Nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic with their own government and parliament.
Madeira Autonomous Region
Capital: Funchal. Population: ~254,000. Two inhabited islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) with subtropical climate.
Key Statistics
- Total Districts: 18 mainland + 2 autonomous regions
- Total Municipalities: 308
- Total Parishes: 3,092
- Largest District: Beja (10,225 km2)
- Most Populous: Lisbon (~2.8 million)
- Smallest District: Viana do Castelo (2,255 km2)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many districts does Portugal have?
Mainland Portugal has 18 districts. Madeira and the Azores are autonomous regions rather than districts.
How many municipalities are in Portugal?
Portugal has 308 municipalities (concelhos), each divided into civil parishes (freguesias).
Are districts still used in Portugal?
Districts still appear in everyday use, for postal regions and for some public services, but much regional administration now uses municipalities, intermunicipal communities and the NUTS statistical regions.