Planning a trip to Portugal? You’ve come to the right place. We started and finished our three month European adventure in Portugal, falling for its warm welcoming culture (and extremely friendly locals), cuisine and wines, and stunning landscapes from the terraced vineyards of the renowned Douro Valley to the beautiful beaches along the Algarve coast.
In this guide to planning your Portugal itinerary, here’s what we will cover:
- Precisely how to plan a 10 day itinerary in Portugal, like what stops to make, what route to take, and all the important logistics you need to know
- A guide covering what to do, where to spend the night, and how to get there for every stop on the itinerary
- Itinerary options for shorter (5-7 days) and longer trips if you have more or less time than 10 days in Portugal
All through the guide, we’ll share our favorite finds and encounters in Portugal dependent on our trip to help youdesign your unforgettable trip.
Sound good to you? Let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.
Table of Contents
Is 10 Days in Portugal Enough?
We want to establish appropriate expectations before providing recommendations for making the most of a first trip to Portugal.
No, 10 days is not nearly enough time to experience everything available in Portugal. Portugal is smaller than other Western European nations like Spain, France, and Italy but still has too much to see in such a brief period.
Therefore, you need to go into this itinerary realizing you will not have the ability to see everything.
If this is your initial trip to Portugal with 10 days allotted, we feel you`ll be let down if you don`t see Lisbon,Porto, and the Algarve region. Thus, we`ve planned this 10 day Portugal itinerary to ensure spending about three days in each location.
Is this plan ideal? Not ideally, as one would prefer dedicating more time experiencing each region in depth. However, with scheduling constraints, compromises must be made.
But Matt and Alysha, what about other Portuguese cities like Coimbra, Nazare or Braga? Yes, all of those are worthwhile to see, but if you only have ten days for your first visit, we recommend focusing your time on the three locations we outlined – Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
What if you have more or less than 10 days?
- With 7 days in Portugal, we think you can realistically cover the Lisbon – Porto corridor (including some nice day trips) OR the Algarve. Not both.
- With two weeks in Portugal, you’ll have more leisure time to relax and can include a few extra stops in smaller cities like Braga, Coimbra, Tavira, or Évora in addition to seeing Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
Getting Around Portugal
Navigating Portugal with limited time is somewhat complicated, which we`ll explore in a moment.
At a high level, there’s a robust train network run by Comboios de Portugal and bus network through companies such as FlixBus and ALSA that connect most major cities and towns throughout the country.
We utilized Omio significantly during our tour of Portugal. Omio demonstrates all the possibilities for getting from one city to another all in one place – by train, bus, or plane – so that you can evaluate without visiting multiple other websites. Furthermore, we occasionally ran into issues with our American credit cards getting declined through the formal train website, and Omio was much simpler to use without tossing our phones across the room. It’ll cost you a really tiny service fee (usually one Euro per ticket), but we think it was a far, much better experience (which is why we used it so often).
We enjoy traveling by train, and it’s the preferable method of transportation on the west coast of Portugal, between Lisbon and Porto (and even further north than Porto) where there are both regional and high speed train options available.
Trains in Portugal are significantly less expensive than in places like Spain and Italy, which is an added benefit (they’re also slightly less comfortable, from our experience).
With limited time available, always select the high speed (Intercity, or IC) trains, which will be more costly but notably quicker.
Once outside that major thoroughfare, train travel options become a bit worse, which is where the bus network comes in. Often the buses take roughly equivalent time as regional trains, and can even be cheaper.
For each step in this itinerary, we’re going to provide our perspective on the best way to move from one location to another. Often the train will be the means of transportation, but sometimes the bus options offer a convenient alternative.
Should You Fly Between Cities in Portugal?
This depends heavily on the route chosen below. Some journeys, especially from Porto to the Algarve, are actually best done by air travel between cities.
We’ll cover this in the “routes” section, but we’d only suggest flying if it’s absolutely essential – it will be expensive, often slower when including all the time getting to the airport and waiting around, and less convenient overall.
It is highly recommended that you avoid traveling between Lisbon and Porto by air – the high speed train provides a good service connecting these two major cities.
Should You Rent a Car in Portugal?
We think you should hire a car to visit the Algarve. The vehicle will give you flexibility to get off the well-traveled paths a little and out to some less crowded (but equally beautiful) beaches that just aren’t well connected by public transportation. We would not have been able to get to nearly as many places as we did if we didn’t have a car.
That being said, you can still enjoy the Algarve without a car, but it will be a somewhat different experience.
However, we absolutely would not recommend having a car in either Lisbon or Porto, where it will be more of an impediment than a help thanks to parking and traffic congestion.
Instead, the plan is to rent a vehicle upon arrival on the Algarve coast, keeping it only during that leg of the trip. This strategy will also save money in the long run regarding fuel costs, days of car rental fees, and toll expenses.
We rented a vehicle through the website AutoEurope, which provides rates and availability from multiple car companies all in the same place.
When selecting a rental company, patrons are advised to choose major international brands such as Europcar, Hertz, and Avis while avoiding regional Portuguese firms, which may exploit numerous additional fees to financially burden customers.
Tips for Renting a Car in Portugal
We think you should unquestionably rent a motor vehicle to experience the Algarve, it’s just a matter of figuring out the most effective way to do it for your specific trip.
Here are a few aspects to think about concerning renting a automobile in Portugal that we discovered over the course of our journey.
- If you’re obtaining a rented vehicle in one locale and surrendering it in another place, your rental will face a “one-way” cost that rises depending on the distances between spots. For reference, we received our automobile in Lagos and relinquished it in Évora, which spans about a three hour travel, and it was a 50 Euro payment. We envision the expense would be similar for Lisbon.
- Car rentals from the Lisbon or Faro airports will likely include an approximately 30 Euro surcharge depending on the company. You could bypass this fee by collecting the vehicle from Lagos instead, though picking it up at Faro Airport offers more practicality if arriving there.
- There are highways which require payment throughout Portugal, meaning you will pay to use the bigger, faster highways. The two you are most likely to come across are the A2 between Lisbon and the Algarve, and the A22 between Lagos and Faro. The simplest way to handle them is to ask your vehicle rental company to activate their electronic identifier, which will automatically bill you for any tolls. More information on toll roads in Portugal here.
Where to Start & End Your Trip
There are two options that we’ve come up with, and each has a set of advantages and disadvantages. Which one you choose most likely depends on your flight into Portugal.
The primary option is arriving and departing via Lisbon`s airport, which typically offers the most routes – notably direct flights – in and out of Portugal to international destinations
This option also tends to be the most affordable, though it involves the least convenience regarding logistics as we`ll discuss next, requiring a over four-hour return journey from the Algarve region back to Lisbon.
The second option, and the one that would strongly be recommended, is to fly into Porto and out of Faro (the main airport on the Algarve coast).
This option may offer fewer flight choices and can be somewhat more expensive, but it’s also considerably more convenient since it avoids hours of backtracking to catch your return flight.
The Route for This Portugal Itinerary
We’re putting our stake in the ground and recommending the version of the itinerary that has you flying into Porto and out of Faro, which is by far the least complicated way to do it.
In our opinion, the potential time savings outweigh the added cost of bypassing Lisbon for our departure flight.
We understand you may disagree with our itinerary, and it`s quite simple to rearrange the activities below to accommodate flying into and out of a single city. You`ll just need to add a train or bus trip to your itinerary at the end to return in time to catch your flight.
With that context provided, here is how we would spend 10 days in Portugal if it`s your first visit.
- Day 1: Arrive in Porto in AM
- Day 2: Porto
- Day 3: Day Trip to the Douro Valley
- Day 4: Travel to Lisbon (as early as possible)
- Day 5: Lisbon
- Day 6: Day Trip to Sintra
- Day 7: Travel to Algarve + Pick up Rental Car
- Day 8: Algarve
- Day 9: Algarve
- Day 10: Algarve + Fly Home
You obviously have some flexibility in terms of choosing when to do day trips from Lisbon and Porto, which days to do certain activities, and more.
We’re not going to provide a day-by-day itinerary – instead, we’re going to recommend sights to see, lodging options, and how to schedule an excursion (to the Douro Valley or to Sintra) for each city.
The Complete 10 Day Portugal Itinerary for First Timers
And now that we`ve addressed the necessary yet dull logistics, onto the fun parts!
If you’re traveling from places like the United States or Canada, you may feel a bit sluggish on your first day due to jet lag. Plan on taking it relatively easy, drink plenty of water, and don’t go overboard on the Port on your initial day in Portugal.
Days 1-3: Porto + Day Trip to the Douro Valley
Your first stop in Portugal is Porto, which has a friendly rivalry with its neighbor further south, Lisbon, over the fact that Porto was the original capital and is the city that the entire country derives its name from.
The Iberian Peninsula territory of Portugal was overrun by the Christian military forces of the Inquisition proceeding from north to south, ending in the 12th century, which is when the boundaries of modern-day Portugal were molded (and have more or less stayed unchanged since).
We found Porto to be somewhat akin to Lisbon in certain aspects but meaningfully different in many ways.
The first is that it’s a significantly older city. Lisbon was leveled by a massive earthquake (somewhere between 8.5 and 8.9 on the Richter scale) in 1755. Along with the subsequent fires and a tsunami. Not a great day for Lisbon.
Porto survived the earthquake, meaning the buildings in the city center are significantly older. This lends it a more lived-in feel and less pristine appearance. We heard the term “gritty” used, but we do not entirely agree with that description. “Lived-in” is a more suitable term in our assessment.
Wherever you go in Porto, it seems real people live there (rather than parts of Lisbon that feel like it’s exclusively tourists). And that’s an atmosphere that we really enjoy.
P.S.: To assist you in planning an amazing few days in Porto, we have written a guide to crafting an amazing 3 day itinerary for Porto! We also have a guide to spending one day in Porto, if time is limited.
Porto is a great two day destination, which begs the question “why do you have us here for three days then?”
At the end of every journey, we do a “best experience / food / drinks” recap together over some wine (or more). There was a particular experience that came up repeatedly in our conversation about our trip to Italy,Spain, and Portugal.
And that experience was our afternoon trip to the Douro Valley, which included a winery visit to sample port, an amazing meal experience, and a boat cruise on the picturesque Douro River.
It`s not inexpensive, that`s accurate, but we feel spending a full day exploring the renowned terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, one of Europe`s oldest wine regions (if not the oldest), is worth the cost.
Pro-tip: Each local we met in Porto said something similar to “hey, be careful with port” – it`s very easy to drink, it has 20% alcohol content, and it contains a lot of sugar so the hangovers are very unpleasant. You`ve been forewarned.
Arriving in Porto
There is a convenient metro line connecting Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) to and from the city centre – taking 30-40 minutes. You can purchase tickets at the entrance and it will link you with other metro routes once you arrive in Porto. More details here.
You can also take a taxi (which will cost around 23 Euros) or pre-book a private transportation to remove the stress of arriving.
What to Do in Porto
Here are some highlights we enjoyed in Porto, in no specific order.
- Exploring Porto on Foot to Learn of Its Past. Porto boasts a history that goes back to the Roman Empire and beyond, later becoming the capital of Portugal prior to Lisbon. Notice how Porto is older than Lisbon largely due to the devastating 1755 earthquake that struck Lisbon. A walking tour allows one to discover this long past with a local guide sharing tips on regional eats, navigation, must-sees, and more. Walking tours give us stories and context in nearly every city visited. Free tours offer value yet paid options deliver quality. This walking tour option is preferred in Porto while a private tour through Withlocals entertained us in Porto.
- Viewpoints. Located on a hill overlooking the flowing river below, Porto is a beautifully situated city with several scenic overlooks worth taking in. A viewpoint we found ourselves returning to multiple times during our visit was Miradouro da Vitória ( linked here on Google Maps), offering expansive views of both the city and river below with scenic landscapes extending upwards from the base of the hill. Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, Jardim de Morro ( linked here on Google Maps) boasts some of the finest panoramas, with the sprawling city ascending the hillside away from the riverbank and the iconic Ponte Dom Luis I bridge vista in the foreground.
- The Port Houses located across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia. Situated on the other side of the river from Porto is the separate city known as Vila Nova de Gaia, where all of the port lodges are positioned. Spending an afternoon crossing over the river to tour some of these facilities is worthwhile, as you`ll gain knowledge about the port production process and typically have the opportunity to taste examples of ruby, tawny and other port styles to recognize the distinctions. We took a tour at Graham’s Port Lodge and found it very engaging, though local residents also spoke positively about tours offered by Taylor’s and Churchill too. For sampling port within Porto`s city center, visit Prova, where we received a quick primer on port basics before touring the lodges across the river later in our trip.
- Sample two famous Porto dishes. Two well-known Porto meals we had mixed views on were meat-heavy sandwiches. Neither of us eat much meat, and I have celiac disease requiring a gluten-free diet, so our choices were limited. However, we did try both. The Francesinha stacks various meats, a fried egg, and a spicy beer-broth sauce. It`s like a heart attack on a plate. We enjoyed it but likely wouldn`t have it again. The second is bifana, an affordable pork sandwich my brother liked. We got it at Conga, recommended by our walking guide. Authenticity was evident from meat preparation in the window.
- Livraria Lello. This historic bookstore in Porto gained fame after fans learned that J.K. Rowling wrote parts of her books while teaching English in the city in the early 1990s, and some believe the bookstore may have inspired parts of her work (key word: may). Though the interior, especially the staircase, is splendid to see, we chose to pass on entering due to the very long line that exists all day and the 5 Euro entrance fee that is refunded with a purchase.
You might notice that all of the port houses have quite English names. Graham’s. Taylor’s. Sandeman’s.
That was because at the origin, they were under English ownership seeking a new wine source after France upped prices.
If you’re looking to obtain deeper familiarity and insight into the culinary scene in Porto and northern Portugal, we’d propose a food guided tour.
Due to having Celiac Disease, we didn`t do one ourselves (it would just be me longing over everyone else eating delicious food, even though I`d love the history and stories part of the tour). This is the tour we would have done, had it made sense.
Where to Stay in Porto
Porto has a compact layout, so remaining anywhere near the center of the city will put you within walking distance of essentially everything in the city. It`s a little bit hilly but not too challenging.
, which you should definitely examine if you want to delve deeper into each neighborhood we propose and why we like it
Otherwise, here are the highlights.
For example, bolognese (which by the way is completely different from the Americanized version – here’s a recipe that we have now prepared regularly and really enjoy) originates from Bologna and the surrounding region, while arancini (crispy fried rice balls) are a specialty of Sicily.
We independently resided in Bolhão, which was approximately 10-15 minutes away on foot from the waterway, and it was a more affordable area than the zone alongside the river. And, honestly, it was considerably more pleasurable and we would lodge there once more without hesitation.
We heard mostly Portuguese (versus the mix of English, French and Spanish you’ll hear near the river) and there were many great places to eat and drink within a short walking distance of 3-5 minutes. And it felt more youthful and animated, particularly at night.
We remained at Your Opo Cozy Apartments, which served as the perfect base for us as we needed access to cooking facilities and prefer having more open space especially since we were traveling with my younger brother.
We also had our sights set on Hotel Moon & Sun, which proves a suitable option if you’re searching for a pleasant hotel in a magnificent location (opposite one of our favorite cafes in the city).
Update 2024: My mother and her friend stayed at the Hotel Moon & Sun late in 2023 and really enjoyed it. The location is great (they also loved the nearby So Coffee Roasters)
We initially planned to stay at the The Passenger Hostel, but changed to an apartment with additional space when my brother decided to join us.
Planning Your Day Trip to the Douro Valley
In brief, . As mentioned earlier, 89 of our 90 days in Europe were spent exploring, and that day topped our list as one of the most memorable experiences.
If seeking our highest recommendation, that particular tour is what we would select. That said, a couple alternative ways of touring the Douro Valley exist as well.
- Complete the journey independently using public transportation: Although feasible to structure this day trip utilizing public transit, we feel you must accept some compromises adopting that approach (though it saves significantly on costs). There is a train from Porto to Pinhão, a major Douro Valley town abundant with wineries and eateries along the river. However, once there, you`ll need to walk or taxi between locations, confining you essentially to the area immediately surrounding the town.
- Self-drive via rental vehicle: Based on our experience, autonomous travel by car may offer a more enjoyable experience than public transit. However, some considerations apply. As the driver, drinking alcohol needs to be avoided to ensure safety (drinking and driving is never acceptable). Renting a vehicle for just one day can also prove costly and inconvenient. That said, it allows unmatched flexibility to independently discover unplanned locations not covered on guided excursions. If independently exploring the Douro Valley interests you, this would be our recommended approach.
We’d certainly propose making it to the Douro Valley. The best way to do it is either by booking the trip we attended, which involves a winery, an exceptional meal (with more wine), a Douro River cruise (with more wine), and all transit, or renting a auto and doing it independently. The cohesion and coherence have been improved at the sentence and paragraph levels. The point is made more concise while retaining the important specifics.
Days 4-6: Lisbon + Day Trip to Sintra
Lisbon, Portugal`s capital, is a lovely city to explore. In fact, it brings to mind a lot of San Francisco, our last home before we left our jobs and hit the open road full time (somewhat).
It incorporates hills with spectacular panoramas, a superb culinary and beverage culture, and even has a renowned red archway evocative of the renowned Golden Gate.
We were somewhat taken aback to discover that the entire city was essentially leveled in the 18th Century owing to a colossal earthquake (another commonality with San Francisco). It has since been reconstructed, and has warranted multiple listings of “best places to travel” over the past decade approximately.
Lisbon is no longer hard to reach, but it still very much has the charm of a middle-sized city, with a mix of visitors and locals, that places like Paris and Rome just don’t have.
Getting to Lisbon
Frequent Interstate (IC) trains – those providing expedited transit – depart Porto’s Campanhã train terminal, reaching Lisbon in approximately three hours. We`d select an early departure to arrive in Lisbon by noon or so.
Plan to arrive at Lisbon’s Santa Apolonia station, which connects to the rest of the city through Lisbon’s clean and efficient metro system. The alternative is Oriente, which is further out and not as well integrated.
The following link leads to prices and train times for traveling from Porto to Lisbon: Click here.
What to Do in Lisbon
We have an entire guide spending 3 days in Lisbon, which should definitely be read for more detailed information on exactly what to do and see in Lisbon.
Here are the highlights.
- Explore the Various Vantage Points Around the City. Lisbon contains many hills, offering superb perspectives from their peaks looking out across the landscape. Two of our favored viewing areas in the metropolis were Miradouro da Senhora do Monte ( click here in Google Maps), situated atop a elevation behind the Alfama quarter with magnificent sights of the fortress and bridge. The vista from its summit, wherein the picture at the head of this segment was captured, merits the climb. Another superb perspective is the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara ( click here in Google Maps), near the Bairro Alto locality featuring vistas back towards the fortress.
- Venture Out to Belem. Belem used to be a suburb of Lisbon, and in some ways still has that standing, though it’s technically within the city limits now. There are a few things to do and see out in Belem, and it’s an easy 15-20 minute tram ride from the center to get there. There’s theTorre de Belem, a former protective tower (that wasn’t particularly skilled at its task) turned prison that sits in a strategic location along the Tagus River. DO NOT ENTER THE TOWER – NOT WORTH IT. The Jerónimos Monastery deserves a visit for the beautiful cloister. The Monument to the Discoveries is a lofty homage to Portugal’s enterprising past as one of the original naval forces in Europe. And, of course, there’s Pastéis de Belem, which professes to be the initial place to sell the egg custard tart, and has its own name for them that nobody else gets to employ (they finished second in our pastéis de nata taste competition).
- Explore the Top Spots for Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon. Throughout our nearly week-long stay in Lisbon, we made discovering the highest rated pastéis de nata locations a goal. We quickly realized taking on all the possibilities was improbable, so we concentrated on a couple frequently recommended spots. Mantegaria, endorsed by our walking excursion guide, ultimately stood out as the clear favorite. Pastéis de Belem took second place. Aloma, suggested by both locals we shadowed on walking trips, placed third but user mistake may have been to blame since our pastries lacked heat. It`s also essential to note they usually aren`t gluten-free, so Matt had to watch Alysha and his two brothers devour pastries without restraint.
Behind the austere walls of this Renaissance palace lies one of Rome’s great museums, the National Roman Museum. Many individuals overlook it, but enter inside and you will be rewarded with truly exceptional works of ancient art. The ground and first floors are largely dedicated to classical sculpture: look out for lively works like the Boxer and the Discus Thrower, and a celebrated depiction of a Sleeping Hermaphrodite. More than the sculpture, though, the museum’s real standout pieces are the brilliant mosaics and frescoes on the second floor. These originally decorated smart Roman villas such as that of Livia, wife of the emperor Augustus. Gorgeously colorful frescoes from her dining room cover almost a whole room with their lavish images of a lush, blossoming garden.Note that the museum’s entry ticket grants admission to the other three locations of the National Roman Museum.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
Initially, below is a brief version. We have an entire guide dedicated to deciding where to lodge in Lisbon, which you should read for more detail on the options, benefits/drawbacks, and specific places to stay.
While there are many possible answers to this question, we think 99% of people should choose between the central and appealing Chiado neighborhood, and the historically rich Alfama neighborhood, which is filled with narrow stone streets and amazing viewpoints.
Chiado is more practical – it`s centrally located in Lisbon with convenient metro access. There are endless dining and drinking establishments, and you`ll be only 5-10 minutes from the premier food and nightlife districts (which we feel are Bairro Alto and Principe Real).
Alfama is the most sentimental part of the city. It’s the part of Lisbon where you’ll discover slim, pedestrian-only cobblestone streets, and it’s home to two of the best perspectives of the city. There are a handful of hotels and guesthouses scattered throughout the neighborhood.
We’d strongly advise avoiding an Airbnb stay in Lisbon due to the impact on housing costs, which have subsequently forced locals further out of the city and into the suburbs. Opt for hotels, apart-hotels, guesthouses, and hostels instead.
Planning Your Day Trip to Sintra
Sintra is a fantastic day outing from Lisbon, and it is additionally one of the most common one-day journeys that visitors take, which implies you’re not going to be alone on the travel out there.
The main attraction here is Pena Palace, which is at the very top of the hill. Take the bus or a taxi to get there from the train station, it should be your first stop in Sintra. From there, work your way back down the hill.
Pena Palace essentially functioned as a summer home, built in the Sintra Mountains by King Ferdinand II. Originally, it was a monastery on the hill, but it was destroyed during the 1755 earthquake and sat in disrepair for years.
Then, Ferdinand stated “wouldn’t it be great to have a place to escape the oppressively hot Lisbon summers? Perhaps a place on a hill, with nice views and a cool coastal breeze?”
Nearby Restaurants: Even without the valet, Hakkasan is an incredible Cantonese restaurant with a dark, romantic atmosphere. If you’d like to spend less, check out TAP Sports Bar.
Focus on two to three key attractions (as we provide below our thoughts on what those two to three should be), and reserve some time for wandering around the town of Sintra at the base of the hill.
Preparing a day trip to Sintra? We have a complete guide focused on planning an exceptional Lisbon to Sintra day trip, which provides more specifics than the section below.
Getting to Sintra
Sintra is an easy 45 minute train ride from Lisbon’s Rossio Station in Baixa. Getting to Rossio is pretty straightforward from basically anywhere in Lisbon, including Baixa, Chiado, and Alfama.
The most significant thing to know is that you will want to be on the initial practical train out to Sintra, which fully relies on how early you want to wake up.
The train we opted for left at 8:11 am, which we think is the ideal time because you’ll arrive in Sintra around 9:00 am, and most of the attractions open at 9:30 am, giving you about 30 minutes to get up the hill to Pena Palace to start your day and beat the rest of the visitors.
What to Do in Sintra
There is truly A LOT to do in Sintra. So much so that you will be unable to comfortably fit everything into a single day, which is likely the amount of time you have available.
For context, we were on one of the first trains out to Sintra, and didn’t make it back to the city until somewhere around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. And we only really did a couple of the many tourist attractions in Sintra. We would suggest selecting two or three things that you’re most interested in, and tackling those two plus the town of Sintra, which has some good places to eat and drink.
We also clearly have an opinion on where you should focus your time, and we think the two locations you should choose are Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Both offer varied experiences – one is an opulent palace with fertile gardens, one is a replica of a former, as you may have guessed, Moorish Castle with spectacular views over the ocean.
If you want to include a third sightseeing location, we’d suggest the Quinta da Regaleira.
We’d do the two aforementioned sights before lunch, making your way down the hill as you go, having lunch in the town of Sintra, then doing the 10 minute walk out to the Quinta da Regaleira before heading back into town to catch the train back to Lisbon.
Buckle up, bring snacks and water, and prepare for a full day experience.
Here are some additional details about the Pena Palace and Moorish Castle.
Pena Palace
There are two parts of the Pena Palace complex, and they require different tickets. There are the gardens, and then there’s the interior. We decided to skip the interior – we’ve seen plenty of lavish palaces over the course of our travels, perhaps the wealthy folks should have spent the money that they spent on their summer home on something, I don’t know, more useful?
We would recommend just getting a ticket for the grounds, and admiring the palace from the outside. Here is how we’d spend your time:
- Begin exploring the gardens. When we arrived, the palace grounds were enveloped in a dense fog and you could barely distinguish the bright yellow facade. If confronted with identical conditions, have no fear! The fog is likely to dissipate. Direct yourself to the High Cross located in the gardens, which offers a lovely vista (if the fog happens to have dispersed – unfortunately it had not during our visit). Generally, our preferred section of the gardens was the lake area at the bottom of the hill.
- Then embark on the walk up to the palace. Admire the archways and tiles along the outside, and go up into the chapel, which is free.
- Walk along the walls of the palace. There’s a short path encircling the palace walls, which you should save for last because it’s a great view overlooking Sintra and all the way to the coast, so you want it to be clear.
More info here.
Castelo dos Mouros
Truly, we were quite close to omitting this experience. However, we were glad that we did not!
Traversing along the reconstructed walls of this Moorish Castle from the 8th or 9th Century was a highlight of our time in Sintra, and the views are absolutely breathtaking.
It was built when the Moors were in control of the Iberian Peninsula, and then it was taken by the Christians in the 12th century, and basically left in various levels of abandonment ever since as tensions eased and people no longer felt the need to live within the castle walls and started making their way downhill towards Sintra and proverbial greener pastures.
There are some historic sights along the route, but we’d focus your time on walking the full length of the walls from one end to the other, which involves some staircases (which are actually rather difficult), and offers breathtaking views the entire way. Travel counter-clockwise.
Additional information here.
Explore Lisbon more deeply with our other Lisbon travel guides:
- A 3-Day Itinerary for Lisbon: Planning the Perfect Trip to Lisbon
- Where Visitors Should Stay in Lisbon: 4 Excellent Accommodation Options
- Gluten Free Dining in Lisbon: A Complete Guide to the City`s Best Gluten Free Restaurant Options
- The Top Coffee Shops in Lisbon: 9 Amazing Cafes to Add to Your To-Do List
- Planning a Day Trip from Lisbon to Sintra: A Thorough Guide
Days 7-10: The Algarve
The Algarve area along Portugal`s southern coast is markedly distinct from the other cities and regions within the country.
It’s more Mediterranean, with incredible fresh fish and seafood, warm weather (too warm in the summer for us), and a gorgeous coastline full of golden sand beaches and coves of turquoise water.
It’s the perfect locale to spend the concluding days of your Portugal itinerary soaking in the sunshine and relaxing on the beach prior to returning home.
Getting to the Algarve
There are three options for getting to the Algarve if you’re arriving from Lisbon. We used Omio to compare (and frequently book) our train and bus trips in Spain and Portugal.
It’s a preferable user experience (we occasionally ran into issues with our foreign credit cards occasionally being declined by the official train websites) and it’ll simply incur a small service charge (usually 1 Euro per ticket).
The primary method is the train. We enjoy traveling by rail in Europe, and there are inter-urban trains (those are the speedy ones!) that will get you from Lisbon to Faro in 3 hours.
From there, travelers must connect via regional train to destinations along the Algarve like Lagos or Carvoiero, places we recommend for lodging. Book train tickets well in advance for lower fares.”
Second is public transportation – we’d opt for FLIXBUS. Public transportation is slightly less comfortable, we think, but usually cheaper (especially if you’re booking close to the date of travel, when Intercity trains become more expensive).
There are also more direct options to additional locations on the Algarve (Lagos in particular), versus the train to Faro and then connecting with a regional train from there. The bus will take about 3.5 hours and cost somewhere in the range of 6-10 Euros.
Third is renting a car in Lisbon and driving, which takes about three hours or so. This is a particularly good option if you’re flying out of Lisbon to get back home.
If returning the vehicle is necessary to catch a departure flight, this option is recommended because it simplifies getting to the airport on time without incurring a one-way fee for dropping off the car elsewhere than the pickup location.
Whichever route you opt for, we’d advise an early departure from Lisbon to reach the Algarve in the afternoon. Click here to compare your different choices on Omio.
Do You Need a Car on the Algarve?
After parts of our Algarve trip involved trains/buses and others a rental car, we believe the best way to fully experience the Algarve is by vehicle rental.
Sure, there is a regional train network that connects the major towns on the Algarve, but often the best beaches will be a bit outside of town, and a car makes it easier to get there.
Having a car will also give you more flexibility, since trains aren’t as frequent (they only come a few times a day) and it’s difficult to determine exactly when local and regional buses arrive (or if they arrive at all).
On both occasions we utilized AutoEurope to compare pricing with diverse rental businesses and locate the most economically favorable rates, and booked a car through Europcar, which was a pleasant experience on both occasions. We’d recommend both.
What to Do on the Algarve
With three days on the Algarve, we have a well-informed perspective on how you should dedicate that time based on our personal experiences.
Note: In this section, we’re going to provide you somewhat more of a day-to-day itinerary to assist you in organizing your time. For more detail, head over to our Algarve itinerary, which has all the information you’ll need to make the most of your time on Portugal’s southern coast.
Day 7: Lagos and Around
On your first day, spend the day settling in and exploring the area around Lagos. There are three beaches in particular that we think are well worth your time.
- The initial, Praia dos Estudantes, is one of the Algarve’s most famous beaches thanks to the Roman bridge that is visible from the beach.
- Next, stop by Praia do Pinhão, where one can pick up a coastal path up on the bluffs that takes you to the third beach on your tour around the beaches of Lagos.
- The final beach, Praia da Dona Ana, is also one of the most visited beaches in the entire region. It’s a small cove, accessible from both ends, and the best views of the beach are from the bluffs on the eastern side (which is where you’ll find yourself if you follow the coastal trail).
All three beaches would be a good spot to unwind in the sun for a few hours. Be sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water. You can walk to all of them, doing one big loop back to the center of Lagos.
For seafood that’s about as fresh as it can be, head out to Restaurante Chico Zé for lunch, which is a 10 minute drive north of the center of Lagos.
It’s a family run establishment where meals are only served at lunch and there is regularly a line outside during the high season and occasionally during shoulder seasons. Don`t miss trying the grilled sardines, which are prepared along with potatoes.
An alternative situated closer to town would be Tasca Da Lota, within walking distance of the city center near the train station. It only accepts cash payments.
For sunset, travel out to Ponta da Piedade, which is a distinctive rock formation surrounded by vertical cliffs. Most boat tours leaving from Lagos stop here because of a series of cool sea caves and hidden grottoes.
On foot, you can descend the long flight of stairs to reach the cliff base – just be aware you`ll need to climb back up. Once there, it`s also worth finding the westbound trail from the parking lot and walking along the boardwalks for more amazing coastal panoramas.
While traveling, stop at Praia do Camilo, a small, hidden beach that can only be accessed by navigating a lengthy set of steep staircases (and, of course, climbing back up when finished).
Day 8: The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
On your second day, tackle what we think is one of the best hikes on the Algarve – the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
This hike, best done traveling from east to west starting from Praia da Marinha to Praia do Vale de Centeanes, was one of our favorite activities experienced in Portugal. And we’re from the coastal region of California, which we learned is very comparable to the Algarve region in terms of natural scenery, vegetation, and wildlife.
- Hours: Open daily. Summer hours (April 1 to October 31) are 8am to 7:30pm with last entry at 7pm. Winter hours (November 1 to March 31) are 8am to 5pm with last entrance at 4:30pm.
First, an overview of the full return hike.
- Length: 7 miles / 11.4 km
- Ascent Gain: 1,200 ft. / 365 meters
- Period: All year round (more details on this below)
- Trail Type: Out and Back (we have thoughts on alternate routes below)
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Starting point for the trail: Either the Praia da Marinha beach or the Praia do Vale de Centeanes beach
- Dog Friendly: Yes!
If a full-length hike seems too strenuous, you have options to shorten the route.
- Option 1: The Full Route, Round Trip – 7 miles / 1,200 feet of elevation gain (11.4 km / 365 m). Hike the entire path out-and-back from Praia da Marinha to Praia do Vale de Centeanes, and then back the same way you came.
- Option 2: Completing the Entire Route in One Direction – 3.5 miles / 600 feet of elevation gain (6 km / 180 m). For this choice, hike the full trail but only travel in one direction. Transportation must then be arranged via taxi, rideshare, or other means to return your vehicle parked at the first trailhead (or find an alternative to driving).
- Option 3: Partial Hike Out and Back – 3.3 miles / 600 feet of elevation gain (5.6 km / 180 m). Hike the section between Praia da Marinha and Praia do Carvalho, which we feel showcases the trail`s best attractions. You can continue on to the picturesque Farol de Alfanzina lighthouse for an extra 2 miles (3.2 km) roundtrip.
For more specifics such as direction, parking data, ideal time of day, and a detailed trail report, visit our Seven Hanging Valleys Trail Guide.
Finish your day at the ending point for the trail you explored earlier in the day – Praia do Vale de Centeanes – which is a pretty spectacular place to watch the sunset.
Visitors can spread out a mat and relax directly on the beach or ascend the cliffs east of the shoreline where benches perched above the scenic coast permit taking in the spectacular seaside landscape.
Day 9: Sagres and the Western Algarve
On day three, head the opposite way toward the Atlantic, where a dramatic coast awaits. Towering limestone cliffs and sheer drops meet the turbulent sea below.
This area of the Algarve, which is much quieter than the location around Lagos and toward the east, brings to mind a lot of Point Reyes National Seashore, which is a short drive from our home base in California.
Start by driving all the way out to Farol do Cabo de São Vicente, the southwestern-most point in Europe, and making your way back east towards Lagos.
- Praia do Beliche (accessible here on Google Maps) stood out to us as our preferred beach in the region, with the steps leading down to it described as quite steep, even by European standards.
- The town of Sagres provides a tranquil atmosphere, but it is worth making the trip to the Fortaleza de Sagres, which requires a small entrance fee but rewards with brilliant ocean vistas. Wind is nearly always present. It is also renowned as some of the top windsurfing spots in Europe for those so inclined. During our winter travel, we decided against partaking in surfing lessons.
Naxos is the most expansive and leafy of the Cycladic islands in the Aegean Sea. This relaxing island is surrounded by prolonged, sandy shorelines, while its interior is dotted with farms, olive woods, charming mountain towns, and over 200 Byzantine churches. Expect amazing cuisine, a low-key vibe, and true Greek hospitality. Naxos lies approximately halfway between Santorini and Mykonos and acts as a great respite from those high-energy islands.
After exploring Sagres and environs, one can either return to lodging and further explore, or head north along Portugal’s Atlantic coast to Praia da Arrifana, offering a different ambiance than the Algarve. Or stop the small fishing village of Salema on the return to Lagos.
Where to Stay in the Algarve
For a visit of this length on the Algarve, we’d advise choosing one base location and exploring from there.
Keep in mind that this is the concise version. We have an entire guide devoted to selecting exactly where to stay in the Algarve, so you should head over there if you want the details.
For convenience purposes, we also believe that place should be relatively central to provide you the best access to both the eastern Algarve and its pristine white sandy beaches, and the rocky, cliffy (is that a word?) coastline of the western Algarve.
We stayed in two separate locations in the Algarve, and would recommend both places. Those two destinations are Lagos and Carvoeiro, which have a drive of approximately 35 minutes between them, and anywhere in that range would be an ideal place to dwell.
Lagosoffers more opportunities for entertainment as a city, with an charming historic district and numerous bars, restaurants, and other amenities you may wish to experience.
If you seek to reside in the core of an energetic metropolis with many dining and nightlife choices that remain open until the early hours, Lagos is for you.
In Lagos, we stayed at the Salty Lodge, which is situated directly in the core of the historic district. We truly enjoyed this place, and our room offered a rather spectacular view towards the ocean. If your room doesn’t, they also have a rooftop terrace with this vista.
Rooms at the Salty Lodge are apartment-style, complete with stovetops and ovens for food preparation. Though you’ll be within walking distance of about 25 different restaurants, if you’d rather not cook on your trip to Portugal.
Carvoieroprovides a more relaxed environment. The core attraction here is the unrivaled access to beautiful beaches and the easygoing character of the town. If peaceful, calm lodging is desired, we’d suggest Carvoeiro.
When staying in Carvoeiro, we resided at Hello Villas, which ended up being one of the most pleasant lodging options during our entire trip to Portugal.
They’re roomy, peaceful, and have everything you need to prepare meals at home. Moreover, they’re within walking distance of town, though there’s a rather steep hill in between.
Explore deeper into the Algarve with our other Algarve travel guides:
- A Thorough Guide to Planning an Algarve Journey By Road (3-7 Days)
- Where to Lodge on the Algarve: 5 Charming Towns to Employ as a Domicile Foundation
For more, read our guide to the finest gluten free restaurants in Rome.
What to Do with More Time in Portugal
If one is fortunate enough to have over 10 days for a visit to Portugal, here are a few extra activities to add to the itinerary, along with approximate time allotments for each.
- Évora (1-2 Days): A recommended stop is Évora, an enclosed town in Portugal’s Alentejo region renowned for exceptional cuisine and wines. Declared a UNESIO World Heritage site, the locale merits approximately 24 hours to experience. Only 1.5 hours by train from Lisbon, an overnight stay further allows appreciation of Évora.
- Coimbra (1 Day): A charming, riverside town known for possessing the oldest university in Portugal. Students walking around with Harry Potter-style cloaks give the town a lively, fun vibe, though only when school is in session. We spent a night here between Lisbon and Porto and enjoyed ascending the hill from the river, though school wasn’t in session so the town was a little empty.
- Óbidos (1 Day): Another good stop located between Lisbon and Porto, this town is known for its intact medieval walls and castle alongside its charming narrow cobbled streets. Plus, ginjinha, the sour cherry liqueur originating from Portugal, is served here in a traditional chocolate cup.
- More time on the Algarve (1-2 Days): You could easily add a day or two on the Algarve and spend it exploring more deeply, especially on the eastern Algarve. We loved Tavira, and heard positive things about Olhão (though we didn’t personally visit there).
- Braga (1-2 Days): Braga, located quite far north in Portugal, is worth including either as a day trip from Porto, or as an overnight destination on its own. We didn’t have sufficient time to fit it in (despite spending almost a month in Portugal), but if we did, our first stop would have been Bom Jesus do Monte, a sanctuary on a hill with excellent views and architecture.
What to Do with Less Time in Portugal
With less than 10 days in Portugal, you`ll need to choose between exploring the Lisbon/Porto region OR the Algarve, as it isn`t feasible to visit all three locations within that timeframe.
We’d suggest the Lisbon / Porto corridor for most people, which is the more culturally fascinating place where you’ll find excellent food, wine, and historical places to gain more knowledge about Portugal’s history. You can easily spend anywhere from 5-9 days on just this part of Portugal alone (honestly, you could spend months and still not see it all).
If a beach vacation is desired, the Algarve region would likely be the best choice.
7 Days in Portugal
With 7 days in Portugal, we’d focus on the area between Lisbon and Porto and spend 2-3 days in each with time for day visits to surrounding regions. There’s a high-speed train connecting the two cities, so you can either fly into and depart from the same city, or fly into Lisbon and depart from Porto (or the other way around) – whichever is cheaper.
You definitely shouldn`t rent a vehicle for this version of the itinerary. It`ll be more of an inconvenience than anything if you`re using Porto and Lisbon as bases for exploring the surrounding areas.
Fortunately, everything outlined in this 7 day Portugal itinerary is also detailed more comprehensively above, so you’ll be able to utilize the superior information above to plan your trip.
Here is what that 7 day itinerary could encompass. It depends on where you`re flying into and out of – this presumes into Porto and out of Lisbon, but it entirely works if you`re flying into Lisbon, or even if you`re flying in and out of Lisbon or Porto.
- Day 1: Arrive in Porto
- Day 2: Porto
- Day 3: Day Trip to the Douro Valley
- Day 4: Travel to Lisbon (as early as possible)
- Day 5: Lisbon
- Day 6: Day Trip to Sintra
- Day 7: Lisbon + Fly Home
5 Days in Portugal
With 5 days available, you have a few options. We will provide three of our top recommendations for tackling a visit to Portugal, of course with unlimited possibilities to combine destinations differently.
You can do a shortened version of the 7 day Portugal itinerary we covered above, which could look something like this:
- Day 1: Arrive in Porto
- Day 2: Porto
- Day 3: Travel to Lisbon (as early as possible)
- Day 4: Lisbon
- Day 5: Lisbon
If you choose that option, you won`t have time to do day trips from either place. Which leads us to a second option, which involves focusing your entire time completely on Lisbon.
- Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon
- Day 2: Lisbon
- Day 3: Day Trip to Sintra
- Day 4: Lisbon or An Alternate Day Trip (Cascais or Óbidos)
- Day 5: Lisbon and fly home
Lastly is spending five days in the Algarve region. This involves either flying into and out of Faro and renting a vehicle there, or flying into and out of Lisbon and securing transportation from that location. Here is what such a trip may entail. For more details, check out our Algarve itinerary.
- Day 1: Arrival in Faro + Travel to Lagos / Carvoiero
- Day 2: Lagos + Surrounding Beaches
- Day 3: The Western Algarve (Sagres + Praia do Beliche)
- Day 4: Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
- Day 5: The Eastern Algarve (Faro + Tavira) + Travel Homeward
Planning a visit to Portugal?
Here are our other Portugal travel guides to help plan an incredible trip (even if gluten must be avoided!).
If there isn’t a connection noted below, it signifies we’re still working diligently on compiling it – thorough, in-depth guides require time and care. However, rest assured we are dedicating effort to the task.
Portugal:
Lisbon
- 25 Remarkable Activities to Do in Lisbon: A Complete Guide
- 3 Days in Lisbon: Planning the Perfect Itinerary for Lisbon
- Experiencing Lisbon in One Day: The Top Sites in 24 Hours
- Places to Remain in Lisbon: Our Guide to 4 Amazing Locations to Remain
- Gluten Free Lisbon: A Complete Guide to Lisbon’s Best Gluten Free Eateries
- Outstanding Coffee Establishments in Lisbon: 9 Remarkable Lisbon Coffee Houses to Add to Your List
Porto:
- Spending a Day Exploring Porto.
- Where to Reside in Porto, Portugal: The 3 Best Places to Reside
Gluten Free Options in Seattle, Washington
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The Algarve:
