Where to Go in Portugal Itineraries
If you want to see Portugal in all her glory, here are two favorite where to go in Portugal itineraries. You will travel to Portugal’s 3 top spots: Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve where you’ll find many of Portugal’s most immersive and best experiences. With Porto in the north, Lisbon in the center, and the Algarve in the south along the ocean coast as your three home bases, you can strategically explore the entire country in one trip from 7 to 21 days.
I recently had my own `up close and personal’ experiences with Portugal, one of the most beautiful and diverse countries I’ve ever explored. It’s easy to see why this gracious country has steadily risen in popularity in recent years as a top European destination, thanks to the unveiling of her many charms and affordability.
The Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto trio is your ticket to a smorgasbord of Portugal’s deep history, embedded culture, immense natural beauty, distinctive cuisine, and a long list of exciting outdoor activities. Indeed, Portugal offers such a beautiful and bountiful playground teeming with buckets of unique experiences, that sometimes it’s difficult to choose.
If you adopt or personalize one of my two where to go in Portugal itineraries below, you can optimize travel time, at your own pace, and enjoy many of the best experiences Portugal offers.
1. Moderate Pace – Where to Go in Portugal Itinerary
With this moderately paced itinerary, you can opt to stay in Portugal from 7 to 10 days.
Porto: Spend 2 to 3 days
With two days in Porto, you can see the city’s top historic attractions, enjoy Douro Valley port wine tastings in Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, and linger in a riverside cafe below spectacular soaring cliffs while dining or sipping wine.
With an additional day in Porto, you can day trip to any one of these top spots: Braga & Guimaraes, Coimbra, Aveiro, or the Atlantic Ocean beaches north of Porto.
Things to See & Do in Porto
Lisbon: Spend 2 to 3 days
With two days in Lisbon, you can visit the capital’s historic center, sightsee Alfama by tram (Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood), visit St. George Castle, bask in breathtaking views from several miradouros (look-out points) throughout the city, and visit the Tower of Belem & Jeronimos Monastery, 20 to 30 minutes outside Lisbon.
With an added day in Lisbon, you can day trip to the stunning Sintra Castle, less than an hour outside Lisbon, or go to picturesque Cascais Beach & Estoril, 30 minutes outside Lisbon.
Lisbon’s best experiences
Things to See & Do in Lisbon
The Algarve: Spend 3 to 4 days
With three days in the Algarve region, you can explore your selected home base (such as Lagos or Albufeira), visit a few other top towns and beach spots along the coast, and enjoy kayaking or cruising the beach coves, caves, and grottos.
With an added day in the Algarve, you can day trip the Algarve’s west coast to Cape Sagres or explore the Algarve’s east coast to historic Tavira and beyond.
The Algarve’s best experiences
Things to See & Do in the Algarve
2. Live Like a Local Pace – Where to Go in Portugal Itinerary
With the Live Like a Local itinerary, you can choose to stay longer – from 14 to 21 days – as you adventure through Portugal at a slower, more immersive pace.
Porto: Spend 3 to 4 days
With three days in Porto, you can see the city’s top historic attractions, enjoy Douro Valley port wine tastings in Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Porto, linger in a riverside cafe below spectacular soaring cliffs while dining or sipping wine, and take a day trip to Braga & Guimaraes.
For each additional day in Porto, you can explore Coimbra, Aveiro, or the Atlantic Ocean beaches and coastal promenades north of Porto. Another tempting option is to cruise the Douro River while you dine, wine taste, and enjoy postcard-worthy views of rolling vineyards, traditional wineries, and perched villages dotting the fertile Douro Valley.
Best experiences in Porto & surrounding areas
Things to See & Do in Porto & on day trips
Lisbon: Spend 5 to 7 days
With five days in Lisbon, you can visit the capital’s historic center, sight-see Alfama by tram (Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood), visit St. George’s Castle, check out breath-taking panoramic views from several miradouros (look-out points) throughout the city, visit the Tower of Belem and Jeronimos Monastery, discover the splendid Sintra Castle and village and visit the picturesque Cascais Beach & Estoril.
For each additional day in Lisbon, your day trip options include the famous holy site Fatima, the quintessential village of Obidos, the medieval Batalha Monastery, the famous surfing beach Nazare, and the Roman ruins in Evora.
Best experiences in Lisbon & surrounding areas
Things to See & Do in Lisbon & on day trips
The Algarve: Spend 6 to 10 days
With six days in the Algarve region, you have time to explore your chosen Algarve home base (such as Portimao, Lagos, Alvor or Albufeira), see a few other top beach spots along the coast, and enjoy a couple days of glorious outdoor activities such as kayaking around the caves & cliffs or exploring hidden beach coves, dramatic cave formations, and secluded grottos by small boat.
For each additional day in the Algarve, there are many amazing spots for day tripping along the Algarve’s slightly rugged west coast all the way to Cape Sagres and the Algarve’s picturesque east coast to Tavira. (For exploring Algarve cities, my personal favorites are Lagos, Carvoeira, Alvor, Tavira, and Portimao). Another great discovery option is to hike or bike hilly trails a bit inland from the coast, or hike incredible coastal trails winding along some of the most famous caves, beach coves, grottos, and soaring cliffs.
Best experiences in the Algarve & surrounding areas
Things to See & Do in the Algarve Region on day trips
Tips for Where to go in Portugal Itineraries
1. Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve each have their own airport (the Algarve’s airport is in Faro). Regardless of which airport you choose, you can easily continue your journey from one home base to the next either by car, train, or bus – or a combination.
2. If you rent a car rather than fly, bus, or train between home bases, you will have more flexibility in your travel itinerary.
3. Overall, Portugal is an easy country to navigate whether by car, train, or bus. For negotiating within Lisbon and Porto, there are good metro, tram, and bus systems. In the Algarve, you can travel between local towns by car and train but the bus connections can be a bit challenging. If traveling by bus in the Algarve, it’s a good idea to first visit either the TI (Travel Information office) or the main bus station to pick up some bus schedules for local bus transportation.
4. Choosing the ‘Live Like a Local’ itinerary often results in a more affordable budget, thanks to potential long stay discounts for lodging, such as condo-hotel or city apartment accommodations.
5. Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve have some steep streets and wide stairs scattered around the more hilly neighborhoods. In Lisbon and Porto there are some elevators, if you want to avoid the hilly spots. Also, Lisbon and Porto have a good metro system for navigating the city and provide a work-around to some of the steeper areas. (Personally, I always stayed on the streets and took the stairs. That way, I wouldn’t miss anything along the way – like the outdoor cafes lining the broad steps and the incredible city views.
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Plan Your Trip
Best Spots in Portugal
Day Trips From Lisbon or Cascais
