Planning a trip to Portugal and want an itinerary that actually works? This Portugal 7-day itinerary is built for real travel, not rushing from place to place, but still seeing the highlights. You’ll explore Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto, with options to customize based on your travel style.
👉 We’ve also included exact hotel recommendations, tours worth booking, and travel tips, so you can plan AND book your trip in one place.
Quick Planning Tips for Portugal
Do you need a car?
- Lisbon & Porto → No
- Sintra & Cascais → Train works
- Douro Valley / Nazaré → Car or tour
Best time to visit
- Spring & Fall → best overall–especially September and October
- Summer → lively but crowded
- Winter → quieter, still beautiful, but rainy
Where to Stay in Portugal (Best Picks)
Lisbon Hotels
- Budget: Ikonik– great location in Oriente, close to metro and bus stations
- Mid-range: Lisboa Pessoa Hotel – central + rooftop views
- Luxury: Bairro Alto Hotel – iconic + walkable
Porto Hotels
- Budget: The Passenger Hostel – inside São Bento station
- Mid-range: Moov Hotel Porto Centro – great value
- Luxury: The Yeatman – wine hotel with views
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon + Explore Chiado
After landing in Lisbon, head to your hotel (Taxi ->€25+, Uber/Bolt a little cheaper depending on dropoff).
Spend your first afternoon exploring:
- Chiado
- Rossio Square
- Santa Justa Lift
- Carmo ruins
Grab lunch and ease into the city, and don’t overpack this day. You will be tired, but you want to stay awake to avoid jet lag.
Want a more detailed breakdown of the city? Don’t miss our full Lisbon itinerary with neighborhood guides, hidden spots, and a more flexible day-by-day plan.
Day 2: Belém + Alfama
Morning: Belém
- Belém Tower
- Jerónimos Monastery (book ahead!)
- Pastéis de Belém
👉 Book skip-the-line Jerónimos Monastery tickets
Afternoon: Alfama + Views
- LX Factory (lunch + shops)
- São Jorge Castle
- Miradouros (best views in Lisbon)
👉 Short on time? A guided Lisbon highlights tour can save hours
Evening
- Dinner in Alfama
- 🎶 Optional: Fado dinner experience (highly recommended)
Day 3: Sintra Day Trip (Must-Do)
Sintra is one of the highlights of Portugal.
What to see:
- Pena Palace
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Historic center
👉 Best option: Book a guided tour with Yes, You Deserve with Daniel Ponce
✔️ Saves time
✔️ Includes transport
✔️ Avoids long lines
📍 Day 4: Travel to Porto (Make It an Experience)
⭐ Best Stop: Coimbra
Break up the journey with:
- University of Coimbra
- Historic center
🚗 Alternative: Óbidos + Nazaré
If driving:
Arrive in Porto and settle in.
📍 Day 5: Porto Highlights
First, check out the guide Best Things to do in Porto to get a better idea about what you like to do.
Morning
- Livraria Lello (book ahead!)
- Clérigos Tower
- Igreja do Carmo
Afternoon
- Porto Cathedral
- Miradouro da Vitória
- Try a Francesinha
Evening
- Ribeira waterfront
- Sunset at Dom Luís I Bridge
📍 Day 6: Porto + Wine Experience
Morning
- Mercado do Bolhão
- São Bento Station
Afternoon: Wine Tasting in Gaia
This is a must-do in Porto. First, check out our guide to the Port Cellars to pick your best option!
👉 Book a guided port wine cellar tour + tasting
Evening
Dinner by the river in Vila Nova de Gaia
📍 Day 7: Douro Valley OR Braga
🍷 Option 1: Douro Valley (Top Choice)
- Vineyard tours
- Wine tastings
- River cruise
👉 This is one of the BEST experiences in Portugal
👉 Book a full-day Douro tour here
🏰 Option 2: Braga & Guimarães
Braga has cathedrals, Bom Jesus do Monte, and fantastic food. Guimarães has castles, palaces, and fantastic views. With a tour, you can do them both in one day.
- Historic towns
- Castles
- Scenic viewpoints
✨ Final Thoughts
Portugal is best experienced slowly.
This itinerary gives you structure, but the best moments will come from wandering, sitting at cafés, and enjoying the views.
Want to listen to more? Check out our Podcast! We have episodes on Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley (and more!).
Shelley is a full-time traveler, writer, and podcaster based in Portugal, where she lives with her wife and their beloved bulldog, Scoot. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Shelley is a former history teacher who swapped the classroom for cobblestone streets and passport stamps. These days, she explores Portugal and Europe in search of fascinating stories, unforgettable sights, and local flavor—then shares it all through her blog and podcast, Wandering Works for Us, where curiosity meets adventure (and sometimes wine).