For the past few years, Portugal has ranked pretty high for tourism and vacations, especially among Americans (and Brits although they have been visiting Portugal for years). Portugal has a great deal to offer in terms of affordability, beauty, fantastic food, and the people are incredibly nice. Most people coming from North or South America stay for a week, but if you want to get it ALL in (and you really can’t) you need a 2-week Itinerary.
Portugal is a small country but there is a lot to see. They have a great public transportation system and getting to most major cities by bus or train is easy. But, the best way to travel the whole country in a short amount of time is with a car.
If you do decide to rent a car, make sure that you take pictures and videos of the vehicle, ask about tolls, and get the full insurance pack. This will save you some hassle later.
This itinerary is a fast-paced travel guide (IMO) with full days. It’s not quite the way we like to travel. We enjoy having days to sit and rest and soak up the energy of a place. But if you want to see as much as possible, here is how we would do it.
If you want a private guide to tour certain sites, check out this post about Private Tour Guides in Portugal.
Wandering what to pack? Here is a guide just for that!
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Start in Northern Portugal
I would fly into Porto to begin. You can fly into Lisbon and take the train north but it is an extra 3 hours and, to be honest, the Porto airport is smaller and easier to navigate. Plus, you land in the city you will be in for the next 3 days.
Days 1-3: Get to know Porto and the surrounding area
For your first day, stay in Porto and get to know the city. There are plenty of private tours and fun things to do in Porto. Our blog post will help you out if you need suggestions. I recommend doing a port wine tour in Vila Nova de Gaia (across the Luis I Bridge), seeing the cathedral, visiting São Bento train station, and spending time down by the Douro River.
Day two and three can be day trips to Braga and Guimarães (together), and the Douro Valley, Portugal’s famous wine region. Both of these places are beautiful and easy to get to. Sign up for a wine tasting tour or take the boat tours up to Pinhão. You can also do it independently with the train, but having a guide helps.
In Braga, see the Bom Jesus do Monte and the cathedral. Also, EAT the FOOD. I swear it’s the best in Portugal. If you take a day trip tour, you can also check out Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal.
Day 4: Begin the journey South: Aveiro and Nazaré
Leave as early in the morning as possible (well, don’t get crazy and leave at 5:30 am) but early enough to stop in Aveiro and take in the beautiful coastal town. The town is very walkable and has great places to shop and eat, and if you love Art Deco and Art Nouveau, you will love this place.
Make sure you take a traditional Moliceiro cruise on the canals since you are in the “Venice of Portugal. Eat lunch here and try the Ovos Moles.
After lunch, take a drive (or FlixBus) down the coast to Nazaré. This small fishing village is very popular in the summer because the beach is fantastic. In the late fall to early spring, you might be able to check out the large waves (30+ feet) at the lighthouse (Fort) at Sítio do Nazaré.
From the fort, there is a great view of the beach and town as well as a surf museum. If you are in the lower part of Nazaré by the beach, take the funicular up to the top.
Stay the night in Nazaré or nearby if you would like. The food is fantastic and the people are incredibly nice.
Day 6: Skirt on down the coast OR have some medieval fun in Tomar
If you would rather scoot further down the coast, stop in Óbidos or Peniche. Óbidos is a medieval town with a wall and a castle. It is charming and there are lovely places to stay there.
Peniche is also nice but is a little further out on a peninsula. If you feel like taking a beach day here, visit Berlengas Island but do so in the summer. The ocean is very choppy in the winter months.
From Nazaré, you can head east to Fatima or Tomar instead. It is a very long (4hr) bus ride to Tomar so I would only go if you have a lot of time or a car. It’s about an hour’s drive.
Tomar is not often on everyone’s list, but it should be. It has a fabulous old town that offers cool restaurants and shopping. Then, head up the hill to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Convent of Christ and the Knights Templar Castle of Tomar. But make sure you have several hours to spend here. The convent is HUGE but worth the visit.
If you decide to visit Tomar, I suggest you stay the night and relax in the city. Maybe even take a tour of the city and enjoy the rich history of this small town.
Day 7-9: Lisbon and Surrounding Area
There is A LOT to do in Lisbon. You can spend a week in the capital city and still not see everything. But in a day or two you can hit the highlights.
Visit all the neighborhoods including Alfama, Bairro Alto, Baixa, and Belém. This way, you will see the major attractions such as São Jorge Castle, Santa Justa Elevator, Belém Tower, and the Jerónimos Monastery. Take a walking tour or a TukTuk tour and you can see it all in a few hours.
If you opt for a TukTuk, we recommend going with the antique cars tour because cobblestones are bouncy and can be uncomfortable in other TukTuks.
Outside of Lisboa
Évora is a fantastic city in the Alentejo region and is just a couple of hours from Lisbon. Don’t miss the Chapel of Bones and the Temple of Diana. The wines in this region are also fantastic. There are several private tours you can book but we do recommend you contact Emmanuel Silva with Lisbon TukTuk Tours by Lifonso. He knows so much about the region.
The regional trains can also take you out to places such as Sintra and Cascais. The beaches in Caiscas are beautiful and it is a great place to get seafood.
Sintra is a whole other day trip and a long one if you want to see everything. The train ride is about 45 minutes and then you can Uber over to see Pena Palace, Quinta do Regaleira, and the city center.
If you are looking for a great tour of Sintra, contact Daniel Ponce. He is the absolute best.
If you are interested in other Day trips from Lisbon, Our blog post 12 Incredible day trips from Lisbon by bus or Train is a great help.
Days 10-13: The Algarve
Now, admittedly, 3-4 days is just not enough time in the Algarve, but it will give you a taste. Travel from Lisbon to Faro (about 3 hours in the car) which is the “capital” of the Algarve and have your home base there until it is time to leave.
You can also book your flight from Faro to make it easier and you won’t have to use your last day to travel back to Lisbon. Plus, the Lisbon airport can get kinda crazy. The Faro airport is much smaller and more navigable.
The best option for transportation while you are in the Algarve is a rental car. Uber and buses are available, but if you want to go from one end to the other quickly, you need a car. If you are planning on staying in one town and chilling on the beautiful beaches, then a car is not entirely necessary.
We do recommend you go to Portimão and see the Benegil Caves. Amazing!
Faro is very walkable and the ria formosa should not be missed.
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
The best time to come to Portugal is from May-mid-July, and September to October. The summer months can be very hot, especially in the interior.
Also, August is the most popular vacation month in Europe and places will be more crowded.
A Little Advice about Restaurants
Portuguese food is delicious! But a few things to keep in mind when looking for a great restaurant is to find a small place with a small menu. Also, look to see if locals are eating there. Then you know it is good!
Restaurants with large menus and pictures are geared toward tourists and will also be more expensive and not as good.
Dress in layers for a restaurant. In the summer, eat outside under an umbrella if you can. Most restaurants will not have air conditioning and will be HOT inside. This is true even in the winter. Many places will have outdoor seating with heaters in the winter.
Bring cash as many places will not take foreign cards. It is not as common in major cities but very common with small restaurants.
Order the prato do dia for lunch. It is the plate of the day (special) and authentically Portuguese. Also, try a dish that is specific to the region you are visiting. You will learn a lot about the culture and restaurant owners like this. When in doubt, ask for recommendations!
Book a table in advance during busy seasons, especially at popular restaurants. We have been turned away numerous times.
Understand that things will be SLOW. Dinner can be a 3-hour affair. The waiters often bring you covert to start (bread, olives, pate, etc.). If you do not want this, ask them to send it away. If you eat any of it, you will be charged. Water is not often free. You have to ask for the bill; they will not just bring it to you.
Enjoying Portugal
Honestly, the best way to enjoy Portugal is by taking your time. You will notice that life moves slower here, even in the tourist areas and big cities. Take a moment on your way to the next place and stop and have a coffee or a glass of wine. Portugal is more for “sipping” and less for “gulping” if you get my drift (although the hills in Lisbon might have you gulping lots of water).
But whatever you decide to do, enjoy yourself! Whether you are a foodie, an adventurer, or a traveler, Portugal has something for everyone.
If you want to learn more about our adventures living and in Portugal (and other places) check out our Podcast! We tell some very amusing stories. You can find us on Spotify, Apple, Prime, and other apps that feature podcasts.
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Shelley is a full time traveler, blogger and podcaster currently living in Portugal with her wife, 2 dogs and a cat. She is a former history teacher originally from Winston-Salem, NC but wanted to see what life was like abroad. Now she travels all over Portugal and Europe writing about what she sees and does and tells you all kinds of fun stories on the podcast at Wandering Works for Us.