Quick answer
A 7-day Portugal itinerary gives three days to Porto and four to Lisbon with Sintra; with 10 days, add the Algarve, about three hours south of Lisbon by train.
A 7-day Portugal itinerary gives 4 days to Lisbon, with a day in Sintra, and 3 days to Porto, about 3 hours north by train. With 10 days, add the Algarve coast, about 3 hours south of Lisbon, or swap the beach for the Douro valley, Coimbra and Évora. Fly into one city and out of another to avoid doubling back on the same line.
The Portugal itinerary at a glance
Each version starts in Porto and ends in Lisbon or the south, so the trip runs one way.
| Length | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Porto 3 days, Lisbon 4 days with Sintra | A first trip |
| 10 days, with the beach | Porto 3, Lisbon 4, Algarve 3 | Summer and early autumn |
| 10 days, without the beach | Porto 3 with the Douro, Coimbra 1, Lisbon 4, Évora 1 night | Spring, autumn, culture |
| 14 days | Both 10-day versions combined | A slow first trip |
Running north to south suits most flights from North America and northern Europe, but the route works just as well in reverse. Book the long-distance trains on CP, the Portuguese railway a few days ahead in summer; the Alfa Pendular has reserved seats.
Where to sleep on this route
A plan built one area at a time only works if you sleep near those areas. The map shows the same property across Booking.com and Agoda, with prices live from them.
Seven days in Portugal: Porto and Lisbon
A week covers Porto and Lisbon at an easy pace, with one day trip from the capital.
- Day 1, Porto: the old city from São Bento station down to the Ribeira, and sunset from the Jardim do Morro.
- Day 2, Porto: across the Dom Luís I bridge to the port lodges in Gaia, then Tram 1 to Foz.
- Day 3, Porto: a free morning, then the train south to Lisbon, about three hours.
- Day 4, Lisbon: the castle and Alfama, walked from the top down.
- Day 5, Lisbon: Belém in the morning, Chiado and the Bairro Alto from the afternoon.
- Day 6, Sintra: palaces on a wooded hill, about 40 minutes by train from Rossio, with timed tickets.
- Day 7, Lisbon: Baixa, a museum and the river before the flight home.
For the city days hour by hour, use the Porto itinerary and the Lisbon itinerary. If Porto is not on your list, the Lisbon vs Porto comparison explains what you would miss.
Ten days in Portugal: add the Algarve
With ten days, the trip can end on the beach: the seven-day route, then three days in the Algarve, the southern coast of golden cliffs and coves.
- Days 1 to 7: as above, ending in Lisbon.
- Day 8: the train to the Algarve, about three hours to Faro on the Alfa Pendular, or three hours 40 minutes to four hours to Lagos with a change at Tunes.
- Day 9: the cliffs and sea arches of Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, and a boat trip along the coast.
- Day 10: a beach morning, then Faro airport for the flight home.
Base yourself in Lagos for the cliffs and the old town, or near Faro for the airport and the lagoon of the Ria Formosa. The Algarve is a summer coast; between November and March, many beach businesses close.
Ten days without the beach: the Douro, Coimbra and Évora
This version swaps the Algarve for the wine country, the old university city and the Alentejo.
- Days 1 to 3, Porto: as above, with the Douro valley on day 3, about two hours by train to Peso da Régua.
- Day 4, Coimbra: the hilltop university and its baroque library, on the main line between Porto and Lisbon.
- Days 5 to 8, Lisbon and Sintra: the four Lisbon days of the seven-day plan.
- Day 9, Évora: about 1 hour 30 minutes by train, for the Roman temple and the walled old town; stay the night.
- Day 10: back to Lisbon for the flight home.
This version suits spring and autumn, when the Douro harvest and the Alentejo countryside are at their best and the cities are cooler for walking. For the trips around the capital, see day trips from Lisbon; for the north, day trips from Porto.
Fourteen days in Portugal
Fourteen days combines both ten-day versions: Porto with the Douro, a night in Coimbra, four days in Lisbon, a night in Évora, and three or four days on the Algarve at the end. It is the most relaxed way to see the country in one trip, with time for an unplanned day in whichever city you like best.
With two weeks, Madeira is the other option: a short flight from Lisbon or Porto, and a week of mountains and levada walks in place of the Algarve beaches. See things to do in Madeira.
Getting around Portugal: trains, not a car
Trains are the easiest way to cover these routes: the main line links Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon, and branches run to the Algarve and Évora.
- Porto to Lisbon: about 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular, with a stop at Coimbra.
- Lisbon to Faro: about three hours on the Alfa Pendular; Intercity trains take a little longer.
- Lisbon to Évora: about 1 hour 30 minutes, with only a few trains a day.
- Inside Lisbon and Porto, use the metro, trams and your feet; a car is a burden in both centres.
Hire a car only for the parts that need it: the Algarve coast between the towns, the Douro wine estates and the Alentejo villages. Pick it up on the day you leave the city.
When to go: the season changes the route
The month matters as much as the length of the trip. Lisbon is the drier of the two cities, with 793.5 mm of rain a year in IPMA‘s 1991-2020 normals, against 1,146.9 mm in Porto.
- June and September suit every version, with warm days and little rain in both cities.
- July and August suit the beach version; Lisbon’s hills are hard work at 28.8°C in August.
- October to March favour the cities over the coast, with Lisbon given more of the days.
- Late September and early October bring the Douro grape harvest.
For month-by-month figures, see the best time to visit Lisbon and the best time to visit Porto.
What not to build a Portugal trip around
Distance and doubling back cause most of the mistakes:
- Lisbon and Porto as day trips from each other: three hours each way leaves little of either city.
- Returning to the arrival city: fly into Porto and out of Lisbon or Faro, or the reverse.
- The Algarve in winter as a beach trip: much of the coast closes between November and March.
- A car in Lisbon or Porto: traffic, parking and narrow hills cost more time than they save.
Common questions
Is 7 days enough for Portugal?
Seven days is enough for Portugal’s two main cities: three days in Porto and four in Lisbon, with a day trip to Sintra. It is not enough to add the Algarve without rushing; for the coast as well, plan ten days, or swap Porto for three Algarve days.
What is the best 10-day Portugal itinerary?
The best 10-day Portugal itinerary for a first trip is three days in Porto, four in Lisbon with Sintra, and three in the Algarve, travelling north to south by train. Outside summer, swap the Algarve for the Douro valley, Coimbra and a night in Évora.
Should you start in Lisbon or Porto?
Start in Porto if you plan to end on the Algarve coast, so the trip runs one way from north to south. Start in Lisbon if your return flight leaves from Porto. Either way, fly into one city and out of another to avoid three hours of travel back.
Do you need a car in Portugal?
You do not need a car for Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Coimbra or Évora: trains link them all. A car is worth it only for the Algarve coast between the towns, the Douro wine estates and the Alentejo villages, picked up on the day you leave the city.
When is the best time for a Portugal itinerary?
June and September are the best months for a Portugal itinerary: warm, mostly dry and quieter than July and August. Summer suits a route ending on the Algarve beaches; from October to March, favour the cities, especially Lisbon, which is drier than Porto.
Keep planning Portugal
Written and checked by
Travel Guide Kit Editorial
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