I spent 2 weeks travelling Portugal solo in April 2023, and I know it’s a trip I’ll be talking about for years! Originally planning for just 7 days in April 2020, I soon realized Portugal’s vastness and beauty demanded more time. Not only is it about 6 hours to drive from the north to the south of the country, there are also 23 Portuguese islands! It would be nice to have an unlimited amount of time and money to travel, but most of us have jobs to get back to. Here’s a full round-up of posts to travel around Portugal, including a suggested itinerary for 1 or 2 weeks!
Table of Contents
Lisbon
Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa), Portugal’s captivating capital, is likely to be the top recommended city to visit. Filled with stunning architecture, colourful azulejos (ceramic tiles), and wonderful lookouts, there’s something around every corner for your Instagram feed. It’s also rich in history, with plenty of museums that are both unique and interesting. It also has a vibrant nightlife, a fantastic restaurant scene and plenty for every type of traveller! I recommend a minimum 3 days to explore the city, plus more time to add day trips! It’s a central city and a great starting spot to travel in Portugal.
The most Instagrammable places you need to visit include:
- Pink Street
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Belem Tower
- Alfama
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- Sunset from São Jorge Castle
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Elevador da Bica
- Comur – R. Prata
The famous Pastel de nata treat was originally made by the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery. The Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém is the most popular place in the city to buy these delectable pastries. I recommend getting a seat at a table, rather than waiting in the extraordinarily long line to buy at the front shop!
There are also plenty of food tours you should check out! You’ll get to discover traditional Portuguese food, meet likeminded foodies, and learn more about Portuguese culture.
I also recommend the Lisboa Card. City cards are a great way to save some money, if you were planning to spend it already! The Lisboa Card gives you access to the top attractions, and worth the discounts it provides.
Finally, I booked a local photographer to take photos for social media and it was a fantastic experience. It’s a great way to get professional photos, without having to organize finding all the best places yourself.
Read more: 13 Instagrammable Places in Lisbon (Including Photos and a Map)
Sintra
If time permits, a 1-2 day trip to Sintra is highly recommended! You could visit the top 2-3 attractions in Sintra in a day trip from Lisbon. However, if you can add an extra day in Sintra, you should. Sintra is both a municipality and a town, where the Town of Sintra is located within the larger Municipality of Sintra. So, Sintra is not just a charming town but also a much larger area filled with several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens. The area also area includes the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the Sintra Mountains, beach towns on the coast, and more! The area is a major tourist destination, and once you see photos and videos, you’ll understand why. It’s incredibly picturesque and charming.
Tips for Pena Palace: The most popular Sintra destination is the Pena Palace. It’s no wonder why! It’s breathtaking, and has unique yellow, red and blue architecture. Note: the time on your ticket is entrance to the palace. If you head to the palace first thing, head to the palace and give yourself time to wander the gardens after.
Tips for Quinta da Regaleira: This was one of the highlights of Sintra for me. The Initiation Well isn’t a true well, it is a deep spiral staircase descending underground to a tunnel and is SO cool. Pictures do not do this place justice.
Jeep Tour: I highly recommend the Jeep Tour; it was a truly unique and fun experience! It includes a visit to the Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of continental Europe), lunch at a local restaurant (not included in ticket price), and a visit to Pena Palace. Entrance fees to the Quinte and Palace are extra.
Food: make sure to stop by Incomum by Luis Santos. It’s one of the best restaurants in Sintra!
Read more: Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon | How to Spend Your Time
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, but still about half the population of Lisbon. It is a less touristy major city, filled with heritage and history but a vibrant life. The city is world-famous for its port wine. The historic centre of Porto was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. The famous tiles (azulejos) can be found all around the city, with a few can’t-miss decorated buildings scattered around. Not only is it a great city, it’s also a fantastic home base for day trips in the north. I recommend a minimum 2 days in Porto, if you plan to visit. Add more time if you also want to do some day trips from the City, such as Duoro Valley or Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês. Porto is about 3 hours north of Lisbon.
The most popular, and beautiful thing to do in Porto is to find all the azulejos (tiles) murals around the City. The Porto Cathedral and Cloisters, São Bento Station, and Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls) are my top three favourits. You can wander the city and find these yourself.
I absolutely loved the Livraria Lello bookstore. It is by far the most visited places in Porto! Be prepared to wait in a very long line, or book the priority ticket to be one of the first people in the store and miss the crowds for the first few minutes of the day.
A truly unique experience in Porto, take a Pastel de nata cooking class! You can book here. Head to a local Portuguese woman’s house and learn about the history of the dessert, how to make the pastel de nata, and then make them!
Read more: Porto Guide | Your Ultimate Itinerary
Faro District/Algarve Region
The Faro District is also known as the Algarve region. It is the southernmost district of Portugal in the mainland country. It is famous for an amazing coastline, stunning beaches, natural wonders, surfing, and more! The two main cities in the district are Faro and Lagos. Lagos is a more popular beach town and Faro is quintessentially Portuguese. The area is about a 3.5 hour train ride south of Lisbon. If you’re interested in visiting, I recommend 1-2 days and a minimum 1 night in Faro or Lagos. You could certainly do it in a day trip from Lisbon but it makes for a very long day!
Madeira
There are 23 Portuguese islands and you’ve probably heard of Madeira and Azores. The Madeira Islands are actually a group of 4 islands: Madeira, Porto Santa, Desertas and Selvagens. Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited and Desertas and Selvagens are not. The main island is Madeira, where the capital is Funchal. The weather here is a pleasant Mediterranean climate year-round. Madeira is typically described as a more resort island compared to Azores. However, there are still a ton of hikes and outdoor activities to enjoy! I personally chose Madeira to do the Pico do Arierio To Pico Ruivo Hike (PR1) and see the gorgeous sunrise and otherworldly stairs.
A few of the top things to do in Madeira:
- Spend 1 day in Funchal
- Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike
- Best of West Madeira tour including Cabo Girao and Porto Moniz
- 25 Fountains and Levada Walks
- Sunrise at Ponta de Sao Laurenco and Santa Cruz
- Fanal Forest for sunrise and Seixal Beach
- Valley of the Nuns (CURRAL DAS FREIRAS)
Read more: Madeira Island, Portugal | How to Visit The Hawaii of Europe
Azores
The Azores Islands include 9 volcanic islands, grouped in threes. Flores and Corvo are the western group. Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira, and Graciosa Islands are in the central group. São Miguel and Santa Maria are in the eastern group. The Azores is typically described as a nature and outdoors destination. The islands are less modernized and more rugged. You’ll find less of a nightlife and more of an outdoor adventure here! The Terra Nostra Gardens and geothermal hot springs are two of the most popular things to do here.
Suggested Itinerary for 1 week to Travel Portugal
One thing to keep in mind is the timing of the connections to each city, and travel between the two. And what to do with your luggage! If you can time trains/planes/buses to leave your accommodations at check-out and make your way to the next place at check-in, you can save yourself on paying for luggage storage. In addition, sometimes it’s nice to stay in one place for longer! Slow travel is an approach to travel that emphasizes connection: to local people, cultures, food and music. It gives you time to immerse yourself in one place. However, there’s also so much of the world to see with limited PTO days so it is a bit of a balance!
- 3-4 days in Lisbon (do a food tour, book a photographer, check out the top 13 instagrammable places in the city, and enjoy the nightlife)
- 1 day in Sintra (can do a day trip from Lisbon, and I recommend the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira)
- 2-3 days in either Madeira, Porto or Azores. If you choose Porto, take 1-2 days in the city and a day trip to Douro Valley.
Suggested Itinerary for 2 weeks to Travel Portugal
Something else I like to remind myself is: I can’t see it ALL. I can see a lot, but I’ve learned to appreciate the slower moments while travelling. I like to give myself a “Top Attractions” list and include 1-2 things a day that are can’t misses. Then, I think of everything else as extra! So, if I’m feeling tired or want to sit on a patio and drink a glass of wine, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on all the other things.
- 4 days in Lisbon (do a food tour, book a photographer, check out the top 13 instagrammable places in the city, and enjoy the nightlife)
- 2 days in Sintra or Faro District (spend a day in Sintra and book a Jeep Tour for the second day)
- 4 days in either Madeira or Azores (includes travelling to and from the islands)
- 3-4 days in Porto. Take 3 days in the city and a day trip to Douro Valley.
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