Planning a week in Portugal? Let us help! 

Portugal is a wonderful country and while 7 days in Portugal may seem like a long time, you’ll wish you’d stayed longer.

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In fact, we recommend a minimum of 10 days in Portugal, but we understand that sometimes, we have limited time.

That said, we created a one-week Portugal itinerary to help you make the most of your time there.

Lisbon

Porto (Day 1-2)

Porto is a beautiful city in the north of Portugal.

It’s the ideal spot if you wish to visit the Douro river and explore the Douro Valley.

In fact, you’ll be able to visit wineries to taste the famous Porto wine.

Not sure if two days in Porto will be enough? Find out exactly how many days in Porto you’ll need.

Porto

Best Things To Do In Porto

Below you’ll find our recommendations on the best things to do during your time in Porto.

Cruise Douro River

One of the most popular things to do in Porto is to cruise the Douro river. Some of the cruises will bring you all the way to the Douro Valley where you’ll be able to see the vineyards.

Porto cruises have different lengths so you can pick one that suits your needs.

Wine Tasting

Famous for its Port wine, many travelers will go to Porto for the whole wine experience.

You can either do it yourself and go wine tasting around the city or if you’re planning on visiting Douro Valley then you could even visit a vineyard.

You’ll find plenty of fun wine-tasting guided tours around Porto.

Where To Stay In Porto

Lisbon (Day 3-4)

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and is also the largest city. It’s probably the most popular destination in Portugal.

Colorful, pretty, and known for its famous old trams, it’s the perfect base for day trips around the Lisbon area.

For example, many people prefer to stay in Lisbon and will organize a day trip to Sintra, Cascais, or Ericeira.

Lisbon

Best Things To Do In Lisbon

Below, you’ll find some of the best things to do during your Lisbon stay.

Torre De Belém

The Torre de Belém is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular attractions around Lisbon. It’s also a great opportunity to enjoy the views.

Hop On Tram 28

Did someone say “yellow tram”? It’s the best tourist-friendly route you can find in Lisbon. Bonus: It’s more than affordable; EUR 2.90.

Where To Stay In Lisbon

Sintra (Day 5)

Sintra is located in the Lisbon region and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You might know it as the colorful palace heaven.

There are so many castles and palaces around this area that it’s definitely worth a visit.

Sintra National Palace

Best Things To Do In Sintra

Below, you’ll find our recommendations on the best things to do in Sintra.

Palaces & Castles hopping

If you only have one day around Sintra, you might have to make a decision as there are many places to pick from.

Here are the two I’d recommend:

The Pena Palace is probably the most popular one. You can recognize it with its bright colors and it is located on the top of a hill. You can either walk there or take the 434 bus.

The entry costs EUR 14.

The Moors Castle is located next to the Pena Palace and is known for its amazing views. It’s probably the best spot to enjoy Sintra from above.

The entry costs EUR 8 (or EUR 10 for the fast track ticket!)

Where To Stay In Sintra

Cascais (Day 6)

Cascais is a cute coastal town not too far from Lisbon. It’s a cool day trip if you want to spend some time next to the beach!

cascais portugal photo

Best Thing To Do In Cascais

Cascais is a great beach destination, but if you wish to plan an activity there, we’d recommend you visit Boca do Inferno.

Boca Do Inferno

Boca do Inferno is a cool cliff and rocky formation on the coast. It’s quite unique (and of course, quite pretty)!

Where To Stay In Cascais

Lisbon (Day 7)

Return to Lisbon to leave Portugal, or head back to Porto if you fly from the same airport.

That said, if you have more time in Portugal, we’d recommend a visit to the Algarve region, located in the south of Portugal.

How To Get Around Portugal

The best way to get around Portugal is by car as you’ll be able to access more places along the way and also stop quickly to appreciate the best views in Portugal.

If renting a car isn’t an option you can always enjoy the train ride or the bus routes that cover pretty much all of Portugal.

It’s normally cheaper by bus but if you book your train tickets in advance you could find great deals.

There are two main bus companies: Rede Nacional de Expressos and Eva (which is mostly from Lisbon to the Algarve).

To find your train tickets, you should check on Comboios de Portugal.

Another popular option would be blablacar, which is a co-sharing ride website. You can find affordable rides on the most common routes such as Porto to Lisbon.

Otherwise, you could always use public transportation cards in Lisbon or Porto!

Final Thoughts On Portugal Travel Itinerary

Portugal is a beautiful country. In fact, it’s one of my favorite countries in Europe.

We hope our guide helped you figure out where to go in Portugal if you only have a week.

Visiting Portugal soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

About Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux founded abrokenbackpack.com in 2015. She is been living abroad since 2014. Originally Canadian, she has been living and working online in many destinations around the world. She is passionate about traveling, technology, entrepreneurship, and CrossFit.

She has traveled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. She is now living in Thailand.


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