Thinking of traveling to Portugal? You should be! Portugal has beautiful architecture and a culinary scene that rivals its European neighbors, with palaces and monuments from the Age of Exploration that show off a fascinating history. Portugal’s walkable cities are a joy to explore, and they are the focus of my Portugal 10-day itinerary from Lisbon to Porto.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you use them to make a purchase.
Planning your Portugal Trip
Portugal is a medium-sized country, so with 10 days you can get a good overview.
This itinerary is focused on the historic cities of Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra, with a few opportunities to get out of town. It’s easy to connect these major cities by train, but there is one stretch where you’ll have to switch to the bus. Renting a car is also an option, if you prefer.
My itinerary conspicuously skips Portugal’s picturesque Algarve region, a sunny haven for European beachgoers. If you absolutely must have a beach day in Portugal, you can sub in a half day while you’re in Lisbon or Porto. Check out the beaches at Cascais (40 min from LIsbon) and Foz do Duoro (15 min from Porto).
Looking for specifics? I also have some more in-depth posts about Lisbon and Porto.
Portugal 10-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon
Lisbon is a fantastic city for walking, and that’s what you should do when you arrive! Start out in Baixa, Lisbon’s central downtown zone, where you can check out historic squares and get a taste of Portugal’s unique architecture. If you’re feeling energetic, walk up to one of the city’s many overlooks (miradouros). And if you’re not, you can take one of the elevators!
Stop by A Ginjinha, the first place to start selling Lisbon’s favorite pick-me-up known as ginjinha. It’s a type of cherry-infused liquer served in tiny glasses. Ginjinha is a tasty treat any time of day, and one of the classic things to do in Lisbon.
At some point you’ll also need a snack, so I’d recommend a stop for a pastry. Lisbon’s most famous pastry is the pastel de nata, a tart with sweet egg custard. You’ll find bakeries serving these basically everywhere. And you don’t have to stop with a pastel de nata–there are many pastries to try.
If you have time, head over to the Museum of Fado (Museu do Fado) for a quick visit. Fado is a style of folk music that originated in Lisbon, and the museum lets you look into this world of dramatic singing and showy guitars. While you’re there you can get some recommendations for where to see fado music out on the town.
Day 2: Lisbon/Belem
On Day 2, it’s time for a deeper dive into Lisbon’s history. My recommendation for the morning would be to go on a walking tour. I did this walking tour with Inside Lisbon tours, and it was awesome! There’s so much to learn about the city when you have a local guide to show you around.
If that sounds like too much walking, you could instead head over to the Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga). It’s the best art museum in Portugal and home to the royal collection of paintings and sculpture, among other things.
In the afternoon, make your way to Belém. This is the district built up during Portugal’s age of discovery and only a short tram or taxi ride from downtown. (More on transportation below!) Start with a couple of Belém’s famous monuments. The Monument of the Discoveries is a huge tribute to Lisbon’s explorers that departed from this spot to sail all around the world. A bit further along the river is Belém Tower, a 16th century fortification that King Manuel I built to help defend this area.
Later in the afternoon, visit the incredible Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos). You’ll need a timed ticket, and hopefully visiting towards the end of the day will help avoid the crowds. The monastery’s architecture is stunning, with ornate stone archways and twisting spires typical of the Manueline gothic style. Visit the church next door to see the tombs of explorer Vasco da Gama and poet Luís de Camões.
In the evening, enjoy dinner and a fado show. I can recommend the show at Adega Machado in the Bairro Alto neighborhood. Let the singers transport you to Lisbon of the past as they sing about hard times and fisherman that never returned home.
You can read more about fado music in my post here!
Day 3: Lisbon in Depth
From the past to the present, Day 3 is about modern Lisbon. Start out by devoting some time to the city’s amazing food scene with a food tour. I went on this tour from Eating Europe and had the best time! You get to try so many great things to eat and drink a few glasses of wine. It’s the best.
After that, take the metro or Uber out to Parque das Nações (Park of Nations). This modern zone along the river was redeveloped for the 1998 World Expo. I’m not much of a shopper, but you can check out the huge shopping center of Centro Vasco Da Gama if you are.
In the afternoon, visit the Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa), a world-class aquarium right on the waterfront. The oceanarium is built around a massive central tank that holds 1.3 million gallons of water! You’ll see many species of sharks and rays as you gaze into what feels like the open ocean. The oceanarium also has other exhibits like the Temperate Pacific (with sea otters!) and the North Atlantic (with puffins!).
Day 4: Day Trip to Sintra
It may seem odd to spend 4 days of your Portugal 10-day itinerary in Lisbon, but you need time for an epic day trip to Sintra. The town of Sintra became an important retreat for the Portuguese royals where they built a few magnificent palaces!
To get to Sintra, you have basically two options. First is the DIY option of taking the train from Rossio Station and seeing the castles on your own. This option offers flexibility and costs less, but there are some logistics to figure out. The second option would be to book an organized tour with transportation included. The advantage here is convenience: you’ll get to see one or more of the palaces without having to figure out tickets or transportation. I’m tempted to drop an affiliate link here, but I haven’t taken any of these tours and can’t truthfully recommend one in particular.
Either way, I’d set your sightseeing priorities thusly: start with Pena Palace. This whimsical castle was commissioned in 1842 by King Ferdinand to serve as a summer residence. The eclectic Romantic style of architecture is what makes Pena Palace famous. Mauneline spires mix with faux-Moorish arches and brightly colored turrets for a truly unique palace. After touring the Pena Palace, walk over to the Moorish Castle nearby for a look at some wonderfully scenic castle ruins.
In the afternoon, take the bus or Uber over to Quinta da Regaleira. It’s another fantastical Neo-gothic palace that belonged to a noble family. The highlight of Quinta da Regaleira is actually what’s outside the palace: a system of tunnels and wells that transform the gardens into a mysterious labyrinth.
Day 5: Lisbon – Óbidos – Coimbra
From Lisbon, head north to the tiny medieval town of Óbidos on your way to Coimbra. Óbidos is the best preserved medieval town in Portugal, with picture-perfect cobblestone streets and mighty castle walls fit for a knight. The most efficient way to get there would be by car, but it’s fairly simple to go by bus also.
Start you day with a stroll down the charming main street called Rua Direita. At the end you’ll reach Livraria Santiago, a book shop nestled in an old church. Shelves of books climb the mezzanine and stretch up toward the vaulted ceiling, and they have a good selection of books in English. Fun fact: Óbidos is a UNESCO City of Literature!
Ready for some excitement? The best thing to do in Óbidos is to walk along the castle walls and step into your own medieval adventure! There are several places to access the walls, but make sure to visit the highest stretch on the west side by the castle (now a hotel).
Óbidos is also famous as the birthplace of ginjinha, which is traditionally served in little chocolate cups here. Grab a shot of this cherry liqueur before doing your souvenir shopping.
If you’re not driving, the bus is about a 3 hour ride north to Coimbra. You could also skip Óbidos and head straight from Lisbon to Coimbra by a fast train, which only takes about 2 hours. Coimbra is an underrated town, so a little extra time there isn’t a bad thing.
Day 6: Coimbra
Coimbra is a historic city on the Mondego River and home to Portugal’s oldest university. Coimbra University is where you should start. Founded back in 1290, the university was moved to occupy a royal palace in the 1500s and got a few major upgrades during the 1700s.
Today, the most impressive space is the Joanina Library (Biblioteca Joanina). It’s a wildly ornate baroque library commissioned by King John V in 1717. Carved wooden flourishes and gold leaf accents cover the two-story bookshelves in this fairytale library. Make sure to get a timed ticket in advance!
Also worth a visit are the university’s chapel and great hall. The university chapel is decorated with magnificent azulejo tiles and Manueline architectural details. Nearby, the great hall was once the king’s throne room but now provides an elegant venue for students facing their PhD defense.
In the afternoon, stroll through Coimbra Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico). You’ll pass under an aqueduct built in the 1500s over the site of a previous Roman one. The garden is a lush world of old trees and exotic plants brought back by Portuguese explorers. My favorite spot was the bamboo forest, which you should definitely find when you visit.
In the evening, check out more of Coimbra’s old town. Stroll through Praça do Comércio and pass under the medieval Barbican Gate. There are many good restaurants in this area. If you need a recommendation, I’d head to Arcada Comes e Bebes.
Day 7: Coimbra to Porto
Take the train from Coimbra to Porto, the largest city of northern Portugal. You really can’t plan a Portugal 10-day itinerary without spending some time in this beautiful city on the Duoro River. The fast train takes you to Porto Campanhã Station. From there, switch to the local train or metro over to São Bento Station.
São Bento Station is a working train station in the middle of Porto’s old town with a seriously beautiful entry hall. Tall murals of azulejo tiles depict historic scenes, all capped with an elegant ceiling.
While you’re at São Bento Station, stop at Time Out Market for lunch. Created by Time Out magazine, the idea of the market is to bring in great local chefs under one roof and serve top-quality food in a casual environment. It’s expensive for a food hall but worth it!
After lunch, take a stroll down the lively Rua das Flores, a pedestrian street that curves down from São Bento Station toward the Ribeira district. Along the way you’ll see some of the most elegant buildings in Porto, many housing fancy boutiques and restaurants. You’re likely to see a few street musicians to add atmosphere to your walk.
In the evening, make your way up to Jardim do Morro, a hilltop park across the river. You’ll walk over the scenic Dom Luis I Bridge, a two-level iron bridge built in the 19th century. At Jardim do Morro, people always gather to watch the sunset behind Porto’s old skyline. It’s a scene you want to be a part of.
Want to see all the best things to do in Porto? Check out my full post here!
Day 8: Porto Landmarks
Start your day off by visiting Livraria Lello, Porto’s famously Harry Potter-esque bookstore. Inside, the Neo-gothic decor is wondrous and features a curvy staircase in the middle and an ornate ceiling. (You’ll need to get timed tickets in advance and line up at your entry time.)
After that, I’d recommend delving into Porto’s culinary scene with a food and wine tour! I loved this tour with Taste Porto, which covered everything from appetizers to dessert with a port wine tasting! You get to try a lot of bites and learn about Porto in the process. Plus, you’ll get to visit Porto’s central Bolhão Market. Taste Porto also has a cool craft beer and food tour.
Another option is to visit Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão) on your own and embark on a DIY foodie adventure. The market is basically the center of food awesomeness in Porto. Browsing the market stalls is a great start, but upstairs there’s a level of restaurants too. Also, it’s totally ok to get a glass of wine while browse the market. Cheers!
In the afternoon, make your way to Clérigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos). This bell tower of the Clerigos Church is a symbol of the city of Porto, and climbing to the top gives you a 360 view of the city center. There’s also a museum of religious art that’s, in my opinion, skippable. But the Baroque sanctuary of the church itself is worth a stop.
If you’re looking for an evening activity, check out the church’s Spiritus multimedia light show. That’s right: Clérigos Church has an immersive projection mapping and laser light show set to epic music. It’s definitely one of the most unique ways to visit a historic church!
Day 9: Porto and Gaia
Begin with one more important sight: Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). It’s Porto’s oldest church, which was built in the 12th century and later updated to the Baroque style. The large azulejo tile murals lining the cloister walkways are a highlight. Also, you can get great views of the city and across the river from the bell tower.
From here, I’d shift into a more relaxed vibe and go for a cruise of the Duoro River. A few companies offer boat trips called “6 Bridges Tours” that take you by all six of the bridges spanning the Duoro River. Cruising through the steep river valley gives you a different perspective on Porto.
In the afternoon, head across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia (aka Gaia) and explore at least one of the famous port wine cellars. The grapes are grown and made into wine outside of town, but all of it ends up in Gaia to age to perfection. There are many port wine cellars to choose from. All of them make wine basically the same way, so take your pick!
For your last night in Porto, stroll along the waterfront in Ribeira or Gaia. Stop to listen to the music, enjoy a glass of wine, and soak in Porto’s atmosphere.
Day 10: Departure from Porto
Have one last pastry and coffee before you leave the beautiful city of Porto. Your Portugal adventure is complete!
Portugal Transportation Tips
Airports – Lisbon and Porto both have international airports easily reached by metro (subway), taxi, or Uber to the city center. In general the metro will be cheaper, but getting a ride is a good value given the convenience.
The regional trains between Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra, and Porto are quite frequent. It’s not usually not necessary to reserve them far in advance, but you can book them online if you prefer crossing this off your to-do list.
It’s worth figuring out the local metro system, especially in Lisbon. Even taking one stop can save you a lot of walking! Simply go up to one of the machines and buy a transport card loaded with either a single fare or a daily pass. It’s about $2 USD per journey or $7 USD for 24 hours. As a head’s up: the Lisbon metro doesn’t go to Belém, so use the tram or get a ride there.
Taxis and Ubers are easy to come by in Portugal’s major cities, and they aren’t too expensive. Which one is cheaper deal depends on Uber’s fluctuating demand pricing. You can also try using the local favorite rideshare app called Bolt, which is sometimes the cheapest option.
Tuk-tuks are a popular way to get around the tourist zones, but the three-wheeled vehicles are not ideal for point-to-point trips. Drivers prefer to charge you for a set period of time. Take one for a fun sightseeing tour or skip it.
More Tips for Visiting Portugal
- English is widely spoken in Portugal, especially in major cities. It’s always good to learn a few polite phrases, but you don’t need to worry too much about the language barrier.
- Beware of tourist trap restaurants. Like many places in Europe, some restaurants in the most touristy areas serve mediocre food at high prices. Check Google reviews or simply get a couple blocks away from major sights to find better restaurant options.
- Take time to find the viewpoints (miradouros). The amazing views are sometimes just steps away from a main street, and they’re worth it!
- Beware the hills! Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra are all quite hilly. There are various elevators and funiculars to help you, but you can wear yourself out walking up and down the hills. Also, many of the streets have cobblestones, so plan footwear accordingly.
