My 2-Week Itinerary in Portugal
Explore the magic of Portugal with me as I will walk you through three different regions that I explored during my 2-week itinerary of delightful adventures that left me feeling absolutely enchanted with this beautiful country.
The rich cultural history, expansive Atlantic Ocean views, ease of transportation, friendly people, affordability, and gastronomy, make Portugal an increasingly popular travel destination.
What is the Best Region in Portugal?
If you like culture and a plethora of food options, Lisbon is a must see destination. For Port Wine, lush greenery, and a quieter country feel, Porto and North is best region in Portugal for you.
The Algarve, situated along the southern tip of Europe offers a dryer climate, miles of beautiful sandy beaches, rocky hillsides to explore, and ocean adventures.
I personally liked the laid back feel of the Algarve and the Ocean’s calming effect as I explored by boat, kayak or meandering along the miles of boardwalk in Lagos.
Portugal sits on the Iberian Peninsula bordering Spain in southern Europe. The country is divided into 7 major regions including the Azores and Madeira Islands. During my visit, I explored 3 of the most popular regions, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Porto and North, and the Algarve.
Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region
Lisbon, Portugal’s capital is built on hilly terrain located where the Tagus (Tejo) River meets the Atlantic Ocean along a beautiful estuary overlooking the Setubal Peninsula.
The waterfront area has been transformed from an industrial wasteland to one of Lisbon’s favorite hangouts, a beautiful promenade overlooking the bay, bustling with locals and tourists out for a stroll or simply to relax and enjoy the view.
Exploring the city’s vibrant culture and food scene via historic trolley cars was my favorite way to immerse into the culture.
Porto and North Region
Porto is a coastal city known for its stately bridges, vineyards, and Port Wine production.
The Riverside District with its cobblestone streets, riverfront merchants and eateries, overlooks the Douro River and across to Cais de Gaia where the Port Wine is aged.
The Douro Valley is lush with greenery and terraced vineyards along steep hillsides.
The lush greenery, breathtaking views of the terraced vineyards in the Douro Valley and delicious Port Wine, filled my senses to the brim.
The Algarve Region
The Algarve region is the most southern tip of Europe and boasts a coastline that stretches 100 miles (161km). The climate in the Algarve is very arid with limestone cliffs that tower above the beautiful beaches.
I loved the laid back feel of the beach areas. I stayed in Lagos (LAHgoos), the largest city in the Algarve and explored other coastal towns by car.
Although, train transportation is available, renting a car allowed me more flexibility and convenience in the coastal areas.
Lagos has a pretty hopping night life during the summer months but daytime ocean adventures were enough for me.
What is Portugal like?
Portugal is a beautiful country filled with lush greenery, expansive Atlantic Ocean views, Terracotta rooftops, and Mosaic tiled walkways. During my 2 weeks in Portugal, I explored Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, and Lagos in the Algarve.
I visited in mid-May while the deep red Bougainvillea and pastel purple Jacaranda trees were in full bloom. What a site! The weather was beautiful this time of year, only a couple of rainy afternoons while in the Algarve Region.
I found the Portuguese people to be direct but friendly, unpretentious, sturdy, hardworking people. The cities were bustling with work and tourism even though I traveled just a bit off season.
If you’re wondering how much money a trip to Portugal will cost, see my Budget Guide for tips.
Meals are hearty and simple, meat, seafood, potatoes or rice and beans. A Pasteleria (Pastry Shop) is nearly on every corner. Don’t miss savoring the national favorite, pastéis de nata, creamy egg custard in a flaky pastry crust.
There is a vast variety of foods in addition to Portuguese food such as Indian, Mexican, and Italian.
What Makes Portugal so Unique?
The country has evolved from the rise and fall as a world power to today’s popular tourist destination and a growing expat community.
Many areas are in the process of re-gentrification while maintaining the old-world charm that creates a mix of rich cultural history and surprising food origins.
Lisbon's Ancient History
From the 8th to the 12th Century, Portugal was ruled by Arab speaking Muslims known as the Moors, a mix of Arab, Spanish, and Amazigh (Berber) origins. After the Catholics expelled the Moors, Portugal became the most prosperous nation in the world due to its navigation expertise leading to explorations and conquests from India to China in the early 16th Century.
Like other European empires, the Portuguese succumbed to the pressures of two major world wars in the 20th Century and population movements seeking independence in the colonial territories that led to their demise as an economic power.
Portugal was under communist rule for 48 years that ended April 25, 1974, during the Carnation Revolution. Since that time and early in the 21st Century, economic growth and Portugal’s accession to the European Union have drastically improved living standards, income and reduced unemployment as well as allowed for structure development, private capital, and direct investments.
Exploring Lisbon during my 2-weeks in Portugal
The Mosaic tiled walkways and painted tiles adorning churches, buildings and homes are a key part of Portuguese ancient history and culture.
The painted tiles are known as Azulejos with origins of Arab patterns, Italian craftmanship and Greek Mosaic art. The street tiles called Calcada Portuguesa with white and black patterns originate from the Moorish period.
These tiles have been painstakingly laid by hand and are repaired in the same manner. Given how expensive it is to maintain these beautiful creations, several tour guides mentioned that the tiles will be kept and repaired only in the historic districts and replaced with concrete pavement in non-historic areas.
Let’s hope this holds true as the uniqueness of the tiles is such a big part of Portuguese History.
Which is the Best Trolley Ride in Lisbon?
Taking a trolley car ride is a terrific way to see the sites in Lisbon and navigate the very hilly city while adjusting to the time change. These old-fashioned trolley cars are still in operation even though they date back to the 1800’s.
I hopped on Tram #28 that travels a loop around the city and stops at many tourist points of interest and historic neighborhoods such as Baixa, Chiado, and Alfama.
Another fun Trolley ride is the #24 that many of the same historic neighborhoods as Tram #28 and ends near a restaurant called A Valenciana, established in 1914.
The restaurant serves excellent traditional Portuguese food, the chicken was crispy seasoned well and served with chips, an English influence. The rice and beans were served in a light tomato sauce topped with cilantro, creamy and delicious.
And of course, with just about every Portuguese meal, there are potatoes, Yukon Gold, boiled then lightly fried and smashed with salt and parsley. I could live on the potatoes alone, so delicious my mouth waters just thinking about it.
Getting around Lisbon and Other Regions - Do I need a car?
It depends! Transportation in Portugal is easy from metros, trams, buses, to train travel.
In Lisbon, simply purchase a Viva Viagem card at a metro station kiosk and use it on metro, trams or buses in Lisbon.
Train travel is easy, comfortable and reliable in Portugal. Download the Comboios de Portugal CP App that allows you to check schedules and purchase most train tickets on the App. It’s a huge time savor.
I don’t recommend a car in larger cities such as Lisbon or Porto due to parking constraints.
I would recommend a car in the Algarve. I traveled by train to Lagos and rented a car there. Rental car agencies are easily accessible and having a car allowed me the freedom to explore many of the smaller sleepy coastal towns.
There is not a lot in English outside of tourist areas and having google translate helps but the systems in place make it easy to figure out especially if you’ve used public transportation elsewhere.
Taxis are inexpensive and you can also use an App called Bolt in Lisbon that works like Uber and is a little cheaper than a taxi but not by much.
How many days do I need in Lisbon? - My 6 Day Itinerary
Although 3-4 days may be adequate, 6 days allows for and in-depth look into the fascinating history & neighborhoods, tours, and a day trip to Sintra or Cascais.
My 6 day itinerary allowed me time to explore the city and recover from jet lag at a leisurely pace. I included a day trip to Sintra to visit Pena Palace and it was so worth it.
Another easy attraction while getting over jet lag is Castelo de Sao Jorge that overlooks Lisbon.
This is not a timed event but purchasing tickets in advance avoids any long lines.
The Arabs built this castle in the 11th century and the walled city fortress was home to members of the elite responsible for political, religious, administrative, and military life in the Arab city.
I also toured some of the historic neighborhoods such as Alfima and Baxia using the “Rick Steves” Audio Tour App. Highly informative and easy to follow. To learn more about Lisbon’s neighborhoods, click here.
Is it worth doing a food tour in Lisbon? - A Foodie's Delight
Yes! Being a foodie, a food tour in Lisbon was high on my list of fun activities, and it exceeded my expectations. I love taking food tours because it allows me to sample and savor some of the traditional foods in Lisbon, learn insider tips and the cultural significance behind the foods.
Many foods and spices used in the gastronomy of this period are still present in today’s Portuguese cuisine. Soups, stews and stir fry with aromatic herbs and spices tying back to their Arabic roots. All the words starting with AL such as Algarve are also from the Arabic language.
I highly recommend Oh my Cod – Food Tour https://www.ohmycodtours.com/. Taking food tours early in a trip gave me inside information such as where the best restaurants are and how to get a reservation as well as lots of history and sites not to be missed.
One restaurant that stood out for me on the tour was Restaurante Cantinho Do Aziz in the Moorish District, serving Africa Food. We sampled spiced meat and vegetables in pastry, Curry Stew and Red Beans over rice.
Why the love of Cod? The Portuguese love of Cod is for religious reasons and tradition. Even though they can get it fresh they prefer it salted and dried.
The Cod is then reconstituted by soaking it with water and milk changing every 4 hours for 24 hours, and then baking it.
Although fresh Cod is available, they prefer it the traditional way. And of course, with chips, fries, or whole boiled potatoes.
We tried Cod a few times and the winner was O’ Trigueirinho, a restaurant founded by two women.
Traditional Portuguese Cuisine - Cooking With a Local
If you like to cook, one of the best ways to learn about the food culture is by taking a cooking class.
I took a Traditional Portuguese cooking class in the Balem neighborhood called Home Cooking just west of the Historic District in Lisbon.
I learned the secret to making Pastéis de Nata, the Portuguese custard pastry favorite, pork ribs, rice and beans, and deviled eggs. I learned to bake Cod in the traditional Portuguese style with boiled potatoes, deviled eggs and olives.
A Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon - So Worth It!
Sintra is an easy day trip from Lisbon, just 45 minutes and one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon. Sintra is home to the colorful Pena Palace, castles, and lush greenery that make it seem like a fairly-tale.
Sintra is located 25km West of Lisbon and a short train ride away. The easiest way to explore Sintra is by taking either the train at Rossio Square or Oriente station.
I embarked on a day trip to Sintra from the station at Rossio Square and it was definitely worth it.
The train station is just off Rossio Square and just 45 minutes to Sintra with a few stops along the way.
I exited the train station in Sintra and caught the #424 city bus that meanders to a stop near Pena Palace. From there another shuttle is available to the top or walking the very steep seven hundred meters is an ambitious option.
Pena Palace overlooks the city with expansive views of the Atlantic Coastline. The vegetation and flowers around the castle and the city are exquisite and diverse with Fir, Cedar and Maple Trees towering above Rhododendrons.
The Pena Palace is an immensely popular stop for tourists. I recommend Leaving Lisbon early and getting an advance timed ticket for an early entry.
I had a 9:30 am entry, took the 7:40 train but did not arrive at the castle until after our timed entry about 9:45 or so. There are long lines but arriving just after the timed entry allowed us to skip the line entirely.
There doesn’t appear to be a restriction on how long you can stay at the castle after your timed entry.
How Many Days to Visit Porto - Is 2 Days Enough?
Yes! I embarked on the next segment of my 2 weeks in Portugal to Porto and spent two days exploring the city and the beautiful Douro Valley. Two days is plenty of time to explore the Douro Valley, visit the Port Houses and enjoy some delicious food.
It’s about a 2-hour train trip from Lisbon to Porto. Upon arrival at the first Porto destination, you have to board another local train, a 5 minute ride to the main train station in Porto.
The downtown Porto area is centered around a large square with the city’s crown jewel, City Hall, a majestic structure sitting at the top of the Square. The city has beautiful architecture, granite multi-story structures looming over the plazas with 20th Century Parisian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco adorning these beauties.
It is said that the people are sturdy like the granite structures that dot the skyline.
Exploring the Douro Valley - an Easy Day Trip from Porto
The Douro valley is lush with greenery and terraced grape vines along the hillsides, situated along the Douro River.
The wineries ship their Port Wine to Cais de Gaia where it is aged. Aging the wine in Cais de Gaia rather than Porto, allowed them to escape the high taxes and control of the Pope.
It is a short walk across the pedestrian bridge to the Port houses to tasting rooms. Some require reservations but most of the Port Houses do not.
I booked a small group wine tour and river cruise through Viator that was subcontracted to Living Tours.
The van held 8 people with hotel pick up and drop off. I prefer smaller group tours; however, when we arrived at the wineries and river cruise there were several other large tours and throngs of people crowded into small spaces.
Next time, I would look for a private tour and make sure upon arrival that numerous other tours don’t converge on the same venue all at once.
Amarante
A short stop along the 2 ½ hour drive to the Douro Valley from Lisbon is the town of Amarante. It’s a beautiful, picturesque town nestled along the river with shops perched above the steep rocky cliffs high above the river.
The second stop was the Town of Sabrosa at Casa do Barros, a beautiful winery, established in 1735. I savored several varieties of Port Wine and learned the differences between Ruby, Tawny, and Reserve Port.
I had a delicious lunch overlooking the vineyards with tender pork, carrot and potato soup, and salad.
The tour included a short boat ride up the Douro River to view the terraced vineyards throughout the Douro Valley. A spectacular site indeed.
Good Eats – Porto
Conga – Casa Das Bifanas. The Bifana Sandwich was exceptional here. Thinly sliced pork with cheese and sauce similar to buffalo wing sauce but not as spicy, marinated in wine, garlic, onion and paparika on wonderful fresh soft bun with a crusty exterior. And inexpensive at 2.70 Euro.
Location: Rua Do Bonjardim 314-318, Porto
Phone: +351 22 200 0113
Boca restaurant, not far from the main plaza and City Hall in Porto, is a good choice. Burrata salad with arugula, tomato, red onion, olive oil, and balsamic accompanied by a simple Spaghetti Bolognese.
Location: R. do Passeio Alegre 3, 4150-714 Porto, Portugal
Phone: +351 967 329 338
The Algarve Region and Lagos
The Algarve is about a 3-hour train ride from Lisbon with beautiful white sandy beaches that stretch for miles along with a boardwalk meandering through the grassy mounds that overlook the beaches and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Lagos (LAHgoos) is the largest city in the Algarve with many boat excursions that depart from the marina. High limestone cliffs dot the coastline with Bengil Caves, meaning a hole in the top letting the sunlight in casting a warm glow.
Stunning Scenery along the Coastline in Lagos Portugal
I like the laid-back feel of the beach and a little slower pace than the big cities. I stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment at Marina de Lagos which is a short walk to town and close to the grocery store and train station. The town is delightful, easy walking distance from the marina to downtown and lined with lots of Mosaic lined pedestrian walkways, shops, and restaurants.
Best Tours in Lagos, Portugal - Boats and Beaches
There are numerous types of tours that generally leave from the marina area. From cave tours to food tours, the excursions here were so worth it.
I booked a boat trip to see the Bengil Caves and beaches along the southern coast with stunning views of limestone cliffs towering high above the ocean.
I kayaked early one morning up the coastline, and through small cave openings that have to be timed perfectly with the swell of the incoming waves. This was an adventurous excursion, with up close views of the limestone cliffs and a great way to get some exercise.
This tour embarks from the beach right near the castle close to downtown and seemed a bit more serene than the marina excursions.
Location: Cais da Solaria, 8600-780 Lagos
Check out their website here: EZRide
Classic Food Tour in Lagos Portugal
I took a food tour called Classic Food Tour through Viator with a tour of the market and adventurous tastings such as Barnacles, a local delicacy.
We savored Tuna and Beef in a buttery sauce with a plethora of spices and flavors such as bay leaf, garlic, and coriander at Caso do Prego. So tender and full of flavor, this was truly amazing.
Good Eats in Lagos Portugal
Meu Limao Tapa’s & Wine Bar – Savored the Frango Piripiri marinated chicken then roasted to juicy perfection. A beautiful salad with fresh greens, berries and sprouts in a light vinaigrette. Highly recommend this place.
Location: R. Silva Lopes 42, 8600-315 Lagos, Portugal
Phone: +351 919 481 287
Website: meulimao.pt
Kohinoor Indian Restaurant – The Chicken Tikka Biryani with Naan Bread was perfectly spiced and so delicious.
Location: R. Silva Lopes 18, 8600-623 Lagos, Portugal
Phone: +351 282 761 022
Nina11 – Greek salad with Bifana sandwich done differently that the traditional method. Grilled french bread with pork and bacon, mustard, sun dried tomato and spinach. Wonderful combination and very hearty. Healthy breakfast options available also.
Location: Rua Cândido dos Reis 11, Lagos 8600-681 Portugal
Phone: +351 928 070 982
Casa do Prego – Mediterranean with a touch of contemporary, this was on the classic food tour and I can see why. Bowls of deliciously tender tuna and beef with a savory butter sauce, simply melted in my mouth.
Location: Rua Cândido dos Reis 11, Lagos 8600-681 Portugal
Phone: +351 913 505 038
Is Portugal Worth Visiting?
Yes! Portugal was definitely worth visiting and I can’t wait for a return trip. The food is plentiful and good, the people are welcoming, and there is so much more to see.
Next time I would explore more of the beaches and countryside to balance the busyness of the cities. Perhaps the Azores on the next trip?
