10 Days in Portugal Itinerary

Plans to visit Portugal? Lucky you! Portugal is one of my favorite countries in the world and a spot I find myself frequently returning to time and time again. In my opinion, the perfect Portugal itinerary is a mixture of visiting cities in Portugal and also some more low-key seaside towns — the essentials of any Portugal trip.

Portugal is lovely for so many reasons, one of which is its affordability. Compared to other major cities it is incredibly inexpensive, which I have especially noticed when it comes to accommodations. It’s also incredibly gorgeous and photogenic, with tons of culture, delicious food, and countless outdoor adventures to be had!

The below Portugal itinerary will help you come up with a trip that is perfect for you - whether you need a Portugal itinerary 7 days, Portugal itinerary 10 days, or more or less. Each Portugal destination includes a recommendation for amount of time spent there and you can pick and choose destinations as you wish depending on how much time you’ve got.

 

10 Days in Portugal Itinerary

HOW TO GET TO PORTUGAL

Before we get into the itinerary for Portugal, let's first talk about how to get Portugal. Depending on where you are coming from, you will likely need to fly in.

The largest airports in Portugal are Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), and Faro (FAO), all of which are recommended stops on my below itinerary. If you follow my itinerary then you will want to fly into Faro and out of Porto. If not, make changes accordingly!

 

HOW TO GET AROUND IN PORTUGAL

The easiest way to get around in Portugal is via train. For Portugal train travel I recommend using Rail Europe, the #1 distributor for European train tickets and rail passes. I like that you can create an account with them which helps keep all of your tickets and info in one central location. Click here to search Rail Europe.

Trains in Portugal can and do fully sell out (seriously) so I recommend buying your tickets at least a day or two in advance.

PORTUGAL ROAD TRIP

However, unfortunately trains do not go to many wonderful parts of Portugal, such as Nazaré. If you are open to driving in Portugal, renting a car is a great option. According to the Portugal tourism site, to rent a car in Portugal you must:

  • be over 21 or 25 years old, depending on the company’s rental policy;

  • show identification (identity card for EU citizens or a valid passport for other nationalities)

  • have had a driving license for more than one year

I personally recommending renting cars via Rentalcars.com. This is because not only does it search all of the biggest brands in car rental, but their database also often includes more regional options that I wouldn’t otherwise know is available. They also most often allow free cancellation on bookings which always gives me peace of mind. Click here to see the latest prices and reserve your car.

If you do not want to rent a car, you can easily see the beautiful places trains don’t go on a day trip via GetYourGuide, my preferred tour company! They offer plenty of day trip options from Lagos, Lisbon, and Porto which I will cover in more detail below, or click here to check them out right now.

If you aren’t familiar with GetYourGuide, they are a trusted site and have lots of unique things to do, along with all of the standard touristy activities. Booking everything individually on different sites can be a bit of nightmare to keep track of. With GetYourGuide you can create an account to book and manage all of your tickets in one central location, even things like skip the line tickets to the most famous sites. When I travel I personally book everything I do via GetYourGuide, which is why I am recommending it to you.

Most importantly, when you book through GetYourGuide you can cancel any booking up to 24 hours in advance and receive a full refund. No additional fees, no questions asked. There’s no risk if you need to cancel, so I highly recommend booking everything now to be on the safe side. Especially because Portugal is very popular, as are many of the tours I recommend below, so they will absolutely sell out! Click here to browse options.

There are also buses that run throughout Portugal. If you get car sick, I would not recommend taking a bus (which I can unfortunately say from personal experience).

 

The Best Time to Travel to Portugal

The best time to travel to Portugal depends largely on where you plan to visit. Many Portugal destinations are great year round, like Lisbon for example. I have visited in summer and loved it and also in January and loved it. The weather will of course vary between the two but it’s lovely either way.

The resort towns, on the other hand, are best visited in the summer. If you show up to Nazare or Lagos in the winter I don’t think you’ll find much to do, just as you wouldn’t if you showed up to the Amalfi Coast then.

Below I will cover more specific weather averages for each of the cities in Portugal I recommend. For each of them August is the warmest month and January the coldest. Summertime will also be the busiest time, as it is for the rest of Europe, so beat the rush by going outside those months if possible.

 

Best Places to Visit in Portugal

In my opinion the best Portugal trip is a mixture of visiting cities in Portugal and more laidback seaside resort towns. You can easily achieve this whether you have 7 days in Portugal, one week in Portugal, or more. The best cities in Portugal to visit are Lisbon, my very favorite, and Porto. For laidback beach towns, Lagos in southern Portugal and Nazare in central Portugal are the best.

 

How Many Days in Portugal is Enough?

Honestly how many days you spend in Portugal is tough to answer because it is an entire country with a lot to offer! The below info is for a 10 days in Portugal itinerary, but if you add on some of the additional cities or day trips you could easily make it longer. If you need to make it shorter, you can do that too! I would recommend spending at least a week in Portugal.

 

Lagos + The Algarve — 3 nights

A great place to start your Portugal 10 day itinerary is in Lagos. Lagos is located in the Algarve region on the southern coast of Portugal. It is known for its high quality sandy beaches and dramatic golden cliffs and caves. I have visited the Algarve twice and stayed in Lagos each time. I recommend that you do the same!

To get to Lagos you will fly into Faro. From the Faro airport you can take a bus to Lagos, or you can go into the city of Faro to catch a train. The easiest way, however, is via private transfer. Click here to book the transfer I recommend.

While in Lagos there are many things to do. Don’t miss the beautiful beaches Praia da Batata, Dona Ana, Pinhão, and Camilo. Take an Uber if they aren’t within walking distance from where you are staying - it is very inexpensive!

The best way to see Lagos is on the water. Below I have included a few highly recommended ways to do this below, my favorite of which is the kayaking cave tour. Click here to see the latest prices.

Make sure to give yourself time to walk around the beautiful old town, too! I recommend eating at Nah Nah Bah, Coffee & Waves, and Abigail’s.

WHERE TO STAY IN LAGOS

Casa Mae. Click here to see the latest prices.

WHAT TO DO IN LAGOS

The number one thing I recommend doing in the Algarve is getting out on the water. I personally love to explore Lagos specifically via kayak — I’ve done it every time I’ve visited. Click here for the tour I recommend.

If you’re staying in Lagos and want to check out the famous Benagil Caves (Instagram famous especially), click here. It’s the number one thing to do in Lagos on GetYourGuide!

Something on my personal list for next time is a jeep safari with included distillery visit. It has great ratings and reviews and looks like so much fun! Click here to check it out. Similarly, this guided quad tour is very popular.

If horseback riding sounds up your alley, this experience has a unanimous 5-star rating!

For a very popular sunset tour to the southern most point of Europe, click here. It’s one of the most renowned sunset spots in the world!

To try your hand at surfing with a lesson, click here.

HOW TO GET FROM LAGOS TO LISBON

Unless you rented a car, to get to Lisbon you will travel by train from Lagos to Lisbon. Click here to book your journey.

 

Lisbon — 3+ nights

Lisbon is one of my favorite places in the whole world and a spot I frequently visit. It is home to some of my favorite restaurants, cafes, bars, streets, alleyways, etc., and you will more likely run out of time than you will of things to do here. It is one of the best cities in Portugal and one that you should definitely not miss while visiting.

Speaking of time: how many days in Lisbon is enough? It’s tough to say, but I’d say at a minimum you should spend 3 days in Lisbon. You could also spend much more. For example, I visited last January for a week or two and then again during the summer for a few weeks. I have yet to run out of things to do there and I doubt you will either!

If you’re wondering what to do in Lisbon, I have got you covered! First, the restaurants are to die for. The seafood is great, the wine is local, and every single place seems to be designed with Instagram in mind. Aesthetically pleasing would be an understatement. Click here for where to eat and here for the best coffee shops and cafes.

As with most big cities, I recommend starting your visit with a tour of the city. This way you can get a feel for the city, see all the main sights, and decide early on which ones you want to go back to to spend more time at. The tour I recommend in Lisbon is the “Lisbon Essentials Tour”. Click here to see the latest prices.

Other than that, I have detailed all of the Lisbon must-sees in my 8 Things You Absolutely Cannot Miss in Lisbon post! Click here to read that.


WHERE TO STAY IN LISBON:

There are countless great places to stay in Lisbon! Here are a few of my top recommendations:

WHAT TO DO IN LISBON:

One of my favorite things to do anytime I go somewhere new is to see the main sights via a tour. Since my favorite spots to explore in Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Alfama, I especially recommend this highly rated Lisbon Essentials tour! Click here to reserve your spot.

Arguably the most beautiful and picturesque spot in Lisbon is the Jerónimos Monastery. It’s a can’t miss, especially if you are looking for good photo opps. Click here to skip the line and get your ticket now.

While you’re in Belem, also check out the popular Belem Tower! Click here for that.

I also recommend getting out on the water while in Lisbon. Click here for the sunset tour I recommend.

For more recommendations, click here for my post about the 8 things you absolutely cannot miss!

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS: if you have the time there are many great day trip opportunities from Lisbon, like Sintra, Coimbra, Obidos, Aveiro, etc. If you will be renting a car you can stop by many of them on your way to Porto. If not, the easiest way to do so is via these tour options:

 

Nazare — 2 nights

If you are traveling by car or are ok with taking buses, I highly recommend stopping by Nazaré on your way to Porto. I had never heard of Nazare before a friend invited me to meet him there last summer and it by far exceeded all expectations. It is truly beautiful and pretty off the beaten path (at least for Americans) which is always nice. It is a popular tourist destination for Europeans, though.

Beautiful Nazare is home to the world’s biggest waves ever surfed! In the winter they are ginormous, while in the summer when I went they are basically nonexistent. It is located on the sea with a huge beachfront as far as the eye can see.

Don’t miss the Port of Saint Michael the Archangel where the famous Nazare Lighthouse is also. While there stop by the Church of Nossa Senhora da Nazare in the center of town.

If you have the time, also visit Alcobaca nearby. Even just walking through the center of town on foot is something I highly recommend. The Alcobaca Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even their City Hall is in a pink castle!

WHERE TO STAY IN NAZARE: Nazare Marisol Praia. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.

WHAT TO DO IN NAZARE:

There are plenty of fun Nazare adventures to go on via GetYourGuide! If you fancy getting out on the water and jet skiing, click here. For a buggy tour with a 4.9/5 rating, click here!

Also stop by the Nazare Lighthouse at the Port of Saint Michael the Archangel, visit the beach, and explore nearby Alcobaca.

If you don’t have a way to get to Nazare and aren’t interested in renting a car, you can also visit as a day trip from Lisbon. Click here for the tour I recommend booking.

 

Porto — 3 nights

Porto, Portugal is yet another coastal city, this time located in Northern Portugal. The Porto to Lisbon train takes just 2.5 hours, making it a very convenient addition to any trip including Lisbon! There’s also a Lisbon to Porto bus but I would urge you to save time and go via train.

Have a car? The Lisbon to Porto drive takes a little over 3 hours. And while I recommend spending more time here if possible, you could even do a Lisbon to Porto day trip if that is desired.

How many days in Porto is enough? I recommend for all cities a minimum of three days if possible. However, one day is better than zero days, and I personally only visited for one due to lack of time. I missed out on many things, of course, but was still happy I was able to make it there and spend a full day running around nonstop.

After Lisbon, Porto is Portugal’s second largest city. It sits on a river, the Douro, and is surrounded by vineyards where its famous Port wine is produced. Port wine is named after Porto, by the way! And despite being one of the world’s leading wine regions, it’s still affordable.

Porto’s historic city centre is one of the oldest in Europe and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO back in 1996. It’s a beautiful place to spend some time exploring on foot. Also don’t miss the chance to visit Luis I Bridge, a great photo opp both of the bridge itself and of the city from it.

Below I have uncovered the best things to do while visiting the beautiful town of Porto. I recommend first starting with a tour of the city. This way you can see the highlights and make note of things you want to spend more time on later. My preferred way of doing this is via bike because it is much faster than walking so therefore you see more, plus it is great exercise! This tour is via electric bike which is especially great in case you get tired. Click here to see the latest prices.

Note: if you are coming from the airport or need a ride to the airport, you should arrange your transfer in advance. Click here to reserve a transfer.

WHERE TO STAY IN PORTO: NH Collection Porto Batalha is in the perfect location and has excellent reviews on both HotelsCombined and Booking. Click here to see the latest prices.

For a less hotel-y option, I recommend Cocorico Luxury Guest House. Click here to see the latest prices.

WHAT TO DO IN PORTO:

PORTO DAY TRIPS:

 

What to Pack for Portugal

Having the right travel gear is incredibly important for any trip, especially if you are visiting Europe from a different continent. Save yourself time and money by getting all of the necessary items prior to arriving at your destination. Some of the items I consider non-negotiable:

A FEW OF MY TOP AMAZON PICKS —

APPLE AIRTAG — While we can’t prevent airlines from misplacing our luggage, we can track it ourselves thanks to the fabulous people at Apple. If you’re checking a bag, it’s absolutely essential. Click here to get yours.

COMFORTABLE SHOES — I consider proper walking shoes to be the most important packing item for Europe. The last thing you want is to be mid-trip, with torn up feet, and out of options. Trust me, I’ve been there.

My shoe recommendation is not the least expensive option on the market, but it’s definitely the best. You can wear them all day everyday for weeks straight and not once will your feet hurt. They are the only shoes I have ever found that are this way (and trust me, I have tested out a lot). Just imagine being on your once in a lifetime trip, able to run around from sun up to sun down without a worry. That alone makes them worth every penny!

I also love them because of their versatility. You can wear them with anything — jeans, leggings, skirts, dresses, anything! If they’re in stock in your size, get them while you still can. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.

LIGHTWEIGHT TRAVEL CARDIGAN — This circle cardigan is honestly one of the best travel-related purchases you can make. It is so warm and soft; I’ve brought mine on every single trip since purchasing my first (I now own many). It's fantastic for literally everything: you can wear it during the day, out to dinner, on transit days, while hotel lounging, anywhere and everywhere! This is the number one top seller on my site every single month because it is truly the best. Click here to see the latest prices and color options.

CASHMERE WRAP — Another top seller on ckanani.com every single month is this oversized cashmere wrap. It’s something I personally carry in my bag every single day, whether I’m on the road or back at home in San Francisco. If you haven’t already noticed, I love versatility. I’d rather pay a little more for something high quality that’ll last a little longer and also work in a few different ways. I bet you’re a bit like me, so this is a must. You can wear it as a scarf, as a wrap when you find yourself at a surprisingly cold restaurant or flight, as a blanket, and more. I can’t tell you how many times this thing has saved me. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.

SUNGLASSES — Of course! I cannot believe I am about to say this but I’ve found a very cheap brand I recommend. Why is that shocking? Because I absolutely hate cheap sunglasses. I used to be a total sunglass snob and only buy $400 Saint Laurent, Dior, or Chanel sunglasses because the cheap ones feel horrible and don’t actually protect. Until now!! This brand I found on Amazon is under $15/pair and is shockingly impressive. I’ve bought four pairs so far. Click here for my favorite all black aviators, here for my rimless aviators, and here for my square ones.

UPDATE: Basically all I wear now are these.

LUGGAGE — Beis is the way to go these days. Their suitcases have an unbreakable polycarbonate shell, expandable interior compartments, TSA approved zipper locks, and best of all a side carry handle with 50 lb weight limit indicator. You can literally weigh your bag without weighing your bag… Insane. They are minimalistic yet contain everything you could need, all at a reasonable price point. Click here to check out their suitcases.

BELT BAG — My latest obsession is this belt bag that you can wear crossbody or around your waist. It’s great for travel because it allows you to be hands free, you can wear it super close to you as a crossbody to ensure no one will pickpocket you, and it’s literally the most perfect size possible. I tried a lot of different ones before falling in love with this one and truly nothing else compares. Plus it’s only $38 so why even bother trying anything else?! Click here to see availability and color options.

SPF — Don’t forget your sunscreen!! Click here for a travel set I love.

For more skincare and beauty recommendations, click here to follow me on Instagram @skincarethatilike.

SKINCARE — Do not neglect your skin while traveling! One of my favorite medical grade brands, Glowbiotics, has some great trial kits that are perfect for traveling. Click here to check them out and use code “CHRISTIE” for 20% off anything — sitewide!

If you want to learn more about Glowbiotics, including a full review and all of my favorite products, click here for my dedicated blogpost.

MAKEUP — My current favorites:

GOLD LAYERING JEWELRY — Layering jewelry from SHOP CKANANI specifically. It’s my own shop so I'm a bit biased, of course, but hear me out. I’ve always loved jewelry but was tired of spending $60 on a necklace that would tarnish after 2-3 wears so I started making my own. I hand make them in my San Francisco apartment of incredibly high quality, primarily gold filled materials.

Gold filled items are great because they contain 100+ times (!) more real gold than gold plated items. An item being gold filled means that there is an actual layer of gold pressure bonded to another metal, making it much more valuable, durable, and tarnish resistant. This means it’s also perfect for everyday wear and for travel! Because who wants to spend their trip taking their jewelry on and off constantly? Not me!

After sharing pictures of necklaces and bracelets on my Instagram story, I finally gave in to the requests asking me to start selling my creations. And that’s how SHOP CKANANI was born! I’d really love and appreciate your support, especially if you’ve found the info in this post helpful :) Click here to see current availability.

For more packing tips and tricks, click here to see all packing related posts.

 

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Europe, Portugal, Itinerary, Travel, Trip IdeasChristie SultemeierLisbon, Lagos, Porto, Nazare2 Comments