10 Days in Portugal: Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley

Morning · Arrive in Lisbon and settle into a hotel in Baixa, Chiado or Alfama. Keep the first day gentle with a stroll through Praça do Comércio and the riverside.

Afternoon · Ride Tram 28 only if lines are short, or wander the lanes of Alfama on foot. Pause at Miradouro de Santa Luzia for tiled rooftops and Tagus views.

Evening · Enjoy a relaxed first dinner in Alfama or Mouraria, where you can hear fado in an intimate setting.

Try grilled sardines when in season, or bacalhau à brás, with a glass of vinho verde or Alentejo red.

Lisbon’s cobbled hills are steep; pack comfortable shoes and use taxis or rideshares to save your energy after the flight.

Morning · Visit São Jorge Castle early for city views, then explore the lanes of Alfama and the Sé Cathedral.

Afternoon · Take a tram or taxi to Belém for Jerónimos Monastery and the riverside monuments. Allow time for the monastery’s cloister and a pastry stop.

Evening · Return to Chiado for dinner and a leisurely walk around Praça Luís de Camões.

Order pastéis de Belém warm from the oven; for dinner, look for a tasca serving octopus, seasonal vegetables and house wine.

Book timed entry for Jerónimos Monastery ahead, especially in busy months, and check opening days before you go.

Morning · Browse Mercado da Ribeira and visit the National Tile Museum to see the azulejo tradition across centuries.

Afternoon · Explore Graça and its viewpoints, including Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, then stroll through Baixa and the elegant streets of Chiado.

Evening · Set aside time for a relaxed, multi-course meal in a neighborhood restaurant rather than trying to fit in another attraction.

Sample bifana pork sandwiches or petiscos such as queijo de Azeitão, conservas and pica-pau; pair them with a Setúbal Moscatel or Portuguese red.

For a more local meal, reserve a table at a small restaurant and ask what is especially good that day.

Morning · Take the train from Rossio to Sintra, usually about 40 minutes. Visit Pena Palace with a timed ticket and enjoy its colorful terraces and wooded setting.

Afternoon · Continue to the historic center and Quinta da Regaleira, whose gardens, grottoes and Initiation Well reward an unhurried visit.

Evening · Return to Lisbon by train for dinner near your hotel.

Try Sintra’s travesseiros, flaky almond-and-egg pastries, and queijadas, small fresh-cheese tarts.

Sintra’s palaces are spread across steep roads; a local guide or private driver can simplify transfers between sites. Book palace entries in advance.

Morning · Travel by train from Lisbon to Coimbra, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the service. Leave bags at your hotel and visit the University of Coimbra’s historic campus.

Afternoon · Tour the Joanina Library with a reserved entry, then descend through the old town to the riverside and Santa Cruz Church.

Evening · Have dinner in the historic center and, if you like, hear Coimbra-style fado, traditionally performed by men associated with the university.

Seek out chanfana, goat slow-cooked in red wine, or try regional roast pork with a glass of Dão red.

Choose a hotel near the station or historic center and check which Coimbra station your train uses when planning arrival.

Morning · Take a morning train to Porto, around 1 to 1½ hours. Check in around Baixa, Aliados or Ribeira, then get acquainted with the city on foot.

Afternoon · Walk Avenida dos Aliados, São Bento Station to see its azulejo panels, and the Sé do Porto. Continue downhill to Ribeira for river views.

Evening · Dine in the historic center and take an after-dinner stroll along the Douro waterfront.

Try a bifana or caldo verde for a casual lunch; at dinner, look for grilled fish, octopus or a traditional francesinha.

Porto is hilly and its streets can be slippery when wet; plan a route downhill and use the metro or a taxi for the return uphill.

Morning · Visit Igreja de São Francisco and the Palácio da Bolsa, reserving a guided tour of the palace’s richly decorated rooms.

Afternoon · Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia for a port lodge tour and tasting. Choose a booking that explains the differences between ruby, tawny and vintage port.

Evening · Watch the light change over Porto from the Gaia riverfront before dinner back on the Porto side.

Pair port tastings with local cheeses and nuts, then order tripas à moda do Porto or another northern specialty at dinner.

Reserve a port lodge tour in advance and avoid scheduling several tastings too close together.

Morning · Explore the gardens of the Serralves estate and its contemporary art museum, or visit Livraria Lello if you have booked a timed ticket.

Afternoon · Take a leisurely walk along the Foz do Douro waterfront, where the river meets the Atlantic, then return to the center.

Evening · Book a relaxed dinner in Cedofeita or Baixa, leaving the night open for a wine bar or a quiet riverside walk.

Look for seasonal seafood, arroz de polvo or grilled sardines in season, with a Douro white or red.

Serralves is a good choice for a calmer day; check museum and garden hours before setting out.

Morning · Set out early for the Douro Valley, about 1½ to 2 hours by road to the Peso da Régua area, depending on traffic and your destination. Visit a quinta for a vineyard walk and tasting.

Afternoon · Enjoy a long lunch with valley views, then take a short scenic drive or boat trip on the Douro. Allow time to stop at a viewpoint such as São Leonardo da Galafura if your route permits.

Evening · Return to Porto in the early evening and keep dinner simple after a full day.

Try a traditional lunch of roasted meats, local cheeses and olive oil, paired with Douro DOC wines or port.

A private driver or local guide is especially useful in the Douro: vineyard roads are winding, tastings are spread out, and it lets both of you enjoy the wine.

Morning · Enjoy breakfast near your hotel, then take a final walk through Ribeira or browse a food shop for Portuguese olive oil, tinned fish and wine.

Afternoon · Leave time for airport transfer or your onward journey. Porto Airport is typically about 20–30 minutes from the center by metro or taxi, traffic permitting.

Evening · If your departure is later, have an early meal near Aliados or the riverside before heading out.

Finish with a pastel de nata and coffee, or share a plate of petiscos if you have time for one last sit-down meal.

Keep wine and other fragile purchases in your checked luggage, packed securely, and allow extra airport time if traveling during a busy season.