It is very easy to create a fantastic itinerary for just 1 week in Portugal. It’s a great amount of time to spend to get to know one or two cities as well as absorb the culture and enjoy some Portuguese food. And believe me, once you have spent a week there, you will find yourself coming back for more. Portugal is one of my favourite countries to travel solo and it’s now my second home!
But first of all, how do you decide which cities to focus on? There are oh so many!
1 week in Portugal – My recommendation – Lisbon and Porto
Personally, I would focus on the two main cities of Lisbon and Porto with those two destinations as a base. From Lisbon and Porto, it is possible to do diet trips to other destinations as well. another option is to focus your one week in Portugal on the Algarve destinations. This is more appropriate if you are less interested in culture and architecture and museums, and want to enjoy some of the beaches that Portugal had to offer. However, you will be pleased to know that there are also nice beaches destinations. therefore the Lisbon – Porto itinerary is in my opinion, the best one.
How many destinations for 1 week in Portugal?
As I’ve mentioned, two city destinations is more than enough for a week in Portugal. Of course, you might want to try to fit in three. However, if you tried to do that you will be spending a lot of time with bags checking in and out of accommodation and also you may be too tired to enjoy it. There is a relaxed pace of life here in Portugal so embrace that as a traveller. There is a lot to see here and you don’t want to feel rushed or stressed.
The great thing about choosing Porto and Lisbon as your two main cities is that these are the cities with the main attractions and a great deal of historical monuments and buildings. Also they have great connecting bus and train routes. You can therefore fit in additional day trips from Porto and/or Lisbon if you want to cover more ground. For example, it would be easy to leave your bags in Porto to visit Aveiro as a day trip, and leave your bags in Lisbon for a day trip to Cascais or Sintra. This would mean that you can have a two destination holiday but actually cover 4 cities if you really wanted to.
Another option is to combine one of the main cities with an Algarve destination, for example Lisbon and Lagos or Lisbon and Faro. I definitely wouldn’t attempt to include the Algarve as well as Porto AND Lisbon – you would be too stretched for time and not enjoy it. If you are interested in the South of Portugal then you might like to read my 1 week Algarve itinerary.
Also, it’s possible to do this one week in Porto and Lisbon, and then spend your second week in the Algarve, totally a fortnight in Portugal altogether. My opinion is always this – the longer you can spend in Portugal, the better!
Portugal – Getting there and away
With this itinerary, you will need to consider the availability of your international flights. If you are travelling within Europe, the cheap airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet could be a good option. The best scenario would be to fly into Lisbon and then out of Porto or vice versa. But, if you are looking at international flights, it may work out cheaper for you to fly in and out of the same airport. In this case, you would simply need to allow half a day to travel between the two main cities.
If you are doing a two destination Algarve itinerary, then you could fly into Lagos and out of Faro. But again, these places are so accessible that it would work to fly into and out of the same airport in the Algarve. Just remember to plan your travel time back to the airport!
Transport options in Portugal
I’ve already mentioned that there are excellent transport options in Portugal and so you will not find getting between the main cities without a car difficult. For more remote destinations such as Sagres there are many guided tours that you can book privately or part of a group.
If you arrive in Porto or Lisbon you will find a metro which will get you from the airport to downtown. The metro is cheap and easy and runs on a system where you pre-pay at a ticket machine which also have options in English.
In the Algarve the airports are not as accessible as that, but Uber works there and taxis are cheap. There are also connecting buses.
The trains in Portugal are excellent and they go between all main cities of Porto, Lisbon, Lagos and faro. You can order at the ticket office on the day for most trips and most ticket office staff speak English, although it wouldn’t go amiss to learn some basic Portuguese before your trip! You can also order your train tickets for Portugal online on the cp.pt website. When you book online you will need to insert your passport number and then carry your passport id with you when you travel.
Bus connections are also great between the main Portuguese towns and cities. The two bus companies you will probably use are Rede Expressos (travel within Portugal) and FlixBus (travel within Portugal and also the rest of Europe). Flixbus for example even have a route from Lisbon to Madrid – read my Flixbus Review.
1 week in Portugal – Lisbon to Porto itinerary
The Lisbon to Porto itinerary was the first itinerary I ever did on my first visit to Portugal about 20 years ago and I loved it! I was hooked!
An important note – there is a lot of uphill walking in Porto and Lisbon and so good walking boots with ankle support are essential. If you have a lot of bags to carry get a taxi from the airport directly to your hotel, because you don’t want to be dragging case up steep cobbled streets.
Fly into Lisbon, jump on the metro (or in a taxi) and stay somewhere central such as the Rossio Garden Hotel. Places will be accessible by walking and via metro from here.
Day 1 – Central Lisbon and walking tour
There are many walking tours in Lisbon that will cover the main sites of the city in just one day. Most of the Lisbon walking tours meet at Rossio Square (close to the statue of D. Pedro IV). I would recommend choosing a walking tour that includes Rossio, Chiado and Alfama, such as this one here on Get Your Guide. You can also choose to do your own walking tour of Lisbon – it is relatively small as far as European capital cities go (it’s no where near on the scale of London or Paris). Here are some of the main things you should explore on your day tour….
- Sao Jorges castle (many not be on walking tours but you should be able to see it on your first day)
- Rossio Central Station and Restauradores Square
- Carmo Square and Carmo Convent
- Chiado and Baixa
- Se Cathedral
- Praça do Comércio (pictured above)
If you want to save your legs from all that uphill walking that you should expect in Lisbon, you might like to opt for one of the new and relaxing Tuk-Tuk tours of Lisbon. Book your Lisbon Tuk-Tuk tour here!
In the evening, if you fancy a good night out then head to ‘pink street’ where you will find some fantastic bars, many with live music and karaoke.
Day 2 – Belém, Monastery, Monuments and time out food market
Today you will jump on the tram or train down to Belém to explore some famous buildings and monuments further along the Tagus river. Head to Cais do Sodre train station on foot and then jump on the train to Belém to see the Belém Tower, the Monument to Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) and the stunning Jerónimos Monastery. Make sure that you go inside the Jerónimos Monastery for a stunning view of the amazing Manueline architecture and to see some important Portuguese tombs. Outside the monastery, go to the original cafe for a Pasteis de Belém for one of the custard tarts from the original Portuguese recipe by the monks of Belém.
After that, it’s time for a gorgeous fish dish along the coast. I highly recommend O Pedrouços where they do a gorgeous Portuguese fish stew or catch of the day. The meals are big so don’t be afraid to ask for a ‘caixa’ or ’embalagem’ to take away!
If you still have energy after all that, why not explore the hip and happening LX Factory on the route back to Lisbon. This is an industrial building converted into an array of alternative and artsy cafes, shops and eateries. If you’re hungry again after that head to the Time out Market by Cais do Sodre, where you will find many food market stalls where you can try local delicacies, including ’empadas’ and ‘francesinhas’.
Day 3 – Day trip to Cascais or Sintra
You may decide to spend a third day in Lisbon, as there are many more museums and Churches to visit. However, many people want to get out of Lisbon to explore the surrounding areas. Opt for a trip to Cascais if you are more into beaches and relaxing, or Sintra if you are more interested in history and architecture.
To get to Cascais, head to Cais do Sodre, the same train station where you get the Belem train and just stay on the train past Belem until it reaches Cascais. In Cascais you will find a wealthy town that used to be a small fishing village and has now developed to offer high end restaurants, cafes and beautiful beaches.
Sintra is a gorgeous town around 15 miles from Lisbon, which is home to several famous castles and monuments. You can get there by train but expect a bit of a walk uphill when you arrive. The best way to get from Lisbon to Sintra is by bus which takes around 35 minutes and costs €8 – €12. When you visit Sintra, don’t miss the amazing Pena Palace which is a hotch-potch of colourful European and Moorish architecture combined. Also if you like castles, the Moorish castle is great to see. If you have time you should also try to visit Quinta da Regaleira and Parque e Palácio de Monserrate.
If you are really struggling to decide which of these fabulous destinations to visit, then why not consider booking a guided tour that includes both! I highly recommend this Cascais and Sintra day tour which includes Pena Palace.
Day 4 – Parque das Nações
Take some time on your fourth day in Lisbon to visit Parque das Nações – new side of Lisbon with a gorgeous promenade, modern sculptures and a massive aquarium. There is also a theatre and a glass top restaurant. After your day in the modern side of Lisbon, it’s time for your onward travel to Porto by train (cp.pt) or Flixbus.
If you would like a more detailed Lisbon itinerary then head over to my blog on 4 days in Lisbon.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Lisbon? If you’re on a budget I highly recommend the Gallery Hostel, which is cheap, clean and centrally located. It has everything that backpackers might need including showers with shower gel, great WIFI and a bar. They also have private rooms as well as dorms.
Day 5 – Walking tour of Porto
Wake up on your first day in Porto and you can look forward to an exciting walking tour. Porto is a very walkable city, but you need to be aware that it is extremely hilly (not unlike Lisbon!) You can cover a lot of ground on foot in Porto and you can make the decision to do it yourself, or do a guided walking tour. Most of the free walking tours start at Avenido do Aliados outside the town hall at 10am or 10.30am. There are lots of different companies that do these, so you will need to decide which one you like and then book it online in advance. Like the Lisbon tours, most walking tours in Porto are ‘free tours’ which means that you tip your guide what you feel it is worth at the end.
Essentials to see on your walking tour of Porto include:
- Se Cathedral – Porto Cathedral built on the highest point of the city, near the pillory post.
- Igreja de São Francisco – Known as the gold Church due to its exuberant interior.
- Clerigos Church – A Baroque church with a 75-meter-tall bell tower.
- Carmo Church – Beautiful Blue tiles Church with a museum and crypt. Also don’t miss the Griffin fountain in the square at the front.
- Livraria Lello – The most beautiful book shop in Porto.
- Chapel of Souls – Another beautifully tiled Church covered in Portuguese azulejos.
- Castle of Sao Jorje – Saint Georges castle built by the Moors on the remains of a 5th century visigoth fortress. Offers some of the most stunning views of Lisbon.
- Igreja de São Lourenço – informally known as Crickets Church, and only the front facade remains, but it is a spectacular sight.
In the afternoon, take the time to explore the insides of some of these monuments and Churches – going into Sao Jorge’s castle, Se Cathedral and Igreja de São Francisco are a must.
Day 6 – day trip to Aveiro or Duoro Valley Wine Tour
On day 6, take a day trip to either Aveiro or the Duoro valley. Which of these to choose is difficult. If you are wowed by architecture and new cities, and quite fancy seeing the ‘venice of Portugal’ then Aveiro is for you. If you prefer relaxing scenery and lots of port wine tasting then choose the Duoro valley trip.
Most Duoro valley wine tours include stops at Piñao and/or Peso da Regua, which are fantastic places to do wine tasting. You will probably get a tour of a wine cellar and the vinyards too! Some tours include meals and some do not, so make sure that you read in advance what you get for your money. The Duoro valley wine tours that include lunch are excellent value – it’s usually three courses, plus…..you guessed it……more wine!
Aveiro is possible as a day trip from Porto by train as it takes around 40 minutes. Aveiro is famous for it’s colourful Instagrammable houses and the beautifully painted ‘moliceiro’ boats. You can also visit a beautiful beach (the one with the stripey houses!) on Costa Nova. There are many free walking tours in Aveiro in both English and Spanish – make sure that you arrive before 10am if you would like to join one of these.
Day 7 – Bolso Palace and Gaia
For your last day in Porto, the morning should be a Bolso Palace Tour. You can only see the inside of this palace as a guided tour, and it’s worth it as the insides are so spectacular, including the ‘wooden room’ which is actually made out of plaster and not wood, and the ‘wow’ factor of the Arab room.
In the afternoon, it’s time to head over to Gaia on the other side of the river for some new sites and more port tasting. It’s possible and enjoyable to cross the Dom Luis de Porto Bridge on foot. On the other side of the river there are several things to see and do including a visit to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (you won’t be able to go inside, but seeing it from the outside is worth it). You will also find some great Port houses to visit. My favourites are Taylors, Sandemans, Croft, Cálem and Ferreira.
Can you believe that it’s already time for your flight home!
It’s possible to take the Metro to the airport from the city centre – Trinidad is probably your best option. You need the purple line and to get to the airport it takes around 35-40 minutes. Remember to arrive 2 hours before your European flight and 3 hours before your international flight departs.
1 week in Portugal – Further Reading
So, what did you get up to during 1 week in Portugal? I’d love to hear more about it! If you don’t already follow me, you can connect with me on Instagram here.
If you enjoyed my article on spending 1 week in Portugal, you might also enjoy the following articles…
- What to wear in Portugal
- Winter in Portugal
- 1 week Algarve itinerary
- Is Portugal worth visiting?
- My Holiday to the Algarve
- Is Loulé worth visiting?