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Coastal road winding along Atlantic cliffs in Portugal at sunset

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Routes we have actually walked

Three itineraries with real timetables, honest walking distances and a daily budget that includes the coffee. No "explore the charming old town" filler.

Choose your length

Three, five or seven days

Each plan assumes you land in the morning and leave in the evening. Budgets are per person, mid-range, excluding international flights.

Visitor looking out over Lisbon rooftops from a stone terrace3 days

Lisbon & Sintra — the long weekend

  • €340Per person
  • 0Car days
  • 26 kmTotal walking

Two days in the capital and one full Sintra day, arranged so you never cross the city twice in the same direction.

  • City break
  • No car
  • First visit
Updated Jan 2026Open plan
Train at a platform in a Portuguese railway station5 days

Lisbon to Porto by train

  • €620Per person
  • 2h50Longest leg
  • 1Douro day

Two cities and a Douro excursion, connected by the Alfa Pendular. The best introduction to Portugal for anyone who does not want to drive.

  • Rail
  • Wine
  • Two cities
Updated Feb 2026Open plan
Golden cliffs and turquoise sea on the southern Portuguese coast7 days

The grand week: Porto, Douro, Lisbon, Algarve

  • €1,180Per person
  • 3Car days
  • 760 kmTotal distance

North to south in seven days without a single transfer longer than three hours. Includes two nights in the Douro or Alentejo depending on the season, a full Algarve coastal day, and the exact trains and roads we used.

  • Road trip
  • Wine
  • Coast
  • Cities
Updated March 2026 · 18 min readOpen plan
Before you book

Five rules that make every Portugal itinerary better

  1. One base per three days. Packing and unpacking costs more time than any train journey.
  2. Plan one thing per half-day. Portuguese lunches take ninety minutes and should.
  3. Book timed tickets for exactly three places: Pena Palace, Livraria Lello and the Joanina Library. Everything else can be spontaneous.
  4. Keep Sunday flexible. Many family-run restaurants close; markets and churches are at their best.
  5. Leave the last evening empty. You will have found somewhere you want to go back to.

Read the full travel tips guide