Your Easy Itinerary For One Week In Portugal

I love Portugal. It’s one of those destinations that you travel to and reminisce about long after your visit. We had one week in Portugal, and I think we hit some of the best highlights.

After lots of research, we decided to visit Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto during our one week stay. We traveled between each location by train, which was super easy.

Read on to see what we did in each city, the areas we stayed in and how we made the most of just one week. I’ll just be over here dreaming of going back…..

Part 1: 3 Days in Lisbon

Our trip started in Lisbon as it was easy and somewhat affordable to fly to from the US. This city felt like San Francisco with laid-back vibes, seafood and food markets, and lots of history.

To save money we traveled in February, which is the off-season for Lisbon. Temperatures were in the 50 to 60º range. This can be a year-round location, with decent weather at almost any time, you may avoid November – January.

Things To Do in Lisbon

With 3 days in Lisbon, you can hit most of the tops things to do and have time to relax a bit as well.

São Jorge Castle: Established in 200 bc by the Romans, and ruined a few times by earthquakes, extensive renovations in the 1940s have brought it back to glory. I really liked this castle, it’s all about the views here. There is a small museum but most of your time will be spent wandering the castle walls and taking in the views. Arrive early right at opening or late in the afternoon for fewer crowds.
Alfama: The oldest surviving neighborhood of Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755. This area winds down a hillside from the castle, so it makes sense to visit it after a trip there. Allow yourself to wander and get lost, it’s worth the adventure. There are also some mom and pop restaurants you can stop at along the way.
Miradouros (Lookouts): One of the best ways to experience the sunset in Lisbon. Most have a stand to grab drinks, alcoholic or not. It’s a place that locals bring family and just hang out for a few hours. We really loved the laid back experience. We were there in February and it was still busy, so get there a little bit before sunset to snag a decent spot.
Belém: A must visit to see the monument to all of the explorers that voyaged from the shores of Portugal. Also the home to the origin of Pastéis de nata (so they say), you have to try these at Pastéis de Belém. It’s busy there but if you get them to go you can wander into a nearby park to enjoy.

Transportation: We were able to walk most places. To get to Belém we hopped on a tram (15 or 127) from Figueira Square that took about 15-20 minutes. I’ve also heard that the trams are fun to ride just to get a view of the city, but we enjoy burning some calories after all the delicious food.

For an awesome walking tour of Lisbon, Belém, or Sintra, check out Walks. They have local small group tours.

Part 2: 1 Day in Sintra

Sintra could be a day trip from Lisbon, but we chose to spend one night there to get the most out of it. The train ride from Lisbon to Sintra is just 40 minutes long and departs from Rossio station in Lisbon. Make sure to keep your train ticket in hand when you get off the train, as you’ll need to scan it to exit the station.

Things To Do in Sintra

Sintra has a few top sites that people show up to see, I’ll outline them below. We had one full day, but unfortunately, the weather didn’t hold up for us. We were able to see two of the sites below before a downpour.

Quinta de Regaleira: Literally one of my favorite sites I’ve been to while traveling, maybe in part because it was about to rain, and we were just among a small group of people at the site that day. Built by an Italian architect in the early 1900’s, the property features ornate gardens, secret tunnels, a three-story well that you can climb down into, and so much more. A fairytale location. During high season, arrive early so you can be one of the first to enter.
Pena Palace: Part restored monastery and part German-inspired castle the current structure was constructed in the mid-1800s. VERY popular with tourists, you may be better served to purchase the “park only” ticket option, which will give you access to the terraces for the views, and the gardens surrounding the castle. Food on site, but recommended that you eat in the Sintra city center.
Castle of the Moors: Built in the 8th century during Moorish occupation, and restored at the same time as Pena Palace. If you are looking for more of a hike and outdoor setting, with plenty of views, you may choose to visit this over the busy Pena Palace (it can be seen on the next hilltop from the Moorish castle).
Don’t forget Sintra: Before you board the train, don’t forget to visit the historic center for shopping and restaurants.

Transportation: All sites can be reached by the bus that you can board at different points in town, even at the train station. Use bus number 434. If you want an even easier way to see all the sites, you can book a local tour. Check out the options below!

Where to Eat & Stay in Sintra

Where to eat:

Casa Piriquita: We visited this spot for delicious local pastries. Try the travesseiros, puff pastry filled with cream.
Tulhaus Bar & Restuarant: We had excellent service at this restaurant. After the majority of tourists went back to Lisbon, we almost had this place to ourselves for dinner. Food was good and included a variety of Portuguese and Mediterranean options.

Where to stay:

Sintra 1012 Boutique Guesthouse: I love a small hotel or B&B type accommodation. Our room was a small suite on the lowest level, with our own bathroom and small kitchen area. Absolutely outstanding fresh-made chef’s breakfast was included.

Book a Sintra Hotel or B&B Here

Part 3: 3 Days in Porto

Porto is such a fairytale-like place. Buildings covered in old tile, quaint restaurants, walkways along the river and port wine. So much port wine. When I dream of Portugal, this is the city I want to go back to the most. There’s just something special about it to me. With only one week in Portugal, this was our last stop.

The train ride from Sintra to Porto is about 4 hours long, so plan accordingly as it will take half a day travel time door to door.

Things To Do in Porto

We decided to take a slower pace in Porto and enjoy our time there, and the port of course. There is much more to do and see than what’s listed below, but these are the things we enjoyed.

São Bento Train Station: It’s not typical for a train station to be a tourist attraction, but in this case, it’s worth a visit. The ornate blue tiles inside this station are something to see.
Fado: A traditional style of music in Portugal, and a great way to experience the culture. It originated in Lisbon in the early 1800s, but we caught a performance while in Porto. You can usually find performances at local bars, we watched one while enjoying a port tasting at Cálem.
Port Wine: I’ll be honest, I didn’t have an appreciation for port until I visited here. It is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley. While in Porto, you’ll walk across the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, and the port tasting room options are endless. Most establishments offer a tour and tasting, so you’ll get to learn all about the history. We loved Taylor, Kopke, and Adriano Ramos Pinto.
Riverside Walk: Both sides of the river offer a walking area for pedestrians. It’s the perfect place to stroll and enjoy the views. At night tourists and locals alike flock to the riverside to grab a seat along the water and take in the views. Cais de Ribeira is on the Porto side.
And if you love Harry Potter….Livraria Lello: This library is stunning and dates back to 1881. Unfortunately, it’s overrun with tourists. We did visit but planned it as the very first thing of the day, so we made it in before the hoards.

Transportation: We walked everywhere. There is an extensive metro, tram, and bus system if you need it.

My super creative husband made a video of our trip! Check it out on YouTube! 🙂

Where to Stay in Porto

I recommend staying on the Porto side, as the train stations, food, and most sites are there. It’s a pretty easy walk over to the port tasting rooms if you are staying close to the river.

Boutique Hotel in Porto – InPatio Guest House: We stayed here and the location could not have been better. The rooms were modern and comfortable, and the homemade French/Portuguese breakfast was delicious. Highly recommend this spot.

Book a Hotel or B&B in Porto Here

Where to Eat in Porto

Wine Quay Bar: For dinner with a view of the river check out this location. We met some other travelers there and may have had a little too much wine, but we really enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

Traça: A delicious and upscale spot, but still on the affordable side. This was our last meal in Portugal and it was a good one. It’s a really interesting space because the building slopes down a hillside. We ate on the “lower” level and it was a cozy space. Do make a reservation.

To get a local food experience, eatwith has so many great options in Porto! You can even learn about the traditional flavors of Porto on this tour!

One week in Portugal felt like enough time to get a good taste, but not nearly enough time to truly experience all it has to offer. This country is definitely on my “return to” list! I hope you plan a trip to get to know this wonderful place.

Are you inspired to spend one week in Portugal, or maybe longer? Let me know in the comments below!

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Your Easy Itinerary For One Week In Portugal