Passing Through Portugal: An 8- to 10-Day Guide to Porto, Lisbon & Algarve

Arrive in Porto, the port wine capital of the world. Porto is historic, walkable, and full of charm. Today, be sure to visit the Sao Bento Train Station and Chapel of Souls to see some hand-painted azulejos (blue tiles).

Livraria Lello bookstore is said to have inspired some scenes of Harry Potter, as J. K. Rowling lived there for a time. You can purchase tickets in advance online to save time. It really does look like Hogwarts inside.

Next, stop at Casa Guedes for a traditional Portuguese meal. They are known for their pork sandwiches. While in this area, The Royal Cocktail Club is a must for a unique and delicious cocktail. The vibe is intimate and sophisticated with very friendly and knowledgeable bartenders. I still dream about the Royal Mule (a Moscow mule with pistachio foam) to this day.

On your second day in Porto, walk over the Luis I Bridge and along the Douro River. There are vendors set up along the water selling various handmade items, including food, crafts, jewelry, and clothing. You may even enjoy some live music and dancing.

For drinks with a view, sit on the patio at Ponte Pensil, where you will have a front-row seat to the stunning scenery of the bridge and the river. We enjoyed watching the various boats go by, as well as people jumping off the bridge and swimming in the water.

For dinner, I highly recommend Enoteca 1756. This is a gorgeous restaurant with fantastic service. We were able to try various items on the menu and enjoyed them all—especially the sushi.

For sunset, head up to Jardim do Morro for breathtaking, panoramic views of the city. If you have an extra day to spend in Porto, I highly recommend taking a day trip to the Douro Valley.

Take the three-hour train ride from Porto to Lisbon. Once you are settled in at your hotel, head to Time Out Market, which is essentially a giant food court with a wide variety of food, drinks, snacks, and shops. Near here, you will also find Pink Street, a Lisbon staple known for its pink pavement and colorful hanging umbrellas. This is a fun spot to come back to in the evening if you are looking for some lively nightlife.

Lisbon also has many miradouros, or viewpoints, where you can sit on a terrace and take in a view of the city. Miradouro Santa Catarina was one of my favorites. This is where the chimney is that has, “Yes, life is good” painted on it.

For dinner, take the ferry over to Almada and eat at Ponto Final or Atira-Te ao Rio. Ponto Final reservations book up quickly. They take walk-ins, but the wait time is typically around two hours. We were able to get a table at Atira-Te ao Rio, right along the water. The salmon was amazing—and the sunset views were unforgettable.

On your second day in Lisbon, tour Castelo de São Jorge. This is a historical castle, and it typically takes about two hours to tour.

After the tour, stop at Miradouro de Santa Luzia, the most popular Lisbon viewpoint, for some scenic pictures. If you’re still wanting some history and impressive architecture, take a walk through Praca do Comercio, a popular waterfront plaza.

For lunch, stop at the LX Factory for a variety of food options and some unique shopping. We also enjoyed the Ler Devagar bookstore (and coffee shop) located right next to the LX Factory.

For dinner, make a reservation at a fado restaurant, where traditional Portuguese melodies will be performed live. We went to A Baiuca, a family-owned restaurant featuring traditional dishes in an intimate setting. We absolutely loved the owners, servers, and performance.

On your last day in Lisbon, visit the Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries, and Jerónimos Monastery. If you want to go inside the Belém Tower or the monastery, be sure to reserve tickets in advance.

For a sweet treat, stop in at Pastéis de Belém, which serves pastel de nata, small custards originally created by the monks at the monastery.

For a late lunch or early dinner, go to La Malquerida. I highly recommend the gringa—it was phenomenal and very inexpensive.

To wrap up your Lisbon trip, book a sunset cruise along the Tagus River. This was one of our favorite activities. The views were unbelievable.

If you have an extra day in Lisbon, take a day trip to Sintra, a 40-minute train ride away. Here, you will find Pena Palace, which is absolutely worth touring for a glimpse of 19th-century royal life. This is by far the most memorable castle I have ever visited.

Quinta da Regaleira is located close to Pena Palace and is also worth a visit. This is an estate known for its unique architecture, including underground tunnels and initiation wells. If you find yourself with additional time, the Moorish Castle is a medieval castle with stunning views.

From Lisbon, rent a car and drive down the coast. We found the main highways to be pretty straightforward. We were very happy with our decision to drive ourselves, as it allowed us to stop at coastal towns along the way.

We stopped in Sines, which was stunning and quaint. We also stopped in Vila Nova de Milfontes, a very small beach town with friendly and laid-back locals. It was really neat to immerse ourselves in the culture of these small towns.

When you arrive in Lagos, grab a coffee at Black and White Coffee Shop and spend a few hours at Praia de Estudantes. This is the beach with the famous Roman-style bridge. You won’t want to miss the rock formations, caves, and blue water.

For dinner, I highly recommend a burger from Nah Nah Bah. This restaurant has been voted one of the top 50 burger spots worldwide by multiple outlets.

On your second day in Algarve, grab coffee and breakfast at Abigail’s Cafe before kayaking the Benagil Caves. We took a guided kayak tour, and it was interesting to hear history and facts about the caves (and it made us feel much safer!).

After kayaking, hike all or some of the Seven Hanging Valleys. We did not find this to be a difficult hike, but we also didn’t complete the entire trail.

Afterward, relax at Marinha Beach, known for its limestone cliffs, clear turquoise waters, and calm waves for swimming.