One Week in Portugal

Portugal has quite a few unique regions for you to explore. For a seven-day trip, I recommend the following split.

Days 1–2: Lisbon

Lisbon offers direct flights from many destinations in the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world. If the flight arrives early in the morning, I’d follow the recommended convention of powering through the day and resetting at night. A great way to explore the city is through a food tour, such as one offered by Eating Europe. The best way to learn about a culture is through its food, and Eating Europe takes you off the beaten path to connect you with local restaurants while providing you with a history lesson. You definitely finish the tour full. When I did the tour, I felt like they put a good group together that was small enough that everyone could enjoy their time together. Be sure to take time after exploring the Bairro Alto and other nearby neighborhoods. You can even get onto the famous tram 28, although you can also just watch it pass by.

After getting rest and enjoying a delicious breakfast, head to Belem for the beautiful university area with walkable streets and lots of fun sites. Belem tower may be under construction for tours through summer, but you can still see the presidential palace and the April 25th bridge. There is of course the famous Patéis de Belém, which uses the famous recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimo. Be sure to grab one if the line isn’t too long. After exploring, there are lots of beautiful cafés and restaurants that are simply delicious and inexpensive. We ate at Guelra Restaurante, which had a relaxed atmosphere and a friendly waiter who took the time to explain the menu and recommended food that exploded in flavor. Don’t forget that couvert comes with a charge, although it can be worth it at restaurants.

The Lisbon streets can look like a postcard

Day 3: Sintra & Cascais

For day three, you can choose to either stay in Lisbon and do a day trip into Sintra or stay in Sintra or Cascais. Either way, a group tour allows you to have private transport into Sintra, where you can choose between Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, or all of the above. Our guide, Ricardo, picked us up directly from our hotel. Be sure to save time to see the charming towns of Sintra and Cascais for a truly picturesque experience. Ricardo's familiarity with Sintra was obvious from the personal relationship with the shopkeepers, steering us to more authentic experiences, and ordering coffee from the café for us so we could enjoy our pasteis de nata and other pastries in a relaxed, seated atmosphere.

If you are staying in Sintra, you can try piri piri chicken right in Cascais at Dom Manolo or have a Michelin-star experience at Midori or Lab. Midori has a unique connection to the relationship between Japan and Portugal, which is reflected in the food. The Penha Longa offers a peaceful retreat and beautiful scenery. A fun tip is having them pack you a picnic that you can enjoy anywhere. If staying there, be sure to explore the monastery on the grounds. It was my first one, and walking in for the first time left me awestruck.

Beautiful town of Sintra

Days 4–6: Algarve

The Algarve is the perfect opportunity to get away from it all. If possible, rent a car so you can drive yourself to all the sights. The 2.5-hour drive down the A2 is beautiful, with a view of all of Lisbon, then beautiful vineyards and other sights. There are many nice towns that you can stop in and have a picnic or grab a bite to eat while driving. Once you arrive and check in to your hotel, you can check out the Restaurante A Sardinha for a romantic dinner with an amazing view of the Algarve rock formations. The staff personally helps you make the right selections based on what you're looking for, and everything is delicious. The next day, try a boat tour to see the Algarve’s iconic golden, sandstone, and limestone rock formations. A smaller boat allows you to get into the smaller caves and feel like you’ve been transported to a whole new world. In the summer, some companies even offer a barbecue lunch on some of the isolated beaches along the caves.

You must see at least one sunset while in the Algarve

Day 7: Return to Lisbon (or leave from Faro)

If you’re returning to Lisbon, be sure to head back with enough time to go through security and passport control. The trick is to make sure you walk through both before stopping, as there are lots of enticing shops right before passport control that can distract you from seeing how long the line is for non-EU passport holders. The drive is easy returning to Lisbon as well. If you’re lucky enough to leave from Faro, be sure you’ve made arrangements with the rental car company for a one-way rental.

Early spring is a great time to visit Portugal, with beautiful weather and fewer crowds. Be sure to pack a rain jacket for the occasional rainy day. Breakfast buffets at hotels are indulgent, giving you plenty of fuel to navigate your day before stopping for lunch. Dinner is also casual and relaxed, so don't expect a quick experience. However, it's the best part of unwinding from your day.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Portugal page.