12 Days in Portugal - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Ultimate Portugal: Porto, Lisbon & Lagos

Spend 12 days discovering Portugal's north and south, be it road-tripping around Porto, wine tasting in the Douro Valley, hitting the cultural highlights of Lisbon, sunbathing on the Algarve coast, and more.

You'll arrive in Porto, a historic medieval city on the Douro River. Over a couple of days, you'll enjoy food tastings, drink port wine, and get behind the wheel of a vintage car to visit scenic enclaves like coastal Foz and the colorful fishing village of São Pedro da Afurada. Then head inland to the hillside vineyards of the Douro Valley, where you'll enjoy a wine tasting and traditional lunch at a local quinta (winery). Take some time to explore Portugal's northern beaches and historic cities like Guimarães. On day five, transfer south to Lisbon, stopping on the way at Coimbra, the first capital of Portugal and home to a famous 13th-century University.

In Lisbon, you'll hop on the 19th-century cable car and visit shopping districts like Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Alfama, one of Lisbon's oldest neighborhoods, and dine at elegant restaurants with live fado folk music. Then take a day trip to Sintra. This resort town in the hills of southern Portugal is home to Pena Palace, a 19th-century romanticist castle. Then board a train to the far south and arrive in Lagos, a resort town on the western end of the stunning Algarve coastal region.

Over the last few days, you'll tour Lagos' Old Town, stroll its charming harbor, and enjoy its world-class restaurants and nightlife. You'll also visit coastal bluffs and spend time on the town's beaches, like Praia do Pinhão, a picture-postcard cove with golden sands. On day 11, you'll take the train back to Lisbon, and on day 12, you'll depart. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Immersive Portugal: Porto & the North

While there are many treasures in Portugal's south, this 12-day northern adventure focuses on highlights like Porto, the Douro Valley, and medieval towns on the incredible Costa Verde.

When you arrive in Porto, you'll explore the city on a guided tour. As you walk, your guide will highlight architectural marvels like the neoclassical City Hall and the São Bento Railway Station. However, the main focus is on the food, as you'll visit family-owned eateries and sample Port wine. The next day, board a cruise ship and travel up the Douro River, where you'll overnight in a winery and tour the vineyards. Spend the next few days exploring wine regions like Vinho Verde and visiting medieval country towns like Pinhão and Amarante. Back in Porto, you'll learn more about Portuguese cuisine in a cooking class.

Day six kicks off the self-drive portion of this adventure. Pick up your rental car, and head north to Viana do Castelo, a city on the Costa Verde famous for its hilltop revivalist church. Then drive south to the colorful town of Aveiro—known as the Venice of Portugal due to its network of canals—before arriving in Coimbra. Tour this medieval city before continuing to Nazaré, stopping along the way at historic landmarks like Convento de Cristo, the 12th-century Knights Templar headquarters. Finish the trip on the cliffside beaches of Nazaré and visit charming nearby towns like Alcobaça and Leiria. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Explore Portugal's Culture & Cuisine: Porto, Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve

This 12-day highlights itinerary packs the best of Portugal into a little less than two weeks as you enjoy city tours, wine tasting, road trips, and sailing tours on the Algarve coast. 

Get ready for a diverse (and delicious) adventure that starts in Porto with a food tour to visit family-run restaurants, sample street food, and taste Portuguese wines. Following this is a walking tour of historic Porto in which you'll see landmarks like the Gothic Church of St. Francis and Rua Santa Catarina, the main shopping thoroughfare. You'll also stroll across Dom Luís Bridge, an iconic piece of iron engineering that rises 148 feet (45 m) of the Douro River. On day three, you'll take a river cruise to the Douro Valley and visit Coimbra to tour its University and 18th-century Gothic Library.

Then you'll arrive in Lisbon and ride a moto taxi up to viewpoints like São Pedro de Alcântara. This garden looks over the city to St. George's Castle, an area fortified since the 1st century BCE. On day six, you'll travel to the pine woods of Sintra, tour Pena Palace, pick up a rental car, and drive to Évora. The historic center of this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on a tour, you'll not only visit Gothic churches and 2,000-year-old Roman ruins. Hit the road again on day eight to see more medieval villages like Monsaraz (which sits on Europe's largest reservoir) and Estremoz.

On day nine, you're off to the Algarve region, on Portugal's sun-kissed southern shores, but not before stopping off at a quinta for lunch and a wine tasting. In Algarve, you'll visit its most beautiful beaches, like Praia Dona Ana. You'll also take a catamaran tour around the coast to visit hidden caves. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Explore Portugal: Porto, Lisbon & Madeira Island

Enjoy a 12-day celebration of the delicious tastes and beautiful sights of Portugal, from the food and wine of Porto to the historic cobbled streets of Lisbon to the remote beaches of far-flung Madeira Island. 

When you arrive in Porto, you'll discover the culinary renaissance shaping the city on a foodie walking tour. Sample delicious tidbits at specialty food shops, chic new eateries, and family-owned favorites. Then take a historical walking tour and marvel at the Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and neoclassical landmarks, like the 12th-century Porto Cathedral and Clérigos Tower, a 246-foot (75-m) church bell tower. Then transfer to the Douro Valley for three days of wine tastings at family-run quintas and walking tours of beautiful vineyards on rolling green hills overlooking the Douro River.

On day six, transfer to the airport in Lisbon for the two-hour flight to Madeira Island, part of an archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. Your destination is the capital of Funchal. Its quaint harbor, medieval castles, and blooming red hibiscus flowers make it the Platonic ideal of a European island paradise. Over three days, you'll visit highlights like the 16th-century Funchal Cathedral, 17th-century São Tiago Fortress, botanical gardens, and pebble beaches. Upon returning to Lisbon, you'll tour the city and make a day trip to Sintra before heading home. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Highlights of Spain & Portugal: Cities, Beaches & Culture

Combine the highlights of the Iberian Peninsula, from the wine and grand plazas of Porto and Lisbon to the museums and Gaudí landmarks of Madrid and Barcelona. 

Upon arrival in Lisbon, you can head out and enjoy culinary staples like custard tarts, cod fritters, and the bifana, a pork sandwich that is the quintessential Lisbon street food. On day two, you'll enjoy a guided tour that will take you to old plazas like Rossio and landmarks like the 12th-century Lisbon Cathedral, the oldest church in the city. On the way from Lisbon to Porto, you'll stop in the historic city of Coimbra, whose 13th-century University is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Porto, you'll enjoy a guided tour of highlights like Praça da Liberdade and the Baroque Igreja dos Clérigos church. 

After a cruise down the Douro River and wine tour, you'll fly to Madrid. On your first day here, you'll tour the magnificent El Prado museum, home to works by masters like Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya. On day eight, you'll visit Toledo, a 16th-century city known for its grand Alcázar de Toledo, a hilltop fortress that was a Roman palace in the 3rd century. In Barcelona, you'll hike to all the best areas and lookout points, including Mt. Montjuic and Carmel Hill, where you'll find the Gaudí-designed Park Güell. You'll also visit other Gaudí landmarks like Sagrada Familia church, plus stop at Barcelona Beach. Learn more

More Great Portugal Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Portugal? Check out these other Portugal itineraries, with outdoor adventures, family-friendly trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.