Highlights
- Explore the coastal capital of Lisbon
- See the palaces and pine-covered hills of Sintra
- Taste the famous wine of Porto
- Marvel at the bizarre Capela dos Ossos in Évora
- Relax on the beaches of the Algarve
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lisbon, Explore | Lisbon |
| Day 2 | Guided Walking Tour of Lisbon | Lisbon |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Sintra | Lisbon |
| Day 4 | Pick Up Rental Car, Drive to Óbidos | Óbidos |
| Day 5 | Drive to Porto, Free Afternoon | Porto |
| Day 6 | Drive to Douro Valley | Porto |
| Day 7 | Drive to Évora via Tomar | Évora |
| Day 8 | Explore Évora | Évora |
| Day 9 | Drive to Estremoz via Arraiolos | Estremoz |
| Days 10-11 | Drive to Portimão, Explore the Alagarve | Portimão |
| Day 12 | Drive to Lagos, Beach Day | Lagos |
| Day 13 | Return to Lisbon via Comporta | Lisbon |
| Day 14 | Depart Lisbon |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, Explore
After a transfer from the airport in Lisbon, you will have free time to explore. You might decide to orient yourself by exploring the city's neighborhoods. You might meander through the steep cobbled streets of bohemian Bairro Alto. Or, head for one of the oldest neighborhoods, Alfama. In the evening, you can try authentic Portuguese food and listen to a Fado concert.
Day 2: Guided Walking Tour of Lisbon
Get to know Lisbon with a walking tour that will help you learn about the Portuguese capital and its history. You might climb the Torre de Belém, a tower that has stood at the mouth of the Tagus River since the 16th century. If you want to wander through the oldest part of Lisbon and see its alleys and winding streets, you can explore the Alfama District. Or, see the former Roman citadel of St. George's castle. For a spectacular view of the city, ride a funicular up one of the many hills.
Day 3: Day Trip to Sintra
You'll leave Lisbon for the day, traveling about 30 minutes outside of the city to see the romantic fairy-tale landscape of Sintra. During your hiking and exploration of Sintra, you might see Pena Palace, where you can wander around a UNESCO World Heritage Site that Portugal's King Fernando II commissioned. If you are up for a hike, you can take an adventure up to Castle of the Moors, a ninth-century fortification high in the Sintra mountains, you can also reach it by bus, and either way, you'll have incredible views of the city and its surroundings.
Day 4: Pick Up Rental Car, Drive to Óbidos
Set off to explore more of Portugal, traveling by rental car from Lisbon to Porto, about 52 miles (85 km). During the one-hour drive, you'll have time to visit picturesque towns and a fishing village.
In Óbidos, wander through this walled city with a castle, winding streets, and quaint white homes. Go back in time to the traditional Nazaré fishing village and see coastal views. And visit the Early Gothic Alcobaça Monastery, founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I.
Day 5: Drive to Porto, Free Afternoon
Your journey up the Portuguese coast will continue to Porto, a city known for its port wine production. After traveling for about two hours and 149 miles (241 km), you'll arrive in Porto. There, you might opt for a wine tour to taste different varieties of the city's famous sweet libation in a wine cellar. You can explore the medieval part of the city with its cobblestone streets and cozy cafés in the Ribeira district. Gaze at intricate Baroque architecture at São Francisco Church, or see, Palácio de Bolsa, a neoclassical Stock Exchange Palace, which was built in the 19th century.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Drive to the Douro Valley
From Porto, you'll travel about 44 miles (71 km) east to the lush Douro Valley, home to one of the Iberian Peninsula's major rivers. After the one-hour drive, you'll have time to explore. You might opt for a river cruise, where you can appreciate the romantic scenery of green hills and blue water as you set sail on a private two-hour journey. Like Porto, the Douro Valley is also known for its winemaking, and you might opt to sample the area's vintages during your day trip.
Day 7: Drive to Évora via Tomar
From Porto, you'll begin making your way to Évora, traveling south about 252 miles (406 km). To see more of Portugal during your three-hour and 30-minute road trip, you'll have a chance to visit Tomar, which is known for its Convento de Cristo, the former headquarters of the Knights Templar. While there, you can also climb Aqueduto de Pegões, an aqueduct that was likely built during the 16th or 17th centuries.
Day 8: Explore Évora
Spend the day exploring the 14th-century walled medieval town of Évora. There you'll have some fascinating places to discover. If you have the stomach for it, you can see the skulls and bones of an estimated 5,000 people that line the walls of eerie Capela do Osos. You can also go back in time when you visit Templo Romano, the remains of a temple that is said to have been built in the second or third century CE.
Day 9: Drive to Estremoz via Arraiolos
Your trip will continue as you travel about 40 miles (64 km) south from Évora to Estremoz, with time for a stop along the way in Arraiolos. Learn more about Portuguese handicrafts here, a small town that has a handmade rug tradition that dates to the 12th century. End the day in Estremoz, a city that is known for its marble production, where you can also visit a wine estate and enjoy a tasting lunch.
Days 10-11: Drive to Portimão, Explore the Alagarve
You'll continue your road trip in Portugal as you make your way from Estremoz to the coastline of the Algarve, during a drive that will take around three hours. You'll travel about 205 miles (330 km) south to Portimão, where you'll have time to relax, exploring the old harbor of Ribeirinha or lounging in one of the town's picturesque sandy coves. If you want to know more about the area's history, you can visit the Museu de Portimão to learn about the area's fishing heritage.
Day 12: Drive to Lagos, Beach Day
From Portimão, you can make a short 30-minute drive to Lagos, just 19 miles (32 km) away, to soak up its scenery and sunshine. Its impressive Ponta da Piedade is a picturesque headland that is an ideal spot to take in sea views. For an excellent beach day, you can head for Meia Praia's 2-mile (4 km) stretch of golden sand.
Day 13: Return to Lisbon via Comporta
It's time to get back on the road, traveling 187 miles (302 km) from Lagos to Lisbon. To break up the day of driving, which will be about three hours, you might decide to stop in Comporta, where you can take a stroll on the pier, Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira, for sunset views. Or, get more beach time by exploring Comporta's coastline.
Day 14: Depart Lisbon
From Lisbon, it will be time to say goodbye to Portugal as you travel from your hotel to the airport to catch your flight home.
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