Portugal’s story arcs from Roman outposts and Moorish castles to the Age of Discoveries, when Lisbon launched caravels toward the horizon. Today, the country shines with azulejo-clad stations, golden Atlantic light, soulful fado, and a table laid with grilled sardines, slow-braised pork, and custard tarts still warm from the oven.

In six days you’ll savor Lisbon’s miradouros and Belém’s monuments, wander Sintra’s whimsical palaces draped in mist, and ride north to Porto for baroque towers, iron bridges, and the Douro’s terraced vineyards. This route suits mid-range budgets, prioritizing value stays, memorable meals, and a few standout experiences worth the splurge.

Practical notes: Portuguese tap water is drinkable; contactless cards are widely accepted. Tipping is appreciated but modest (round up or 5–10% in restaurants). Book popular sights (Pena Palace, food tours, Port lodges) ahead, and bring comfortable shoes—cobbled hills are part of the charm and the workout.

Lisbon

Lisbon’s seven hills are a playground for photographers: trams clatter past azulejos, laundry sways above Alfama lanes, and sunsets paint the Tagus in copper. History lingers in Belém’s World Heritage monuments and in Mouraria’s fado taverns. Modern creativity pops at LX Factory and along the street-art corridors of Graça.

• Top sights: Alfama and Castelo de São Jorge, Tram 28, Miradouros (Senhora do Monte, Portas do Sol), Belém’s Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, Praça do Comércio, LX Factory.
• For food lovers: Pastéis de nata at Manteigaria, seafood at Cervejaria Ramiro (garlic clams, tiger prawns), petiscos at Taberna da Rua das Flores, hearty bacalhau at Zé da Mouraria, and a graze through Time Out Market’s chef-led stalls.
• Cafés: Fábrica Coffee Roasters (house-roasted), Copenhagen Coffee Lab (Scandi pastries), and historic A Brasileira for a Belle Époque moment.

Stay in Lisbon: Browse apartments and townhouses on VRBO Lisbon or compare hotels on Hotels.com Lisbon. Good picks: budget-friendly Lisbon Destination Hostel (inside Rossio Station, great value), family-ready Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites, classic-style Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel, or a splurge at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon.

Getting to Lisbon: Fly into LIS. For Europe flights, search Omio. For long-haul options from outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From the airport, the metro to Baixa/Chiado takes ~35 minutes (~€2), or rideshare to the center is ~€10–15.

Porto

Porto wears its history in granite: clerical towers, merchant halls, and the ribbed silhouette of Dom Luís I Bridge by Eiffel’s disciple. Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, Port lodges barrel-age tawny and ruby as rabelo boats float by. The city’s warm light flatters every photo—from tiled São Bento Station to riverside Ribeira.

• Top sights: São Bento azulejos, Clérigos Tower, Livraria Lello (book a timed slot), Ribeira embankments, Palácio da Bolsa, strolls over the upper deck of Dom Luís I Bridge, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for golden-hour panoramas.
• Eat this: Francesinha at Café Santiago (rich, saucy icon), roast pork sandwich with Serra cheese at Casa Guedes, seafood at Taberna dos Mercadores, modern Portuguese at Cantinho do Avillez, classic northern fare at Adega São Nicolau.
• Cafés & sweets: Combi Coffee Roasters (third-wave), Manna for brunch, and ornate Café Majestic for turn-of-the-century splendor.

Stay in Porto: Start with VRBO Porto or compare on Hotels.com Porto. Excellent value at Moov Hotel Porto Centro (central, minimalist), stylish social vibe at Gallery Hostel, business-friendly comfort at HF Ipanema Park, or an iconic splurge at The Yeatman.

Lisbon → Porto: The Alfa Pendular/Intercidades train takes ~2h50–3h15 from Santa Apolónia or Oriente to Campanhã, ~€15–40 if booked ahead on Omio Trains. Buses take ~3.5 hours from ~€7–15 via Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, Golden-Hour Alfama

Morning: Fly to Lisbon (LIS). For Europe routes, compare fares on Omio Flights; for long-haul options, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Afternoon: Check in and shake off jet lag with a slow wander through Alfama. Climb to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for a skyline sweep—Castle, Tagus, terracotta roofs—great for wide-angle shots.

Evening: Dinner at Zé da Mouraria (go early; generous bacalhau portions) or petiscos at Taberna da Rua das Flores (blackboard menu, seasonal). If you’re up for it, catch a traditional fado set in Mouraria—intimate rooms, candlelight, and voices that linger.

Day 2: Lisbon by Tuk-Tuk, Belém Monuments, Bairro Alto Nights

Morning: Espresso and a still-warm pastel at Manteigaria, then a breezy city overview on this small electric ride—perfect for hills and photos: Half-Day Lisbon Electric Tuk-Tuk Tour: Alfama, Belém & More.

Afternoon: Tram or rideshare to Belém. Photograph Jerónimos Monastery’s cloisters and the river-facing Belém Tower. Refuel at the original Pastéis de Belém (sprinkle cinnamon and powdered sugar, then thank us later). Late afternoon, browse LX Factory’s indie shops and street art.

Evening: Seafood feast at Cervejaria Ramiro—start with percebes if available, then garlic clams, scarlet prawns, and a prego steak sandwich for dessert. For night shots, stroll Praça do Comércio and the Cais das Colunas steps; blue hour over the Tagus is magic.

Day 3: Sintra’s Palaces and Atlantic Cliffs (Full-Day Tour)

Trade city lanes for fairy-tale peaks on a small-group day trip: Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon. Expect Pena Palace’s candy-colored turrets, the mystical gardens of Sintra’s historic center, Cabo da Roca’s sheer Atlantic cliffs, and Cascais’ seaside charm. It’s a photographer’s playground—bring layers for the mountaintop breeze and comfortable shoes.

Back in Lisbon, keep dinner casual at Time Out Market—compare bifana sandwiches, tinned-fish bites, and regional desserts under one roof—or book ahead at Solar dos Presuntos for seafood rice and Iberian pork.

Day 4: Lisbon to Porto by Train, Ribeira Wander, Bridge Nightscape

Morning: Coffee at Fábrica then roll to Oriente or Santa Apolónia. Take the Alfa Pendular to Porto Campanhã (~3 hours; from ~€25–35). Book seats on Omio Trains; on a tighter budget, compare Omio Buses.

Afternoon: Check in and walk from São Bento’s azulejos to Clérigos Tower and down to Ribeira. Photograph color-washed facades, laundry lines, and rabelo boats. Snack break: a cachorrinho (snappy mini-dog) at Gazela da Batalha or a pastel de nata from a local bakery.

Evening: Dinner with Porto’s icon: the francesinha at Café Santiago—layered meats, molten cheese, spiced beer sauce, fries. Blue-hour shots from the Dom Luís I Bridge upper deck, then a quick Port tasting across the river if time allows.

Day 5: Douro Valley Wine, River Cruise, and Vineyard Lunch (Full-Day Tour)

Spend a day in the world’s first demarcated wine region: Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch. You’ll wind through terraced hills, taste DOC reds and Ports, take a traditional Rabelo boat on the Douro, and sit down to a regional lunch—superb for foodies and photographers alike.

Return to Porto and dine at Adega São Nicolau (home-style northern dishes on a quiet lane) or Cantinho do Avillez (modern Portuguese). Toast the day with a late-night tawny along the quay.

Day 6: Markets, Garden Vistas, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Mercado do Bolhão—sip a galão and try a warm bola de Berlim or flaky folhado, then browse produce and cheese counters for edible souvenirs. Walk to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for Douro panoramas framed by palms and peacocks—great for portrait and landscape shots.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Casa Guedes (serra-cheese pork sandwich is a local legend), then depart. If flying out of Porto (OPO), check Omio Flights for Europe routes; if returning to Lisbon for your flight, the train is ~3 hours via Omio Trains. For long-haul travel, compare Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have extra time, ride the funicular dos Guindais for a final river view, then pick up tins of conservas (smoked, spiced, or lemony sardines) to take a taste of Portugal home.

Optional/Alternate Lisbon Food Experience

If you’d rather swap or add a culinary deep dive in Lisbon, consider this award-winning walk through lesser-known neighborhoods with sit-down tastings and wine pairings: Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe.

Budget & Logistics Tips (Mid-Range ~50/100)

• Meals: Expect €8–12 for café breakfasts, €12–20 for lunch, €18–35 for dinner (more if seafood-focused). Sharing petiscos stretches the budget.
• Transport: Lisbon’s 24-hour transit pass is ~€7; rideshares within center ~€4–10. Intercity train Lisbon–Porto from ~€25–35 if booked early on Omio.
• Tickets: Reserve Pena Palace, Livraria Lello, and Port lodges ahead. For tours, booking a few weeks out secures better departure times.

With Lisbon’s hilltop views, Sintra’s storybook palaces, and Porto’s riverfront charisma—plus a Douro Valley day of wine and slow horizons—this itinerary hits Portugal’s greatest hits without rushing the table. Come hungry, pack an extra SD card, and let the light do the rest.