Portugal packs a millennium of history into a country you can cross in a few hours. From Lisbon’s Moorish alleys and riverside monuments to Porto’s granite lanes and wine lodges, you’ll meet sailors, saints, and storytellers in every square tiled with blue-and-white azulejos. The nation’s maritime past echoes in cod recipes, Manueline architecture, and the melancholic soul of fado.

Across seven days, this itinerary balances icons and insider finds: tram-clanged hills, pastel de nata still warm from the oven, palace gardens in Sintra, and a day sipping vintages on the Douro River. Trains make it easy—ride the rails from Lisbon to Porto and let the scenery guide you north through olive groves and vineyards.

Practical notes: museums often close Mondays; book popular sights and restaurants in advance. Wear grippy shoes for cobblestones, carry a contactless card for transit, and keep an eye out for pickpockets on crowded trams. The best weather is spring and fall, but Portugal welcomes year-round.

Lisbon

Lisbon is a city of seven hills and countless viewpoints. Alfama’s maze still hums with fado; Belém crowns the river with gilded monasteries and a tower that watched caravels sail to the unknown. Streetcars rattle, sardines sizzle, and time tends to stretch out around golden hour.

Top sights include Castelo de São Jorge, the Sé Cathedral, Praça do Comércio, the Elevador de Santa Justa, and Belém’s Jerónimos Monastery and Tower. For modern culture, browse MAAT, LX Factory, and riverside bike paths. Taste history with a shot of ginjinha and a warm pastel de nata.

• Where to stay (Lisbon): Browse stays on VRBO Lisbon or Hotels.com Lisbon. Excellent picks:
  • Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon — mid-century glamour, hilltop city views, and a running track on the roof.
  • Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel — historic palace with lush gardens above the river.
  • Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites — spacious suites ideal for families near Chiado.
  • Lisbon Destination Hostel — social, stylish, and right inside Rossio station.
• How to get in: Fly into LIS. For intra-Europe deals search Omio Flights. Flying from outside Europe? Compare long-haul options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. In town, load a Viva Viagem card for metro, bus, tram, and trains to Cascais/Sintra.

Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon — Baixa, Alfama & First Bites

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs around Baixa and Rossio. Peek into the neoclassical Teatro Nacional D. Maria II and ride the Elevador de Santa Justa for a first panorama. Coffee and a still-warm pastel de nata at Manteigaria set the tone.

Evening: Dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro for garlicky clams, scarlet prawns, and a bifana for dessert (yes, that’s a thing). Prefer traditional recipes? Book Solar dos Presuntos (seafood rice, Ameijôas à Bulhão Pato). Cap the night in Alfama with fado at Clube de Fado or the casual Tasca do Chico.

Day 2: Alfama, Castelo & Tuk Tuk Highlights

Morning: Espresso and a pastel at Fábrica Coffee Roasters (multiple branches), then walk Alfama’s lanes up to Castelo de São Jorge. Drop by the Sé Cathedral and the viewpoints of Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia for tile-framed river views.

Afternoon: See more in less time on this city spin:

True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local!

Expect breezy climbs to Graça, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Belém highlights, with stories layered onto each miradouro.

Evening: Sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores (seasonal small plates; arrive early) or Zé da Mouraria (homey grilled fish). Nightcap at Park rooftop over the terracotta skyline.

Day 3: Belém Monuments, River Walks & Lisbon Food Tour

Morning: Tram or rideshare to Belém. Visit Jerónimos Monastery (cloisters are a must) and the riverside Belém Tower. Refuel at Pastéis de Belém, where the custard tart recipe has been guarded since 1837.

Afternoon: Walk the river path past the Discoveries Monument to MAAT’s swooping rooftop. Browse books and boutiques at LX Factory, picking up tinned-fish souvenirs at Loja das Conservas.

Evening: Dive into Lisbon’s culinary neighborhoods on a guided tasting:

Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

Expect petiscos, regional wines, and street art stories. If you’re still peckish later, stroll Time Out Market to curate your own dessert flight (try Santini gelato or a slice from Manteigaria’s stall).

Day 4: Full-Day Sintra & Cascais Excursion

Trade the city for palaces, cliffs, and coastal breezes on a small-group day trip that bundles logistics and line-skips:

Small Group Tour to Sintra, Pena Palace, Cabo Roca and Cascais

Wander Pena Palace’s technicolor terraces, explore Quinta da Regaleira’s mysterious Initiation Well, stand at windswept Cabo da Roca (continental Europe’s westernmost point), then amble the seaside lanes of Cascais. Back in Lisbon, consider dinner at Bairro do Avillez (multi-concept Portuguese cuisine) or Alentejan flavors at O Frade near Belém.

Porto

Porto is granite and gold leaf, river mist and ruby Port. Its UNESCO-listed Ribeira district tumbles to the Douro, while across the bridge in Vila Nova de Gaia, centuries-old lodges age fortified wine that once sailed from vineyards by rabelo boat.

Highlights include São Bento station’s azulejo panels, the Baroque Torre dos Clérigos, the Dom Luís I Bridge, and the reborn Mercado do Bolhão. Eat your way through hearty northern fare—francesinha sandwiches, pork with Serra cheese at Casa Guedes, smoky octopus—and linger in wine bars tucked into vaulted cellars.

• Where to stay (Porto): Explore options on VRBO Porto or Hotels.com Porto. Tried-and-true:
  • The Yeatman — destination wine hotel with river panoramas from Gaia.
  • HF Ipanema Park — rooftop pool and easy access to Foz do Douro.
  • Moov Hotel Porto Centro — great value in an Art Deco cinema building.
  • Gallery Hostel — creative vibe, exhibitions, and a friendly social scene.
• Lisbon → Porto: Take the Alfa Pendular/Intercidades train, about 2.5–3 hours, typically ~$20–40 if booked ahead on Omio Trains. Budget buses (3.5–4 hours) run via Omio Buses. Morning departures keep your day intact.

Day 5: Train North, Ribeira Strolls & Port Wine at Sunset

Morning: Depart Lisbon early (8–9 a.m.) for Porto by train via Omio Trains. Snack onboard or grab a tosta mista and galão before boarding.

Afternoon: Check in and head to Praça da Liberdade, then meander down Rua das Flores to the colorful Ribeira. Cross the lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia for a lodge tour and tasting—consider Graham’s, Taylor’s, or Sandeman to learn how Port is blended and aged.

Evening: Dinner at Adega São Nicolau (bolinhos de bacalhau, octopus rice) or Cantina 32 (inventive takes on northern classics). Grab drinks on the grass at Base or catch the river glow from Jardim do Morro.

Day 6: Full-Day Douro Valley — Vineyards, Lunch & River Cruise

Unwind amid terraced hills on a day that pairs wine heritage with river views:

Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch

Typical itinerary includes tastings at two quintas (table wines and Port), a regional lunch (think roasted meats and olive oil tastings), and a short Rabelo boat cruise in Pinhão. Return in the early evening; tuck into Brasão Cervejaria Aliados for a francesinha or share plates and cod fritters.

Day 7: Tiles, Bookshops & Bolhão — Departure Day

Morning: Coffee at Combi Coffee Roasters or 7g Roaster (across the bridge), then admire the azulejos at São Bento Station. Pop into Livraria Lello (arrive early with a timed voucher) and climb the Torre dos Clérigos for a final city sweep. Swing by the revamped Mercado do Bolhão for fruit, cheeses, and last-minute treats.

Afternoon: Lunch at Casa Guedes (pork sandwich with Serra cheese) or Taberna Santo António (daily specials). Ride Metro line E to OPO airport (about 30 minutes) for your flight. For intra-Europe routes, check Omio Flights; for long-haul connections compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional/Alternate Tour Picks

If you’d like to swap in other tours, consider one of these popular options:

• Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise

  

• Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon

  

• Lisbon Small-Group Portuguese Food and Wine Tour

  

Dining Cheat Sheet (Favorites to Bookmark)

• Lisbon breakfast/coffee: Fábrica Coffee Roasters; Copenhagen Coffee Lab; Manteigaria (nata).
• Lisbon lunch/dinner: Cervejaria Ramiro; Solar dos Presuntos; Taberna da Rua das Flores; Zé da Mouraria; Time Out Market (curated stalls); Ponto Final across the river for sunset views.
• Porto breakfast/coffee: Combi Coffee Roasters; Café Majestic for Belle Époque atmosphere; 7g Roaster in Gaia.
• Porto lunch/dinner: Casa Guedes (pork + Serra cheese sandwich); Adega São Nicolau; Brasão Cervejaria Aliados (francesinha); Cantina 32; Taberna Santo António.

In one week you’ll trace Portugal’s story from Lisbon’s Age of Discovery monuments to Porto’s wine lodges, with a fairytale interlude in Sintra and a vine-laced Douro cruise. Keep this guide handy—its neighborhood tips, day trips, and transport notes make it easy to relive the highlights and plan your return.