Romantic 14-Day Portugal Itinerary: Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve (Lagos)

A two-week romantic journey through Portugal’s pastel cities, wine-draped valleys, and golden beaches—perfect for sightseeing, coffee shop hopping, museums, shopping, wine tasting, and catching a match.
A picturesque lighthouse set against a dramatic cloudy sky in Portugal, evoking a sense of calm and tranquility.
Photo by Tiana on Pexels

Portugal wears its history lightly but beautifully—from Phoenicians and Romans to the Age of Discovery, when Lisbon’s mariners set out to redraw the world map. Today, Manueline churches share cobbled streets with sleek museums and third-wave coffee bars. You’ll taste custard tarts hot from the oven, sip tawny port where the river meets the sea, and end evenings with Atlantic sunsets that seem made for two.

This 14-day itinerary blends Lisbon’s grand squares and tram-laced hills, Porto’s port wine cellars and tiled facades, and the Algarve’s honeyed cliffs around Lagos. It’s paced for romance and discovery, with day trips to Sintra’s storybook palaces and the Douro’s vineyard terraces. Expect plenty of café time, photogenic viewpoints, and markets where you can shop for azulejos, cork, and ceramics.

Practical notes: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely understood in cities. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small tasca meals and markets. Comfortable shoes are essential (hills and cobblestones), and public transit is reliable. Tipping is modest (round up, or ~5–10% for table service). Football (soccer) is a national passion—try to catch a game for a true local night out.

Lisbon

Sunlit miradouros, azulejo-clad facades, and trams that squeal through Alfama—Lisbon is a romantic stage set with a soulful soundtrack. Spend your days between the riverfront in Belém, lively Baixa and Chiado for shopping, and Príncipe Real for indie boutiques and leafy gardens.

Arriving in Lisbon: For flights into Lisbon (LIS), compare fares and times on Omio (Flights). If you’re piecing together multi-leg trips from outside Europe, you can also search global routes on Trip.com (Flights). In the city, use metro and trams; rideshares fill gaps late at night.

Days 1–5: Hills, palaces, streetcar lines, and cafés

  • Sightseeing highlights: Alfama (get lost and find fado doorways), Sé Cathedral, Castelo de São Jorge at golden hour, Baixa’s Pombaline grid, Chiado’s bookshops, and riverfront Belém for Jerónimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. Architecture buffs should add MAAT (contemporary museum) and the National Tile Museum for a crash course in azulejo artistry.
  • Day trip to Sintra & Cascais: A fairy-tale detour to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira’s mystical wells, and windswept Cabo da Roca, then stroll Cascais’s seaside promenade and boutique lanes.
  • Museums & culture: Calouste Gulbenkian (European masterworks), Berardo Collection (modern), and a fado evening in Alfama or Mouraria.
  • Shopping: Chiado for classic Portuguese brands, Príncipe Real’s Embaixada (concept mall in a 19th-century palace), and LX Factory’s design stores under the 25 de Abril Bridge.
  • Sports: Check schedules for SL Benfica (Estádio da Luz) or Sporting CP (Estádio José Alvalade). On non-match nights, watch football with locals at The Couch Sports Bar (famous for wall-to-wall screens and big-game atmosphere).

Eat & drink (romance-friendly and mid-budget):

  • Coffee & breakfast: Fábrica Coffee Roasters (specialty beans, flat whites), Hello, Kristof (Scandi vibes, granola and toasties), Manteigaria (still-warm pastéis de nata—grab two).
  • Lunch: Time Out Market’s standout counters (try Marlene Vieira’s seafood or O Prego da Peixaria for a garlicky prego sandwich), Zé da Mouraria (homey cod and grilled meats; go early), Mercado de Campo de Ourique (local food hall with fewer tourists).
  • Dinner: Solar dos Presuntos (seafood rice and monkfish, old-school glamour), Cervejaria Ramiro (clam feast, tiger prawns; order the prego for dessert), Bairro do Avillez (modern Portuguese in a lively multi-space setting).
  • Sweets: Pastéis de Belém in Belém—still the original, best enjoyed outside under the plane trees.

Handpicked experiences (align with your interests):

Where to stay (mid-range focus, with options):

Next stop: Porto. Take a morning train from Lisbon Santa Apolónia or Oriente to Porto Campanhã. The Alfa Pendular takes ~2h50; Intercidades ~3h15. Typical fares ~€25–40; book and check schedules on Omio (Trains in Europe). Buses can be similar in price but slower; if you prefer, compare on Omio (Buses).

Porto

Granite baroque churches, blue-tiled stations, and the dramatic sweep of the Douro—Porto is intimate and cinematic at once. On one bank you’ll wander medieval Ribeira lanes; across the bridge in Vila Nova de Gaia, centuries-old lodges age port in oak and granite cellars.

Days 6–9: Port wine, river views, bookstores, and design

  • Old Porto on foot: São Bento Station’s azulejo panels, the Clérigos Tower (climb for two-river views), and Ribeira’s embankment, where café tables meet the water. Cross Dom Luís I bridge at sunset.
  • Bookish romance: Livraria Lello’s neo-Gothic staircases are famously photogenic—go early or late for thinner crowds.
  • Art & gardens: Serralves: a minimalist museum by Álvaro Siza with sculpture gardens perfect for a quiet stroll.
  • Shopping: Mercado do Bolhão (fresh produce, local bites), Rua de Santa Catarina (pedestrian shopping), and artisan shops in Miragaia.
  • Sports: FC Porto at Estádio do Dragão; museum and stadium tours run on non-match days.

Wine & culture day trips from Porto:

Eat & drink (hearty and romantic):

  • Coffee & breakfast: Combi Coffee Roasters (micro-roastery, pour-overs), Fabrica Coffee Roasters Porto (espresso and pastel de nata pairing).
  • Lunch: Casa Guedes (iconic pork and Serra cheese sandes), Gazela (hot-dog “cachorrinhos” and a cold Super Bock), or Mercado do Bolhão’s cooked-to-order fish counters.
  • Dinner: Brasão Cervejaria Aliados (share a francesinha or wood-fired steaks), Adega São Nicolau (tiny riverside spot for octopus and tripas à moda do Porto), Cantinho do Avillez (creative Portuguese plates without pretense).
  • Wine bars: Prova (expert flights of Douro and Dão), Capela Incomum (candlelit, set inside an old chapel—irresistibly romantic).

Where to stay:

Next stop: Lagos (Algarve). From Porto, the fastest route is a morning bus to Lagos in ~5h30–6h for ~€25–35—compare departures on Omio (Buses). Trains take ~6–6h30 with a change (usually in Tunes) and run ~€25–45; check times and seats on Omio (Trains). If you’d rather break up the trip, ride Porto→Lisbon (~3h) then Lisbon→Lagos (~3h45 bus or ~4h30 train).

Lagos (Algarve)

Lagos is the Algarve’s romantic postcard: scalloped coves, caramel cliffs, and a walkable old town scented with orange blossoms and grilled sardines. Days slide by between cliff walks at Ponta da Piedade, boat trips to sea caves, and long seafood lunches.

Days 10–14: Clifftop strolls, beach hopping, markets, and slow evenings

  • Beaches & viewpoints: Praia Dona Ana’s sheltered sands, Praia do Camilo’s wooden steps to turquoise water, and the Ponta da Piedade path for sunset—it’s pure gold for photographers.
  • On the water: Take a small-boat grotto tour to see hidden arches and sea stacks up close. For a calm, romantic pace, choose a morning slot when the ocean is gentler.
  • Wander & shop: Lagos Old Town for ceramics, cork accessories, summer linens; stop at the fish market for a window into daily life.
  • Day options: Surf lesson at Meia Praia, a lazy beach day at Praia do Porto de Mós, or a drive to Sagres’s sea-cliff fortress for big-sky horizons.
  • Sports: In summer, beach volleyball and surf culture dominate; during football season, watch Liga Portugal matches in town pubs with locals.

Eat & drink (sea-breezy and shareable):

  • Coffee & breakfast: Goji Lounge Café (fresh juices, pancakes), Coffee & Waves (espresso, smoothie bowls), Pastelaria Gombá (classic pastries to go).
  • Lunch: O Camilo (above the beach—order cataplana for two), A Forja (no-frills grill, daily catch), or a picnic from Pingo Doce with cliffside views.
  • Dinner: Casa do Prego (petiscos and rooftop cocktails), Camilo restaurant at sunset (book ahead), Don Sebastião (Algarvian specialties in the old town).
  • Wine time: Ask for Algarve’s Crato Branco or Negra Mole by the glass; coastal whites pair beautifully with shellfish.

Where to stay:

Departing the Algarve: Lagos→Faro Airport: train to Faro (~1h45) plus local transfer, or direct bus (~2h); compare on Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses). For flights out of Faro or back to Lisbon/Porto to connect home, check options on Omio (Flights). If you’re returning to Lisbon by bus, expect ~3h45–4h15.

Budget notes (aimed at your 50/100 target)

  • Transit over taxis: intercity trains/buses keep costs in check and are comfortable.
  • Mix restaurants and tascas: share a seafood cataplana one night, then try daily menus (pratos do dia) the next.
  • Coffee culture is affordable: an espresso (bica) is often under €2; pastry + coffee breakfasts are easy on the wallet.
  • Free viewpoints: Lisbon’s Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Porto’s upper bridge deck deliver million-euro views for free.

Trip-at-a-glance (multi-day blocks)

  • Days 1–5: Lisbon – Historic neighborhoods, Belém monuments, markets and shopping, tuk-tuk overview, food & wine tour, Sintra & Cascais day trip, fado evening.
  • Days 6–9: Porto – Old town and Ribeira, Lello, Serralves, port wine lodges, Douro Valley day tour with tastings and river cruise, riverside dining.
  • Days 10–14: Lagos (Algarve) – Beaches and cliff walks, grotto boat ride, seafood lunches, slow evenings in the old town; depart from Faro or return to Lisbon.

Two weeks in Portugal gives you time to savor its rhythm—strong coffee at sunrise, blue tiles at noon, and sunsets poured like port. With trains and buses linking hilltop palaces, wine valleys, and ocean coves, this itinerary keeps things romantic and relaxed without sacrificing the highlights. You’ll leave with sand in your shoes, fado in your head, and a soft spot for tiles and terrace views.

Ready to book your trip?

Search Hotels
Search Homes

Trending Trips

Traveling somewhere else?

Generate a custom itinerary