10 days · Lisbon (3 nights), Sintra + Cascais day trip (from Lisbon), Porto (2 nights), Algarve/Lagos (3 nights)
The itinerary runs Lisbon → Porto → Algarve, avoiding backtracking. Sintra and Cascais are handled as a single efficient day trip from Lisbon before heading north to Porto, then south to the Algarve by flight — the fastest and most cost-effective way to cover this geography in 10 days.
Getting around: Trains for Lisbon–Porto (fast Alfa Pendular), a budget domestic flight for Porto–Faro (cheaper and quicker than a 6-hour bus or train), local buses and tuk-tuks within cities, Rentalies/local car hire in the Algarve for coastal flexibility.
Where to stay: Lisbon: Mouraria or Príncipe Real (central, walkable, authentic). Porto: Bonfim or Cedofeita (local neighbourhood feel, close to Ribeira without tourist premium). Algarve: Lagos old town (best base for western Algarve beaches and evening life).
Estimated total: €550–800 per person, excluding accommodation (based on mid-range food, public transport, and key paid attractions)
Settle in near Mouraria or Príncipe Real, then walk to a neighbourhood café for a galão (milky espresso) and a tosta mista or pastel de nata — budget around €3–5.
Drop bags at accommodation (check-in usually from 15:00, but you can leave luggage). Take a slow 30-minute walk through Mouraria's tiled streets and small squares to get a feel for the city rhythm. No agenda — just observe.
Lisbon's best-kept panoramic viewpoint with a classic kiosk and fewer tourists than Portas do Sol. Superb view over the Alfama rooftops and the Tejo. Walk or take a short taxi/Uber (~€5) if arriving tired.
Small, unpretentious tascas in Mouraria serve honest bifanas, chouriço assado and bacalhau à brás without tourist markups. Arrive early — they fill fast. · €12–18
Walk downhill from Graça through Alfama's narrow lanes to the Igreja de São Vicente de Fora (gorgeous azulejo panels, ~€5 entry) and the National Pantheon. If it's Tuesday or Saturday, Feira da Ladra flea market fills the Campo de Santa Clara — great for vintage browsing.
Catch historic Tram 28 from Alfama uphill for one or two stops — not the full tourist loop, just the famous steep section through Graça for the authentic rattling experience. Buy a Viva Viagem card (€0.50) and top up; single fare ~€3.
Return to accommodation, check in properly if not done earlier, and relax for an hour.
These Mouraria neighbourhood spots are popular with locals — expect seasonal sharing plates, excellent house wine and no tourist menus. Book ahead for O Corvo especially. · €18–25
Mouraria is fado's birthplace. Several small venues (A Severa, Tasca do Chico if open) offer authentic fado vadio (amateur fado) evenings — often free or with a small drink minimum. Arrive by 21:00. Avoid the overpriced packaged 'fado dinners' in Alfama.
Pastéis de Belém — the original, since 1837. Queue is usually 10–15 minutes; worth it. Order 2–3 pastéis de nata sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Café galão alongside. ~€5.
Take the 15E electric tram from Praça do Comércio to Belém (~25 min, €3 with Viva Viagem card) or Uber (~€8, 15 min). Arrive early — Belém gets crowded by 11:00.
Portugal's most iconic Manueline monument on the Tejo. Visit early to beat crowds. Pre-book tickets online (€6–8, estimate). Exterior is as beautiful as interior — allow time to photograph from the riverside walkway.
One of Portugal's finest buildings — an extraordinary Manueline cloister. Pre-book tickets (~€10–12). Spend time in the double-storey cloister and the Church of Santa Maria de Belém where Vasco da Gama is buried. Go on a weekday morning for best light and fewer people.
Return towards central Lisbon for lunch. Tasca da Esquina in Campo de Ourique does beautifully executed modern Portuguese — book ahead. Or grab a bifana and Super Bock at a Chiado café for ~€8. · €14–20
Explore the elegant Chiado neighbourhood — Livraria Bertrand (world's oldest operating bookshop, free entry), Rua Garrett boutiques, the beautiful Igreja do Carmo ruins (€5, hauntingly open-roofed after 1755 earthquake). Walk uphill into Bairro Alto's narrow grid.
Skip the tourist food stalls — visit the original fresh produce market at the front. Walk through for atmosphere. If you want a snack, the market section has good vendors but is pricier than local tascas.
Walk along the riverfront promenade at Praça do Comércio — free, excellent Tejo views, great for photos at golden hour. Stroll up through the Baixa's grid streets to Praça do Rossio.
Solar dos Presuntos is a Lisbon institution — smoked meats, ameijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams), excellent wine list. Book 2–3 days ahead. Taberna da Rua das Flores is smaller, more intimate, equally excellent. · €22–35
Bairro Alto comes alive after 22:00. Small bars spill onto the narrow streets — grab a ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur, ~€1.50 a shot) at a street kiosk in Largo de São Domingos first, then wander the bars. Keep an eye on belongings in busy alleys.
Early breakfast at Rossio train station café — coffee and croissant (~€3). Board the Sintra train by 08:30 to arrive before day-trippers.
CP train from Rossio station direct to Sintra — runs every 20 minutes, ~40 min journey, ~€2.25 each way. Extremely reliable. Arrive ~09:10.
Sintra's crown jewel — a flamboyantly colourful Romanticist palace perched above the clouds. Pre-book tickets online (€14–18 estimate, palace + park). Take the tuk-tuk or bus 434 up from the village (~€6 return) — the walk up is steep and takes 45 minutes. Arrive early to photograph the palace without crowds. Allow time to walk the ramparts for panoramic views.
Walk 10–15 minutes downhill from Pena along a forest path to the Moorish castle — dramatic medieval walls hugging a rocky ridge with sweeping Atlantic views. Tickets ~€8. Less visited than Pena but equally photogenic.
Descend to the village for Sintra's two signature pastries: travesseiros (puff pastry with almond cream) and queijadas (fresh cheese tarts) at Piriquita — a Sintra institution since 1862. Light and cheap. Pair with a coffee. · €8–14
Take the CP train back towards Lisbon, change at Oeiras or Cais do Sodré for the Cascais line. Total journey ~1 hr, ~€4. Cascais is a charming coastal resort town — much more relaxed than Sintra.
Walk the pretty pedestrianised streets of Cascais old town. The covered market (Mercado da Vila) has excellent local cheese, seafood and produce. The Museu do Mar and Citadel are free/low cost if curious.
Cascais has small, sheltered Atlantic beaches right in the town — ideal for a swim or to sit with an ice cream. For something wilder, take a 20-minute walk (or Uber, ~€5) to Praia do Guincho — a vast, windswept Atlantic beach backed by dunes.
A 20-minute walk west along the coastal path from Cascais brings you to this dramatic rocky sea cave where waves crash through an arch. Free, spectacular at any season. Watch waves from the clifftop — do not climb barriers.
Cascais is a fishing town at heart. Grilled sea bass (robalo), barnacles (perceves) and fried cuttlefish are specialities. A Tasquinha is unpretentious and popular with locals. · €16–24
Cascais to Cais do Sodré (central Lisbon) takes ~40 min by train, runs until late (~€2.25). Evening free for a final Lisbon wander or early night before tomorrow's Porto travel.
Last Lisbon breakfast — head to A Padaria Portuguesa or any neighbourhood padaria for fresh bread rolls (papo-secos), butter and a bica (espresso). ~€3–4.
If it's Saturday, the Príncipe Real organic market (Jardim do Príncipe Real) is a beautiful way to spend an hour — local cheese, honey, bread, vegetables. Otherwise, take a quiet morning walk through the neighbourhood before the day heats up.
Metro or Uber to Santa Apolónia station (~15 min from Baixa). Check in luggage and board Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Porto Campanhã.
Portugal's best inter-city train — comfortable, punctual, scenic Douro Valley sections. ~2 hrs 45 min. Book in advance online (CP website or app) for best prices. Arrive Porto Campanhã ~12:45; connect by metro to central Porto (São Bento) in 10 min (~€1.50).
Drop bags at accommodation and head straight to the renovated Mercado do Bolhão. The restored market has excellent local stalls — bacalhau, cured meats, fresh bread. Grab lunch here or at a nearby tasca on Rua de Santa Catarina. · €10–16
Porto's extraordinary neo-Gothic bookshop, claimed as an inspiration for Harry Potter's Hogwarts library (disputed, but no less beautiful). Pre-book a timed entry ticket online (~€5, redeemable against book purchase). Arrive at your timed slot — queues without pre-booking can be very long.
Walk five minutes to the Igreja do Carmo — its entire exterior side wall is covered in a sweeping 18th-century azulejo panel (free to view from outside). Climb the Torre dos Clérigos for the best aerial view of Porto's terracotta rooftops (~€5–8). Arrive before 17:00 for best light.
Wander the streets of Bonfim (east) or Cedofeita (west of centre) — Porto's hip local neighbourhoods with independent coffee shops, small galleries and tiled building facades. Far fewer tourists than Ribeira. Pick up supplies at a mini-mercado.
Zé Prego does Porto's best prego no pão (steak sandwich) alongside excellent wine. For a sit-down meal, Adega São Nicolau near the Ribeira has honest grilled fish, bacalhau and local wine without the tourist-trap riverside pricing. · €16–25
After dinner, walk down to the illuminated Ribeira waterfront. The Dom Luís I Bridge is spectacular at night — cross the lower level on foot for free (about 10 minutes across). Look back at Porto's hillside skyline from the Vila Nova de Gaia side. Find a wine bar by the water for a glass of white or young Vinho Verde.
Café Guarany on Avenida dos Aliados or any corner café — order a meia de leite and a pastel de nata or uma torrada (thick toast). ~€3–5. Afterwards, take in the grandiose façade of the Câmara Municipal (City Hall) across the Avenida.
One of the world's most beautiful train stations — entirely free to enter, no ticket required. The main hall is covered in ~20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history by Jorge Colaço. Allow 20–30 minutes.
Porto's Romanesque cathedral is austere and powerful — the silver altarpiece and Gothic cloister are worth the small entry (~€3). The terrace beside the Bishop's Palace has arguably the finest view of the Douro gorge below. Walk down the medieval lanes of Barredo to the riverfront.
Walk across the upper deck of the iconic iron bridge (free, breathtaking views). This is Porto's most dramatic crossing — look down at the rabelo boats and the Ribeira below.
Vila Nova de Gaia is lined with the famous port wine lodges (caves). Choose Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Crasto or Ferreira for a guided cellar tour and tasting — typically €15–25 and includes 2–3 pours. Book ahead online. This is genuinely different from a wine tasting elsewhere — 200-year-old barrels, the unmistakable port aroma, real context.
DOP in Palácio das Artes is the splurge option — Michelin-quality at lunch without the dinner prices. O Afonso is a more affordable local option near the bridge with excellent grilled meats and tripas à moda do Porto. · €18–30
The francesinha is Porto's defining dish — a beer-and-meat sandwich drowned in a spicy tomato-beer sauce. Try Café Santiago (the most famous) or Lado B for their version. Not a meal for the faint-hearted. Worth experiencing once. ~€12–15.
Walk back through the old Sé district and up to the Miradouro da Vitória — a small, local viewpoint above the university that offers a fantastic elevated view across the Ribeira and rooftops, with far fewer crowds than the main belvederes.
Porto's bohemian art gallery street — dozens of independent galleries, design shops and street art. Free to browse. The Cedofeita neighbourhood spills off here with excellent coffee at Moustache or Combi Coffee.
Brasão serves excellent francesinha, tripas à moda do Porto and Super Bock on tap — a proper Porto tavern atmosphere. Tasca da Vaninha is tiny, local and does the best daily specials in Bonfim. · €14–22
Take the historic Tram 1 (if operating) or a 15-minute Uber to Foz do Douro — where the Douro meets the Atlantic. Walk the ocean-facing promenade at Jardim do Passeio Alegre as the sun sets over the sea. Small bars and seafood restaurants dot the coastline. Quieter and more local than Ribeira at night.
Quick café breakfast near accommodation (~€4). Pack bags and check out.
Metro Line E (Violet) from Trindade station direct to the airport — ~35 min, ~€2. Alternatively Uber ~€20. Allow 90 min before domestic flight.
Domestic flights Porto–Faro are frequently operated by Ryanair, Vueling or TAP — typically €25–70 booked in advance, ~1 hr 10 min. Book 4–6 weeks ahead. Far faster and often cheaper than the 6-hour train via Lisbon.
Eva/Rede Expressos bus from Faro airport to Lagos: ~2 hrs, ~€6–8, runs several times daily. Or collect a pre-booked hire car (local companies like Luso Rent are cheaper than international chains) — highly recommended for Algarve flexibility. Lagos is 75km from Faro (~1 hr drive on the A22 via-verde toll road).
Arrive in Lagos and eat lunch first. A Forja is a local legend — grilled fish, cataplana (Algarve seafood stew) and cold Sagres beer. Busy at weekends, arrive by 13:00. · €12–18
Drop bags at accommodation in the old town (stay within the medieval walls — central, walkable and atmospheric). Wander the cobbled Rua 25 de Abril, peek into the Igreja de Santo António (free, gilded Baroque interior), and walk the old town walls above the harbour.
These two small beaches are a 5-minute walk from the old town — sheltered, calm and perfect for a first Atlantic swim. Golden cliffs frame both beaches. Quiet in shoulder season, busier in summer.
Mar d'Histórias is one of the Algarve's most charming restaurants — set in a tiled old building, cataplana de marisco (seafood cataplana for two, ordered in advance) is the dish to order. Book ahead. Adega da Marina is more informal, great for whole grilled fish. · €18–28
Lagos has a lively but not overwhelming bar scene on Rua Soeiro da Costa and Rua Ferrador. The town is compact and safe to walk at night. End the evening at a rooftop bar for Algarve night views — Phoenix Bar or similar. Early night is also wise after a travel day.
Pastelaria Mota (Lagos institution) — local pastries, bica, toast. ~€4. Alternatively, pick up fresh ingredients from the covered Mercado de Lagos for a picnic later.
The golden limestone sea arches and grottos of Ponta da Piedade are the Algarve's most spectacular coastal feature. Take a morning kayak tour (2 hrs, ~€30–35) departing from Lagos beach — you paddle through sea caves and arches impossible to reach on foot. Book the day before. Alternatively, join a small motorboat tour (~€20, 1 hr) from the marina.
After the water activity, drive or walk (20 min from Lagos centre) to the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse viewpoint. The clifftop path offers the best aerial view of the rock formations. Free. Most photogenic in morning light.
Praia do Camilo is a tiny, stunning cove reached by wooden stairs. The small beach bar serves grilled sardines, cold beer and salads with feet-in-the-sand views. Arrive by 12:30 for a table. · €10–18
Two of the Algarve's most photographed beaches — golden sandstone arches, clear turquoise water. Both accessible from Lagos by car (5 min) or a 30-min clifftop walk. Praia Dona Ana has sunbed hire (~€10/day). Praia do Camilo is smaller and more dramatic.
Return to Lagos and visit the covered market — excellent local honey, fig rolls, dried figs, almond sweets (Dom Rodrigos) and regional cheeses. Great for edible souvenirs. Open mornings primarily.
A Praça does excellent small plates — ameijoas, percebes, octopus carpaccio — perfect for a lighter evening after a beach day. Casinha do Petisco is cosy and does regional Algarvian sharing dishes with excellent local wine. · €15–24
A 15-minute walk north of Lagos, Praia do Porto de Mós faces west and is one of the best sunset spots in the area. Wide, uncrowded beach — bring a drink and watch the Atlantic sunset before heading into town for dinner.
Local café in Lagos old town, then drive west (~30 min, 30km) to Sagres. Bring water and snacks — facilities are limited at the cape.
Car hire makes this easy (~€15–20/day for a small car). The road west from Lagos through the Costa Vicentina is spectacular — windswept, increasingly wild. Sagres is at the very edge of Europe.
The vast windswept fortress where Henry the Navigator planned Portugal's Age of Discovery. Entry ~€3. The Rosa dos Ventos (enormous stone compass rose inside the fort) is mysterious and moving. The clifftops give vertigo-inducing Atlantic views. Far less visited than Algarve beach towns — surprisingly powerful.
Drive 6km to the southwestern-most point of continental Europe — a 75-metre cliff above the ocean. The lighthouse stands guard above where Portuguese explorers once set out to map the world. Buy a certificate of arrival at the lighthouse shop. Wild, windswept, and completely free. One of the most dramatic spots in Portugal.
Sagres is a genuine fishing port. Vila Velha does excellent fresh tuna and grilled fish at honest prices. O Telheiro is more rustic — incredible views of Mareta beach from the terrace. · €14–22
Praia do Beliche is a dramatic, sheltered cove below the cliffs near Cabo de São Vicente — accessed by steep stairs, rewards with flat water protected from Atlantic swell. Praia da Mareta in Sagres village is wider and easier. Both are far less crowded than eastern Algarve beaches.
Return to Lagos via the IC4. Optional detour: Praia da Bordeira (near Carrapateira) — a vast, empty Costa Vicentina beach with a river delta and boardwalk. One of the most beautiful and least-visited beaches in the Algarve. Add ~30 minutes to the return journey.
If not detouring, dinner back in Lagos. Bon Bon in Carvoeiro is a Michelin-starred splurge (€80–120 tasting menu) worth it for a special evening. Otherwise keep Lagos dinner relaxed after a full day of driving. · €20–30
The western Algarve has some of the darkest skies in Europe. On a clear evening, drive or walk to an empty beach or the clifftops near Lagos — the Milky Way is visible with no equipment needed. Bring a blanket.
Slow breakfast at a Lagos café or self-catering. This is the itinerary's intentional slower day — a chance to revisit a favourite beach, explore at leisure or do nothing.
Drive 15 minutes east to Alvor — a charming fishing village with a remarkable wooden boardwalk threading through the estuary lagoon and sand dunes. The views of the Ria de Alvor and the vast beach beyond are stunning. Free to walk. Very local feel, excellent birdwatching.
Alvor's small historic centre is whitewashed and unhurried — the 16th-century Manueline church portal is a hidden gem. Local ceramic and linen shops line the lanes. Much less touristy than Lagos.
Alvor's waterfront restaurants serve freshly caught fish at prices lower than Lagos — grilled bream (dourada), fried calamari and the freshest ameijoas you'll find anywhere. Watch the fishing boats while you eat. · €12–18
A long, wide, west-facing beach backed by dunes — one of the longest stretches in the western Algarve. Uncrowded outside peak summer. Ideal for a long afternoon swim, walk or reading on the sand.
Return to Lagos for a final browse of the old town shops — Dom Rodrigos almond sweets, local honey, Algarve ceramics and cork items make excellent gifts and pack flat. Mercado de Lagos or artisan shops on Rua 25 de Abril.
A proper sit-down farewell dinner in Lagos. O Camponês does traditional bacalhau no forno (baked salt cod) and slow-cooked lamb. Order a bottle of Alentejo red — the region just north produces exceptional wine at excellent prices. · €20–30
Walk the old town walls one last time in the evening light. The Praça Gil Eanes and surrounding squares are lively but relaxed. A final glass of medronho (arbutus berry spirit, the Algarve's traditional liqueur) at a local bar is a fitting close to the trip.
Final Portuguese breakfast — pastel de nata and galão at a Lagos café near the accommodation. Slow, no rush. Pack the night before to keep this morning stress-free.
One last wander through Lagos old town at its quietest — early morning when the cobblestones are empty and the light is beautiful. The Praça da República and the castle walls are particularly lovely before the day-trippers arrive.
Faro Airport is ~75km east of Lagos — approximately 1 hour by car on the A22 (toll road, ~€4–5 in tolls with Via Verde or cash payment). Return hire car at the airport. Allow 2 hours before departure. Alternatively, Eva bus Lagos→Faro (~€8, 2 hrs) if not using a car.
If departing in the afternoon, Faro's old town (Cidade Velha) is 10 minutes from the airport by taxi (~€10) and has lovely café options in the walled historic quarter — the Cathedral and Roman walls are worth a 30-minute look if the schedule allows. · €10–18
Check in, drop bags, browse duty-free for Portuguese wine, pastéis de nata or regional products. Nothing is booked or rushed on this final half-day.
No dinner in Portugal on departure day — plan for airport or destination. · €10–15
Fly home with a suitcase heavier in memories, pastéis de nata and cork products.
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