Are you thinking about visiting Portugal? I recently spent more than a month in Portugal, and based on my experiences I narrowed down the best of the best into a ten-day Portugal itinerary that showcases many of the country’s best cities, towns and villages, without the need for a rental car. I love traveling around Europe by bus and train, and Portugal is an easy country to explore without the cost and stress of renting a car.
This itinerary is solo female traveler-approved (I was solo on my own trip) but it would also be ideal for couples or families who are looking for a logical route across Portugal that offers a good variety of different things to see and do. You’ll visit big cities, charming towns and even a medieval village (or two!), returning home with a better understanding of the amazing diversity of this up-and-coming European destination.
10-Day Portugal Itinerary: An Overview
I designed this 10-day Portugal itinerary based on my own travels in Portugal without a car. I spent a month crossing the country using only buses and trains and was impressed by how many different places I could easily visit without needing to rent a car.
I was in Portugal in July and August, and some trains and buses sold out. Thus, if you don’t have a lot of flexibility in your schedule I suggest that you buy any intercity bus or train tickets online as soon as you know your travel dates. For day trips via regional trains and commuter trains you can just buy your tickets that morning.
One of the surprising things I learned about traveling in Portugal is that the train system waits for delayed trains. Almost all of my trains were late, but they held the next train to allow arriving passengers to make their connections. This definitely relieved a lot of stress, but it also meant that pretty much every train I took was late. On the other hand, buses were typically frequent and on time.
⭐ For a quick overview of my most memorable excursions and tours in Portugal, click here. ⭐
My 10-day Portugal itinerary starts and ends in Lisbon, since the airport there serves many more routes than the airport in Porto. However, if you are able to book an open-jaw ticket you can add about five hours of sightseeing time in Porto if you can fly home directly from there.
At the end of this ten-day Portugal itinerary you will also find an optional extension to the Algarve Coast in the south of Portugal. With only ten days, it’s hard to justify the four hours (each way) you’d need to reach any of the nicer cities and towns on the coast. However, if you can extend your trip for two full weeks, it would be nice to have some time on the beach at the end.
Day 1 – Lisbon
Hotel Recommendation: Lisbon Cheese & Wine Suites or Bairro Alto Hotel
Welcome to Portugal! Bem-vindo a Portugal! The Lisbon International Airport is connected to the city center by metro, so it shouldn’t take long for you to drop off your luggage at your accommodation – two great options are linked above.
If you’re happy just to stroll, then you don’t really need to plan much in advance. If you want to visit Lisbon’s main tourist attractions, though, I would recommend getting a Lisbon Card, which includes free access to 50+ attractions in Lisbon (including most of the big ones). A 24- or 48-hour card is a good value, while the 72-hour card is the best value if you plan to visit Belem on Day 3 (see below).
If you purchase your Lisbon Card online in advance you can redeem your voucher at the “Ask Me Lisboa” booth at the airport (in the arrivals area) or at one of their booths in the city center (there’s one at the Cais do Sodre station and there’s another at the Lisbon Story Centre in Praca do Comercio).
You can easily spend your first day exploring the historic city center, in the districts known as Rossio and Baixa-Chiado. Here, you’ll find black-and-white tiled sidewalks leading you past the archeological site on Rua dos Correeiros (reservation required), the National Museum of Contemporary Art and the elaborate Santa Justa Elevator. Eventually you’ll reach the Arco da Rua Augusta (shown below) that opens into the expansive the Praca do Comercio.
From here, it’s an easy walk along the water to the Cais do Sodre neighborhood, where a few blocks past the train station you’ll find the bustling Time Out Market (where upscale restauranteurs opened innovative, affordable food stalls) and Lisbon’s famous pink street, which is good for a quick photo stop but there is better food and drink in the market.
Day 2 – Lisbon
If you get an early start on your second day in Portugal then you can have one of the city’s most iconic experiences without having to wait in line for hours. Make your way to Campo do Ourique (Prazeres) to hop on board the famous yellow Tram #28E, which crosses the city in about an hour (depending on traffic). It will drop you off at Praca Martim Moniz, which is not far from the Castelo de San Jorge.
From the castle, you can walk downhill through the most historic district in the city: Alfama. Lisbon was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1755 that leveled nearly all of the city, except (miraculously) this one district. In Alfama, you’re literally stepping back into Lisbon’s history. On your way down you’ll pass some old squares, several panoramic lookout points and many old churches (opening hours seem random).
As you reach the bottom of Alfama’s hill you’ll find yourself at the Fado Museum. You’ll have an opportunity to hear fado later on this ten-day Portugal itinerary (in Coimbra) so I would skip it unless you have a particular musical interest. Instead, walk back towards Praca do Comercio, stopping en route at the Cathedral, which is worth a visit.
Day 3 – Day Trip to Cascais, Belem or Sintra
Today, you’re going to leave Lisbon to explore one of the popular day trip destinations around the city. Three of the most popular (and easiest!) choices include Cascais, Belem and Sintra.
Option A: Day Trip to Cascais
Cascais is a beautiful Art Nouveau resort town an hour down the coast from Lisbon. It is accessible via a commuter train that runs regularly from the Cais do Sodre station to the town.
There are quite a few different things to do in Cascais, including art museums, architectural monuments and, of course, beautiful beaches.
On a day trip from Lisbon, you could plan to spend half a day exploring the town and half a day relaxing on one of the beaches. Praia de Santa Marta, shown above, is a few minutes from the town center, near the historic lighthouse. The water here is clean and sheltered, but there’s no much sand. If you’d prefer to rent a beach chair and umbrella on a sandy beach, Praia da Conceicao and Praia da Duquesa (in front of the train station) are great options.
Option B: Day Trip to Belem
Belem is an even easier day trip from Lisbon than Cascais, as it’s on the same commuter train line but it’s only halfway along the route. So, you can travel from Lisbon to Belem in about half an hour.
Belem is famous for several things: the Belem Tower (shown above), the Jeronimos Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and its status as the birthplace of Portugal’s famous pastel de nata (egg custard tart). You’ll have to queue for all three, but it’s worth it.
After you’ve checked off Belem’s three most famous draws, there are several other fun things to do in Belem. You can walk along the waterfront to the Monument of Discoveries, take a boat tour along the Tagus River or visit the futuristic Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology.
On your way back to Lisbon from Belem, consider stopping at LX Factory. This former textile factory has been converted into a trendy shopping district with independent boutiques, bars, restaurants and art galleries.
Option C: Sintra
Trains depart from Lisbon’s Rossio station to Sintra every twenty minutes or so, and the journey takes about forty minutes. Upon arrival, you’ll find the famous town perched atop the hill overhead.
The most famous attraction in Sintra (and the one that you’ll want to reserve and visit first) is the colorful Pena Palace, shown above. Nearby, the Moorish Castle offers stunning views of the Portuguese landscape. After visiting the two it makes sense to take a lunch break, and then afterwards head over to Quinta da Regaleria, another palace with beautiful gardens and a famous spiraling well.
Local bus #434 does a circuit of Sintra, hitting all of the famous attractions and saving you from having to trek up the hill. You can buy a day pass or a single ticket for the bus – it’s a little bit pricey but it’s much cheaper than trying to get around in taxis and tuk-tuks.
🏰 Tour Option: You can combine Sintra and Cascais on a full-day group tour if you don’t mind moving at a quick pace. 🏰
Full Disclosure: I did not go to Sintra! I was in Lisbon at the time of a major international event that drew more than 1.5 million additional tourists (above the normal number) and I’d heard the crowds and lines in Sintra were unbearable, so I’m saving it for next time.
Day 4 – Obidos
Hotel Recommendation: Casa Lidador Obidos
This morning, check out of your hotel in Lisbon and head to the Campo Grande bus terminal to catch one of the frequent buses to Obidos. This medieval town feels worlds (and centuries) apart from Lisbon, and as you stroll the cobblestone streets or walk along the castle ramparts you’ll see an entirely different side of Portugal.
If you happen to be in Obidos in July you may be able to catch some of the Obidos Medieval Market, an annual event that draws huge crowds to the historical re-enactments inside the castle and in the squares around the town. Click through to see the dates and times for this year.
However, even if your trip to Obidos doesn’t fall within the festival period, there are still lots of things to do in Obidos. The castle walls are free to ascend and they offer amazing views of the town’s rooftops and the surrounding countryside (though be careful if you have vertigo, as once you’re up there the exits are few and far between!). You can also go inside the castle grounds, visit some historic churches, walk along the ancient aqueduct and taste the region’s famous cherry liqueur.
Day 5 – Coimbra
Hotel Recommendation: Pharmacia Guesthouse
You’ll start the day by checking out of your hotel in Obidos and heading to the pretty riverfront town of Coimbra. One of my friends recently visited Portugal and said that this city was her favorite spot in the entire country, so don’t skip it!
To make the journey from Obidos to Coimbra you first need to get to the train station in Caldas da Rainha, which is just a few kilometers down the road from Obidos. To do this, you have two options:
- Recommended: Take a taxi from Obidos to the Caldas da Rainha train station. This should cost less than €15 and it is the only time I’d recommend using a car during your ten days in Portugal.
- Alternative: Take a bus from Obidos to Caldas da Rainha. This is cheaper but the buses are often late (as they’re coming from Lisbon) so you need to leave yourselves a lot of time in Caldas da Rainha to be safe.
From Caldas da Rainha, there are several trains each day to Coimbra. I would aim for one of the morning trains that gets you into Coimbra around lunch. Drop off your bags at your accommodation, have lunch nearby and then set out exploring.
On your first afternoon in Coimbra, I recommend walking up the hill (shown above) towards the famous university. Coimbra’s university is the second-oldest in Europe (after Bologna) and one of only five in the world that are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well, Coimbra’s university served as some of the inspiration for Harry Potter!
You should pre-book tickets to the Joanina Library, Saint Michael’s Chapel and the Royal Palace. After visiting all three buildings, head downhill through the pretty Botanical Gardens and then walk over to the Sé Velha, or Old Cathedral. For complete details about these attractions, and others in Coimbra, I’ve got a guide to the best things to do in Coimbra.
Make sure to end your day at Café Santa Cruz, a historic cafe where there are free fado concerts every evening (for customers who buy a drink). Fado is the haunting national music of Portugal, and the style typical to Coimbra is different than the style that emerged from Lisbon.
Day 6 – Coimbra to Porto
You’re halfway through your ten-day Portugal itinerary! Spend the morning in Coimbra, visiting the parts of the town at the base of the hill. Start at Largo da Portagem (shown above) where there are some nice bakeries that serve light breakfasts, then stroll down Rua Ferreria Borges towards the Santa Cruz Monastery.
From the Coimbra-B train station, hop on a high-speed train that will take you to Porto’s central Campanha station in less than 75 minutes. When you arrive, drop off your bags at your accommodation and start exploring the city!
Hotel Recommendation: The Social Hub Porto
For your first afternoon and evening in Porto, I recommend heading to the shore of the Douro River. Take the metro across the river to Jardim do Morrow, which will give you sweeping view of Porto from the opposite side of the river. Then, walk downhill for about ten minutes to the waterfront promenade that is lined with port wine cellars. Spent an hour doing a cellar tour (I recommend Calem Porto’s tour) or taking a six-bridge river cruise and then head for dinner.
The most typical dish of Porto is a meaty sandwich called a franceshina, which is served topped with cheese and ladled with hot tomato-beer sauce. I promise you won’t have room for dessert!
Day 7 – Porto
Today you’ll have a full day to explore the city that you saw from across the river yesterday! The city center is relatively simply to explore by foot, but it can be hilly. One possible option is to explore the lower part of town first, and then use the funicular to return to the upper part of town to see that area. You could consider the Sao Bento station to be the midway point between the two elevations.
In the lower part of Porto you’ll want to start by walking down Rua das Flores, a busy pedestrian street with popular cafes and shops. Heading downhill some more you’ll pass the Misericordia Church and the opulent Stock Exchange Palace (ticket required) on Henry the Navigator Square before you arrive at the waterfront district called La Ribeira. Follow the waterfront towards the double-decker Ponte Luis I and take the funicular up the hill.
Back atop the hill, you have your choice of wandering in two directions:
- Ten minutes straight ahead you’ll find the newly-reopened Mercado do Bolhao, a trendy food market where you can order small servings of typical Portuguese dishes and wines. Beyond the market it’s just a few more minutes to the Chapel of Souls church, which I think has the prettiest tiled facade in the city.
- Alternatively, you could weave your way ahead and do your left. You’ll pass the Sao Bento train station (with some tiles inside, though I wasn’t that impressed) and eventually reach the world-famous Livraria Lello, an Instagram-famous bookshop that charges a €5 entrance fee and still sells out daily. Adjacent to the bookshop you’ll find the Carmo Church and the Cleric Tower.
If you’ve got time, you can do both walking routes in a circular loop. For dinner, the area around Praça dos Poveiros has lots of authentic restaurants that are more popular with locals than tourists. If you didn’t try a franceshina yesterday, the restaurant called Lado B is said to have the best in the city (and they have a vegetarian version too!).
Day 8 – Guimaraes
I genuinely believe that a day and a half is enough time to see the highlights of Porto, so today you’re going to take a commuter train from the São Bento station to Guimaraes, a nearby city that is said to be the birthplace of Portugal. Looking back on my trip to Portugal this was one of my favorite places and it’s a day trip from Porto that I recommend to everyone.
When you arrive in Guimaraes it takes about ten minutes to walk into the historic center (you’ll know you’re there when you pass the big “Portugal Was Born Here” sign (except it’s in Portuguese so it actually says “Aqui Nasceu Portugal”). Take your time wandering through the historic city center, along the cobblestone streets and under the old stone arches, making your way towards the hill that is home to both the Ducal Palace (highly worth visiting – a great value!) and the Castle of Guimaraes (closed when I was there so I can’t comment).
I have a full guide to taking a day trip to Guimaraes – check it out and I think you’ll see why this is such a nice place to visit for the day!
Day 9 – Douro Valley
For me, the highlight of my trip to Portugal was my Duoro Valley wine tour. I lucked out and chose a family-run tour company that partnered with independent wineries in the valley, so the entire day was authentic and there was never a push to buy anything. Since my visit I have referred more than 1,000 readers (!) to the same tour, and the reviews that have come back have been amazing.
🍷 This is the exact tour that I took and recommend! 🍷
Your day will start early and I recommend eating a good breakfast beforehand, as lunch will be later in the day. You’ll start by driving out to wine country in a luxury van (no big tour buses!). Then, you’ll visit two local wineries to learn how Portuguese wines are produced, and what makes the Douro Valley such a unique viniculture region. You’ll also do a cruise along the Douro River to see some of the largest wine producers’ vineyards, and then you’ll have a typical local lunch with generous wine pairings at every course (in fact, on the day of my trip the dessert contained wine in three different ways!).
I noticed that the same family who ran the tour I took also started offering a tour that includes a vinho verde, or green wine, experience as well (on top of the other vineyard, lunch and cruise). I haven’t taken this trip personally, but if you’re curious about Portugal’s unique green wine then their vinho verde tour might be a fun option!
Day 10 – Porto to Lisbon
High-speed Alfa Pendular trains run between Porto and Lisbon every hour or two, with the journey taking three hours. So, you can plan your departure from Porto based on the time that you need to return to the Portuguese capital.
If you have some time in the city today you could head out to Parque das Nações, which is an easy stroll from the Lisbon Oriente train station (and the luggage storage there). Here, there’s a waterfront cable car and promenade, fun contemporary art sculptures, the Lisbon Oceanarium and a busy shopping mall. Pop into the Continente supermarket inside the shopping center to buy port wines, vinho verde and canned sardines to bring home (at local prices, not souvenir shop prices!).
Two Weeks in Portugal Add-On: The Algarve
With only ten days in Portugal, I wouldn’t recommend trying to squeeze in the Algarve Coast. However, if you can add three or four more days, and stretch your trip into a full two weeks in Portugal, then it would make the four-hour journey (each way) from Lisbon worthwhile.
I visited three cities on the Algarve, and I recently wrote a full comparison of Lagos, Albufeira and Faro. Of the three, Lagos was by far my favorite and it’s definitely the city on the Algarve that I’d recommend you add to your Portugal itinerary.
With two full days in Lagos you would have time to do the (easy!) hike along the coastline to Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse, stopping at the different beaches along the way. You’d also have time to do a boat trip along the coast (including some dolphin spotting if you’re lucky), indulge in some creative international cuisine and generally rest and relax in the sun and sea before heading home.
Questions? Let me know in the comments and I’ll reply as soon as possible!
Before you go, you can read all of my Portugal travel guides here, or check out my guides to avoiding rookie travel mistakes and saving money during your trip.
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