Portugal Itinerary 7 Days: Lisbon & Porto or the Algarve
A 7-day Portugal itinerary two ways: Lisbon and Porto by train, or Lisbon and the Algarve by car.
January 6, 2026 • 8 min read
When is the Best Time to Visit Portugal?
Two Ways to Spend 7 Days in Portugal
Which Route Is Right for You?
Choose Lisbon and Porto if you enjoy walking city streets, museums, food and wine, and you would rather not drive. The train does the long part for you, and both cities are compact enough to see on foot and by tram, metro or taxi.
Choose Lisbon and the Algarve if you want time by the sea after the city, and you are comfortable driving. The Algarve's best viewpoints, beaches and small towns are far easier to reach by car.
Good to know for both: Lisbon and Porto are built on steep hills with cobbled streets. Expect a lot of walking up and down, wear shoes with good grip, and use taxis, trams and funiculars to save your legs. The Algarve is easier on foot, but many beaches are reached by steps down the cliffs.
Option 1: Lisbon and Porto by Train
This version splits the week between Portugal's two biggest cities. You can start in either one. The days below begin in Lisbon, but our package starts in Porto with 3 nights and continues to Lisbon for 4.
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon
Check in and keep the first day light. Walk through the Baixa, the flat grid of streets rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, to the Praça do Comércio on the river. Then climb into Chiado for a coffee and end the day at a viewpoint, such as Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, for the light over the city.
Day 2: Alfama and São Jorge Castle
Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, a tangle of steep lanes below São Jorge Castle. Go up to the castle in the morning, then wander down through Alfama, past the cathedral and the viewpoints of Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. In the evening, many visitors book a fado dinner in Alfama or the Bairro Alto.
Day 3: Belém
Belém, along the river west of the center, holds two of Portugal's best-known monuments: the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, listed together by UNESCO since 1983. Add the Monument to the Discoveries and a stop for pastéis de nata, the custard tarts Lisbon is famous for.
Day 4: Day trip to Sintra
Sintra's palaces and gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, are about 40 minutes from Lisbon's Rossio station by train. Choose two or three sights rather than trying to see everything, for example Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira. Sintra is hilly and can be busy, so start early and use the local buses or a taxi between the palaces.
Day 5: Train to Porto
The Alfa Pendular, the fastest train between the two cities, takes about 3 hours from Lisbon to Porto. Most trains leave from Santa Apolónia and stop at Oriente, and arrive at Porto Campanhã, where a short suburban train connects to São Bento in the center. Seats are reserved, so book ahead. In the afternoon, walk down to the Ribeira, Porto's riverfront, and cross the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge for the classic view.
Day 6: Port wine and the historic center
Porto's historic center, together with the Dom Luís I Bridge, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Start at São Bento station, known for its blue and white tile panels, then walk to the Clérigos Tower and the cathedral. In the afternoon, cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the port wine lodges offer tours and tastings.
Day 7: The Douro Valley, or a slow last day
The Douro Valley, where port wine comes from, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The train from Porto to Peso da Régua takes almost 2 hours, and part of the line follows the river. A guided tour with a quinta visit and a boat trip is the easier option if you do not want to plan the connections. If you would rather rest, spend the last day in Porto's Foz district by the sea.
Option 2: Lisbon and the Algarve by Car
This version spends 3 nights in Lisbon and 4 on the Algarve coast. Pick up the car when you leave Lisbon, not on arrival: you do not need one in the city, and parking is difficult.
Days 1 to 3: Lisbon and Sintra
With one day less in Lisbon, combine Alfama and Belém on day 2 and keep day 3 for Sintra, which is about 40 minutes by train from Rossio station. Use the Lisbon days of Option 1 as a guide and choose what matters most to you.
Day 4: Drive to the Algarve
Faro is about 280 km from Lisbon, around 3 hours by car, mostly on the A2 motorway, which has tolls. Choose one base for the four nights so you only unpack once: Lagos for the western cliffs and old town, Carvoeiro or Albufeira for the central coast and Benagil, or Tavira for a quieter town near the Ria Formosa islands.
Day 5: The cliffs and sea caves
The central and western Algarve is where you find the famous golden cliffs, arches and sea caves. Take a boat trip to see Benagil Cave from the water, or visit Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, then spend the afternoon on one of the beaches below the cliffs.
Day 6: Sagres and Cape St Vincent
Drive west to Sagres and Cape St Vincent, the south-western tip of mainland Europe, with its lighthouse on the cliffs. Stay for sunset if you can. If you would rather rest, make this a beach day near your base.
Day 7: Faro or Tavira, then fly home
On the last day, see Faro's walled old town or Tavira's riverside center, then return the car at Faro Airport. Check your flight time first: if you fly home from Lisbon, plan the drive back north instead.
Travel Times at a Glance
Train times change by season, so check the current timetable at Comboios de Portugal before you book.
Can You Fit in More?
Seven days is enough for two bases. Adding a third, such as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, means two long travel days out of seven and very little time in each place. If you want all three, or the Douro and Évora as well, plan 10 days or more.
