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If you’re looking for a Portugal itinerary that includes historic cities, beautiful beaches, wine country, and unforgettable day trips without feeling rushed, this is the exact route our family took over 16 days earlier this summer. We flew into Porto, spent five nights in the Algarve, then finished with Cascais, Sintra, and Lisbon before flying home.
This Portugal itinerary is great for first-time visitors who want to experience several of Portugal’s most popular regions in a single trip. It’s especially well suited for couples, families, and travelers who enjoy a mix of sightseeing, coastal scenery, fun experiences, and a slower pace!
Click here to read all of my Portugal travel blog posts!
Our 16 Day Portugal Itinerary
Rather than creating a generic “perfect” Portugal itinerary, I’m sharing the exact route we took, including where we stayed, what we did, what we’d change next time, and links to our detailed Portugal travel blog posts for each stop.
We traveled as a family of four with our teenagers (ages 15 and 17). Hopefully reading all about our trip to Portugal helps you decide which destinations belong on your own Portugal itinerary!
Where We Visited in Portugal
Here is the exact route we took on our summer trip to Portugal!
- Fly into Porto
- 4 Nights in Porto
- 2 Nights in Vilamoura
- 3 Nights in Lagos
- 4 Nights in Cascais
- 3 Nights in Lisbon
- Fly Home from Lisbon
I will say that I actually spent quite a bit of time trying to decide which order we were going to do things in. But then I found a great direct flight deal on points from JFK to Porto and decided to just book that and go from there!
It meant we had to fly up to New York City a day earlier, but avoided having to make any connections in Europe, as there are no direct flights from Atlanta to Portugal. It actually was really nice because we had almost two days to enjoy New York City as a family!
On a sidenote, I always recommend signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium for the best flight deal alerts.
And, flying into Porto and home from Lisbon meant we never had to backtrack. This gave us more time to enjoy each destination while seeing a large portion of the country.
Our Quick Portugal Planning Guide
- Trip Length: 16 Days
- Dates: Late May-Mid June
- Arrival Airport: Porto (OPO)
- Departure Airport: Lisbon (LIS)
- Countries: Portugal
- Cities: Porto, Algarve, Cascais & Lisbon
- Rental Car: Yes, but only for 5 days
- Train Travel: Cascais → Lisbon
- Domestic Flights: Porto → Faro
- Stayed: 2 hotels + 3 apartments
Days 1-4: Porto & Douro Valley
As I mentioned above, we flew direct from JFK to Porto, landing in late morning. We took a rideshare to the area where our rental apartment was located and used Bounce Luggage Storage to drop off our bags. This allowed us time to grab lunch and explore Porto until our rental was ready.
Where We Stayed in Porto
This was by far everyone’s favorite accommodation on this trip! I booked this 2-story 3-bedroom 3-bathroom apartment, and everyone had their own room with a queen bed. I intentionally did this so that everyone could kick the jet lag and rest up for the rest of the trip.
At first, I was worried that this apartment wasn’t right in the Ribeira district, but it ended up being a wonderful location. We had so many great restaurants nearby, and it felt a lot less touristy than some of the other areas.
It was an easy walk to everywhere we wanted to go and is only a short walk from the Funicular dos Guindais, which takes you down to the waterfront!
This rental had multiple balconies and terraces, a full kitchen, a washer/dryer combo, air conditioning, and more. We would 100% stay here again and have an Instagram reel tour here.
View this rental here, and we stayed in the 3-bedroom Loft Apartment Rental. They had several rentals in one big building, and there was an elevator!
What We Did in Porto
Rather than trying to see every attraction in Porto, we focused on a mix of iconic sights, relaxing walks through the city, and one unforgettable day trip to the Douro Valley. This gave us a nice balance of sightseeing while still leaving plenty of time to simply enjoy the city.
One of my favorite parts of Porto was stumbling upon beautifully tiled churches, colorful buildings, and scenic viewpoints around almost every corner. We love roaming around European cities without an agenda!
Explore Ribeira & Vila Nova de Gaia
We really enjoyed exploring the colorful Ribeira District, one of the most scenic areas in Porto. After wandering the waterfront one evening, we crossed the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge into Vila Nova de Gaia, where you’ll find beautiful river views, restaurants, and many of Porto’s famous port wine cellars.
Even if you don’t plan to tour a wine cellar, I highly recommend walking across the bridge. Between the views of Porto, the lively atmosphere along the river, and the easy walk back into the city, it ended up being one of our favorite ways to spend an early evening.
Plus, it felt less congested over on that side of the river!
Livraria Lello
Of course, we also visited Livraria Lello, one of the world’s most famous bookstores. It honestly wasn’t one of the highlights of our trip. Even with timed tickets, it was extremely crowded, and we spent more time navigating the crowds than actually enjoying the bookstore.
If you’re a huge Harry Potter fan or have always wanted to visit, it may still be worth adding to your Porto itinerary. Otherwise, I’d actually recommend spending your time at the nearby Wondersense Museum, which Abby and Jake enjoyed much more. It was interactive, fun, and one of the most unexpectedly memorable attractions we visited in Porto.
If you’re trying to decide whether Livraria Lello is worth visiting, be sure to read all about our Livraria Lello experience before booking your tickets.
Take a Douro Valley Day Trip
Our favorite experience during our time in Porto was taking a full-day tour to the Douro Valley. The tour included winery visits, wine tastings, lunch overlooking the vineyards, and a relaxing river cruise through one of Portugal’s most beautiful wine regions.
If you have enough time, I highly recommend adding a Douro Valley day trip to your Portugal itinerary. It was one of the highlights of our entire trip and something I’d happily do again. Matt and I did do this on our own, letting Abby and Jake stay back at the apartment to catch up on sleep.
You can read all about our experience, what was included, and whether we thought it was worth it in my complete Douro Valley Day Trip from Porto guide.
Where We Ate in Porto
One of the things we loved most about staying in Porto was having so many excellent restaurants within walking distance of our apartment. We mixed casual cafés with a few memorable dinners and never had a bad meal.
We loved ordering crisp Vinho Verde during the day and trying different Port wines and Portuguese red wines in the evenings!
We did try the famous Porto sandwich called Francesinha, and I loved it! We had it at a restaurant along the river, and I was surprised at how much I loved the savory sauce on it.
Some of our favorite places included:
- Buga Ramen
- Indian Garden
- Pizzaiolo
My Thoughts on Porto
Porto ended up being one of our favorite stops in Portugal and was the perfect place to begin our trip. Four nights gave us plenty of time to recover from jet lag, explore the city at a relaxed pace, and enjoy a full-day trip to the Douro Valley on our third day without feeling rushed.
The only thing I’d consider adding next time would be a port wine cellar tour in Vila Nova de Gaia. We chose to spend our wine tasting day in the Douro Valley instead, but I’d love to experience one of the historic cellars on a future visit.
I think that we also would have enjoyed taking a boat outing on the Douro River from the riverfront.
If it’s your first trip to Portugal, I think Porto is the perfect place to begin or end. It offers a wonderful mix of history, incredible food, beautiful architecture, and easy access to one of the country’s best day trips. It’s a city I’d happily return to again!
Days 5-6: Vilamoura
From Porto, we flew Ryanair to Faro, located in the Algarve region. I went back and forth about the exact route we would take on this trip to Portugal. I originally wanted to go from Porto to Lisbon by train and then fly home from the Algarve.
However, we couldn’t get from Faro to Atlanta on one ticket. I didn’t want to risk a bad connection or have to stay in another city for an extra night, so flying home on one ticket from LIS to CDG to ATL was the better choice.
TIP: We always travel with carry-ons only, but Ryanair has much smaller bag size limits. So, we paid in advance to check our roller bags, and our total cost for this one-way flight (4 people + 4 checked bags) was 299.51 EUR.
We also thought long and hard about whether or not we wanted to use the train in the Algarve. In most cases, I love European train travel! We have used the trains extensively in France, Italy, England, Spain, and other European countries. That said, when using Google Maps to look at the exact train routes and durations, it felt inefficient for this trip.
Renting a Car in the Algarve
So, we decided to rent a car in Faro, and then return it when we arrived in Cascais. That allowed us to easily get around in the Algarve and then back up to Cascais without having to transfer trains in Lisbon.
From Faro, we decided to stay at the brand new Hyatt Regency Vilamoura next. I wanted to try it, use points for a couple of nights, and also enjoy a resort feel for a day or two. This was the only property with an outdoor pool that we stayed at, and it was a nice little break from exploring new cities.
Where We Stayed in Vilamoura
We loved our stay at the Hyatt Regency Vilamoura Algarve! I booked a suite with an oversized balcony (with a hot tub) months before the hotel even opened.
The service and warm welcome we received here were better than any hotel I have ever stayed at! That said, Vilamoura is more of a marina resort town and not as charming as our next stop. So, if you had to shorten your Portugal itinerary, you could probably skip Vilamoura.
What We Did in Vilamoura
Nothing! We ate a fancy hotel dinner, spent a full day by the pool, walked on the boardwalk along the beach, and enjoyed our hot tub. Jake and I played paddleball for a bit, and there was live music one night in the lobby bar.
Matt and I did take an hour or two to walk around the marina area. There are a lot of great shops and restaurants, but it’s not really that charming coastal Europe vibe that we love.
Should You Visit Vilamoura?
Overall, I’m glad we included Vilamoura in our Portugal itinerary, but mostly because it gave us a chance to slow down and recharge after several busy days in Porto. We enjoyed relaxing at the resort, spending time by the pool, and easing into the Algarve before continuing our road trip.
That said, if you only have 10-12 days in Portugal or are trying to decide where to spend your time in the Algarve, I would personally put those extra nights in Lagos instead. We found Lagos to be much more scenic, walkable, and full of the coastal charm we were hoping to experience.
Regarding the hotel, I would absolutely stay at the Hyatt Regency Vilamoura again! The hotel itself exceeded our expectations, and the staff made us feel incredibly welcome from the moment we arrived.
REEL: Tour the Hyatt Regency Vilamoura Algarve
I think Vilamoura is best suited for travelers who enjoy luxury resorts, golf, beach clubs, and spending a few days unwinding. If your goal is to explore dramatic cliffs, beautiful beaches, boat tours, and charming old towns, I’d recommend making Lagos your primary base in the Algarve instead.
And that is where we went next!
Days 7-9: Lagos
We checked out of the hotel and drove the hour to Lagos. We were glad that the rental car made it a quick and easy drive. That said, we were staying in Old Town Lagos, which is made up of pedestrian streets and not really car-friendly.
So, we parked our rental car in a public parking lot that our Airbnb host recommended and left it there for the entire stay.
Where We Stayed in Lagos
For these three nights in Lagos, I booked an Airbnb. It was a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment with a washer and clotheslines out the kitchen window. One bedroom had two twin beds, so it was a good setup for our family, and it was located in the heart of Old Town Lagos. And, it was a really great value at around $600 total for three nights.
That said, while it was a good value and fit our needs, I don’t know if it would be my top recommendation for accommodations in Lagos. It did have air conditioning, but the beds weren’t super comfortable, and it felt like a budget accommodation. But we knew what we were booking and were ok with that, and it was exactly as described, which is why I gave the Airbnb host a 5-star review.
There are a handful of boutique hotels in Lagos, and you can browse all Lagos accommodations here!
What We Did in Lagos
When it comes to adventure and natural beauty, Lagos completely exceeded our expectations. Between the dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, beautiful beaches, and charming Old Town, it ended up being one of our favorite destinations in Portugal.
We spent our days exploring the coastline, taking a boat tour, and enjoying some of the best scenery we saw on the entire trip!
Walk the Ponta da Piedade Coastal Trail
One of our favorite days was spent walking from Old Town Lagos to Ponta da Piedade along the beautiful coastal boardwalk. The views overlooking the golden cliffs, turquoise water, and hidden beaches were absolutely incredible, and there were countless photo opportunities along the way.
If you enjoy scenic walks, this is one experience I wouldn’t miss. Be sure to read my complete guide to the Ponta da Piedade Coastal Walk, where I share exactly where to start, how long it takes, and my favorite viewpoints.
REEL: Walk to Lagos Coastal Walk with Us
Took a Boat Tour Along the Coast
One afternoon we joined a catamaran cruise along the Lagos coastline, and it was another highlight of our stay. We cruised past the famous sea caves and rock formations before anchoring for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean!
If you’re trying to decide which boat tour to book, I highly recommend this experience. You can read my full review of the Days of Adventure Catamaran Cruise to see what was included and whether it’s worth it.
REEL: Our Lagos Catamaran Cruise
That said, most people will want to do a cave or grotto-style boat tour while in Lagos! Here are a couple of good options!
Explore Old Town Lagos
Whenever we weren’t out exploring the coastline, we loved wandering through Old Town Lagos. The pedestrian streets are filled with restaurants, shops, cafés, and small plazas, making it a wonderful place to spend the evening after a day of sightseeing.
Where We Ate in Lagos
As you all know, we don’t typically like to make advance reservations. I find advance reservations too constraining when we travel. Plus, we have great luck just wandering into cafes and restaurants when hungry!
Since everything in Old Town was within walking distance of our apartment, it was easy to try somewhere different each evening, and we even ate at a wonderful restaurant along the coastal boardwalk called Restaurante Camilo!
One thing we loved about Lagos was how relaxed it felt. We’d spend the day exploring the coastline before wandering into town for dinner and a leisurely evening walk around town.
Some of our favorite places included:
- Mar Restaurant for wine with a view
- SkyBar Rooftop for Sangria
- Restaurante Camilo
- Pepperino Pizzeria Lagos
My Top Tips for Visiting Lagos
If I were planning this Portugal itinerary again, I would absolutely spend at least three nights in Lagos, and honestly, I could even justify adding a fourth. There is so much to do here, and the town has a completely different feel than Vilamoura.
I would definitely stay inside or within walking distance of Old Town again. Being able to walk to restaurants, shops, stunning beaches, and the waterfront every evening made the experience much more enjoyable than having to drive and mess with parking.
The only thing I’d do differently next time would be to add another boat excursion or spend more time relaxing on the beaches. We packed a lot into our three days, but I still left wishing we had one more full day.
I think Lagos is the perfect destination for couples, families, and anyone who loves dramatic coastal scenery, outdoor adventures, and charming walkable towns. If someone asked me to choose just one place to stay in the Algarve, Lagos would be my recommendation every time!
Days 10-13: Cascais & Sintra
After three wonderful days in Lagos, we packed up the car and drove north to Cascais. We parked near the Cascais train station for an hour or so, unloaded and checked into our apartment. Then, Matt and I returned our rental car and spent the rest of our trip using trains, trams, Uber, and plenty of walking.
Many people would stay in Lisbon for this portion of the trip and simply take a day trip to Cascais. After doing more research and regretting skipping Cascais on my Portugal trip last year, we decided to spend four nights in Cascais!
We are so glad we did! Cascais ended up being my favorite place we visited in Portugal and served as the perfect home base for exploring both the coastline and taking a day trip to Sintra.
Where We Stayed in Cascais
For our four nights in Cascais, I booked a large two bedroom two-bathroom apartment just one block from the train station and in the heart of Old Town Cascais. The location honestly couldn’t have been better. We could walk to dozens of restaurants and the beaches in just minutes. And, we were only a block off the promenade that runs for miles along the coastline.
The apartment itself was modern and spacious, and with a full kitchen, including a dishwasher and a clothes washer. It did not have air conditioning. But we were able to open up windows, and there was a nice breeze.
Plus, the kids had another bedroom with two twin beds, which is always a good setup. Although Jake is over 6 feet tall now and is starting to hang off of them!
You won’t have any issues finding the perfect rental apartment or hotel in Cascais, and I have some recommendations in this post.
QUICK LINK: Browse accommodations in Cascais!
What We Did in Cascais
Cascais was exactly the type of charming European coastal town we love visiting. Instead of checking attractions off a list, we spent our time walking along the waterfront, relaxing in parks, day drinking Vinho Verde at cute cafes, enjoying long dinners, and taking it easy.
It had a laid-back atmosphere that made us want to slow down and simply enjoy being there. I am always surprised at how many people only do a short day trip to Cascais. I think it deserves more time, especially in the warmer months!
REEL: A Look at Cascais in Summer
Explore Cascais
One of our favorite parts of staying here was simply wandering around town. We loved walking along the waterfront promenade, browsing the local shops, and stopping for coffee or wine whenever something caught our attention.
We also spent time at Marechal Carmona Park, which is a great stop for families! There are several great beaches right in the heart of Cascais, and a couple offer beach chair and umbrella rentals.
Take a Day Trip to Sintra
One of the biggest advantages of staying in Cascais was how easy it was to visit Sintra. We took an Uber both ways, and it took about 25 minutes and cost around 20 euros.
We spent our day in Sintra exploring both Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle, two of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks. The colorful palace is every bit as impressive as the photos, while the Moorish Castle offers incredible panoramic views across the surrounding hills.
If you’re planning a visit, I have detailed guides covering Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, and my tips for making the most of your day in Sintra.
Book Family Photos in Cascais
One of the highlights of our entire Portugal trip was finally booking a professional family photo session. We met our photographer in Cascais just before sunset and wandered through town and along the waterfront while she captured our family together.
These ended up being some of our favorite travel photos we’ve ever taken, and I’m so glad we decided to do it while we were here.
If you’ve ever considered booking vacation photos in Europe, you can read all about our experience and see the final gallery in my Family Photos in Europe guide.
Where We Ate in Cascais
Cascais had some of our favorite restaurants of the trip, and because everything was within walking distance of our apartment, we loved heading out each evening to try somewhere new.
Some of our favorite places included:
- Bougain Courtyard cocktails
- The Tasting Room for wine
- Masala Indian Restaurant
- Yellow Street Restaurants
One of my favorite memories was simply grabbing a glass of Portuguese wine before dinner and watching people stroll through town as the sun began to set. I knew I liked the wines from Portugal, but until this trip, I didn’t realize how much or how diverse they were.
The Tasting Room in Cascais was the perfect place to try new wines. The staff was very knowledgeable, and we visited multiple times!
My Thoughts on Cascais
Looking back, staying in Cascais instead of Lisbon for these four nights was one of the best decisions we made on this trip. It gave us the chance to experience a beautiful seaside town while still having easy access to both Lisbon and Sintra.
Four nights felt just about perfect. It gave us enough time to enjoy Cascais itself without feeling like we had to rush from one attraction to the next. We were able to take our Sintra day trip, enjoy our family photo session, and still have plenty of time to simply relax.
I think Cascais is perfect for couples, families, and anyone who enjoys charming coastal towns with excellent restaurants, beautiful scenery, and a slower pace of travel. For us, it was one of the biggest surprises of the trip, and somewhere I’d happily return to again.
In fact, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I like Cascais more than Lisbon. For some reason, Lisbon just doesn’t get me as excited as many of the other European cities that I have visited.
Days 14-16: Lisbon
After four wonderful nights in Cascais, we took the train back into Lisbon for the final three nights of our Portugal itinerary!
Where We Stayed in Lisbon
Rather than staying in the heart of downtown Lisbon, we chose the Hyatt Regency Lisbon near Belém with our Hyatt points. I stayed here last year and loved the property. It gave us a relaxing place to end our trip, while still making it easy to reach many of Lisbon’s top attractions by tram.
The hotel itself was beautiful, with spacious rooms, an excellent breakfast, and a rooftop terrace bar. As Hyatt Globalists, we also enjoyed complimentary breakfast each morning, which was a nice perk before heading out to explore. I used a suite upgrade certificate for our room and booked the kids a standard two-twin-bed room. They ended up getting upgraded to a suite right next door to ours!
The location is a little outside Lisbon’s historic center, but for us, that wasn’t a downside. We appreciated the quieter neighborhood and found it very easy to get around.
REEL: Sunset from ICON Bar rooftop
What We Did in Lisbon
By the time we reached Lisbon, we’d already packed quite a bit into our Portugal itinerary, so we intentionally kept things a little more relaxed. Instead of trying to see every attraction, we focused on wandering different neighborhoods, enjoying great food, and experiencing a few of Lisbon’s iconic sights.
Matt and I even spent our final afternoon enjoying the hotel spa!
Visit Belém
Since we were already staying nearby, we spent our first afternoon exploring Belém while we waited for our rooms to be ready. This historic district is home to several of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks, including the Monument to the Discoveries, Belém Tower, and Jerónimos Monastery. Note that many of the Belém attractions are closed on Mondays!
It’s also the perfect place to grab one of Portugal’s famous pastéis de nata before taking a walk along the waterfront.
Lisbon Sunset Sailing Trip
One night, Matt and I booked a last-minute luxury sailing trip. It left from the Doca de Santo Amaro Marina just a short 10-minute walk from our hotel and was great. I would highly recommend this! And, there are many restaurants at the marina to eat at before your cruise!
Ride Lisbon’s Historic Trams
One of the first things we did was hop aboard Lisbon’s famous yellow trams. They aren’t just a tourist attraction—they’re actually a practical way to get around the city’s steep hills.
Since our hotel was near Belém, we used Tram 15 several times to reach the city center, getting off at Cais do Sodre. This is very close to the main plaza Praça do Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch. From there, we could catch other trams, including the popular Tram 28.
If you’re visiting Lisbon, I also recommend looking into the Lisbon Card if you plan to visit several attractions or use public transportation frequently.
Explore Alfama & Lisbon’s Historic Center
We spent one afternoon wandering through Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood. The narrow streets, colorful buildings, viewpoints, and small cafés make it one of the city’s most charming areas.
Rather than following a strict itinerary, we simply enjoyed exploring on foot and stopping whenever something caught our attention. Lisbon is definitely a city where getting a little lost is part of the experience.
Where We Ate in Lisbon
Like the rest of our trip, we mostly skipped making reservations and simply ate wherever looked good. One of the things I loved most about Portugal was how easy it was to stumble upon excellent restaurants without doing hours of research beforehand.
Some of our favorite places included:
- Pasteis de Belém
- Forest Pizza Belém
- ICON Rooftop Lounge
- Namaste Indian
My Tips for Visiting Lisbon
Three nights worked well for us because we’d already spent four nights in nearby Cascais and had visited Sintra beforehand. If Lisbon is your primary destination, however, I’d probably recommend adding another day or two to fully experience everything the city has to offer and make those day trips.
I would absolutely stay at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon again. While it isn’t located right in the historic center, we appreciated having a quieter place to relax after busy sightseeing days, and transportation into the city was quick and easy.
While it’s not my favorite, Lisbon is a wonderful destination for first-time visitors to Portugal, foodies, and anyone who enjoys walkable European cities with plenty to discover.
For us, it was the perfect ending to our amazing 16-day Portugal itinerary! Plus, since we were connecting in Paris, we didn’t have to go through the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) in Lisbon, which has been giving people issues in 2026.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
I am honestly very happy with how this trip panned out! I don’t know if I would change anything other than possibly rearranging the stops to best suit different flight schedules.
I do wish I had researched the various Portuguese wine regions before this trip. While I learned a lot on the way, I was flying blind for the first several stops. And, I feel like I missed some opportunities to visit vineyards and look for specific wines at restaurants.
That said, I know most people aren’t going to have a full 16 days, which was really 19 full days away from home after you add in the transatlantic flights and extra night in New York City.
So, if you had to build a 10-day Portugal itinerary, I would not try to fit all of this in. Here is what I would do instead!
If You Only Have 10 Days in Portugal
I think the direction you need to take will depend on when you are visiting and who is in your group. And honestly, I think flight options from your home airport should dictate your starting and stopping points. If you can fly direct from the US to Lisbon or Porto, start and/or end there, especially on the front end. You could easily lose a whole day making connections in Paris, Amsterdam, or London.
On the way home, we did connect in Paris, and Air France had a great business class upgrade offer at check-in. So, our whole family got to fly business class back to Atlanta!
QUICK LINK: If you want to level up your travel, read my Points & Miles Guide.
So, here is what I would do if I had 10 days in Portugal!
Option 1: First-Time Portugal Itinerary
For your first trip to Portugal, you can combine one or two cities with one beach town. So, Porto, Cascais, and Lisbon. Don’t try to change hotels every day. For a 10-day trip, you can stay in three places for 3 or 4 nights each. Or, do Porto and then stay in either Lisbon or Cascais as your home base for that half of the trip.
Option 2: Spend Time in Northern Portugal
If you are a wine enthusiast, combine Porto with a Douro Valley cruise. I would love to go back and do this someday! You can also build in time to visit the Vinho Verde region.
Option 3: Focus on Cascais & Lisbon
You can split your trip between Lisbon and Cascais, allowing time for multiple-day trips including Sintra, Obidos, and some coastal towns.
Option 4: Combine Lisbon & Lagos
There are a few more logistics for getting between the two, but there is a train route, and you can always do a round-trip car rental. I would not want to land in Lisbon and have to make the journey to Lagos when I am jet-lagged.
So, I would possibly land in Lisbon, spend a couple of days there, visit Lagos for three or four days, and then return to Lisbon. From there, you can day trip to Sintra and even stay in Cascais for a day or two!
Our Portugal Itinerary: Frequently Asked Questions
Before wrapping up, I wanted to answer some of the Portugal travel questions that I have already been asked! I hope my first-hand experience visiting Portugal both this year and last year will help you plan the best possible Portugal itinerary.
How Many Days Is Enough for Portugal?
If it’s your first visit, I recommend spending at least 7 days in Portugal. That gives you enough time to experience at least two places without feeling rushed. Our 16 day Portugal itinerary gave us extra time to slow down and really enjoy each destination.
On our past summer Europe trips, we typically visit multiple countries, but we are happy we chose to stay entirely in Portugal on this trip!
Should You Rent a Car in Portugal?
It depends on where you’re visiting. We didn’t need a car in Porto, Cascais, or Lisbon, but having one in the Algarve made getting from one place to another much easier. For our specific Portugal itinerary, renting a car in Faro and returning it in Cascais was the perfect solution.
Rideshare is much cheaper than we are used to in the United States. So, don’t be afraid to rely on those whenever public transportation isn’t available.
Is This Portugal Itinerary Family-Friendly?
Absolutely! We took this trip with our teenagers (ages 15 and 17), and it ended up being one of our favorite family vacations. Portugal is easy to navigate, feels very safe, and offers a great mix of history, beaches, outdoor activities, and excellent food for all ages.
Everywhere we went, English was spoken and/or English menus were available. This is one reason why Lisbon is one of the top cities I recommend for your first family trip to Europe.
Is Portugal Expensive?
Compared to many other Western European destinations, we found Portugal to be surprisingly affordable. Restaurant prices, accommodations, and attractions generally offered excellent value, even during peak summer travel.
TIP: When using tap to pay, always pay in Euros to get the best conversion rate!
And, make sure to read all of my International Travel Tips!
What Was Our Favorite Stop in Portugal?
Without a doubt, Cascais was my favorite stop on this Portugal itinerary, while Lagos was a very close second. Cascais had everything we love in a European destination: beautiful coastal scenery, wonderful restaurants, an easy pace of life, and quick access to both Lisbon and Sintra.
If you asked Matt, it would be Porto with Cascais right behind it! But all four of us had Cascais in their top two!
Plan Your Portugal Itinerary
Ready to start planning your own Portugal itinerary? These helpful resources make it easy to book your accommodations, transportation, tours, and other travel essentials.
- Browse hotels/apartments in Portugal
- Find the best flight deals to Portugal
- Book Portugal tours and activities
- Compare rental car prices
- Book train tickets in Portugal
- Purchase travel insurance
- Shop my Europe travel essentials
- Book family photos in Portugal
And, you can browse my entire Europe travel section for more European travel inspiration, original photos, and first-hand tips to help you plan your trip!
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