7 Days in Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto & the Douro Itinerary (2026)

7 days, day by day. Open any day for the morning-to-evening plan, where to eat, and where you sleep that night.

1. Day 1 Fri 31 Jul Arrive Lisbon Base day

   Arrival and the Alfama

   Morning. Land at Lisbon and take the metro red line in, about twenty-five minutes; the airport is unusually close to the centre.

   Afternoon. Up into the Alfama on foot, the one district the 1755 earthquake spared — washing lines, tiled facades and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia looking over the Tejo.

   Evening. A fado house for dinner; the music is genuinely mournful and the small rooms are better than the large ones.

   Eat. The first pastel de nata, warm, with cinnamon; and grilled sardines if it is summer.

   Where to stay. Baixa or Príncipe Real — Baixa is flat and central, Príncipe Real is quieter and has the better restaurants; both avoid the Alfama's stairs with luggage.

   Optional / swaps. Tram 28 runs through the Alfama and is a proper vintage tram — go early or late, and hold your bag, because it is also the most pickpocketed vehicle in Portugal.

   Practical. Lisbon is built on seven hills and the pavement is polished limestone that turns lethal in rain. The funiculars and the Santa Justa lift are covered by a day transit card.

   🛏 Lisbon · 3 nights · 2 guests

2. Day 2 Sat 1 Aug Lisbon Base day

   Belém

   Morning. Tram 15 west to Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery, whose Manueline cloister is carved with ropes, coral and navigational instruments — the whole age of discovery rendered in stone.

   Afternoon. The Belém Tower on the water, then the Monument to the Discoveries; if the queues have beaten you, the Berardo modern art collection nearby is free-ish and empty.

   Evening. Back into town for dinner in Cais do Sodré or Bairro Alto.

   Eat. Pastéis de Belém from the original bakery, where they have been made to the monastery recipe since 1837 — the queue for takeaway moves fast, and there is a huge tiled dining room behind.

   Where to stay. Lisbon (as Day 1).

   Optional / swaps. The LX Factory, a converted industrial complex under the bridge, is a good low-effort afternoon with teenagers.

   Practical. Jerónimos and the Belém Tower both operate timed entry and both close on Mondays, as do most Lisbon museums — do not plan this day for a Monday.

3. Day 3 Sun 2 Aug Lisbon Base day

   Sintra

   Morning. Early train from Rossio, about forty minutes, then straight up to the Pena Palace before the crowds — a Romanticist fantasy in yellow and red on a wooded summit, with the Moorish castle walls on the ridge opposite.

   Afternoon. Quinta da Regaleira, which is the one people remember: a Gothic-revival estate honeycombed with tunnels and an inverted initiation well you spiral down inside.

   Evening. Back to Lisbon for dinner.

   Eat. Travesseiros — almond cream pastries — from Piriquita in Sintra town, eaten hot.

   Where to stay. Lisbon (as Day 1).

   Optional / swaps. The Moorish Castle's ramparts are a proper walk with a big view and are far less crowded than Pena; skip the National Palace in the town centre if time is short.

   Practical. Pena Palace interior tickets are sold as timed entry in 30-minute blocks and they sell out well ahead from Easter to October — book before you leave home, not on the day. Sintra's 434 bus loop is slow and jammed in season; a tuk-tuk or taxi between sites saves real time. This is a long, hilly day: two palaces is a sensible maximum, three is a route march.

4. Day 4 Mon 3 Aug Lisbon → Porto ~362 km Train

   Lisbon → Porto

   Morning. A last Lisbon coffee, then the Alfa Pendular from Santa Apolónia or Oriente; under three hours through cork oak and eucalyptus.

   Afternoon. Arrive at Campanhã, transfer to São Bento and stand in the station hall, whose walls are covered in twenty thousand blue-and-white azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history.

   Evening. Down to the Ribeira waterfront, then across the upper deck of the Dom Luís I bridge at sunset for the view back at the old town stacked up the gorge.

   Eat. Francesinha — a layered meat sandwich under melted cheese and beer sauce — if you are brave, or bacalhau à Brás if you are not.

   Where to stay. Around the Ribeira or Cedofeita — Ribeira for the river and the atmosphere, Cedofeita for flatter ground and better value.

   Optional / swaps. The Clérigos tower is 240 steps for the best overview of the city's layout.

   Practical. Book the Alfa Pendular in advance for the cheaper fare and a reserved seat; the slower Intercidades runs the same route for less. Porto's Campanhã-to-São Bento shuttle is a few minutes and included in most tickets.

   🛏 Porto · 3 nights · 2 guests

5. Day 5 Tue 4 Aug Porto Base day

   The Douro valley

   Morning. The Douro line east from São Bento. After Régua the track runs at the water's edge for the rest of the way, with terraced vineyards climbing both banks — sit on the right going out.

   Afternoon. Pinhão, whose tiny station is tiled with scenes of the harvest; a river cruise on a rabelo boat, or a quinta visit with a tasting above the valley.

   Evening. Back on the evening train, which is the better direction for the light.

   Eat. Lunch at a quinta — roast kid or bacalhau — with a glass of the estate's own white port.

   Where to stay. Porto (as Day 4).

   Optional / swaps. If the full day feels long, Régua is an hour closer and still in the terraced landscape.

   Practical. The Douro line is a regional service with limited departures, so check both the outbound and the last return before committing — missing the last train from Pinhão means a very expensive taxi. Book any quinta tour ahead; most do not take walk-ups.

6. Day 6 Wed 5 Aug Porto Base day

   Port lodges and the old town

   Morning. The Livraria Lello, the ornate 1906 bookshop with the crimson staircase, on an early slot — the ticket price is redeemable against a book.

   Afternoon. Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia and tour a port lodge — the cellars are cold, dark and stacked with barrels, and the tastings compare tawny against ruby against white.

   Evening. Dinner in Gaia on the waterfront, looking back at Porto lit up on the far bank.

   Eat. A tawny port with the local queijo da Serra, and sardines grilled on the street in June.

   Where to stay. Porto (as Day 4).

   Optional / swaps. The Serralves museum and its art deco villa and gardens, if you want green space and modern art.

   Practical. The Gaia cable car runs from the upper bridge deck down to the lodges and saves a steep descent. Port lodge tours should be booked in season; the big names sell out.

7. Day 7 Thu 6 Aug Porto Base day

   Last morning and home

   Morning. The Bolhão market for a last coffee and something to take home, or a walk along the Foz seafront where the Douro finally meets the Atlantic.

   Afternoon. Metro line E runs from the centre to the airport in about half an hour.

   Evening. Home.

   Eat. A final pastel de nata and a bica standing at the counter.

   Where to stay. —

   Optional / swaps. Left luggage at São Bento or Campanhã frees the morning.

   Practical. Porto's airport metro is reliable and cheap but the trains are not luggage-friendly at rush hour; leave a little extra time.

Every overnight base on the route. Check-in and check-out follow your travel dates above — open a stay for a live map of places to book.

1. 1 Lisbon Portugal · book a stay 31 Jul → 3 Aug 3 nights · 2 guests ⌄
2. 2 Porto Portugal · book a stay 3 Aug → 6 Aug 3 nights · 2 guests ⌄

How far and how long between each base, leg by leg, with the mode of travel — so you can see where the big driving days fall. Modes: 🚗 Drive · ✈ Fly · ⛴ Boat/Ferry · 🚆 Train · 🚌 Bus.