10 Days in Portugal: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary

Ten days is enough to see the best of Portugal without rushing: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, the Douro Valley and some Algarve beach time. This is the route our members recommend most for a first visit, with the logistics worked out.

The route: fly into Faro, then spend 3 nights in the Algarve, 4 nights in Lisbon (including Sintra) and 3 nights in Porto (including the Douro Valley). Fly home from Porto. Going one way means no backtracking. (Prefer the beach at the end? Simply reverse it.)

The plan at a glance

Days	Where	Highlights
1–3	Algarve	Beaches, Benagil, Lagos, Ponta da Piedade
4	Algarve → Lisbon	Train or drive (about 3 hours)
4–6	Lisbon	Alfama, Belém, Chiado, viewpoints
7	Sintra	Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira
8	Lisbon → Porto	Train (about 3 hours)
8–9	Porto	Ribeira, port cellars, São Bento
10	Douro Valley	Vineyards, river cruise, wine tasting

Why this route works

Portugal is long and narrow, and its three big draws sit in a line from south to north. Flying into Faro and out of Porto means every travel day moves you forward. The two long transfers are both about three hours by train, and you’ll spend most of your time in places rather than getting between them.

Days 1–3: the Algarve

Land at Faro and pick up a hire car (the easiest way to explore), or book a transfer to your base. See Faro airport options. Lagos or Carvoeiro make good bases. The A22 motorway across the Algarve has been toll-free since January 2025, which makes driving easy.

• Day 1: settle in and hit the beach. Praia da Marinha or Dona Ana.
• Day 2: a Benagil Cave boat or kayak tour, then the Seven Hanging Valleys clifftop walk. Since August 2024 you can’t swim to the cave or land on its beach, and kayaks must go with a licensed guide, so book a proper tour. Boats view the cave from the water.
• Day 3: Lagos old town and a boat trip to Ponta da Piedade, then dinner from our best Lagos restaurants.

More beaches: best Algarve beaches.

Day 4: on to Lisbon

Drop the car (one-way fees may apply) and take the train from Faro to Lisbon, about 3 hours, or drive. Arrive in time for sunset at a viewpoint.

Staying in Lagos? There’s no direct fast train from there, so you’ll change at Tunes, or drive to Faro first. Driving all the way to Lisbon takes about three hours on the A22 and A2. The A2 is tolled. See Lisbon to the Algarve.

Days 4–7: Lisbon and Sintra

• Day 5: Baixa, Alfama and São Jorge Castle, with fado in the evening.
• Day 6: Belém (book the Jerónimos and Belém Tower time slots), LX Factory and sunset in Chiado.
• Day 7: day trip to Sintra. Book Pena Palace tickets ahead, or take a day tour with Cascais.

Lisbon tips: the city is very hilly. The Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been closed since the accident in September 2025, so plan to walk, take a tram or bus, or use a taxi. Belém Tower reopened on 27 May 2026 with timed entry, so book your slot online. Lisbon’s tourist tax is €4 per person per night (under-13s are free).

Sintra tips: Pena Palace tickets are for a set date and time. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena, so take the train from Lisbon’s Rossio station (about 40 minutes) and then a bus or tuk-tuk up the hill. Start early: Sintra gets crowded by late morning. See our Sintra tips.

Full details are in our 3-day Lisbon itinerary, where to stay in Lisbon and Lisbon transport guide. Doing lots of sights? Check if the Lisboa Card is worth it.

Day 8: Lisbon to Porto

Take a morning train (just under 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular, a little longer on the Intercidades). See Lisbon to Porto by train. Driving instead? Stop at Óbidos, Coimbra or Aveiro on the way. The A1 motorway is tolled.

Days 8–10: Porto and the Douro

• Day 8 (afternoon): the Ribeira riverside, the tiled São Bento station, and sunset from the top of the Dom Luís I bridge.
• Day 9: Livraria Lello (book tickets, about €8 to €10, taken off the price of a book), the Clérigos Tower (about €10), then port cellars in Gaia. Try a port wine walking tour.
• Day 10: a day in the Douro Valley. See our Douro wine tours.

Porto is steep. The Guindais funicular between the Ribeira and the upper town has been suspended since July 2026, so expect to walk uphill or take a taxi. Stay in the Baixa for the easiest base. See where to stay in Porto.

Fly home from Porto. See Porto airport transport. More ideas: day trips from Porto.

When to do this trip

• May, June and September: the best balance of warm weather and manageable crowds, and the sea is swimmable in the Algarve.
• July and August: the hottest and busiest months. Book Algarve stays and Douro tours early.
• September to early October: harvest time in the Douro.
• Winter: cheaper and quieter, but too cool for beach days. Consider swapping the Algarve for Évora or more time in Lisbon.

Food along the way

• Algarve: grilled fish, cataplana and frango piri-piri.
• Lisbon: pastel de nata, bifanas and ginjinha.
• Porto: the francesinha and a glass of port in Gaia.
• Douro: a long quinta lunch with the estate’s own wines.

See what to eat in Portugal.

Want a slower trip?

• Skip the Algarve and add Óbidos and Coimbra, or more time in Lisbon. See Porto vs Lisbon.
• Beach-focused: 5 nights in the Algarve, 5 in Lisbon.
• Travelling with kids? See Portugal with kids.
• Visiting in winter? See Portugal in winter.

Before you book

• Fly into one airport and home from another: into Faro, home from Porto. On airline and booking sites, choose “multi-city” instead of “return”. It’s usually no more expensive, and it saves a long trip back to where you started.
• Book Pena Palace, Belém and Livraria Lello tickets in advance in busy months.
• Train tickets: Alfa Pendular and Intercidades seats are reserved, and booking early on the CP website can be cheaper.
• Sort your mobile data and read money in Portugal.
• Download our free Portugal trip checklist.

FAQ

Is 10 days enough to see Portugal?

It’s enough for the three big draws, the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto, plus Sintra and the Douro, as long as you only change base three times. To add the Alentejo or the Azores, you’d want two weeks.

Can I do this route without a car?

Yes. Trains link Faro, Lisbon and Porto, and regional trains and buses reach Lagos. A car is only really useful for the Algarve beaches.

Is the Lisboa Card worth it?

It costs about €31, €51 or €62 for 24, 48 or 72 hours, and covers public transport and many sights. It pays off on busy sightseeing days, but check which museums are open, as some major ones are closed for restoration.

From our sister blog: The 10 most beautiful places to visit in Portugal on Sunset Travellers.

See also: 5 days, 7 days and 2 weeks by train in Portugal, and our road trip and 2 weeks in Portugal by car.

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