5 Days in Portugal: Three Itineraries

Only five days in Portugal? You can still see a lot, as long as you pick one or two bases and don’t try to cover the whole country. Here are three 5-day Portugal itineraries, depending on whether you love cities, beaches or both.

Quick answer: for a first visit, do 3 days in Lisbon (with Sintra) and 2 days in Porto, linked by a 3-hour train. For beaches, combine 2 days in Lisbon with 3 days in the Algarve. For a relaxed trip, stay in one city and do day trips.

How to choose

Five days is enough for two bases at most. Every move between cities costs you around half a day once you add packing, getting to the station and checking in. Choose Option 1 if it’s your first time and you like history, food and city views. Choose Option 2 if you want beach time. Choose Option 3 if you hate packing or you’re travelling with small children.

Option 1: Lisbon and Porto

• Day 1: Lisbon: Alfama, the castle and a viewpoint at sunset. Ride tram 28 early in the morning to avoid the queues, then walk down through Alfama’s lanes to the cathedral. The Glória and Bica funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been closed since the September 2025 accident, so walk or take a tram or bus.
• Day 2: Belém and Chiado. See the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the original custard tarts in the morning, then spend the afternoon in Chiado and the Baixa. End with dinner and fado in Alfama or Bairro Alto. The Belém Tower reopened on 27 May 2026 with timed entry, so book a slot. The monastery church is free, but the cloister is paid, and both monuments usually close on Mondays.
• Day 3: Sintra day trip. Trains from Rossio station take about 40 minutes. Pick two sights, such as Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, and book Pena tickets online in advance. They are sold for a set date and time, and the Essential Visit costs about €20. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena, so take a bus or walk up from the village.
• Day 4: train to Porto (about 3 hours); the Ribeira and Gaia’s port lodges. Take a morning Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Porto Campanhã, drop your bags, then cross the Dom Luís I Bridge for a port tasting. The Gaia cable car back up to the top of the bridge costs about €7 one way.
• Day 5: Porto’s highlights, then fly home from Porto. See São Bento station’s tiles, the Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello, and take the metro to the airport. The Clérigos Tower costs about €10 for adults.

See 2 days in Lisbon and Porto in one day.

Option 2: Lisbon and the Algarve

• Days 1–2: Lisbon’s highlights. Day 1 for Alfama, the castle and the Baixa, and day 2 for Belém and a sunset at a viewpoint.
• Day 3: train or drive to the Algarve (about 3 hours). Direct trains run from Lisbon to Faro. For Lagos or Portimão, you usually change at Tunes, so a car or a direct bus can be easier. See Lisbon to the Algarve.
• Days 4–5: beaches, a Benagil boat trip and Lagos. Fly home from Faro. Boats leave from towns such as Portimão, Armação de Pêra and Benagil, but you can no longer land on the beach inside the cave. In Lagos, walk the cliffs at Ponta da Piedade.

Getting around the Algarve is easier than it was. The A22 motorway along the coast has been toll-free since 1 January 2025, and since July 2026 the whole Algarve railway line has been electric, with more regional trains between Faro and Lagos. Since 2024, swimming into Benagil cave is banned, and kayaks may only go in with a licensed guide.

See Lisbon or the Algarve and 3 days in the Algarve.

Option 3: One base, easy day trips

• Lisbon base: the city, plus Sintra, Cascais and Arrábida or Óbidos. See 5 days in Lisbon.
• Porto base: the city, plus the Douro Valley, Aveiro and Braga. See 3 days in Porto.

A sample five days from Lisbon: two days in the city, one day in Sintra, one day in Cascais by train along the coast, and one day in Óbidos or the Arrábida beaches. From Porto, trains reach Aveiro and Braga in about an hour, while the Douro is best done on a tour or by car. See the best day trips from Lisbon.

Note that there are no trains between Meleças and Caldas da Rainha since storm damage in January 2026, so go to Óbidos by express bus from Campo Grande instead.

Getting around

• Trains: CP runs the Lisbon to Porto and Lisbon to Faro routes. Alfa Pendular is the fastest service. Book on the CP website or app.
• Buses: Rede Expressos and FlixBus cover the same routes, often more cheaply. See Portugal by bus.
• Cars: you don’t need one in Lisbon or Porto. Parking is hard and traffic is slow. Hire one only for the Algarve or the Douro.

Budget extras

Hotels add a city tourist tax per person per night. In Lisbon it is €4 for guests aged 13 and over, charged for up to seven nights. In Porto it is €3. It is usually paid at check-in.

When to go

May, June and September are ideal for all three options: warm days without the August crowds. In winter, Option 1 works well, as both cities are good in the rain, but the Algarve is quiet and many beach businesses close.

Tips

• Fly into one city and out of another (a multi-city booking) to save time.
• Book trains early for promo fares. See the Portugal train guide.
• Don’t overpack the days: Lisbon and Porto are hilly and best enjoyed slowly.
• Book the big sights ahead in summer, especially Pena Palace and Livraria Lello.
• Wear good shoes: cobbled streets are steep and slippery.

FAQ

Is 5 days enough for Portugal?

Five days is enough for two cities or one city and a beach area, but not for the whole country. Pick one option and save the rest for another trip.

Should I visit Lisbon or Porto first?

Either works. Start in Lisbon if you are flying in there, as Sintra fits well early in the trip, then take the train north and fly home from Porto.

Do I need a car for 5 days in Portugal?

Not for Lisbon and Porto, which are linked by fast trains. A car helps in the Algarve and the Douro, where buses and trains are less frequent.

Can I visit Benagil cave on a 5-day trip?

Yes, on Option 2. Boat trips view the cave from the water, but you can’t land on its beach or swim in.

Got more time? See 7 days or 10 days in Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.