Portugal 10 Day Travel Itinerary
Portugal is an amazing country, with delicious and affordable food and wine, stunning beaches, great weather, and friendly locals. I first traveled to Portugal in 2022, and enjoyed it so much, I went back in 2023! This Portugal 10 day travel itinerary is ideal for a friend’s trip, romantic getaway, or even a solo trip!
Days 1-4: Lisbon & Sintra
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon. Grab a coffee and pasteis de nata, a local egg custard pastry. These were so good, I ended up eating them every day. I tried several pastry shops, but Manteigaria was by far my favorite-the crust was flaky, custard was slightly sweet and creamy, and the top was perfectly caramelized. My mouth is watering now just thinking about them! In the evening, grab a cocktail or glass of wine and watch the sunset from one of the many rooftops.
Day 2: I like to take a tour of larger cities early in my trip to learn more about the city and for local tips for my trip. Check out this food tour of Lisbon that introduces you to Portuguese cuisine while exploring the neighborhoods of Baixa and Mouraria (about $100). Later in the day, explore Lisbon by water on this sunset sailing tour on the Tagus River.
Day 3: Head over to the Time Out Market Lisboa, where you can find the best chefs in Lisbon under one roof and sample different items. In the evening, check out a Fado show like this one.
Day 4: Head to the charming Sintra region on this small group tour (or you can take the train or rent a car). You’ll need a full day to explore the highlights of this area: the Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Boca do Inferno, and Cascais. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as there is a lot of walking, hills, and steps.
Days 5-7: Porto & Douro
Day 5: Travel from Lisbon to Porto. After Lisbon, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, and it has a more local vibe. You can travel from Lisbon to Porto by plane (fastest), train (cheapest), or car. When you arrive, join a free walking tour (which are free but guides work for tips), in the morning to learn about the city, or visit some of the sites on your own: Livraria Lello (beautiful bookstore that was not the inspiration for Harry Potter), Clerigos Church and Tower, and Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas churches.
Day 6: Take a day trip to the Douro Valley. Tour the rolling vineyards and go wine tasting!
Day 7: Take a cruise on the Douro River and go port tasting in Gaia.
Porto: Where to Stay
I stayed in the Ribeira area, a beautiful waterfront neighborhood along the Douro River. I was able to pretty much walk everywhere from here, and used Uber to/from the airport.
The Centro/Baixa district is also a great area and next to Ribeira.
Recommended hotels: Gran Cruz House and Guest House Douro
Days 8-10: Sao Miguel, Azores
Day 8: Fly to Sao Miguel. When you arrive, either rent a car or quad bike, or hire a guide to see Lagoa das Sete Cidades, explore the Western part of the island, and relax on the black sand beach.
Day 9: Go scuba diving and explore the nearby Dori wreck. Then, join a whale watching boat tour, as whale sightings are possible year round in the Azores.
Day 10: Either rent a car or hire a private guide to explore the Eastern part of the island. Hike Lagoa do Fogo, bathe in the Furnas hot springs, visit a tea plantation, and taste fresh pineapple at a pineapple plantation. Make sure to try the local Azorean wine (likely from the island of Pico).
How to Get to/From the Azores
You’ll generally need to get here by plane. There are several nonstop flights from Europe. If you’re heading to the Azores after a trip in mainland Portugal, you can fly directly from Lisbon or Porto to Ponta Delgada on Azores Airlines, Tap Air Portugal, and Ryan Air.
The good news is that if you’re heading back the U.S. after the Azores (or flying from the U.S. to the Azores), Sao Miguel has direct flights to Boston and New York, so you don’t have to fly through mainland Europe.
I hope you enjoyed this Portugal 10 day travel itinerary! Head to my Portugal Travel Guide for more tips on traveling to Portugal!