Arrive at Humberto Delgado Airport and take a short taxi or Aerobus ride to your central hotel in Baixa or Chiado to drop off luggage and freshen up. Begin your day with a leisurely walk through Praça do Comércio toward the Tagus River, then grab a pastel de nata and coffee at the historic Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria while absorbing the river views and the golden morning light.
Stroll up through the bustling streets of Baixa and Rossio to reach the Elevador de Santa Justa for panoramic views, then wander into the atmospheric alleyways of Chiado to visit the Bertrand Bookshop and lively cafés. Head toward the Alfama district in the later afternoon to explore São Jorge Castle’s ramparts and the winding lanes below, where you can peek into tiny fado houses and local tile-adorned chapels.
As dusk falls, enjoy dinner in Alfama or nearby Bairro Alto — choose a cozy tasca for traditional bacalhau or a contemporary spot for modern Portuguese cuisine, paired with a glass of Vinho Verde or Douro wine. After dinner, experience Lisbon’s nightlife: sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar in Bairro Alto for lights-over-the-city views, or catch a soulful fado performance in an intimate Alfama venue to end your first evening in the city on a memorable, local note.
Start your day with a tram or short taxi ride west to Belém to continue the city's classic introduction: visit the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, then wander the riverside promenade. Stop at Pastéis de Belém for a freshly baked pastel de nata and coffee, and explore the nearby Monument to the Discoveries and the MAAT museum for contemporary art and striking waterfront architecture.
Return toward central Lisbon and lose yourself in the narrow, sunlit lanes of Alfama—explore the National Pantheon, the São Vicente de Fora church and climb to viewpoints like Miradouro das Portas do Sol for sweeping rooftops and the Tagus beyond. Pop into tiny tafes and tile shops, and if you missed it yesterday, visit São Jorge Castle’s overlooked corners or a small fado museum to deepen your appreciation of the neighborhood’s history and music.
As dusk falls, head to Bairro Alto and Chiado for aperitivos and dinner; dine at a traditional tasca or a contemporary Portuguese restaurant (try grilled sardines or bacalhau à Brás) before wandering Rua da Bica to see the iconic funicular. Finish the night with drinks at a rooftop bar such as PARK or a late-night fado performance in Alfama for an intimate, authentic Lisbon evening that threads smoothly from yesterday’s introductions.
Catch an early CP train from Rossio Station (about 40 minutes) or take a private transfer to arrive in Sintra before the crowds; start at the fairytale Palácio Nacional da Pena, wander its colorful terraces and wooded park, and savor sweeping views over the Sintra hills. After exploring Pena, stroll down to the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) to walk the ancient ramparts and photograph dramatic vistas of the coastline and Sintra’s palaces.
Head into the historic centre for lunch—try a local queijada or travesseiro pastry at Piriquita—then visit the whimsical Quinta da Regaleira to discover its intricate gardens, Initiation Well and secret grottoes on a guided or self-led exploration. If time permits, drive or take a bus out to the Cabo da Roca clifftop (Europe’s westernmost point) for brisk ocean air and rugged coastal views before returning toward Sintra village to browse artisan shops.
Return to Lisbon in the early evening and, back in the city, freshen up before dinner in Chiado or Bairro Alto; opt for a riverside seafood meal or a cozy tavern to compare notes about the day’s palaces and coastal panoramas. If you’re not too tired, cap the night with a nightcap at a rooftop bar to enjoy Lisbon’s lights and a softer perspective on the Tagus after a full day of Sintra’s magic.
Check out of your Lisbon hotel after a final pastel de nata and board the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Porto (approx. 2h50), arriving at Campanhã or São Bento with plenty of daylight. Drop bags at your riverside hotel in Ribeira or near the Avenida dos Aliados, then take a short orientation walk to the iconic São Bento station to admire its azulejo panels before stepping out to the broad Praça da Liberdade and the elegant Avenida dos Aliados.
After a light lunch of francesinha or fresh seafood at a local tasca, follow the riverbank toward the historic Ribeira quarter, passing the Palácio da Bolsa and the Church of São Francisco to soak in ornate 19th-century interiors. Cross the domed Dom Luís I Bridge (upper or lower level depending on energy) to Vila Nova de Gaia for an early visit to a port wine lodge—Graham’s, Sandeman or Cálem—for a cellar tour and tasting with sweeping views back over Porto.
As dusk falls, return to Ribeira for a leisurely riverside dinner—choose a terrace restaurant for grilled fish or octopus while watching rabelo boats drift by—and linger over dessert and a glass of tawny port. Finish the evening with a gentle stroll along the Cais de Ribeira and up to the Miradouro da Vitória or the Jardim do Morro (on Gaia side) for night-time panoramas of Porto’s illuminated rooftops, tying together the coastal vistas and historic rhythms you’ve enjoyed since Lisbon.
Begin with breakfast near São Bento—sip a strong Portuguese coffee and try a bolo de arroz—then wander the mosaic-lined halls of São Bento station before exploring the ornate Church of São Francisco and the nearby Palácio da Bolsa to admire its Arabian Room. Cross to the Ribeira waterfront to stroll along Cais da Ribeira, watch rabelo boats gliding on the Douro, and pause at the Mercado Ferreira Borges for local crafts and light bites as the city hums with morning energy.
After a riverside lunch of grilled sardines or arroz de marisco in Ribeira, choose between a half-day Douro River cruise (short Rabelo-boat trip or 2-3 hour scenic cruise leaving from Gaia) to enjoy vineyard-draped slopes and valley panoramas, or remain in Vila Nova de Gaia for a deep dive into port: book a guided cellar tour and tasting at Graham’s, Taylor’s or Sandeman to learn about ageing and sample tawny and vintage ports. If you stay in central Porto, take time to climb the Clerigos Tower for city views, then browse the elegant bookshop Livraria Lello or the artisanal shops on Rua das Flores.
Return to Porto’s historic center for dinner—choose a traditional tasca for francesinha or a contemporary restaurant in Foz do Douro for seafood—paired with a Douro red or white from your earlier tasting notes. Finish with a leisurely post-dinner walk across the illuminated Dom Luís I Bridge to Gaia for panoramic night views of Porto’s rooftops and the river, perhaps lingering at a terrace bar to reflect on the city’s architecture and the valley landscapes you glimpse from the water.
If your flight departs from Porto, savor a relaxed breakfast near Ribeira—try a pastel de nata and strong coffee at Confeitaria do Bolhão or Manteigaria—then take a final stroll to São Bento station to admire the azulejo panels one last time and pick up any small souvenirs on Rua das Flores. If you need to return to Lisbon for departure, check out early and board the Alfa Pendular to Lisbon (approx. 3 hours), using the journey to reflect on the trip while watching the changing Portuguese landscape; upon arrival in Lisbon, drop luggage at a central hotel if time permits and visit a final viewpoint like Miradouro de Santa Catarina for a last Tagus panorama.
For departures from Porto with time to spare, visit the contemporary Serralves Museum and its gardens for a peaceful, art-filled afternoon or take a short Douro river boat trip from Ribeira for one more riverside perspective before heading to the airport; enjoy a leisurely seafood lunch in Foz do Douro if you’re staying longer. If you’re back in Lisbon, spend the afternoon in Belém revisiting favorites—Jerónimos Monastery, MAAT or the riverside promenade—and pick up final treats from Pastéis de Belém or À Margem bookstore before transferring to the airport.
As evening approaches and it’s time to leave, arrive at the appropriate airport (Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro or Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado) with ample time for baggage and check-in, savoring a final glass of Vinho Verde or Douro wine at the terminal café if flights allow. If your schedule includes an overnight stay before a morning flight, enjoy a relaxed final dinner in Chiado (Lisbon) or near Ribeira (Porto), ordering a comforting dish like bacalhau à Brás or arroz de marisco while recounting highlights from palaces, riverbanks, and wine cellars before your journey home.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon) — transfer to city (Aerobus or taxi) | €4-6 (Aerobus one-way) or €15-€30 (taxi, depending on luggage/time) |
| Baixa / Chiado hotel drop-off | Free (if early check-in not included) or €10-€30 luggage hold fee if charged |
| Praça do Comércio / Tagus riverside walk | Free |
| Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria (pastel de nata + coffee) | €3-€6 per person |
| Elevador de Santa Justa | €1.60-€6 (single lift fare if using public transport card or walk and pay small fee; prices vary — approx. €1.60 with Viva Viagem card + viewpoint access sometimes charged up to €5-€6) |
| Bertrand Bookshop / Chiado cafés | Free to browse; coffee €2-€4 |
| Alfama district wander | Free (optional museum/castle fees apply) |
| São Jorge Castle | €10-€12 (adult ticket) |
| Tasquinha / dinner (traditional bacalhau) | €15-€35 per person (depending on restaurant and drinks) |
| Bairro Alto rooftop bar / cocktail | €8-€15 per cocktail; €3-€5 per beer |
| Fado show (small Alfama venue) | €15-€30 (with or without a small cover/drink requirement) |
| Tram or taxi to Belém | Tram/bus €1.65-€2.00 (single) or taxi €8-€15 |
| Jerónimos Monastery | €10-€12 (adult ticket); sometimes free first Sunday or reduced |
| Tower of Belém | €6-€8 (adult ticket) |
| Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) / riverside promenade | €3-€6 (top access); promenade free |
| MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) | €6-€10 (exhibition dependent) |
| National Pantheon | €4-€6 |
| São Vicente de Fora Church | €3-€5 |
| Miradouro das Portas do Sol | Free |
| Small fado museum (if visited) | €5-€10 |
| Rossio Station to Sintra (CP train) | €2.25-€4.50 one-way (regional train; reserve for exact fare) |
| Palácio Nacional da Pena (Sintra) | €14-€15 (palace + park combined); park-only cheaper |
| Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) | €8-€10 |
| Lunch / Piriquita pastries (Sintra) | €3-€10 (pastry); lunch €10-€20 |
| Quinta da Regaleira | €10-€12 |
| Cabo da Roca (optional) | Free (transport by bus approx. €3-€6 each way or taxi €20-€40) |
| Alfa Pendular / Intercidades train Lisbon → Porto | €25-€40 (Intercidades) or €30-€50 (Alfa Pendular) one-way depending on advance booking |
| Hotel drop-off in Porto (Ribeira / Avenida dos Aliados) | Free luggage hold typically; €5-€15 if early check-in charged |
| São Bento station (azulejo tiles) | Free |
| Praça da Liberdade / Avenida dos Aliados orientation walk | Free |
| Francesinha or seafood lunch in Porto | €10-€18 per person |
| Palácio da Bolsa | €10-€12 (guided tour) |
| Church of São Francisco (interior) | €6-€8 |
| Walk along Ribeira / Cais da Ribeira | Free |
| Dom Luís I Bridge crossing | Free |
| Port wine lodge tour & tasting (Graham’s, Sandeman, Cálem) | €10-€20 (standard tasting); premium tastings €20-€40+ |
| Douro short cruise / Rabelo boat (half-day or short trip) | €10-€45 depending on length/operator |
| Clérigos Tower | €6-€8 |
| Livraria Lello | €5-€7 (entry voucher often deducted from book purchase) |
| Serralves Museum & Gardens (Porto) | €10-€16 |
| Return train Porto → Lisbon (if applicable) | €25-€50 one-way (advance fares cheaper) |
| Airport transfer (Porto or Lisbon) | Metro/bus €1.20-€3.00; taxi €20-€35 |
| Souvenirs / small purchases (tiles, cork goods, wine) | €10-€60+ depending on item |
| Estimated Total (per person) | €700-€1,450 per person (6 days, mid-range) |