Arrive at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport and take a short taxi or Aerobus ride to your accommodation in Baixa or Alfama to drop off bags and freshen up. Walk to a nearby pastelaria for your first pastel de nata and coffee, then ride the iconic Tram 28 up to Miradouro da Graça for sweeping views of the city and a gentle introduction to Lisbon’s tiled rooftops and riverfront light.
Stroll through the narrow, winding lanes of Alfama, visiting the Sé Cathedral and the picturesque Largo das Portas do Sol viewpoint, then explore the Museu do Fado to learn about Portugal’s soulful music tradition. Stop for a leisurely lunch of bacalhau à brás at a neighborhood tasca, and continue to the Castelo de São Jorge — wander the ramparts for panoramic vistas and to orient yourself with the city layout for the coming days.
Return downhill toward the riverside and freshen up before heading out for dinner in Alfama or nearby Mouraria, choosing a restaurant that features live fado for an intimate cultural evening. After dinner, enjoy a post-meal stroll along the Tagus at Praça do Comércio or along Rua Augusta, sampling a gelado or Ginjinha from a street vendor, and take in the softly lit city as you plan tomorrow’s Belém and Baixa adventures.
Start the day with a short tram or tuk-tuk ride west to Belém, where you can wander the riverside promenade and admire the ornate Jerónimos Monastery before queuing for a warm pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém. Pop into the nearby Torre de Belém and the Monument to the Discoveries for postcard-worthy views of the Tagus, then visit the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) if you’d like a dose of contemporary culture by the water.
Return toward Baixa and Chiado for a relaxed lunch — try a bifana or a seafood rice at a family-run tasca — then stroll through Praça do Comércio and up Rua Augusta, pausing to ride the Santa Justa Lift for sweeping city vistas. Explore the elegant shops and literary cafés of Chiado, step inside the Igreja do Carmo ruins for a quiet moment, and if time allows browse the antiques and tiles at Feira da Ladra or a local azulejo shop.
As dusk falls, head to Bairro Alto and settle in at a miradouro bar (such as Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara) for sunset cocktails and views over the city and river. For dinner, choose a small restaurant in Bairro Alto or nearby Cais do Sodré to sample grilled sardines, caldeirada or petiscos, then linger at a fado house or hop between lively bars — the neighborhood’s narrow streets make for an atmospheric nightcap before returning to Alfama.
Catch an early CP train from Rossio Station or a private transfer to Sintra and arrive before the crowds to head straight to the Pena Palace — wander the colorful terraces, Moorish battlements and exotic gardens for postcard views over the town. After exploring Pena, stroll down to the nearby Parque da Pena for a short walk among umbrella pines, then descend toward the historic center for a mid-morning break with a travesseiro pastry and coffee at Piriquita.
Spend the afternoon at the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, following the Initiation Well’s spiral steps, exploring grottoes, tiled cloisters and whimsical gardens that feel like stepping into a fairy tale; allow time for the guided or self-guided subterranean paths. From there, take a short drive or bus to Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point, for dramatic coastal cliffs and sea spray, then stop in the fishing village of Azenhas do Mar for a late lunch of fresh seafood with ocean views.
Return to Sintra town to pick up any souvenirs and enjoy a leisurely coffee or glass of vinho verde as the light softens, then catch the train back to Lisbon; unwind on the tram ride or from your hotel terrace reflecting on the day’s castles and coastline. If energy allows, dine back in Bairro Alto or Alfama with a relaxed meal — perhaps grilled fish or a seafood cataplana — and plan tomorrow’s train to Porto, knowing you’ve packed the best of Sintra into one magical day.
Catch a comfortable morning Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train from Lisbon’s Santa Apolónia or Oriente station, enjoying riverside scenery as you head north; arrive in Porto and drop bags at your hotel in Ribeira or near São Bento before stepping out. Start with a coffee and a francesinha-style brunch near São Bento, then wander the tiled station interior and stroll down to the Douro riverfront to take in the colorful ribeira houses and watch the traditional rabelo boats glide by.
Cross the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge on foot to Vila Nova de Gaia and visit one or two famous port lodges such as Cálem or Sandeman for a guided cellar tour and tasting that explains the fortification process and Douro origins. Afterward, return to Porto’s riverside for lunch at a waterfront seafood restaurant, then explore the narrow lanes around Ribeira and climb toward the Clérigos Tower or Lello Bookshop for panoramic city views and a dose of literary charm.
As dusk falls, choose a terrace or intimate restaurant in Cais da Ribeira for grilled fish, octopus rice or petiscos paired with a glass of Douro wine while the bridge lights reflect on the river. Finish the night with a relaxed riverside walk or a short cruise on the Douro for illuminated views of Porto’s UNESCO-listed skyline, then retreat to your hotel to rest up for the Douro Valley outing tomorrow.
Set off after breakfast for a half-day drive into the Douro Valley, following the Douro River’s ribbon of terraced vineyards; stop first at a viewpoint such as São Leonardo de Galafura for sweeping panoramas and photos of the river’s bends and quintas. Continue to a family-run quinta like Quinta do Vallado or Quinta da Pacheca for a guided cellar tour and introductory tasting that explains vinho verde, DOC Douro grapes, and the region’s ageing methods.
Return toward Peso da Régua for a riverside lunch — sample bacalhau com broa or a meat stew paired with a young Douro red at a local tasca — then take a short scenic drive or riverboat stretch to Pinhão to stroll the station’s famous azulejo panels and visit another quinta for a second tasting or a short vineyard walk. If time allows, pop into a tasting room such as Quinta de la Rosa to compare styles and pick up a bottle or two to bring back to Porto.
Back in Porto, unwind with dinner in the Ribeira district where you can pair grilled sardines or polvo à lagareiro with a Douro wine you sampled earlier, watching the Dom Luís I Bridge glow at night. Finish the evening with a relaxed riverside stroll or a port-focused nightcap at a Gaia lodge terrace, reflecting on the valley’s scenery and tasting notes as you prepare for your coastal stop en route to Lisbon tomorrow.
After checkout from Porto, drive or take the morning train/bus toward the Silver Coast and choose your first stop: in Nazaré, ride the funicular up to Sítio for sweeping views of the Praia do Norte cliffs and watch the fishermen’s boats below while sampling a morning coffee and a freshly grilled sardine toast; in Óbidos, arrive early to stroll inside the compact medieval walls, visit the Igreja de Santa Maria and sip a Ginjinha served in a chocolate cup at a café on Rua Direita. Both options offer a relaxed, photogenic start that contrasts nicely with the urban mornings in Lisbon and Porto earlier in the trip.
If you picked Nazaré, descend to the beach for a seafood lunch at A Celeste or Taberna d'Adélia and walk the promenade to the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo to learn about the big-wave surf culture; if Óbidos, linger over a traditional caldeirada or bifana in a rustic tasca then explore the castle ramparts and the local artisan shops for azulejo and lace souvenirs. Either route gives time for leisurely wandering and last-minute souvenir hunting while enjoying Atlantic views and fresh coastal air before you head back toward Lisbon.
Return to Lisbon in the early evening and, if your flight or departure is later, drop bags at the airport or a city luggage service before a final dinner — choose a riverside restaurant at Cais do Sodré or a cozy Alfama tavern for one last plate of bacalhau and a glass of vinho verde. Finish with a slow walk through Praça do Comércio or a nightcap of port or ginjinha, letting the sea-scented memories of Nazaré or the medieval charm of Óbidos close out the trip and prepare you for departure.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Baixa/Alfama (taxi) | €15-30 |
| Aerobus (Airport to city center) | €4 (one-way) |
| Pastelaria (pastel de nata + coffee) | €2.50-5 per person |
| Tram 28 ride to Miradouro da Graça | €3 (single ticket) or covered by 24h public transport pass |
| Miradouro da Graça (viewpoint) | Free |
| Sé Cathedral (Lisbon Cathedral) | Free entry; crypt/treasury €2-4 |
| Largo das Portas do Sol (viewpoint) | Free |
| Museu do Fado | €5-10 |
| Lunch at neighborhood tasca (bacalhau à Brás) | €10-18 per person |
| Castelo de São Jorge | €10-15 |
| Dinner with live fado (small house in Alfama/Mouraria) | €25-50 per person (menu + cover/mandatory drink) |
| Praça do Comércio / Rua Augusta evening stroll | Free (street snacks €1-3; ginjinha shot €1-2) |
| Belém tram/tuk-tuk transfer | €2-6 (tram) or €6-15 (tuk-tuk short ride) |
| Jerónimos Monastery | €10 |
| Pastéis de Belém (pastel + queue time) | €1.20-1.50 per pastel |
| Torre de Belém | €6-8 |
| Monument to the Discoveries | Monument viewpoint €4-6; promenade free |
| MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) | €7-10 |
| Lunch in Baixa/Chiado (bifana/seafood rice) | €8-18 per person |
| Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta | Free |
| Santa Justa Lift | €3-6 (single) or covered by 24h transport pass |
| Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Convent ruins) | €4-6 |
| Feira da Ladra (flea market) | Free to browse; souvenirs €2-30 |
| Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (sunset drinks) | €6-12 per drink; bar snacks extra |
| Dinner in Bairro Alto / Cais do Sodré | €15-30 per person |
| Morning CP train Lisbon → Sintra (Rossio to Sintra) | €2.25-3.70 one-way (regional) |
| Pena Palace | €15-16 (palace + park) or €14 (park only); shuttle minibus extra €3-6 |
| Parque da Pena (grounds walk) | typically included with Pena access |
| Piriquita (travesseiro pastry & coffee) | €2-5 per person |
| Quinta da Regaleira | €10-12 |
| Bus/drive to Cabo da Roca | Public bus €3-6 each way; taxi/drive €25-45 each way |
| Cabo da Roca (westernmost point) | Free |
| Azenhas do Mar (lunch) | €12-25 per person |
| Train back to Lisbon (Sintra → Rossio) | €2.25-3.70 |
| Evening dinner in Lisbon (Bairro Alto/Alfama) | €15-35 per person |
| Morning Alfa Pendular / Intercidades train Lisbon → Porto | €25-45 (Intercidades) or €30-60 (Alfa Pendular) one-way depending on booking time |
| Drop bags / São Bento station visit | Free to visit; luggage storage €5-10 |
| Francesinha-style brunch | €8-14 per person |
| Douro riverfront (Ribeira) stroll | Free |
| Dom Luís I Bridge crossing (walk) | Free |
| Port lodge cellar tour & tasting (Cálem, Sandeman etc.) | €10-20 per person per cellar (tour + 1-3 tastings) |
| Lunch at waterfront seafood restaurant in Porto | €12-25 per person |
| Clérigos Tower | €6-8 |
| Lello Bookshop (entry/queue) | €5-10 (entry voucher, redeemable against purchase sometimes) |
| Evening Douro river cruise (short) | €10-20 per person |
| Half-day Douro Valley drive (viewpoint São Leonardo de Galafura) | Guided minivan tour €40-80 per person; self-drive fuel/toll €25-50 |
| Quinta (Quinta do Vallado / Quinta da Pacheca) cellar tour & tasting | €12-25 per person |
| Peso da Régua riverside lunch | €10-18 per person |
| Pinhão station azulejos & quinta visit | Free to view tiles; quinta tasting €10-20 |
| Dinner in Porto Ribeira (grilled fish/octopus) | €15-30 per person |
| Travel Porto → Nazaré / Óbidos (train/bus or drive) | Intercity train/bus €10-25; rental car fuel/toll €30-60 (one-way portion) |
| Nazaré funicular to Sítio | €1.50-2.50 each way |
| Nazaré viewpoint & Praia do Norte | Free |
| Nazaré seafood lunch (A Celeste / Taberna d'Adélia) | €12-25 per person |
| Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo | Small entry fee or donation €1-3 |
| Óbidos stroll inside medieval walls | Free (castle entry to pousada/ museum €3-6 depending) |
| Ginjinha in chocolate cup (Óbidos) | €2-4 |
| Caldeirada or bifana in Óbidos | €8-18 per person |
| Return to Lisbon (train/bus/car) | €5-15 per person (bus/train) or €20-45 driving (fuel/toll) |
| Final dinner in Lisbon (Cais do Sodré / Alfama) | €15-35 per person |
| Airport luggage drop / storage | €5-10 per bag (short-term) |
| Estimated Total (per person) | €950-1,850 per person (estimated range) |