Arrive at Humberto Delgado Airport and take a short taxi or Aerobus ride to your accommodation in Baixa or Alfama to drop off luggage and freshen up. Start the day gently with a pastel de nata and strong coffee at Manteigaria or Confeitaria Nacional, then wander up through the cobbled streets toward São Jorge Castle for sweeping views over the Tagus and an orientation to Lisbon’s layered neighborhoods.
Descend into the heart of Alfama for a relaxed, exploratory lunch at a tavern like Clube de Fado or Pois Café, sampling bacalhau dishes and a glass of vinho verde. Spend the afternoon browsing the Alfama’s artisan shops and the Feira da Ladra flea market (if open), pop into the 12th-century Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral), and stroll along the riverside at Miradouro das Portas do Sol to watch city life unfold.
As dusk falls, settle in for an intimate fado experience in an Alfama casa de fado such as Tasca do Chico or A Baiuca, pairing soulful live music with a traditional dinner of grilled sardines or caldo verde. Finish the evening with a slow walk back down toward Praça do Comércio, enjoying illuminated views of the river and the sense of anticipation for tomorrow’s Belém explorations.
Take the tram or a short taxi from Alfama across to Belém to continue your Lisbon introduction with a morning at the riverside monuments; start with the iconic Torre de Belém and the nearby Padrão dos Descobrimentos for sweeping Atlantic views and photo ops. Fuel up with a custardy pastel de nata (fresh from Pastéis de Belém) and a coffee at the original bakery before strolling the riverside promenade and peeking into the Museu Nacional dos Coches for its ornate royal carriages.
After a light riverside lunch at À Margem or Cruzes Credo — where you can watch river traffic and sample petiscos — spend the afternoon at the Jerónimos Monastery, admiring its Manueline cloisters and the tomb of Vasco da Gama, then wander the gardens and the contemporary exhibitions at the Berardo Collection Museum inland. If time allows, cycle or walk along the Tagus to the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) for striking architecture and sunset-friendly terraces.
Return toward central Lisbon and pause at a riverfront café in Belém or Cais do Sodré for an early evening drink while the light softens over the Tagus, then head back to Alfama or Chiado for dinner at a cozy Tasca such as Taberna da Rua das Flores to sample seasonal seafood and regional wines. End the night with a leisurely riverside stroll past Praça do Comércio, letting the illuminated bridges and the day’s maritime narratives settle into place before tomorrow’s trip to Sintra.
Catch an early CP train from Rossio Station (or a comfortable private transfer) to Sintra and head straight to the Palácio Nacional da Pena to beat the crowds; wander its fairytale terraces, vivid tiles and Romantic-era rooms while the morning light picks out views over the pine-clad hills. Follow with a short walk to the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) for windswept ramparts and sweeping panoramas of the coastline and Sintra’s historic center.
Descend into the town center for lunch at a local tasca or Casa Piriquita (try the travesseiros) before exploring the Quinta da Regaleira’s grottoes, Initiation Well and enchanted gardens—an atmospheric contrast to Pena’s grandeur. If time remains, pop by the Sintra National Palace for its iconic chimneys and tilework, or take a scenic drive to Cabo da Roca for cliff-top views where Europe meets the Atlantic.
Return toward Lisbon in the late afternoon, stopping in Cascais for a seaside aperitivo if you prefer to stretch the day, or head straight back to Alfama/Chiado to relax and reflect on the day’s fairy-tale sights. Finish with a relaxed dinner at a neighborhood restaurant—perhaps seafood in Cais do Sodré or a cozy tavern in Alfama—pairing local wine with the memories of hilltop palaces and Moorish vistas.
Leave Lisbon after breakfast and take the scenic coastal drive along the A5/EN6 toward Cascais, stopping first at the dramatic cliffs of Cabo da Roca if you missed it in Sintra for a brisk cliff-top view where Europe meets the Atlantic. Arrive in Cascais mid-morning to wander the marina and the charming historic center, grab a coffee and a pastel de nata at House of Wonders or Celeste, and stroll along Praia da Ribeira and the promenade toward the elegant Boca do Inferno rock formation.
Continue your coastal journey south through picturesque fishing villages to Setúbal, arriving for a leisurely seafood lunch at a riverside restaurant like O Miguel or Restaurante Casa do Marisco to sample fresh choco frito and grilled sardines paired with a local Moscatel or crisp white from Setúbal. Spend the afternoon exploring the Mercado do Livramento’s colorful stalls, or take a short boat trip from the harbor into the Sado Estuary to watch dolphins and enjoy views of the Arrábida hills framing the coastline.
As evening falls, savor a relaxed dinner in Setúbal—choose a family-run tasca for petiscos and regional specialties such as açorda de marisco—then enjoy a twilight stroll along the waterfront toward Praça do Bocage, where locals gather. Return to Lisbon or continue on to your Algarve-bound accommodation with the salt-sweet memory of the coast, the mood set by fading light over the Tagus estuary and the promise of sun-soaked beaches ahead.
Drive or take the train from Lisbon toward the Algarve after breakfast, arriving in Lagos by late morning; drop your bags at your accommodation then head straight to the golden sands of Praia Dona Ana or Meia Praia for a refreshing walk and sea air. Pause at a beachfront café like Casa do Prego or Goji Lounge to sample a light lunch of fresh sardines or açorda and a glass of regional white wine while you watch the turquoise water and limestone cliffs.
Spend the afternoon exploring Lagos’ historic center—wander the cobbled streets to see the Igreja de Santo António and the ornate Mercado Municipal, then stroll along the city walls toward the Ponta da Bandeira fort for coastal views. For a close-up of the coast’s dramatic rock formations, take a short boat trip from the marina to the Ponta da Piedade grottoes, timing it for the softer afternoon light that brings the cliffs’ ochres and golds to life.
As evening falls, enjoy a relaxed seafood dinner at a riverside or old-town restaurant such as O Camilo or Restaurante dos Artistas, savoring grilled fish and a glass of Algarve vinho. Finish with a leisurely walk along the marina or down to the cliffs to watch the sun slip into the Atlantic, letting the day’s coastal contrasts — from Lisbon’s monuments to Algarve’s beaches — settle in before tomorrow’s Ponta da Piedade adventure.
Start the day with a sunrise stroll along the cliffs at Ponta da Piedade, sipping coffee from a nearby café like A Forja before joining a guided kayak tour from Lagos Marina; paddle through sea arches, hidden grottos and under honey-coloured cliffs while your guide points out nesting seabirds and sea-cave formations. The morning light brings out the ochre and gold of the limestone—perfect for photos and a close-up introduction to the Algarve’s dramatic coastline.
After returning to shore, warm up with a leisurely seafood lunch at O Camilo or Restaurante dos Artistas, sampling grilled peixe and a chilled Vinho Verde before reboarding for a short boat cruise if you’d like a different perspective of the grottoes. Spend the later afternoon exploring the coastal walking paths around Ponta da Piedade and the scenic promenade toward Praia do Camilo, stopping to relax on the sand or swim in the sheltered coves as the sun softens.
As dusk falls, head back to Lagos’ old town for aperitivos at Bon Vivant or the rooftop bar at Casa Mãe, then enjoy a relaxed dinner of regional dishes—try cataplana or cataplana-style seafood—at Restaurante dos Artistas or A Forja. Finish the night with a gentle walk along the marina or a cliff-top viewpoint to watch the Atlantic darken, letting the day’s salt-sweet memories and vivid coastal colours settle in before tomorrow’s return toward Lisbon.
Depart Lagos after an early breakfast and head north toward the Alentejo, choosing Évora for a culture-rich stop; begin with the Roman Temple and the haunting Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) to feel the region’s layered history. Stroll through the whitewashed streets to the Praça do Giraldo and pause for coffee and a local bolinho at a café before visiting the Gothic cathedral (Sé de Évora) for panoramic rooftop views.
Continue your return toward Lisbon with a leisurely lunch at a traditional Alentejo restaurant such as Taberna Tipica Quarta-Feira or Restaurante Fialho, sampling açorda Alentejana or slow-roasted porco preto paired with a robust local vinho tinto. If time allows, detour to a nearby cork oak landscape or a small Herdade winery for a brief tasting and vineyard walk, then resume the drive with rolling plains and olive groves giving way to the approaching Tagus estuary.
Arrive in Lisbon in the early evening and settle back into your Baixa or Chiado accommodation, then head out for a celebratory final dinner at a riverside spot like Ribeira das Naus or a classic Tasca in Chiado such as Taberna da Rua das Flores to reminisce over the week’s highlights. Finish with a twilight walk along Praça do Comércio and the riverfront, pausing at a miradouro to take in Lisbon’s lights and the satisfied, sun-salted feeling of a week spent between city monuments and Algarve cliffs.