Portugal Itineraries

1 Week Tour in Portugal - Sample Itinerary

Portugal is a fairly small country, easy to see comfortably in 1 week.

Day 1-3, Lisbon: Explore this vibrant city, the capital of Portugal. Take a day trip out to beautiful Sintra to visit Pena Palace.

Day 4, Coimbra: This medieval city was once Portugal’s capital and is a classic stop on any Portugal itinerary. Enjoy tours of beautiful churches, and even visit an ancient Roman excavation site!

Day 5-6, Porto: Spend two days in this beautiful seaside town, getting a taste of the local culture. Porto is full of wonderful shops and cafes as well as gorgeous architecture and historical sites. You can also taste Port to your heart’s content in many lovely tasting rooms.

Day 7, Douro Valley: Attend a wine tasting in the Douro Valley. Take a vineyard tour and enjoy picnic lunches in view of the Douro River.

Day 8, Porto: Circle back to Porto at the end of your trip and enjoy more free time to explore the city.

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Portugal in 2 Weeks - First-Time Visit

Spend a good two weeks touring the highlights of welcoming Portugal, plenty of time to visit religious landmarks like Fatima, medieval cities, the Douro River and more, while sampling plenty of port wine and delicious pastries along the way.

Days 1, Lisbon: Take a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Hieronymite Monastery, cross the suspension bridge between the Tagus and Belem Tower, take in a traditional fado performance and climb some of the seven remarkable hills of the city for frame-worthy photos. (From here, it’s easy to take optional tours of Portugal’s Golden Triangle: Sintra, Cascais and the Estoril Coast.)

Day 2, Sintra: Day a day trip to the beautiful city of Sintra, including its most famous attractions, Palácio Nacional de Sintra and Palácio Nacional de Pena.

Day 3, Lisbon: Spend some more time in Lisbon, hitting the major sightseeing attractions you didn’t see on your first day. You might take a walking tour of Baixa and the Chiado or visit the incredible art museum, Museu da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

Days 4-5, Costa do Sol: Your tour continues to Lisbon’s Riviera, home to Cascais (originally a small fishing village and today a beach resort city) and Estoril and its beautiful beaches.

Day 6, Óbidos, Alcobaça & Batalha: A full-day tour can include Óbidos and its famous Castelo de Óbidos restaurant (perhaps the most renowned restaurant in all of Portugal). Next up, Alcobaça, home to the prestigious Mosteiro de Santa Maria monastery, and Batalha, where you’ll explore the 14th-century Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória.

Day 7, Coimbra: Hobnob with the scholars of the university city, Coimbra and tuck into their favorite cafes and bars. Don’t miss one of Coimbra’s top sights, Sé Velha cathedral

Day 8, Porto: Gateway to the north of Portugal, Porto is, of course, the home of port wine. Sample and tour the wine lodges - one of the favorites is Caves Ramos Pinto.

Day 9, Nazaré & Fátima: From Porto, your Portugal guided tour may choose to visit the fishing village of Nazaré or venture to the Catholic pilgrimage site of Fátima. The former also boasts some of the country’s best beaches, while Fátima is world famous for its Virgin Mary apparitions in the early 20th century.

Day 10, Tomar & Elvas: With two weeks in Portugal, you’ll have time to delve even further into the country’s ancient history. Visit the old city of Tomar, once the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Or get lost along the narrow alleyways of charming Elvas.

Day 11, Évora: Set in the Portuguese plains, Évora is a favorite of most who have been on a Portugal tour. You’ll fall for the gurgling fountains, cobblestone streets, beautiful cathedral, monuments from the 14th to 16th centuries and charming sense of place.

Day 12, Beja: It is said that Julius Caesar founded Beja. Tour the ancient city and explore its 14th-century ruins at Castelo de Beja.

Day 13, Setúbal & Palmela: Round out your immersive Portuguese guided tour with a drive to Setúbal and Palmela. Some historians believe Setúbal was founded by one of Noah’s grandsons. Shop for local handicrafts and tour the city’s factories.

Day 14, Sesimbra: On your return to Lisbon, the finale of your Portugal tour, stop in the small resort town and fishing village of Sesimbra. Visit the ancient castle and wander along the harbor.

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Douro River Cruise in Portugal

A cruise along the Douro River Valley is the quintessential way to discover the best of Portugal, from Lisbon - a blend of ancient and modern - historic university towns, Porto and its renowned wine lodges. Take excursions from the river to Portugal’s famous beaches and pilgrimage sites and you’ve seen the best of this diverse, welcoming country.

Days 1-2, Lisbon: Tour the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, remarkable examples of Manueline architecture. Your expert Lisbon guide will accompany you through the streets of the Alfama District, regaling you with tales of the city’s multicultural past.

Days 3-4, Porto: Cruise to Porto, stopping along the way in Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Porto’s center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - tour its cathedrals and perhaps take an excursion to the medieval quarter of Guimarães. Visit a famous wine lodge and taste the city’s renowned ports.

Day 5, Régua: Embark on a Douro River cruise to Régua visiting the grand Mateus Palace and one of the region’s most renowned port wine-making facilities. Tour the vineyards and sample this uniquely Portuguese libation.

Day 6, Barca D’Alva: Cruise east on the Douro River past terrace vineyards, under picturesque bridges and past sheer cliff faces on your way to Barca d’Alva, near the Spanish border (see top guided tours in Spain here). Tour Casatelo Rodrigo, one of Portugal’s 12 historic parishes, taking note of its stunning Manueline-style windows.

Day 7, Salamanca: Take a full day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient Salamanca. This living, breathing multicultural museum boasts the Salamanca University (from the 13th century) and the new Cathedral, built from 1513 to 1733.

Day 8, Pinhão: Your Douro River cruise sails west to Pinhão. Along the way, stop in to a traditional bakery, meet the bakers and try a delicious sample or two. Visit an off-the-beaten-path Portuguese village, then have lunch at a centuries-old winery in the Douro Wine District.

Day 9, Régua: Marvel at the Moorish-style tilework of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies when your Douro River cruise stops in the small town of Lamego. Then, return to your ship and sail the Douro all the way back to Porto.

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Portugal, Spain & Morocco Tour in 2 Weeks - Sample Itinerary

See all 2 Week Portugal, Spain & Morocco tours and travel packages »