Sao Jorge Castle and Baixa, Lisbon. Par of a 14 day Portugal itinerary

You can see quite a lot of the country without a car on this 2-week Portugal itinerary. The focus for this Portugal trip is on the areas around and in between Lisbon and Porto and there’s plenty of variety including some off the beaten track highlights as well as the ‘must sees’. 

I’ve designed this itinerary for Portugal for those of you who are happy to book your own accommodation, tours and transport (links provided – if you use my affiliate links to book, you’ll be supporting the work that’s gone into creating this itinerary). 

There are options for different budgets and interests so you should find something that appeals.

Note: If you’d rather have me and my partner agency take care of the logistics for you, check out these exclusive itineraries instead, or let me design a custom itinerary based on your preferences.

There are many other ways a climate-conscious traveller can make sure their trip is environmentally friendly. Read my Sustainable Tourism in Portugal post for things to consider when planning your vacation.

Travelling around Portugal without a car can be stress-free, relaxing and fun!

Day 1: Lisbon. Arrival, hotel transfer, museum visits

Fountain and wavy pavement on Rossio Square in Lisbon, Portugal
Rossio square with fountain located in Baixa district, Lisbon, Portugal

How to get from Lisbon airport to the city centre

At Lisbon airport be greeted by your driver in arrivals for a private transfer to your city centre hotel. Uber/Bolt work as well.

Alternatively, take the Metro into the city centre (see this article about paying for public transport) or buy a Lisbon Card in advance, which gives you discounts on museums and attractions as well as free use of the public transport system.

Lisbon Accommodation (7 nights)

Note: This may seem like a long time in one place but I have lots of day trips planned from here so Lisbon makes a great base.

  • 5 star: Memmo Principe Real- Design Hotels Stay at a luxury hotel in one of my favourite districts in Lisbon.
  • 4 star: Lisbon Pessoa Hotel This popular and stylish hotel features a restaurant with stunning panoramic views of Lisbon.
  • 3 star: My Story Ouro is in a charming 18th century building in downtown Lisbon with friendly staff and good soundproofing.
  • For a gorgeous apartment while you’re in Lisbon, search Plum Guide. All homes have been meticulously vetted for a wonderful stay.

For more options and information, read my articles on where to stay in Lisbon and amazing holiday apartments.

Sightseeing in Lisbon at your own pace

View across Lisbon's Chiado neighbourhoodView across Lisbon's Chiado neighbourhood
View across Lisbon’s Chiado neighbourhood

After settling into your accommodation, or at least dropping off your luggage, let me guide you virtually around some of Lisbon’s most beautiful squares and viewing spots with my Voicemap Audio-guided Lisbon Walking Tour.

I’ll escort you through the Chiado and Principe Real neighbourhoods pointing out some of my favourite places and their stories. Depending on how many of the sights you want to visit or linger at, this could take between 30 minutes and several hours.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring one, or maybe two, of Lisbon’s museums.

Be aware: Most museums are closed on a Monday except the Gulbenkian, which is closed on a Tuesday.

Tip: You can get free or discounted admission to various museums plus many other benefits by buying a Lisbon Card but make sure it’s worth it for you. Senior (over 65s) get discounts at museums anyway and if you’re not using public transport much, you may not get good value from it.

For drinks or light meals with a view, go for sundowners at Noobai or Lost Inn Esplanade.

Day 2: Get to know the capital of Portugal – Lisbon! 

Lisbon sightseeing tours

Praça do Império and Jeronimos Monastery, Belém, Lisbon
Praça do Império and Jeronimos Monastery, Belém, Lisbon

A great way to get your bearings and get to know Lisbon’s different neighbourhoods, including Belém, is on a tour that includes transport of some description. There are many to choose from:

Option 1:

Spend the day exploring Lisbon from a different perspective on this full day, small group Lisbon City Sightseeing Tour by minivan.

You’ll be picked up at your Lisbon hotel or apartment and head straight off to see the sights. Parque Eduardo VII, Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara with its amazing views over Lisbon, the cathedral and castle, the imposing Mosteiro dos Jeronimos in Belem and more.

What I like about this particular tour is that you get to see some of the must-see sights as well as more under-the-radar places.

Option 2:

Alternatively, you can explore the city at your own pace on a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

You can explore all areas of Lisbon on one combined transport ticket, including the Belém district with the Jeronimos Monastery, Belém Tower, National Coach Museum and Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. And, of course, try the original Portuguese custard tarts at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém.

Option 3:

Take a private tuk tuk tour to hilltop viewpoints, the ancient neighbourhoods of Alfama and Mouraria and end up in Belém.

Tip: This Jerónimos Monastery and National Coach Museum joint ticket will save you money if you want to visit both sights.

Optional boat trip:

If you have time and enjoy being on the water, while in Belém you could take a boat trip on the Tagus River to experience the cityscape from a different perspective. You can book this 2-hour sailing trip online or read about other options here.

Day 3: Get acquainted with Portuguese culture on a food tour

Azeitão cheese, fig jam and almond tart
Azeitão cheese, fig jam and almond tart

Tasting the local cuisine is always at the top of my list when visiting any new country and a trip to Portugal should be no exception. To that end, I highly recommend taking a food tour.

A Lisbon Food Tour with Culinary Backstreets will show you some of Lisbon’s gastronomic highlights in a very small group. You’ll visit hidden gems, sample delicious morsels and hear plenty of tales from your guide. 

Read about my experience here or book online and use my code, FOX5, at checkout to get a 5% discount.

If you would prefer a private foodie experience in Lisbon, please complete this form.

Neo Islamic architecture in Casa do Alentejo, Lisbon
Neo Islamic architecture in Casa do Alentejo, Lisbon

Spend the rest of the day browsing independent stores or checking out quirky places such as the Doll Hospital and Casa do Alentejo or the pretty park of Jardim da Estrela (take the tram 25 or 28).  

Day 4: Take a day trip to Sintra and/or Cascais

Palácio da Pena, Sintra, Portugal
Palácio da Pena, Sintra, Portugal

Guided tours to Sintra

For your first day trip from Lisbon, visit the wonderland of Sintra with its palaces and romance. It really is a Portugal must-see.

If you have time, you could also visit the chic hotspot of Cascais and the westernmost point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca.

This Sintra Full Day small group tour combines highlights of Sintra with time in Cascais and Cabo da Roca.

If you book a private Sintra tour, you can choose which sights you wish to visit and whether or not to include Cascais. 

DIY trip to Sintra

If you’d like more independence and are happy to make your own way to Sintra there’s a direct train from Lisbon’s Rossio station, (see train timetables here), although it’s a 20-minute walk from Sintra train station into the historical centre.

Plan your time in advance and book tickets for the monuments you want to visit – see my Sintra guide to help you plan.

Day 5: Visit Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Chapel of Bones

Decorative skulls and paintings, Chapel of Bones, Evora
Decorative skulls and paintings, Chapel of Bones, Evora

Whilst exploring Portugal you’ll see some quite extraordinary sights. The ancient city of Évora has the gruesome yet compelling Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones).

Depending on how you’re getting to Évora, you may also have the opportunity to see one of the largest free standing stone monolith collections (menhirs) in the world. 

Guided tours to Évora

You can receive the undivided attention of an expert guide on this private tour for up to eight people from Lisbon.

If you’ve made your own way to Evora, you can explore the rich history of the city on this guided walking tour.

If you’re more interested in wine than stones, explore Evora on this Full-Day Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon.

Évora by train from Lisbon

Again, if you’d like to be independent, the train runs from Lisbon to Evora (approx. 1.5 hours) several times a day from Entrecampos station.

See my Évora guide for things to do while you’re there.

Day 6: Nature or culture? You choose.

Serra da Arrábida natural park, Portugal
Serra da Arrábida natural park

To give you a degree of flexibility and personalisation in this Portugal itinerary, you get to choose whether to spend the day in the beautiful Arrabida Natural Park or visiting historic castles and delving into the history of the Knights Templar.

A day for nature-lovers

Escape the city bustle and head to the lovely surroundings of Arrabida Natural Park

An alternative day out for culture vultures

If history and castles are more your thing then this Knights Templar tour will take you on an awesome medieval journey. 

Besides their efforts in establising Portugal as a country and gaining territory, during the 15th century, the Templars played a huge part in Portugal’s overseas expansion.

You’ll visit their headquarters in the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Convent of Christ in Tomar, spend time in the pretty riverside town of Constância and peer over the battlements of Almourol Castle. 

Day 7: Visit smaller towns and a famous beach in the Silver Coast

Guided tours to the Silver Coast

Experience the rich heritage and stunning countryside of Portugal on this small-group guided day trip to Fátima, Batalha Monastery, Óbidos and Nazaré.

See the Sanctuary of Fatima, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Batalha Monastery, take in the fishing and surf town of Nazaré and wander the cobbled streets in the romantic medieval village of Óbidos.

If you’re not interested in visiting Fatima you could take a private trip to Obidos, Nazaré and Alcobaça.

Inês, watched over by angels, Alcobaça monastery
Inês, watched over by angels, Alcobaça monastery

Public transport options

If you want to stick to public transport, you can take a bus from Campo Grande to Óbidos (approx 1 1/4 hour) or look into buses from Sete Rios to Fátima or Alcobaça.

However, you won’t be able to visit all of these places in one day so choose the ones that are more important to you. You can get from Óbidos to Caldas da Rainha by train in 6 minutes.

Return to your hotel for your last night in Lisbon. You’re now half way through your two weeks in Portugal!

Day 8: Travel to Porto, Portugal’s second city

Porto at sunset with boats on river
Porto at sunset

How to get to Porto from Lisbon

Take the train to Porto. Journey time is approximately 3 hours, depending on which train you take. Aim for the AP (Alfa Pendular) fast train or IC (Intercidades). 

You’ll catch the train at Lisboa – Santa Apolonia (closest to the city centre) or Lisboa – Oriente station and take it to Porto – Campanha. 

From Campanhã station, you can either take a cab/Uber into the centre or take any of the connecting trains to São Bento station and walk / take a cab from there to your accommodation.

Porto accommodation (4 nights)

  • 5 star: Porto Bay Flores Stay in a 16th century palace right in the heart of Porto.
  • 4 star: Porto A.S. 1829 A gorgeous hotel located in a fully-renovated historical building.
  • 3 star: Ribeira do Porto Hotel A lovely hotel overlooking the Douro river.
  • Boutique Guesthouse: 1872 River House A very popular place to stay with scenic views over the riverside area.

For a choice of carefully vetted homes and apartments in Porto, check out Plum Guide and my blog post about apartments in Porto.

Sightseeing in Porto

After spending the morning travelling and settling into your accommodation, let’s take to the streets to continue your 14 day Portugal itinerary!

Porto Avenida dos Aliados. Photo credit Smirre
Porto Avenida dos Aliados. Photo credit Smirre

Explore the historic city of Porto on a guided tour of all the main monuments with the insights of a local guide.

Or if you’re a foodie then taste the flavours typical to Porto on this culinary tour.

Alternatively, if you want to DIY, (with a little help from me!), I’ve developed a self-guided walking tour of Porto’s highlights that’s flexible enough to do in just one day, or to split over two days, and gives you a well-rounded selection of the best things to do in Porto. 

Day 9: Visit the famous Douro Valley wine region (day trip)

View of Douro river.
Douro River from Quinta das Carvalhas, Pinhão

It’s easy to see why the beautiful and dramatic landscape of the Douro Valley was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. In terms of food, wine, scenery, culture and history this place can’t be beaten.

Almost all winery visits need to be booked ahead of time and it can be tricky to coordinate and organise logistics so for most people, it’s easier and more enjoyable to take an organised tour.

To avoid crowds and visit some great wineries this would be my first choice for a small group tour. The boat trip is optional but I highly recommend it.

If you’re looking for a private guided tour of the Douro Valley, tell me what you’re interested in so that I can connect you with the best tour operator.

If you don’t fancy an organised tour, then my guide to a do-it-yourself day in the Douro wine region gives you all the information you will need to plan and book your day.

Day 10: Enjoy more of Porto

If you bought my self-guided walking tour of Porto’s highlights and you didn’t finish the tour, now would be the time to do so.

Otherwise, places to visit include the Jardins do Palácio Cristal, which offer great views over the city, Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa and the 12th century cathedral. 

Whilst in Porto it would be a shame not to visit at least one port wine lodge to see where the wine from the Douro ends up.

Taylors’ has a good audio tour and Calem offers a combo cellar tour, tasting and fado experience.

Port wine tasting at Graham's in Vila Nova da Gaia, Portugal
Port wine tasting at Graham’s in Vila Nova da Gaia, Portugal

If you want more, you can visit 3 port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia on this guided tour and taste 10 different port and Douro wine varieties whilst learning all about the production.

End the day with a sunset sailing trip on the Douro River

Day 11: Choose between nature or history for a day trip from Porto

Peneda-Gêres waterfalls and lagoon
Peneda-Gêres waterfalls

Option 1: Embrace the stunning landscapes of the Peneda-Gerês National Park

Your 2 week Portugal itinerary continues with a visit to Portugal’s only national park, the mountain-filled Peneda-Gerês National Park, boasting secret lagoons and waterfalls. 

One of the best ways to discover these is on this Small Group Peneda Geres National Park Tour, which includes a jeep tour and the chance to swim in the pristine waters (weather permitting) as well as do a short hike.

Option 2: Culture and historical cities of Braga and Guimarães

Looking up at Guimaraes Castle on mound
Guimaraes Castle

If you’re more interested in built history, there are two fascinating cities that are not far from Porto. 

Braga is famous for its churches, including the hilltop Bom Jesus Sanctuary with its monumental staircase and the impressive cathedral. It’s not all churches though – the city centre is very attractive and dates back to Roman times. Find out more about Braga in this article.

Guimarães is the birthplace of Portugal’s first king, Dom Afonso Henriques I and is full of enchanting medieval squares and buildings. It also has a castle, a ducal palace and a few small museums.

If you can’t choose between them, you can visit both cities on this Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip from Porto.

If you want to go it alone, you can take the train to either city.

Day 12: Explore Aveiro, city of canals and Art Nouveau

Aveiro city with canals and boats.
Canal in Aveiro, Portugal

How to get to Aveiro from Porto

Take the train from Porto – Campanha station to Aveiro (about 45 minutes). Then walk or take a cab/Uber/Bolt to your accommodation.

Note: If you don’t want to spend the night in Aveiro, you can visit on a day trip from Porto.

Accommodation in Aveiro (1 night)

  • 4 star: Aveiro Palace Located in a historic building overlooking the central canal.
  • 3 star: Veneza Hotel A 1930s townhouse situated in the centre of Aveiro.
  • Guesthouse: Casa do Cais Close to Aveiro’s main canal with beautiful spacious rooms.

For other accommodation options see this post.

Sightseeing in Aveiro

The historical centre of Aveiro is attractive and filled with patterned cobblestones and Art Nouveau buildings as well as canals. There’s plenty to keep you occupied and an excellent museum. 

Despite being quite touristy, you might enjoy a boat ride through Aveiro’s canals on this traditional Moliceiro boat tour. 

Or get a real insight into this unique city on this Stories, Canals, and Azulejos Guided Walking Tour.

If you wish to see the striped fishermen’s houses in Costa Nova, you’ll need to take the bus from the CTT (post office) in Aveiro city centre (approx 20 minutes) or a taxi/Uber.

Day 13: The university city of Coimbra

How to get to Coimbra from Porto or Aveiro

The train from Aveiro to Coimbra – B can take less than 30 minutes which means you’ll get plenty of time to get to know this much-loved city. From Porto – Campanha station, it’s around an hour. 

Walk or take a cab/Uber/Bolt to your accommodation.

Coimbra accommodation (2 nights)

  • 5 star:  Quinta das Lágrimas. The hotel is situated in a historic medieval palace and  features botanical gardens and a spa. 
  • 4 star:  Sapienta Boutique Hotel Opposite the university with a fantastic rooftop terrace.
  • 3 star:  Hotel Oslo Very conveniently located hotel with pleasant modern decor and views from the rooftop terrace.

For more options, check out my post about Coimbra hotels and areas

Sightseeing in Coimbra

Caped student, University of Coimbra
Caped student, University of Coimbra

Get to know this cultured city with this Guided tour of the University and city of Coimbra. A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage University and the stunning Joanina Library is not to be missed.

If you want a museum fix then Coimbra’s Machado de Castro National Museum will keep you fascinated for a good couple of hours. The cool dark tunnels of a 2000-year-old Roman cryptoporticus are one of the highlights.

Want to take in a little Coimbra fado? Fado ao Centro is run by passionate fadistas and offers daily performances at 6 pm which combine a brief history of the genre with live performances in an intimate setting.

Book your ticket online to avoid disappointment.

Day 14: Visit schist villages or Roman ruins then return to Lisbon

Candal schist village, Central Portugal
Candal schist village, Central Portugal

Option 1: Half-day trip from Coimbra to the schist villages

Nestled in the hills of the central region of Portugal there are 27 recovered traditional villages. Their buildings there are made from schist stone and many have been renovated using old techniques. Several of the prettiest schist villages are in the Coimbra area. 

Spend half a day on this Lousã Schist Villages tour and visit two of the most important schist villages – Candal and Talasnal.

Option 2: Visit the Roman ruins at Condeixa

Alternatively, discover one of Portugal’s largest Roman settlements at Conimbriga. This private-half day Conimbriga tour includes Conimbriga’s ruins, famed aqueduct and museums.

Spend the rest of your time in Coimbra taking in the sounds and smells, relaxing with a coffee or stroll leisurely with this Self Guided Audio Tour.

Take an afternoon or early evening train to Lisbon. If staying at an airport hotel for an early flight, get off at Lisboa – Oriente and take a cab/Uber or the metro to the airport. Otherwise, continue to Santa Apolonia station in the city centre

Lisbon Airport hotels:

If you don’t want to dine at the hotel or in the city centre, there are plenty of restaurants at Parque das Nações, which is close to the airport.

Day 15: Departure

All good things, including your trip to Portugal, come to an end and it’s time for your onward journey.

If you’re staying at the airport, you can either walk or take the free hotel shuttle to the terminal building.

If you stayed in the city centre, book a private transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight home.

2 Comments

  1. Hi Julie.. I am looking to move in Viseu.. Thanks

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