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🇵🇹 Itinerary · Portugal · 7 days

1-week Portugal itinerary 2026: Lisbon and Sintra

7 well-paced days: Lisbon, Sintra, then Porto by fast Alfa Pendular train. The essential format for a first time, detailed budget and travel times.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€850-1,400

Total distance

~400 km

Profile

First time

Season

Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

Lisbon 3d · Sintra 1d · Porto 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Portugal 1-week itinerary map: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€60/pers

Lisbon · Arrival and Alfama

  • Morning Airport arrival, metro to the center (1h, €1.80).
  • Afternoon Alfama district, São Jorge castle, alleys and viewpoints.
  • Evening Dinner and fado in an Alfama casa de fado.
🛌 🛌 Baixa or Chiado · e.g. Lisbon Story Guesthouse (3 nights)·🚇 Metro and tram 28·Portugal guide →
2

~€50

Lisbon · Belém and tram 28

  • 9am Belém: Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, pastéis de Belém.
  • Afternoon Historic tram 28 through Graça and Estrela.
  • Evening Sunset at the Santa Catarina viewpoint, dinner in Cais do Sodré.
3

~€55

Sintra · Palaces and forests

  • Morning Train Lisbon → Sintra (40 min, €2.30). Colorful Pena Palace.
  • Afternoon Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well, Moorish castle.
  • Evening Back to Lisbon, dinner in the trendy Príncipe Real district.
🚆 Regional train + 🚌 bus 434
4

~€75

Lisbon → Porto · North

  • Morning Ribeira market (Time Out Market), last azulejos.
  • 2pm Alfa Pendular train Lisbon → Porto (2h50, €30-45).
  • Evening Check-in Porto, sunset over the Ribeira and the Douro.
🛌 🛌 Ribeira or Baixa · e.g. Hotel Carris Porto (3 nights)·🚄 Alfa Pendular Lisbon → Porto
5

~€55

Porto · Historic center and cellars

  • Morning Lello bookshop, São Bento station and its azulejos, Clérigos tower.
  • Afternoon Vila Nova de Gaia: visit and tasting in a port wine cellar.
  • Sunset Dom Luís I bridge in low light, view over both banks.
🚶 Center on foot + 🚋 funicular
6

~€60

Porto · Douro and ocean

  • Morning Six bridges cruise on the Douro (1h, €18).
  • Afternoon Foz do Douro, beach and seafront, or day trip to Aveiro (the Portuguese Venice).
  • Evening Francesinha dinner, Porto's hearty specialty.
7

Flight

Porto → Return

  • Morning Mercado do Bolhão, last purchases of tinned fish and wine.
  • Afternoon Metro to Francisco Sá Carneiro airport. Return flight to Paris.
🚇 Metro + ✈️ flight

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€850

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €150
  • 🏨 Hostel: €30/night
  • 🍴 Tascas and markets: €18/day
  • 🚄 Alfa Pendular train: €40
  • 🎫 Sintra palaces + cellars: €90
Recommended

Comfort

€1,150

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €190
  • 🏨 Central 3★ hotel: €90/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed restos: €30/day
  • 🚄 Alfa Pendular train: €45
  • 🎫 Sintra + cruise + cellars: €120

Premium

€2,200

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €550
  • 🏨 4-5★: €220/night
  • 🍽️ Renowned tables: €60/day
  • 🚖 Private transfers
  • 🎫 Private tours + tastings: €300

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Lisbon, Sintra, Porto. The essential format.

2 weeks

2 weeks

From Porto to the Algarve, the great north-south axis.

1 month

1 month

The whole country, from the Douro to the Algarve and the Azores.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

A week between Lisbon, Sintra and Porto needs no car: regional trains for Sintra, the fast Alfa Pendular for Porto, metro and tram in town.

🚄

Alfa Pendular Lisbon → Porto

€30-45 · 2h50 · book on cp.pt

🚆

Train Lisbon → Sintra

€2.30 · 40 min · very frequent departures

🚋

Tram 28 in Lisbon

€3/trip or rechargeable Viva Viagem card

⛴️

Six bridges cruise (Douro)

~€18 · 1h · departs from the Ribeira

Adapt by season

Atlantic coast by season

Lisbon and Porto are visitable year-round, but swimming depends on the season. From April to June and September to October, 20 to 26°C and reasonable crowds: ideal for combining cities and coast. In July-August, the cities stay pleasant but Sintra and the Cascais coast fill up. The Atlantic stays cool (17-19°C) even in summer: bring a wetsuit if you surf.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In May 2025, I took the 8am train to Sintra: Pena Palace opened nearly empty, whereas by 11am the line ran down into the park. Always aim for opening.
  • • Booking the Alfa Pendular a few days ahead: Lisbon-Porto dropped to €25 instead of €45 at the counter.
  • • Keep Porto for the end: the airport is 30 min by metro, easy return.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Skip a half-day of museums in Lisbon to breathe before Porto.
  • • Swap Sintra for Cascais if you prefer the beach to palaces.
  • • On 7 days, don't push to the Algarve: too far for the time available.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week in Portugal enough? +
Yes for the two big cities: Lisbon (with Sintra) and Porto, linked by fast train. Adding the Algarve on 7 days means too much driving.
Do you need a car for this itinerary? +
No. Sintra is reached by regional train, Porto by Alfa Pendular, and everything is done on foot, by metro or tram in town. A car is only needed for the Algarve or the hinterland.
How do you visit Sintra without stress? +
Set off early (8am train), buy palace tickets online, and use bus 434 that loops the sites. Avoid the car: parking there is a nightmare.
What's the best period? +
April to June and September to October: 20 to 26°C, fewer people. Summer is hot and touristy, especially in Sintra.
How much does a week cost all in? +
Count around €850 backpacker, €1,150 comfort and €2,200 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.
Lisbon or Porto, where to start? +
Either way, but starting in Lisbon and ending in Porto eases the return (Porto airport 30 min by metro). Reverse to fit your flight.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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