10 Days in Portugal — Lisbon, Porto & Algarve Itinerary

Ten days allows you to cover the three main regions of mainland Portugal: Lisbon and its surroundings, Porto and the Douro Valley, and the Algarve coast. Days 1–4 in Lisbon, Days 5–7 in Porto, Days 8–10 in the Algarve.

Days 1–2: Lisbon

Follow the Lisbon days from the 7-day itinerary — Alfama, São Jorge Castle, Belém (Jerónimos Monastery, Torre de Belém, Pastéis de Belém), LX Factory.

Day 2 additions for 10-day version: MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, €9) in Belém. Museu Nacional do Azulejo (€10, Intendente, 1h30). Fado evening in Alfama — Tasca do Chico (book 1–2 weeks ahead).

Day 3: Sintra

As per 7-day itinerary. Quinta da Regaleira in the morning, Pena Palace in the afternoon.

Day 4: Évora Day Trip (or Cascais)

Option A (Évora): Early bus from Lisbon Sete Rios (1h30, €13–15). Roman Temple, Chapel of Bones, Évora Cathedral. Lunch in Praça do Giraldo. Optional: hire taxi for 1h to see Cromlech of Almendres megalith site (15km from Évora). Bus back to Lisbon by evening.

Option B (Cascais and Cabo da Roca): Train to Cascais (40 min), walk to Boca do Inferno, Bus 403 to Cabo da Roca (30 min stop), bus on to Sintra (45 min) for Palácio da Vila, train back to Lisbon.

Day 5: Lisbon to Porto

Alfa Pendular train from Oriente (2h45). Check in to Porto. Evening Port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia (Graham’s or Taylor’s — last tours ~5pm).

Day 6: Porto

As per 7-day itinerary — São Bento, Livraria Lello, Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, Ribeira, evening in Matosinhos.

Day 7: Douro Valley

Train to Pinhão (2h15 from Porto Campanhã, €14). Quinta visit and wine tasting. Scenic train return. Book in advance.

Day 8: Porto to Algarve

Morning flight Porto → Faro (Ryanair, ~1h, from €30 — book in advance). Collect hire car at Faro airport.

Afternoon: Check in near Lagos (45 minutes west of Faro). Ponta da Piedade — the sea cave and sea arch complex 2km south of Lagos town. Boat tour (€20, 45 minutes) or kayak tour (€35, 2 hours). Late afternoon walk along the cliff path above the arches.

Evening: Dinner in Lagos old town — Dom Sebastião or A Forja for cataplana or grilled fish.

Day 9: Algarve — Beaches and Sagres

Morning: Praia do Camilo (107 steps, cave-framed) and Praia Dona Ana in Lagos. Both walkable from town.

Afternoon: Drive 30km west to Sagres — the southwestern tip of Europe. Fortaleza de Sagres (16th-century fort, €4, wind-swept, Atlantic views). Praia do Beliche (small, sheltered). Cabo de São Vicente lighthouse (30 minutes from Sagres, €3 — southwesternmost point of continental Europe, dramatic cliffs).

Evening: Back in Lagos for dinner.

Day 10: East Algarve and Departure

Drive east from Lagos to Tavira (1h30).

Morning: Ilha de Tavira — ferry from Quatro Águas pier (€1.50, 10 min). Long beach with calm Atlantic water. 2 hours.

Midday: Tavira old town — Roman bridge, Igreja da Misericórdia, riverside lunch (Restaurante Bica, fresh clams and fish).

Drive to Faro airport (30km, 30 minutes). Return hire car. Flight home.

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What this itinerary skips

Alentejo interior: Évora fits as a day trip on Day 4. The full Alentejo (Beja, Mértola, Monsaraz) needs 2–3 additional days.

Madeira/Azores: Neither island fits in 10 days alongside the mainland. Plan a dedicated island trip (minimum 5 days per archipelago).

Northern Portugal: Viana do Castelo, Guimarães, Braga — add 2–3 days before Porto.

Costs

Flights: London–Lisbon return €80–200 (British Airways, easyJet, TAP). Porto–Faro internal €30–80. Train Lisbon–Porto: €25–45 (book early). Car hire Algarve: €25–50/day (3 days, €75–150 total). Book through a local Faro-based company rather than international chains for better rates. Accommodation: €70–150/night (mid-range), €30–50 (budget). Total trip budget: €800–1,400 per person for 10 days (mid-range, excluding flights).