Is 10 days enough to see all of Portugal?

Ten days covers the Lisbon-to-Porto corridor thoroughly, including Sintra, the Silver Coast, Coimbra, the Douro Valley, and Braga. You will miss the Algarve, Alentejo, and the islands (Madeira, Azores) — add those on a 2-week trip.

Should I rent a car for 10 days in Portugal?

A car is useful for the Obidos-Nazare-Coimbra stretch where train connections are less frequent. For Lisbon and Porto, public transport and walking are better — parking is expensive and the old-town streets are narrow. Consider renting for days 4-7 only.

What is the best route from Lisbon to Porto?

The A1 motorway is the fastest (3 hours, approximately EUR 25 in tolls). The coastal route via Ericeira, Peniche, and Nazare is slower (5-6 hours with stops) but far more scenic. The train is the easiest option — Alfa Pendular from Lisbon to Porto in 2 hours 45 minutes.

How much does 10 days in Portugal cost?

Budget approximately EUR 1,200-2,000 per person for mid-range travel covering accommodation, meals, transport, and attractions. Train travel between cities keeps costs lower than renting a car, and eating at local tascas rather than tourist restaurants saves significantly on food.

10 Days in Portugal | The Portugal Guides

Ten days in Portugal covers the full arc from Lisbon to the northern border — cities, medieval towns, surf coastline, university culture, port wine, and Baroque churches. This itinerary follows a north-bound route: Lisbon to Sintra, then up the Silver Coast through Obidos and Nazare, inland to Coimbra, north to Porto and the Douro Valley, and finishing in Braga. Travel by train for the main hops, with a rental car optional for the Silver Coast stretch. For the full coastal driving experience between these cities, see our Lisbon to Porto road trip itinerary.

Day 1 — Arrive in Lisbon

Fly into Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. Metro to the centre (approximately EUR 1.80, 20 minutes) or taxi (approximately EUR 15-20).

Where to stay: Hotel do Chiado (Rua Nova do Almada 114, from approximately EUR 130 per night as of 2026) overlooks Praca do Rossio. Budget: Goodmorning Lisbon Hostel (Praca dos Restauradores, private rooms from approximately EUR 65).

Afternoon: Walk the Baixa — Praca do Comercio, Rua Augusta, Rossio Square. Take the Elevador de Santa Justa (approximately EUR 5.30) or walk up to the Carmo Convent ruins (approximately EUR 5, roofless nave open to the sky since the 1755 earthquake).

Dinner: O Velho Eurico (Largo Sao Cristovao 3, Alfama) — a neighbourhood tasca with grilled fish and carne de porco a alentejana. Budget approximately EUR 15-20 per person.

Day 2 — Alfama, Castle, and Belem

Morning: Castelo de Sao Jorge (approximately EUR 15, book online). Walk down through the Alfama, past the Se cathedral and the Portas do Sol viewpoint.

Lunch: Grilled sardines on the backstreets of the Alfama — look for the small restaurants near Rua dos Bacalhoeiros. Budget approximately EUR 10-15 per person.

Afternoon: Tram 15E to Belem. Pasteis de Belem (approximately EUR 1.50 per tart), Jeronimos Monastery (approximately EUR 12, book online, allow 1.5 hours), Torre de Belem (approximately EUR 8).

Evening: Time Out Market for dinner (approximately EUR 15-25 per person). Walk to Miradouro da Graca for sunset.

Day 3 — Lisbon: Chiado, LX Factory, and Bairro Alto

Morning: LX Factory (Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103) — breakfast at Landeau Chocolate (chocolate cake, approximately EUR 5). Browse the bookshops and design studios.

Midday: Walk to Principe Real — independent shops and the Jardim Botanico (approximately EUR 3).

Lunch: Cervejaria Ramiro (Avenida Almirante Reis 1) — seafood, percebes, and a prego sandwich. Budget approximately EUR 40-60 per person.

Afternoon: Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Rua da Madre de Deus 4, approximately EUR 5, closed Mondays) — Portugal’s tile museum, housed in a 16th-century convent. The collection spans five centuries of azulejo design. Allow 1.5 hours.

Evening: Dinner in Bairro Alto — Tasca do Chico (Rua do Diario de Noticias 39) for fado and petiscos. Book ahead. Approximately EUR 20-30 per person.

Day 4 — Sintra

Train from Rossio to Sintra (40 minutes, approximately EUR 2.35 each way).

Morning: Quinta da Regaleira (approximately EUR 10, arrive at 9:30am opening). The Initiation Well and the underground tunnels take 2 hours.

Afternoon: Bus 434 to Pena Palace (approximately EUR 14 for palace and park — book timed-entry tickets ahead, summer slots sell out). Walk down through the park. Stop at the Palacio da Vila in Sintra town (approximately EUR 10) if time allows. A guided Sintra day tour handles the bus logistics if you prefer.

Lunch: Incomum by Luis Santos (approximately EUR 25-35 per person).

Train back to Lisbon. Pack for tomorrow’s departure north.

Day 5 — Obidos and Nazare

By car: Drive from Lisbon to Obidos (1 hour, A8 motorway, approximately EUR 5 in tolls). By bus: Rodotejo runs direct Lisbon-Obidos in 1 hour 15 minutes (approximately EUR 9).

Morning: Obidos — a walled medieval town with whitewashed houses and a castle converted into a pousada (luxury hotel). Walk the town walls (free, 30 minutes). Sample ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur, approximately EUR 1.50 per cup, served in a chocolate cup). The town is small — 2 hours covers it.

Drive to Nazare (30 minutes) or bus (45 minutes, approximately EUR 5).

Afternoon: Nazare — the fishing town famous for its big waves (October-March at Praia do Norte). Take the funicular to the Sitio clifftop (approximately EUR 1.50 each way) for views of the main beach. The Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo on the headland is where the big-wave photographs are taken — free to enter, small museum inside (approximately EUR 1).

Where to stay: Hotel Miramar Sul in Nazare (from approximately EUR 70 per night as of 2026) or Hotel Praia (from approximately EUR 60). Both are on the beachfront.

Dinner: A Tasquinha (Rua Adriao Batalha 54, Nazare) — grilled fish and caldeirada (fish stew). Budget approximately EUR 15-25 per person.

Day 6 — Coimbra

Drive or bus from Nazare to Coimbra (1.5 hours by car, approximately EUR 8 in tolls; or bus via Leiria, 2 hours, approximately EUR 12).

Where to stay: Sapientia Boutique Hotel (Rua da Sofia, from approximately EUR 90 per night as of 2026), a converted historic building near the university. Budget: Stay Hotel Coimbra Centro (from approximately EUR 55).

Morning: The University of Coimbra — a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Biblioteca Joanina (Baroque library, approximately EUR 13 for combined university ticket, timed entry — book online) is the centrepiece. The reading rooms contain 250,000 books in gilt-and-painted wood shelves. Bats live in the library and eat insects that would otherwise damage the books. Allow 2 hours for the university complex.

Lunch: Ze Manuel dos Ossos (Beco do Forno 12) — a tiny tasca known for chanfana (slow-cooked goat in red wine). Budget approximately EUR 10-15 per person. Arrive early as there are fewer than 20 seats.

Afternoon: Walk down through the old town to the Mondego River. Cross the Ponte de Santa Clara to the Convento de Santa Clara-a-Nova (approximately EUR 4) — the tomb of Queen Isabel is inside. The park along the river is good for a late-afternoon walk.

Evening: Coimbra has its own fado tradition, distinct from Lisbon’s — male voices, performed in academic robes. A Capella (Rua do Corpo de Deus) hosts performances — check times locally. Cover is approximately EUR 10-15 including a drink.

Day 7 — Travel to Porto

Train: Coimbra-B to Porto Campanha (1 hour 15 minutes by Alfa Pendular, approximately EUR 18-25 as of 2026). Or drive (1.5 hours, approximately EUR 10 in tolls on the A1).

Where to stay: Pestana Porto (Praca da Ribeira, from approximately EUR 120 per night) on the UNESCO riverfront. Mid-range: 1872 River House (Rua do Infante D. Henrique, from approximately EUR 100).

Afternoon: Walk the Ribeira waterfront. Cross the Ponte Dom Luis I to Vila Nova de Gaia for port wine tasting. Taylor’s (approximately EUR 15, book online) or Graham’s (approximately EUR 15-20) — both have terraces with river views. Allow 1.5 hours.

Dinner: Cafe Santiago (Rua de Passos Manuel 226) for a francesinha. Approximately EUR 12-15 per person.

Day 8 — Porto: Full Day

Morning: Sao Bento station (free — the azulejo panels in the main hall are worth 20 minutes). Torre dos Clerigos (approximately EUR 8, 225 steps, panoramic view). Livraria Lello (approximately EUR 8 entry, redeemable against a book).

Lunch: Taberna dos Mercadores (Rua dos Mercadores 36) — traditional plates, approximately EUR 15-20 per person.

Afternoon: Bolhao Market (free, open 8am-8pm Mon-Sat) for produce, cured meats, and cheese. Walk through the Cedofeita district and the galleries on Rua Miguel Bombarda. Museu de Serralves (approximately EUR 15, contemporary art in a Siza Vieira building, gardens free on Sunday mornings).

Dinner: Cantinho do Avillez (Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira 166) — modern Portuguese, approximately EUR 30-40 per person.

Day 9 — Douro Valley Day Trip

Train from Porto Sao Bento to Pinhao (2.5 hours, approximately EUR 14 each way). The train follows the Douro river through terraced vineyards — sit on the right side heading east.

Morning: Arrive in Pinhao. Visit Quinta do Bomfim (Symington family, approximately EUR 15 for tour and tasting) or Quinta do Crasto (approximately EUR 20, book ahead).

Lunch: DOC by Rui Paula (Folgosa, 10 minutes by taxi from Pinhao) — a restaurant on stilts above the Douro. Tasting menu from approximately EUR 65 per person. For something simpler, eat at one of the quintas.

Afternoon: Walk through the vineyards or take a rabelo boat cruise on the Douro (from approximately EUR 15 per person, 1 hour). If you would rather not manage the train timetable, a Douro Valley tour from Porto bundles transport, two tastings, and lunch. Return to Pinhao for the evening train to Porto.

Day 10 — Braga and Departure

Train from Porto Sao Bento to Braga (1 hour, approximately EUR 3.50-6 by urban train as of 2026). Or drive (45 minutes, minimal tolls).

Morning: Bom Jesus do Monte — the Baroque staircase with 17 chapels ascending 116 metres. Take the funicular up (approximately EUR 2, the oldest hydraulic-powered funicular on the Iberian Peninsula, built 1882) and walk down the monumental stairway. The church at the top has wide views over Braga and the Minho countryside. Allow 1.5 hours.

Walk into Braga’s old town. The Se de Braga (the oldest cathedral in Portugal, founded 1070, approximately EUR 3 for the treasury) and the surrounding pedestrianised streets are compact enough for a 2-hour walk.

Lunch: Centurium (Praca da Republica) — bacalhau a Braga and regional dishes. Budget approximately EUR 15-20 per person. Or Anjo Verde (Largo da Praca Velha 21) for a vegetarian option in a historic building.

Afternoon: Return to Porto for departure. Porto Airport (Francisco Sa Carneiro) is 20 minutes from the city centre by metro (approximately EUR 2.50 on the Violet Line).

Budget Summary

Category	Budget Estimate (per person)
Accommodation (9 nights, mid-range)	From approximately EUR 720-1,080
Meals (10 days)	Approximately EUR 300-500
Attractions	Approximately EUR 100-140
Transport (trains, buses, optional car)	Approximately EUR 100-200
Total	Approximately EUR 1,220-1,920

All prices are approximate as of 2026. Book Alfa Pendular trains on cp.pt at least a week ahead for the best fares. The Obidos-Nazare-Coimbra stretch is most flexible with a rental car, but buses cover the route if you prefer not to drive.

10 Days in Portugal: Coast to Coast