Short answer: with 7 days, do Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and a Douro day by train. With 10 days, add Évora and the Algarve and fly home from Faro. With 14 days, pair Lisbon and Porto with a week on Madeira or in the Azores, reached by a flight of about two hours. Fast trains link the big cities; you only need a car on the islands and in wine country.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Portugal travel guide into day-by-day plans, with real travel times between stops and the best area to sleep in each night. Timetable figures come from CP (Portuguese Railways) timetables and operators where we could read them; anything else is marked as approximate. Everything was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Trip | Route | Nights | Best for | Car needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days, mainland classic | Lisbon (with Sintra) → Porto (with the Douro) | Lisbon 3, Porto 3 | First trip, city lovers, no driving | No |
| 10 days, mainland loop | Porto and the Douro → Lisbon and Sintra → Évora → Algarve | Porto 3, Lisbon 3, Évora 1, Algarve 2 | A bit of everything, ending on the beach | Optional for Évora to the Algarve |
| 14 days, mainland + Madeira | Lisbon → Porto → Douro → fly to Madeira | Lisbon 4, Porto 3, Douro 1, Madeira 5 | Hikers, year-round sun, levada walks | Yes on Madeira (or tours) |
| 14 days, mainland + Azores | Lisbon → Porto → fly to São Miguel → Pico or Faial | Lisbon 4, Porto 3, São Miguel 4, Pico/Faial 2 | Nature, whales, crater lakes | Yes on the islands |
Book flights “open-jaw” where you can: into Porto and out of Faro, or into Lisbon and out of Funchal or Ponta Delgada. It saves a full day of backtracking. Portugal’s main airports are Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira (Funchal) and Ponta Delgada; see our getting around Portugal guide for how to reach the city from each.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. “CP” means the time comes from a timetable published by CP; the rest are labelled approximate. Alfa Pendular (AP) is CP’s fastest train, Intercidades (IC) the next fastest; both need a seat reservation, which comes with the ticket.
| Leg | Fastest public transport | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon (Oriente) – Porto (Campanhã) | Alfa Pendular train | about 2 h 40–2 h 45 (IC about 3 h) | CP |
| Lisbon (Oriente) – Coimbra-B | Alfa Pendular train | about 1 h 35 (IC about 1 h 50) | CP |
| Coimbra-B – Porto (Campanhã) | Alfa Pendular train | about 1 h | CP |
| Lisbon (Rossio) – Sintra | Urban train | about 40 min | CP |
| Lisbon (Cais do Sodré) – Cascais | Urban train | about 40 min | CP |
| Lisbon (Oriente) – Évora | Intercidades train | about 1 h 40 | CP |
| Lisbon (Oriente) – Faro | Alfa Pendular / Intercidades | about 3 h 05 / about 3 h 30 | CP |
| Faro – Lagos | Regional train | about 1 h 40 | CP timetable, via unofficial summary |
| Porto (Campanhã) – Peso da Régua / Pinhão | Regional train (Douro line) | about 1 h 50 / about 2 h 15 | CP |
| Porto (São Bento) – Braga or Guimarães | Urban train | about 1 h–1 h 15 | CP |
| Évora – Faro | Rede Expressos coach (two a day) | about 3 h 40–4 h (approximate) | Booking sites |
| Lisbon – Lagos | Coach | about 3 h 20–3 h 50 (approximate) | Booking sites |
| Lisbon – Funchal (Madeira) | Flight | about 1 h 45–1 h 50 (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Porto – Funchal | Flight | about 2 h (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Lisbon – Ponta Delgada (Azores) | Flight | about 2 h 10–2 h 35 (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Funchal – Porto Santo | Lobo Marinho ferry | about 2 h 15 | Porto Santo Line |
| Horta (Faial) – Madalena (Pico) | Atlânticoline ferry, all year | about 30 min | Operator timetables |
There is a handy direct train the length of the country too: on CP’s timetable valid since 6 September 2026, an Alfa Pendular leaves Porto Campanhã at 05:40, calls at Lisboa Oriente at 08:23 and reaches Faro at 11:27, just under six hours in all.
7 days: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Douro
The classic first trip, all by train. Fly into Lisbon and out of Porto if you can.
- Day 1, Lisbon: Arrive and take the Metro red line into town. Walk Baixa and Chiado, then ride up to the castle and Alfama for sunset at the Santa Luzia or Portas do Sol viewpoints. Sleep: Baixa, Chiado or Rossio.
- Day 2, Belém and the river: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower in the morning (closed Mondays, book ahead), pastéis de nata, then MAAT or the riverside walk back. Fado in Alfama after dinner. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, Sintra: Early train from Rossio (about 40 minutes). Pena Palace on a timed ticket, then the Moorish Castle or Quinta da Regaleira. Back to Lisbon for the evening. Sleep: same.
- Day 4, to Porto: Mid-morning Alfa Pendular from Oriente (about 2 h 45). Afternoon in the Ribeira, then cross the Dom Luís I bridge at sunset. Sleep: Baixa/Aliados.
- Day 5, Porto: São Bento station tiles, Clérigos tower, the cathedral, lunch at the Bolhão market, a port cellar in Gaia. Sleep: same.
- Day 6, Douro day out: The 07:30 or 09:30 regional train from Campanhã reaches Pinhão in about 2 h 15 (CP timetable valid since 5 August 2026). Tasting at a quinta, a one-hour boat trip, train back. Sleep: same.
- Day 7, Foz and home: Morning by the ocean at Foz or Serralves, then metro line E to the airport (about 30 minutes).
Swap it: if you would rather end on a beach, replace days 4–7 with the Algarve: Alfa Pendular to Faro (about 3 h), regional train to Lagos, three nights there. More detail on each city is in our Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and Douro Valley guides.
10 days: Porto to the Algarve, the whole mainland
This route runs north to south so you finish on the beach and fly home from Faro. All legs work by train except Évora to the Algarve, where you take a coach or a hire car (there is no direct train).
- Day 1, Porto: Fly in; metro line E to Trindade. Evening along the Ribeira. Sleep: Baixa/Aliados.
- Day 2, Porto: Old town, Clérigos, the Gaia cellars, sunset on the river. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, Douro: Train to Pinhão or Régua and back, or a full-day river cruise from Porto to Régua (boats run roughly April to October). Sleep: same.
- Day 4, Coimbra and on to Lisbon: Alfa Pendular to Coimbra-B (about 1 h), leave bags at the station or hotel, see the old university, then continue to Lisbon (about 1 h 35). Sleep: Baixa, Chiado or Rossio.
- Day 5, Lisbon: Alfama, the castle, tram 28 early, viewpoints at sunset. Sleep: same.
- Day 6, Sintra or Belém: Sintra by train (go early), or Belém plus a beach afternoon at Carcavelos or Cascais. Sleep: same.
- Day 7, Évora: Intercidades from Oriente (about 1 h 40). Roman temple, cathedral roof, Chapel of Bones, an Alentejo dinner. Sleep: inside the walls.
- Day 8, to the Algarve: Rede Expressos coach to Faro (about 3 h 40–4 h, two a day; check times), then regional train to Lagos; or pick up a hire car in Évora and drive. Sleep: Lagos.
- Day 9, Algarve coast: Ponta da Piedade boat trip or a Benagil boat/kayak tour in the calm morning, beach in the afternoon. Sleep: same.
- Day 10, Faro and home: Train back along the coast to Faro (about 1 h 40) and bus 16 or a taxi to the airport.
Swap it: calmer, more Portuguese beaches? Stay in Tavira instead of Lagos and use the little ferries to the Ria Formosa islands. Want the islands instead of the south? Our Portugal guide suggests four days on Madeira in place of the Algarve. Details for each stop: Évora, Algarve.
14 days: mainland plus Madeira
Madeira is the easy island add-on: flights from Lisbon and Porto take about two hours, and Funchal is mild all year. Fly into Lisbon and home from Funchal, or take a short domestic flight back to the mainland.
- Days 1–4, Lisbon and Sintra: Lisbon on days 1, 2 and 4, with Sintra on day 3. Sleep: Baixa, Chiado or Rossio (4 nights).
- Days 5–7, Porto: Train north on day 5 morning; two full days in the city. Sleep: Baixa/Aliados (3 nights).
- Day 8, Douro overnight: Morning train to Pinhão, a quinta tasting and a boat trip, and a night among the vineyards. Sleep: Pinhão or a quinta nearby (1 night).
- Day 9, to Madeira: Train back to Porto and an afternoon flight to Funchal (about 2 h). Aerobus or taxi into town. Sleep: Funchal (5 nights).
- Day 10, Funchal: Old Town, the market, cable car to Monte and the toboggan ride down.
- Day 11, the peaks: Sunrise at Pico do Areeiro and the PR1 trail, booked and paid on the SIMplifica portal (check which sections are open).
- Day 12, the west: Cabo Girão skywalk, the 25 Fontes and Risco levadas, a swim in the Porto Moniz lava pools.
- Day 13, sea or Porto Santo: Whale and dolphin watching from Funchal, or a day on Porto Santo’s long sandy beach by ferry (about 2 h 15 each way).
- Day 14, home: A short walk at Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) on the way to the airport.
Madeira’s airport is affected by strong wind, and flights are sometimes held, diverted or cancelled, so keep a spare day before an important onward connection. Driving tips, trail rules and fees are in our Madeira guide.
14 days: mainland plus the Azores
The Azores are greener, wilder and cooler than Madeira, and island hopping is half the fun. Flights from Lisbon and Porto to Ponta Delgada are run by Azores Airlines (SATA) and TAP; Ryanair stopped flying to the Azores at the end of March 2026, so book early for summer.
- Days 1–4, Lisbon and Sintra: as in the Madeira plan. Sleep: Baixa, Chiado or Rossio (4 nights).
- Days 5–7, Porto and a Douro day: train north on day 5; Douro by train on day 6. Sleep: Baixa/Aliados (3 nights).
- Day 8, to São Miguel: Fly Porto or Lisbon to Ponta Delgada; pick up a hire car. Remember the Azores are one hour behind the mainland. Sleep: Ponta Delgada (3 nights).
- Day 9, Sete Cidades: The crater rim walk above the twin lakes, then the coast at Mosteiros.
- Day 10, whales and Lagoa do Fogo: A morning whale-watching trip from Ponta Delgada, an afternoon at the Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint (in summer the access road is served by a shuttle).
- Day 11, Furnas: Hot springs, the cozido stew cooked in the ground and the Gorreana tea fields on the way. Sleep: Furnas (1 night).
- Day 12, to Pico: A short SATA Air Açores flight to Pico or Horta. Lava-walled vineyards and whale watching from Madalena or Lajes. Sleep: Madalena (2 nights).
- Day 13, Faial or Mount Pico: Ferry to Horta (about 30 minutes) for the marina and caldera, or climb Mount Pico if the forecast is clear (booking and fee required).
- Day 14, home: Fly via Ponta Delgada or Lisbon.
Weather can delay inter-island flights and ferries, so build in slack before your flight home. Island-by-island tips, ferries and where to stay are in our Azores guide.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why | Tourist tax (as of Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Baixa, Chiado or Rossio | Flat, central, near Metro and the Sintra and Cascais trains | €4 per person per night, from 13, max 7 nights |
| Porto | Baixa/Aliados | Walk to most sights; metro, São Bento station | €3, from 13, max 7 nights |
| Douro | Pinhão (or Régua without a car) | Vineyards on the doorstep; both are on the train line | Varies by municipality |
| Évora | Inside the walls | Everything on foot, quiet evenings | €1.50, from 16, max 3 nights |
| Algarve | Lagos (cliffs, boat trips) or Tavira (calm beaches) | Both on the coastal railway | About €1–2 in most municipalities |
| Madeira | Funchal | Buses, tours and restaurants; drive out to trails | €2 in Funchal, over 12, max 7 nights |
| Azores | Ponta Delgada, plus a night in Furnas; Madalena or Horta in the triangle | Flights, ferries, car hire | €2 on São Miguel, from 13, max 3 nights |
Tourist taxes are added to your bill by the hotel. More on them, and on keeping costs down, is in our Portugal on a budget guide.
Alternatives by interest
Beach lovers
Cut the city time to two nights each in Lisbon and Porto and give the Algarve five or six nights split between the west (Lagos, Carvoeiro) and the east (Tavira and the Ria Formosa islands). The south coast has the warmest sea on the mainland, best from late summer into October. From Lisbon, the Cascais line and the Arrábida beaches make good day trips. On Madeira, add a night on Porto Santo for its long golden beach. Summer sea temperatures and beach rules are in our Algarve guide.
Wine lovers
Spend two or three nights in the Douro instead of a day trip, ideally during the harvest (mid-September into early October), and add Évora with a day at Alentejo wine estates (book visits; most work by appointment). Porto’s Gaia lodges cover port. On the islands, Funchal has Madeira wine lodges and Pico has UNESCO-listed vineyards walled in black lava. A car or a driver makes tasting days much easier; Portugal’s drink-drive limit is 0.5 g/l, and 0.2 g/l for drivers with under three years’ experience.
Hikers
Choose Madeira or the Azores for the island week and give it six nights instead of five. On Madeira, most official PR trails must be booked and paid online through the SIMplifica portal (€4.50 per trail for visitors over 12, €10.50 for the full PR1, as of October 2026), and the fee is not refunded if you change your mind. In the Azores, Mount Pico needs a booked slot and fee. On the mainland, walk sections of the Rota Vicentina’s Fishermen’s Trail on the Alentejo and west Algarve coast in spring or autumn, or base yourself near Peneda-Gerês National Park in the north. What to bring is in our Portugal packing list.
Families and slow travellers
Use fewer bases and longer stays. Two bases work well for a week: Lisbon (with day trips by train to Sintra and Cascais) and one Algarve town with a flat walk to the beach. Lisbon’s Parque das Nações is flat and next to the Oceanário, a good rainy-day plan.
Tips for planning your route
- Watch the Monday closures. Lisbon’s Jerónimos and Belém Tower, and many national museums, close on Mondays; plan a travel day or a beach day then.
- Book the timed tickets. Pena Palace in Sintra and Belém Tower sell date-and-time slots that run out in summer.
- Book long-distance trains early. CP sells cheaper “promo” fares in advance (up to 65% off), and seats on the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades are reserved, so popular trains can fill up.
- Leave buffers around island flights. Wind on Madeira and fog or wind in the Azores can delay flights by a day.
- Pick the season to match the trip. April to June and September to October suit nearly every route; August is hottest, busiest and priciest, especially in the Algarve. Climate tables by region are on our Portugal guide.
- Hire cars only where you need them. Pick one up for the Douro, Évora to the Algarve, Madeira or the Azores, not in Lisbon or Porto. How tolls work is in our getting around guide.
Portugal itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Portugal?
Yes for Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and a Douro day, all by train. It is not enough to add the Algarve or an island without rushing; for that, plan 10 to 14 days.
Should I start in Lisbon or Porto?
Start wherever your flight is cheapest, but if you are ending in the Algarve, start in Porto and travel south so you finish on the beach and fly home from Faro.
How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
About 2 hours 40 to 2 hours 45 minutes on the Alfa Pendular between Lisboa Oriente and Porto Campanhã, and about 3 hours on the Intercidades (CP timetables, as of October 2026).
Can I do Portugal without a car?
On the mainland, yes: trains link Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Évora and the Algarve, and coaches fill the gaps. On Madeira and in the Azores a car makes life much easier, though tours and buses can work if you stay in Funchal or Ponta Delgada.
Madeira or the Azores for a two-week trip?
Madeira if you want warmer, more reliable weather, one base and dramatic mountain walks. The Azores if you want crater lakes, hot springs, whale watching and island hopping, and don’t mind changeable weather.
How do I get from Évora to the Algarve?
There is no direct train. Rede Expressos runs coaches from Évora to Faro (about 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours, two a day as of October 2026; check times when you book), or you can drive.
Can I fly between Madeira and the Azores?
Yes. Azores Airlines flies between Funchal and Ponta Delgada, and in 2026 added a Terceira–Funchal route (weekly from 7 May, twice weekly from June to September). Combining both island groups in one trip is possible, but it needs at least three weeks to enjoy.
What is the best month for a Portugal road trip?
May, June, September and October: warm, mostly dry, and less crowded and expensive than July and August. Inland areas such as the Alentejo and the Douro are very hot in midsummer.
Sources
- Natural Earth · Public domain · fetched 3 Oct 2026
- © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL · fetched 3 Oct 2026
- Wikidata · CC0 · fetched 3 Oct 2026
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 3 October 2026. Train times come from CP’s published timetables (Lisbon–South valid since 6 September 2026, Lisbon–North, Douro line, Porto and Lisbon urban lines); Évora–Faro and Lisbon–Lagos coach times and flight durations come from booking and flight-schedule sites and are approximate. Island flights and routes come from Azores Airlines and press reports on Ryanair’s exit from the Azores; ferries from Porto Santo Line and Atlânticoline timetables. Tourist taxes come from the city councils of Lisbon, Porto, Funchal and Sintra and from press reports for Évora, São Miguel and the Algarve. Madeira trail fees come from IFCN and Portaria 48/2026. Timetables, fares and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.