7 days in Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto & the Douro

Three Lisbon days (Alfama, Belém, a Sintra day by train), the Alfa Pendular north, two Porto days of tiles, port and francesinha, and a train day up the Douro to Pinhão. Best April to June and September to October.

1. Day 18:30 am – 10 pm · 6 stops
2. 8:30 am 1

   Tram 28 up from Martim Moniz before the crowdsLisbon

   The yellow tram climbs through Graça and Alfama on the way to the castle. Locals and recent guides agree: ride it early, because by late morning it is packed and slow. A single paid on board is about €3.10; a Navegante/Zapping card is cheaper. Get off near Largo das Portas do Sol for the castle.

   5 min walk · 350 m
3. 9:15 am 2

   Castelo de São Jorge at openingLisbon

   The Moorish hilltop castle gives the widest view over the Baixa and the Tagus. Adult ticket is €17 on the official site. Go at opening: tour groups arrive from mid-morning. Walk the ramparts first, then the archaeological site.

   5 min walk · 400 m
4. 11 am 3

   Miradouro de Santa Luzia and the walk down through AlfamaLisbon

   Tiled terrace with the classic view over Alfama's rooftops to the river. Then wander down the stairways and lanes of Alfama towards the Sé cathedral; trip reports say this is the part of Lisbon best done on foot and without a plan. Free.

   16 min walk · 1.2 km
5. 1 pm 4

   Lunch at Taberna da Rua das FloresLisbon

   Small, much-loved tavern doing Portuguese petiscos from a chalkboard. A May 2026 trip thread recommends putting your name on the list and going for lunch or arriving early, because it fills fast. Budget about €20-30 a head.

   9 min walk · 650 m
6. 3 pm 5

   Praça do Comércio and the Rua Augusta ArchLisbon

   The great riverside square at the foot of the Baixa. Climb the arch for a small fee for a view down Rua Augusta. Local advice: skip the restaurants on Rua Augusta with photo menus and touts outside. Square is free.

   19 min walk · 1.4 km
7. 8 pm 6

   Seafood dinner at Cervejaria RamiroLisbon

   Lisbon's best-known seafood beer hall: garlic prawns, clams Bulhão Pato, and a prego steak roll to finish. Several travellers in a May 2026 food-forum thread recommend it but say to book ahead, as tables were gone for walk-ins. Plan on €40-50 a head with beer.

8. Day 29:30 am – 9 pm · 6 stops
9. 9:30 am 7

   Jerónimos Monastery cloisterLisbon

   The Manueline cloister is the masterpiece; the church of Santa Maria next door is free. Cloister ticket €18 (2026), Tuesday to Sunday 9:30-17:30, closed Mondays. Arrive for opening or the queue runs down the street; book online if you can.

   3 min walk · 200 m
10. 11 am 8

    Pastéis de nata at Pastéis de BelémLisbon

    The original custard tarts, warm with cinnamon and sugar. Travellers call it worth the trip; skip the takeaway queue and sit inside, where the rooms go back a long way and tables turn fast. A couple of tarts and a coffee is a few euros.

    17 min walk · 1.3 km
11. 11:45 am 9

    Belém TowerLisbon

    The 16th-century river fortress reopened in May 2026 after works, with its own timed entry: book a slot. If slots are gone, the outside and the riverside walk are the highlight anyway. Closed Mondays like the monastery.

    10 min by train or taxi · 6.3 km
12. 1:30 pm 10

    Lunch at Time Out MarketLisbon

    Stalls from many good Lisbon kitchens under one roof in the Mercado da Ribeira, a 15-minute tram or train ride back from Belém. Travellers like the choice but warn it is crowded at peak lunch; go a little after 13:30 and grab seats first.

    4 min walk · 300 m
13. 3:30 pm 11

    Bica funicular and the Adamastor viewpointLisbon

    Walk up beside the Bica funicular's steep street and on to the Santa Catarina (Adamastor) viewpoint over the 25 de Abril bridge, a local tip from a 2026 Lisbon guide. Calçada do Combro nearby has a tinned-fish shop, Conserveira de Lisboa, for souvenirs.

    10 min walk · 700 m
14. 7:30 pm 12

    Ceviche dinner at A CevicheriaLisbon

    Chef Kiko's ceviche bar under a giant octopus sculpture. Walk-in only: recent travellers say expect a short wait and that it is not cheap, about €35-45 a head, but one went back twice. Then stroll down into Bairro Alto for a drink.

15. Day 38 am – 5:45 pm · 6 stops
16. 8 am 13

    Train from Rossio to SintraLisbon

    Trains every 30 minutes or so, about 40 minutes, no change. A CP return is about €4.60 (2026). Guides advise being on the 8:30 at the latest to beat palace queues.

    23 min by train or taxi · 23 km
17. 9:30 am 14

    Pena Palace on a timed ticketSintra

    The red-and-yellow Romantic palace on the ridge. Palace and park €20 (2026), park only €12. Entry is strictly at your booked time, with no late tolerance, so book the first slot online days ahead and allow 30+ minutes to get up from the station (bus 434 about €3, or walk).

    8 min walk · 550 m
18. 11:45 am 15

    Moorish Castle wallsSintra

    Battlements running along the ridge with views back to Pena and out to the Atlantic. About 200 m from Pena's ticket office; no timed entry. Adult €12. Then walk down the Caminho de Santa Maria to town, about 25 minutes.

    7 min walk · 500 m
19. 1:15 pm 16

    Travesseiros at PiriquitaSintra

    Bakery going since 1862, famous for travesseiros (almond-cream puff pastry pillows, about €1.60) and queijadas; it also does savoury pastries for a quick lunch. Expect a short queue at lunchtime.

    7 min walk · 500 m
20. 2:30 pm 17

    Quinta da Regaleira and the Initiation WellSintra

    Gothic fantasy estate with tunnels, grottoes and the spiral Initiation Well. Adult €20 (2026), 30-minute slots from 10:00 to 17:00, entry up to an hour after your slot. 2026 visitors report 15-60 minute waits at the well; after 16:00 is quieter. Bring a phone torch for the tunnels.

    14 min walk · 1.0 km
21. 5 pm 18

    Train back to LisbonSintra

    Same line back to Rossio on your return ticket, about 40 minutes.

22. Day 49 am – 6:30 pm · 5 stops
23. 9 am 19

    Alfa Pendular from Lisbon to PortoLisbon

    The fast train takes 2h58 (stopping at Oriente 9 minutes later). Standard 2nd class about €34; Promo fares from €9.50 if booked 5 to 60 days ahead. Your ticket covers a free connecting train from Campanhã to São Bento within the hour.

    2h 5m by train or taxi · 274 km
24. 12:20 pm 20

    The azulejo hall of São Bento stationPorto

    About 20,000 blue-and-white tiles tell Portugal's history in the entrance hall. Free, and you arrive right into it.

    7 min walk · 500 m
25. 1 pm 21

    Francesinha at Café SantiagoPorto

    Porto's meat-stacked, cheese-covered, beer-sauce sandwich, and Time Out Porto lists this as one of the best places in town for it: €17.50 with fries (2025). Share one if you want dinner later.

    11 min walk · 850 m
26. 3 pm 22

    Climb the Clérigos TowerPorto

    225 steps to the top of Porto's 75 m baroque bell tower for a 360° view over the rooftops and the river. €10 for tower and museum, daily 9:00-19:00 (last entry 18:30); there is also a cheaper night slot.

    10 min walk · 750 m
27. 4:30 pm 23

    Ribeira and the top deck of the Dom Luís I bridgePorto

    Drop down to the Cais da Ribeira waterfront, then walk the upper deck of the iron bridge (shared with the metro) to the Gaia side for the postcard view of Porto at sunset. Free.

28. Day 59 am – 4:30 pm · 5 stops
29. 9 am 24

    Livraria Lello at openingPorto

    The neo-Gothic bookshop with the red staircase. Entry is a voucher (from about €10) that comes off a book purchase; book a timed ticket online. Guides say go first thing or late afternoon to avoid the queue. Open daily 9:00-19:30.

    9 min walk · 700 m
30. 10 am 25

    Mercado do BolhãoPorto

    Porto's restored 19th-century market: fish, cured meats, cheese, tinned fish and flowers. Monday to Friday 8:00-20:00, Saturday 8:00-18:00, closed Sunday.

    15 min walk · 1.1 km
31. 11:30 am 26

    Palácio da Bolsa guided tourPorto

    The 19th-century stock exchange, visited only on a ~45-minute guided tour that ends in the gilded Arab Room. About €14; tours leave every 30 minutes, and guides suggest booking a day ahead.

    5 min walk · 350 m
32. 12:45 pm 27

    Lunch on the Cais da RibeiraPorto

    Grilled sardines or bacalhau at one of the riverfront tascas. The streets one block back are cheaper than the front row; budget €15-20.

    10 min walk · 700 m
33. 3 pm 28

    Port cellars tour at Taylor's in GaiaPorto

    Self-guided audio tour of the old lodge and a tasting of three ports (Chip Dry, LBV, 10-year tawny), from about €25. It is often booked 10 days ahead, so reserve. Graham's and Sandeman are the usual alternatives; walk-in tastings on the Gaia quay cost €4-8 a glass.

34. Day 67:20 am – 7 pm · 6 stops
35. 7:20 am 29

    Early train up the Douro line to PinhãoPorto

    The first train leaves São Bento at 7:20 (you may change at Ermesinde) and reaches Pinhão just before 10:00; the first direct one is 9:25, arriving about 11:45. The last hour hugs the river: sit on the right. A round trip is about €30; buy at the station or online.

    41 min by train or taxi · 89 km
36. 10 am 30

    Pinhão station's tile panelsPinhão

    The small station is covered in azulejo panels of the grape harvest and river life. Free.

    3 min walk · 150 m
37. 10:30 am 31

    One hour on the river in a rabelo boatPinhão

    Traditional port-carrying boats run hour-long trips past the terraced quintas from the Pinhão quay, from about €18. Reviewers say the morning sailings are quieter.

    5 min walk · 350 m
38. 12 pm 32

    Riverside lunch at VeladouroPinhão

    Simple stone-walled restaurant by the river doing grilled meat and fish with Douro wine; Lonely Planet names it among Pinhão's riverfront eateries. Budget €20-25.

    10 min walk · 800 m
39. 2 pm 33

    Vineyard visit and tasting at Quinta do BomfimPinhão

    Symington's estate (Dow's) at the edge of town: a walk through steep terraces, the 1896 lodge, and a tasting of Douro wines and port, from about €38 booked ahead. Open daily 10:00-19:00 March to October, 9:30-18:30 in winter; last visit 90 minutes before closing. Harvest is mid-September to early October.

    7 min walk · 550 m
40. 4:30 pm 34

    Late-afternoon train back to PortoPinhão

    About 2.5 hours back down the line. Check the CP timetable for the afternoon departure before you go, as there are only a handful of trains a day.

41. Day 79:30 am – 5 pm · 4 stops
42. 9:30 am 35

    The tiled side wall of Igreja do CarmoPorto

    The whole east wall is a single huge azulejo panel; the morning light is best. Free from the street.

    8 min by train or taxi · 3.8 km
43. 10:30 am 36

    Serralves museum and parkPorto

    Siza Vieira's contemporary art museum, a pink Art Deco villa and 18 hectares of gardens. Full access €22, park only €15. Weekdays 10:00-19:00, weekends to 20:00. About 20 minutes by bus from the centre.

    8 min by train or taxi · 3.9 km
44. 1:15 pm 37

    Grilled-fish lunch in MatosinhosMatosinhos

    Porto's fishing suburb, where grills on the street outside the restaurants cook the catch by weight. Mains run €12-20. A short metro or taxi ride from Serralves.

    8 min by train or taxi · 4.2 km
45. 3:15 pm 38

    The Foz do Douro promenade where the river meets the seaPorto

    Walk the seafront from the Felgueiras lighthouse pier along the Atlantic, then take the vintage tram 1 back along the river to the Ribeira for a last port. Free (tram fare extra).