Tucked away on the western edge of Europe, beautiful beaches and gorgeous weather attract people to Portugal. Add to that the stunning architecture, tons of history, delicious food and plenty to see and do, it’s easy to spend 10 days in Portugal.
This 10 day Portugal itinerary takes in the big city hits while also fitting in some lesser known spots. Starting with a couple of days in the country’s capital, Lisbon, before heading north to check out Porto and Braga. After the compulsory sampling of francesinha and port, it’s time to head back south to Sintra, with a stop in at Coimbra on the way. And the best part of all? It’s all reachable by public transport!
10 Day Portugal Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Lisbon
Start your 10 day trip to Portugal by arriving in the capital city, where you can jump on the metro to your accommodation. If you want to be nice and central, stay somewhere near Baixo-Chando is an excellent idea. Make the most of your first day and explore the city on foot. Close by to Baixo-Chando you’ll find Carmo Convent, Santa Justa lift and Rossio Square.
There are plenty of places to grab dinner in the area, and if you can time it for sunset, a walk down towards the river from Rossio Square is perfect. It’s quite touristy, but once you pass under Arco da Rua Augusta, walk across the square and take a seat by Cais das Colunas. If the weather allows, people gather here for drinks as the sun sets, music playing in the background, the gentle splash of the water on the rocks. It’s a great way to end your first day in the Portuguese capital city, Lisbon.
A day of crisscrossing the city is always fun, so start bright and early with a castle visit at Castelo de S. Jorge. A bit of history and stunning panoramic views of the city, what’s not to love? From there, it’s time to get an authentic tram experience with a ride on tram 28.
Budget travel tip: Tram 28 is one of the city’s public transport trams, but it lets you
see the sights without having to pay for a sightseeing tram ride.
You can board Tram 28 from Martim Moniz for the best chance of getting a seat, or find a stop closer to the castle, but be prepared to squished in like sardines either way. It’s part of the experience, honestly. Taking you through the city, it’s easiest to jump off a few stops after Baixo-Chando, but if you want the full experience then stay on until the end of the line and either grab the tram back to the city centre or enjoy the walk.
With plenty of charming cafes and restaurants in the city, lunch is an easy pick. However, for a bustling food market experience where you’ll have more choice than you can wave a fork at, head for Time Out Market. It’s big, it’s busy and it’s best enjoyed with a hungry stomach.
A walk along the riverside after lunch to Praça do Comércio lets you take in yet more sights of the city, before heading through the square and up to Lisbon Cathedral. If you’ve got the energy, enjoy a wander through the nearby neighbourhood of Alfama. You’ll find charming streets and plenty of viewing platforms to check out the city views again. If you can’t decide which to go to, Miradouro de Santa Luzia has great views and seating so you can stay and soak up the atmosphere too.
Come evening, enjoy a relaxing dinner before heading to Pink Street for a few drinks to celebrate your trip. Remember, things happen later in Portugal, so it might not be lively until later in the evening.
Day 3: A day trip to Belém or Évora
Belém
Belém is easily reached from Lisbon. Less than 10 minutes on a train or bus, and you’re in walking distance of the sights. Discoveries Monument sits on the riverside, and a short walk further along the riverbank leads to Belém Tower. Close by is Jerónimos Monastery, and while in Belém it’s an unwritten rule to join the queue for Pastéis de Belém and pick up a pastel de nata or two. They’re said to be the best!
Évora
If you want to venture a little further out, another option for the day is to visit Évora on a day trip. It’s a direct train from Lisbon to Évora, taking just 1 hour 20 minutes to the compact, historical city. There’s plenty to fill the day there, with highlights including exploring the UNESCO World Heritage old town, a Roman Temple and a church filled with bones. Yep, you read that right, bones.
Come evening, it’s time to move on to the next city in the 10 day Portugal itinerary without a car, so jump on a train and head north for Porto! It’s about a 3 hour ride, but your legs will be glad for the rest.
Day 4: Braga
Start your time in Porto nice and early and…head out to Braga. About an hour from Porto by bus or train, Braga is a city well worth a day trip. It’s well known for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bom Jesus do Monte and is a gorgeous city to just wander round and explore. It’s best to start the day at Bom Jesus, and you can catch a bus there from outside the train station.
The city’s cathedral is the oldest in Portugal, and has a stunning organ set among an impressive ceiling. Plus, there are a number of other religious monuments to check out, both big and small. The colourful buildings and tiled facades that fill the streets keep the walk interesting as you move between markets, castle ruins and museums.
From Porto to Braga by train you have two options: the cheaper metro train that takes about 50-65 minutes, or the more expensive intercity train that takes 40 minutes. Intercity tickets can be purchased in advance for a cheaper price whereas the metro you can buy on the day at the same price for extra flexibility.
Days 5 & 6: Porto
Two days in Porto is just about right to get a feel for the city. Arriving from Lisbon in the evening should leave you enough time to enjoy a bite to eat and a gentle stroll around the city. Keep to the north of Sao Bento station if your legs are tired – less hills!
After spending a day in Braga, it’s up early the next day to get your Porto fix! Starting north of the Douro river, Livraria Lello is a famous bookshop that is not only stunning, but also claims to have inspired part of the Harry Potter series. You can buy a ticket for entry just round the corner and get the entry fee back if you buy a book there. If it’s a nice day, the nearby Base Bar is a great garden bar to rest your feet and enjoy a drink stop.
Close by, Igreja dos Clérigos is a pretty church with a museum upstairs and a great view of the Porto rooftops. Continue on past Sao Bento train station – stop in if you didn’t notice the blue tiles in the vestibule when you arrived – and on to Porto Cathedral. Even more blue tiles cover the walls here, and the courtyard is worth a visit if you don’t want to see the whole church.
The square in front of Porto Cathedral is pretty and gives great views of the city. Take one of the narrow streets nearby and follow it downhill to Mercado Ferreira Borges and Ribeira do Porto. The hilly side streets have some gorgeous little cafes, but if you’d rather enjoy a rest by the river there are plenty of options along the Ribeira. On a nice day it’s a hive of activity, and the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by for a bit.
When you’ve spent enough time by the river, head back up to the higher ground on the funicular. You’ll find the entrance by the base of Luís I Bridge, unless you fancy the trek uphill…
If there are two things every visitor should try in Porto, it’s a francesinha – a meaty, cheesy sandwich drenched in a delicious sauce and served with chips, mega yum – and port. There are plenty of places offering both, so enjoy the evening scouting out your favourite!
The second of your 2 days in Porto calls for another hilly day, so it’s off to the Bolhão neighbourhood to start. There’s a 2-storey market here, and what’s a visit to a city if you don’t go to at least one market? The Chapel of Souls and Church Santo Ildefonso are nearby, both with gorgeous facades.
After a wander round Bolhão, head to Luís I Bridge. It’s an impressive bridge with two levels, the lower primarily for cars and the upper level for pedestrians and trams. The views of Porto from here are Instagram-worthy, and once you’ve snapped enough photos it’s time to explore the south side of the river.
Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar is an old monastery taking pride of place high on the hill, or you can head straight for the riverside to check out the shops and food market, and to see the old port boats floating just off the walkway. There are a number of port cellars in this area if you’re interested in taking a tour, learning about the history of port and, of course, sampling some of the local produce.
Come evening, jump on a train and head south to Coimbra. If you can time your train for sunset, you won’t be disappointed, as the view is just gorgeous as you pass by the coastline.
Day 7: Coimbra
Coimbra is a compact city, and although there’s plenty to see, you can get a good coverage of the city in a day. Some highlights include the Igreja de Santa Cruz, a church with royal remains in a quiet, eery room that you’re not 100% sure you should be in, a New Cathedral and Old Cathedral as well as a host of other churches to explore.
Other than that, there’s the Manga Cloister, and historical Coimbra University. It dates back to 1290, and walking through the grounds will make you wish you’d gone to a university with such an impressive campus.
As with all cities, half the joy of Coimbra is just wandering the streets and getting lost in the maze of cobble stone streets. Most of the sights are on the same side of the river, but venture to the other and you’ll be rewarded with pretty gardens at Fuente de los Amores and a fun model city experience at Portugal dos Pequenitos.
Day 8: Lisbon
Take a morning train back to Lisbon, drop your bags off and head straight for any parts you missed on your previous time in the city. If you covered it pretty well, head a little north in the city and explore the Bairro Alto and Principe Real areas.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara has panoramic views of the city, and there are a number of impressive churches to pop in to as you head to Jardim do Príncipe Real. There’s often a market on Mondays or Saturdays, full of interesting stalls.
Nearby is the Botanical Garden of Lisbon, a calm and relaxing place to enjoy a short walk. If that’s not really your cup of head, head back to the charming neighbourhood of Alfama and enjoy the afternoon exploring and sampling the local coffee shops and bars. You’ll likely want an easy day and earlier night in anticipation of a lot of walking and hills the next day at Sintra.
Day 9: Sintra
A popular day trip from Lisbon, Sintra is just half an hour by bus or 40 minutes by train. If you get there early, you can easily fit in a visit to a few different sights. It’s easiest to jump on the bus between them as Sintra is typically Portuguese: hilly!
Pena Palace and the Moorish castle are close to each other, and both well worth a visit. Pena Palace has a national park within the gates, which you’re free to wander round, and you’ll even get a map to try and keep you on course. The colourful palace is one of the highlights here, and the views are amazing.
Walk a little way down the hill and you’ll find the Moorish castle. Not so much a castle these days, but a walk up the old walls is worth the breathtaking view from the top. If your legs can handle another sight to visit, Quinta da Regaleira has the insta-famous winding staircase in the rock, or Sintra National Palace is also close by.
Day 10: Homeward bound/beach
If you have time left at the end of your trip, Cascais beach is a popular choice for some relaxation. Just a short train ride from Lisbon city centre and you’ll be relaxing on the beach in no time. Adding a few days to soak up the sun is the perfect addition to make this Portugal itinerary 2 weeks long, and after 10 days exploring you’ll be glad of some down time.
If you just had 10 days for the tour of Portugal, today is the day to head to the airport, jump on a flight home and start planning your next adventure!
FAQs
How To Get Around Portugal
The easiest way to get between these stops is by train. It’s quick, affordable and a comfortable way to travel in Portugal. There’s no stress about finding somewhere to leave the car, and each city is very walkable once there. The scenery is spectacular, but can just as easily be enjoyed if you choose to hire a car and drive.
Trains in Portugal aren’t always on third party train sites like Trainline.com, but there are definitely trains as I’ve done this itinerary myself! It’s best to go direct to the Portuguese train website to buy tickets, and often if you book in advance you’ll get it cheaper than buying on the day.
Travelling around Portugal by train is very comfortable. The trains themselves vary in age, but they are generally comfortable, run on time, have facilities on board (for intercity trains) and have space for luggage.
Is 10 days enough to visit Portugal?
10 days in Portugal is enough to get a taster of each of the cities, but if you have more time to spare then there are plenty more places to explore in the country. You could head south to the Algarve, head inland to visit the lesser known cities of Évora, Fatima, Obidos…the list is endless really!
If you have less than 10 days to spend exploring Portugal, it’s best to narrow it down and spend more time in just a couple of cities to really see those cities.
Is Portugal safe for solo female travellers?
Portugal is a country I’ve explored several times as a solo female traveller, and as long as you take the usual precautions, it’s a wonderful country to explore solo. Many of the people I encountered were super friendly, spoke English and were willing to share their recommendations and passions about their cities.
