Because of Portugal's small size, you can fit a lot into a short trip—a few days will allow you to explore Lisbon and Porto, as well as go on a few excursions outside of the cities. Enjoy a more extensive trip with a week, including detours to the coast and countryside. Those with two weeks to spare can arrange a whole north-to-south journey, possibly including a visit to Portugal's lesser-known islands or neighbouring Spain.
Making Plans for a Trip to Portugal
It's possible to devote a long weekend to the food and culture of Lisbon or Porto, both excellent introductions to Portugal, but a slightly longer and less rushed trip will give you far more: with a minimum of 5 days, you can combine city tours with day trips out to beaches, vineyards, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed towns.
A week is a good starting point for a more in-depth exploration of the country, since you'll have time to travel south to the Atlantic coast or organize a road trip through the country's less-travelled interior and mountains.
You can easily explore the country from top to bottom if you stay longer. it's about a six-hour trip from Braga in the north to Faro in the Algarve in the south, for example. If you're lucky enough to have a two-week vacation here, Portugal and its islands (Madeira and the Azores) are your oyster, and you can even extend your trip to include time in Spain.
5-6 Days in Portugal

With only 5 to 6 days in Portugal, it's advisable to restrict your attention and focus on one of the big towns, with a day or two set out for day excursions to the nearby coast and countryside.
The country's fascinating capital, Lisbon, which sprawls across seven hills and stands astride the Tagus River, is a perfect starting place. The city's crowning jewel, the Moorish castle, the alley-woven Alfama with its captivating miradouros (viewpoints), and the UNESCO-listed Jeronimo’s Monastery, a splendid example of Manueline architecture, should all be on your itinerary.
Allow time to walk the backstreets and plazas, ride a rickety old tram (the 28E provides a superb panorama of the historic centre), and sample some of the city's best food and nightlife. If time allows, you may add a journey to Sintra, with its plethora of fantasy palaces nestled among lushly forested hills, or the wave-lashed Atlantic beaches of Ericeira, Peniche, and Nazaré, which are popular among surfers.
Make northern Porto your home base for a fantastic blend of medieval history, exciting nightlife, art, and culture along the banks of the Douro River. Porto's cuisine scene is one of the most dynamic in the country, and a port wine tasting in one of the ancient lodges that line the Vila Nova de Gaia neighbourhood’s hills is a must.
Hire a vehicle or take the train from Porto to the Douro Valley, one of Europe's most beautiful wine areas, with steeply terraced vines that follow the slopes of the cliffs and rustic quintas (wine estates) that open their doors for tours, tastings, and frequently lunch and supper. It's a joy to spend the night here.
7-8 Days in Portugal
Beach Paths along the southern coast of the Algarve. You'll have a good amount of time to explore Portugal and slow down a little with a whole week on your hands.
After a few days of cultural discovery in Lisbon and Porto, you'll be longing to get to the coast or the countryside for some fresh air and a less congested atmosphere. But don't attempt to cram too much in it's preferable to focus on just one or two destinations and give yourself plenty of time to do them well.
The Atlantic coast is a must-visit if you're looking for some beach time (or are a passionate surfer). The Algarve, with its spectacular cliff-backed coves of golden sand and prettily whitewashed, castle-topped cities like Lagos, is little over a two-hour journey south of Lisbon
On your way south, stop in the peaceful Alentejo for a day or two, where farm-to-fork cuisine, country rambles, and a stay at a family-run Agri turismo (farm stays) will offer you a genuine experience of rural Portuguese life. Highlights such as Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage medieval town with a fortress-like cathedral and Roman ruins, are not to be missed while you're here.
9-12 Days in Portugal
Lagos' Camilo Beach
On a north-to-south tour, you can expect to explore a large portion of what Portugal has to offer, from its most spectacular towns to beautiful vineyards and beaches, in nine to twelve days.
This trip of Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve begins with a gourmet cuisine tour in Lisbon's riverfront metropolis, followed by a tour of the city's historic sights (ranging from the enormous Praça do Comércio square to the intriguing Gothic remains of Carmo convent).
It's only a short drive from here to UNESCO-listed Sintra, where a spectacular collection of castles and palaces sprawl romantically across lushly forested hills, before continuing to the untamed Atlantic coast and

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