Portugal in 5 Days

Lisbon's pastel streets and pastéis de nata, Porto's wine cellars, and Sintra's fairy-tale palaces.

5 days · 13 activities

Day 1

• 09:30 Belém Tower & Jerónimos Monastery — Lisbon
  Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites celebrating Portugal's Age of Discovery. The monastery's Manueline architecture is stunning. Combined ticket saves money. Arrive early — the monastery queue gets long.
• 12:30 Pastéis de Belém — Lisbon
  The original pastéis de nata since 1837, using a secret recipe from the Jerónimos monks. The queue moves fast. Order at the counter for lower prices. Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
• 15:00 Alfama & Tram 28 — Lisbon
  Lisbon's oldest neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets and fado music drifting from doorways. Ride the iconic yellow Tram 28 through the historic center. Watch for pickpockets on the tram. Visit the Miradouro da Graça for sunset views.

Day 2

• 11:00 Time Out Market — Lisbon
  Lisbon's famous food hall in the Mercado da Ribeira. Curated stalls from top Portuguese chefs. Try croquetas, fresh oysters, bifana (pork sandwich), and ginjinha (cherry liqueur). Communal seating in the center.
• 14:00 Bairro Alto & Chiado — Lisbon
  Chiado is Lisbon's elegant shopping district — visit the historic Bertrand bookshop (world's oldest). Take the Santa Justa Elevator for city views. Bairro Alto is quieter by day but becomes Lisbon's nightlife hub after dark.
• 20:00 Fado Music Evening — Lisbon
  Fado is Portugal's soulful traditional music, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Best experienced in an intimate Alfama venue. Reservations recommended. Many restaurants include a fado show with dinner. Expect a minimum spend.

Day 3

• 08:30 Day Trip to Sintra — Sintra
  Train from Lisbon Rossio station to Sintra takes 40 minutes, runs every 20 min. Sintra's cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start early to fit in multiple palaces before the crowds arrive.
• 10:00 Pena Palace — Sintra
  A colorful Romanticist castle on a hilltop with red, yellow, and blue towers. The interior is preserved as it was when the royal family fled in 1910. The surrounding park has beautiful walking trails. Take the 434 bus from Sintra station.
• 14:00 Quinta da Regaleira — Sintra
  A mysterious estate with a Gothic palace, underground tunnels, and the famous Initiation Well — a 27m spiral staircase descending into the earth. Explore the grottos and secret passages. One of Sintra's most magical sites.

Day 4

• 14:00 Ribeira District Walk — Porto
  Porto's UNESCO-listed riverfront district. Colorful buildings cascade down to the Douro River. Walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge for panoramic views. The lower deck is for pedestrians, the upper deck for the Metro and the best views.
• 17:00 Port Wine Cellar Tasting — Porto
  Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia where the historic port wine cellars are. Popular choices: Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman, Cálem. Tours include cellar visit + 2–3 tastings. Book ahead for smaller producers.

Day 5

• 09:30 Livraria Lello & Clérigos Tower — Porto
  Livraria Lello is one of the world's most beautiful bookshops with its ornate neo-Gothic staircase (said to have inspired Harry Potter). Entry fee is redeemable on a book purchase. Clérigos Tower (225 steps) has the best city view.
• 12:30 São Bento Station & Bolhão Market — Porto
  São Bento Station's entrance hall is covered in 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history — free to visit. Bolhão Market was recently restored: fresh produce downstairs, food court upstairs. Try a francesinha (Porto's iconic sandwich) nearby.