7 days in Portugal without a car: Lisbon, Porto and the coast
November 6, 2026 · 8 min de lecture
Ribeira and the Douro in the evening light, seen from the Luís I Bridge. Photo: Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0
This 7-day Portugal itinerary is built for a first week in the country. Base yourself in Lisbon and Porto, three nights in each, with one train journey between them. You'll visit Sintra's Pena Palace, explore both cities on foot and finish with grilled fish by the Atlantic.
The route follows nine main stops, with walks and food breaks between them. There are two Lisbon bakeries to compare, a station worth visiting even when you aren't catching a train, and an afternoon in Gaia's port cellars.
Travel details checked October 28, 2026.
Your week in Portugal at a glance
- Day 1, Lisbon: Baixa, Chiado and custard tarts.
- Day 2, Lisbon: Belém and Alfama.
- Day 3, Sintra day trip: Pena Palace, then sleep in Lisbon.
- Day 4, train to Porto: São Bento and Ribeira.
- Day 5, Porto and Gaia: Bolhão, the bridge and port.
- Day 6, Matosinhos: a beach walk and a seafood lunch.
- Day 7, fly home: leave from Porto Airport.
The route covers seven days and six hotel nights, including arrival and departure. When booking from the US, compare a multi-city ticket into Lisbon (LIS) and home from Porto (OPO) with a round trip. Flying out of Porto saves a return journey to Lisbon. An overnight flight usually means leaving the US the day before day one.
Day 1: Lisbon's waterfront and a stop at Manteigaria
The Rua Augusta Arch on Praça do Comércio. Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0
1. Praça do Comércio and Chiado
Lisbon's yellow waterfront square makes an easy first stop after dropping your bags. Walk through the Rua Augusta arch, then head uphill toward Chiado for coffee. Keep the first day flexible in case your flight arrives late or you need a nap.
Pastéis de nata at Manteigaria. Photo: Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0
2. Manteigaria
At Manteigaria in Chiado, you can watch the pastry chefs shape and fill the custard tarts. Order a pastel de nata and an espresso. A bell announces each fresh batch, so listen for it while you're at the counter.
From here, continue to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara for a view across the city, or head back to your hotel.
Day 2: Belém in the morning, Alfama in the afternoon
The cloister of Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. Photo: MFREYNAUD51, CC BY-SA 4.0
3. Jerónimos and Pastéis de Belém
Start with the cloister at Jerónimos Monastery: two levels of carved stone arches around an open courtyard. Buy cloister tickets from the official ticket office. It closes on Mondays and certain holidays, so swap this day with Sintra if needed.
A few doors along, Pastéis de Belém has been baking its custard tarts since 1837. Try one at Rua de Belém 84–92 and compare it with the one you had at Manteigaria. Afterward, walk to the waterfront. If you have time before returning to Alfama, continue to Belém Tower for an exterior view.
Getting there: tram 15E runs from Praça da Figueira and Praça do Comércio to Mosteiro Jerónimos. Allow extra time for queues and traffic.
Alfama rooftops seen from Portas do Sol. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0
4. Alfama from above
Back in the center, start at Portas do Sol for red rooftops and a wide view of the Tagus. Nearby, Santa Luzia has a tiled garden and a panel showing the waterfront at Praça do Comércio before the 1755 earthquake.
Walk downhill through Alfama's lanes. If you want to hear fado that evening, reserve a performance and check whether the price includes dinner.
Day 3: Sintra and Pena Palace
Pena Palace seen from Cruz Alta in its park. Photo: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0
5. Pena Palace and its park
Pena's red and yellow towers rise above a wooded hillside. Plan for the palace and its park, with a meal in Sintra's historic center; a second palace would make this a much busier day.
Take a CP train from Lisboa Rossio railway station to Sintra, roughly 40 minutes, then bus 434 to Pena. Rossio railway station and Rossio metro station are separate. Your train ticket does not cover bus 434.
Book a timed ticket that includes the palace interior. The operator currently recommends afternoon visits for fewer crowds. Your time slot is for the palace interior, about 30 minutes beyond the park entrance. Aim to reach the park gate 45–60 minutes before your slot, with extra time for the bus. Late arrivals aren't admitted.
Eat in town before entering or after leaving the park, as the ticket permits only one entry. Return to Lisbon for your third night.
Day 4: Lisbon to Porto by train
Book a direct Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Porto Campanhã with CP. The journey takes roughly 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the service and your departure station, Santa Apolónia or Oriente. Tickets go on sale up to 60 days ahead.
For the historic center, change at Campanhã to a CP urban train to São Bento. Under CP's online-ticket conditions, this connection is included when used within one hour after arrival. Keep your ticket; this doesn't include the metro.
The light-filled entrance hall of São Bento station, lined with azulejos. Photo: Otto Domes, CC BY-SA 4.0
6. São Bento to Ribeira
São Bento's entrance hall is lined with 20,000 tiles by Jorge Colaço, illustrating Portuguese history and the evolution of transport. Take a look before checking in, or return once you've left your bags.
Follow Rua das Flores downhill to Ribeira, then find a table by the Douro. The Luís I Bridge spans the river ahead, with Gaia's port lodges on the opposite bank.
Day 5: Bolhão Market and port tasting in Gaia
The renovated Mercado do Bolhão, photographed in March 2026. Photo: Brunnaiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
7. Mercado do Bolhão
Browse the produce stalls at Bolhão, then stop for something to eat. Continue to Rua de Santa Catarina to see the blue-and-white tiled exterior of Capela das Almas.
Bolhão closes on Sundays and public holidays. If day five falls on one, visit the market on another Porto morning.
Rows of barrels inside Taylor's cellars in Gaia. Photo: Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0
8. Luís I Bridge and Taylor's
Walk up toward Porto Cathedral and cross the upper deck of the Luís I Bridge. Pause at Jardim do Morro for the view back over Ribeira, then continue to Taylor's.
The self-guided cellar tour includes a tasting of three ports: dry white, Late Bottled Vintage and a 10-year-old tawny. Bring headphones for the audio guide on your phone. After the tasting, walk downhill to Gaia's waterfront for dinner.
Day 6: Grilled fish and the beach at Matosinhos
Sunset reflected in the wet sand at Matosinhos beach. Photo: Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0
9. Matosinhos and O Valentim
Take metro Line A toward Senhor de Matosinhos and get off at Matosinhos Sul. Walk along the beach before heading to Rua Heróis de França for lunch.
O Valentim specializes in grilled fish. Reserve a table, ask about the day's catch, and confirm the portion and price before ordering fish sold by weight. Leave the afternoon for the beach or another walk along the shore.
Choose one outing for day six, depending on your interests and the weather:
- What to expect
- Seafood and the beach
- Getting there
- Metro A to Matosinhos Sul
- What to expect
- Contemporary art and gardens
- Getting there
- Bus 207 to Serralves Museu
If rain rules out the beach, choose Serralves for contemporary art. Select a ticket that includes the museum; park-only tickets are also sold.
- What to expect
- Winery visits and vineyard views
- Getting there
- Tour with transport from Porto
A tour with transport from Porto keeps winery visits manageable without renting a car. If you plan to travel independently, check CP's Douro line notice: replacement buses are scheduled on part of the line from November 3, 2026, to March 24, 2027.
Day 7: Fly home from Porto
Metro Line E serves Porto Airport. Check the first departure if you have an early flight, and allow your airline's recommended time at the airport. A taxi may be the better option before metro service starts.
Flying home from Lisbon? Return there on day six and spend your last night in Lisbon, replacing the coast outing. Avoid a same-day intercity connection before your flight.
Where to stay and what to book
- Lisbon: stay in Baixa for a central base near the waterfront and Rossio. Chiado suits evenings out, but involves more uphill walking. Alfama's steep lanes are less convenient with luggage.
- Porto: Aliados and São Bento put you close to the walking route; Trindade is useful for the airport metro. Ribeira has river views, with an uphill walk to much of the center.
Book flights and six hotel nights first. Then check Jerónimos opening days, reserve your Pena Palace time slot and book the Lisbon–Porto train when sales open. Add Taylor's and restaurant reservations after that. Friends with different room budgets can stay in separate hotels in the same neighborhood.
For city transport, get a navegante occasional card with pay-as-you-go zapping credit in Lisbon and an Andante card in Porto. Each person needs their own card. In Porto, choose the zones for your destination and validate at the start of each journey and when changing lines or transport. The intercity train and Sintra's bus 434 are separate.
For packing and hotel advice, see our first-trip-to-Europe guide. Check Sintra access notices before your palace day.
Questions fréquentes
Is one week enough for Lisbon and Porto?
Yes, with three nights in each city and a selective sightseeing plan. This route also includes Sintra and the coast. If you have seven hotel nights rather than six, add a night in Lisbon.
Do you need a car for this Portugal itinerary?
No. Trains, buses and metro connect the stops. Both cities have steep streets and steps, so expect plenty of walking even with public transport.
Can you travel from Porto to Lisbon instead?
Yes. Fly into Porto and home from Lisbon, keeping three nights in each city. Check which days the monastery and market will be open before booking.
Plan your Portugal trip with friends
Before booking, agree on dates and a room budget. If you're flying from different cities, Rendezvous brings everyone's departure city, availability and budget together to help you choose a trip that works for the group.
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