Explore Portugal 🇵🇹
Lisbon
Lisbon is colorful, lively, and full of beautiful streets, great food, and amazing views. You can spend the day wandering, shopping, stopping for coffee and pastel de nata, and ending the night with a long Portuguese dinner.
Our personal tip: We stayed in Chiado and absolutely loved it. It was close to everything but didn't feel overly touristy, with great shopping, restaurants, cafés, and beautiful streets to explore. We would definitely recommend staying here over the busiest parts of the city.
Be sure to explore Alfama, Praça do Comércio, São Jorge Castle, and the waterfront — but leave plenty of time to simply wander.
Don't miss: Chiado, Alfama, pastel de nata, sunset by the water, and a long Portuguese dinner.
Porto
Porto feels a little more cozy and romantic than Lisbon, with colorful buildings, beautiful tiled façades, and the Douro River running through the city.
Spend a day wandering the historic center, cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, explore the riverfront, and head across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for a Port tasting.
Porto is the perfect city for walking, eating, drinking, and exploring without too much of a plan.
Don't miss: Ribeira, Dom Luís I Bridge, São Bento Station, and a Port tasting in Gaia.
Douro Valley
If you have time to get outside the cities, the Douro Valley is a must.
The valley is covered in terraced vineyards that stretch along the winding Douro River. It's beautiful, peaceful, and the perfect place to slow down and enjoy some incredible Portuguese wine.
Stay at a quinta (wine estate), take a boat ride, enjoy a wine tasting, and have a long lunch overlooking the vineyards.
Our advice: If you can, spend a night or two here rather than trying to squeeze it into a day trip.
Don't miss: A wine estate, Douro wine tasting, river cruise, and lunch with a view.
Algarve
For beaches and a slower pace, head south to the Algarve. Think dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, turquoise water, and charming coastal towns.
It's a great place to rent a car and explore, or simply pick a beautiful beach and settle in for a few days. After sightseeing in Lisbon or Porto, the Algarve is the perfect place to relax.
Don't miss: A boat trip along the coast, the cliffs and caves around Lagos, fresh seafood, and plenty of beach time.
