Portugal in the fall is an amazing time to go. We used the getyourguide heavily to book attractions in advance. You should also plan to buy a Lisboa card when you arrive at the airpot or online. S
See below for our actual itinerary. No flowery poetic language, just straight facts. If you want a downloadable excel version that you can use to sort and filter, make sure you subscribe. Activities are arranged based on location from one another to minimize unnecessary back and forth/double backing.
2 days in Lisbon
1 day in Sintra
2 days in Porto
1 day in Duoro Valley
Day 1 | Lisbon
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Stay | My Story Hotel Rossio | Right by Rossio Square (prime location) |
Activity | Rossio Square (Praca do Rossio) | Rossio Square (Praca do Rossio) |
Activity | Sao Pedro de Alcantara | Garden; vista of Baixa and St George's Castle hill; considered one of most beautiful places to look at sunset |
Activity | Santa Justa elevator | Landmark, built by Gustave Eiffel's apprentice. View of city. Go early to avoid line. |
Activity | Carmo Convent | Medieval convent ruined by 1755 earthquake; can see original architecture. Have star show - go on nice day |
Activity | Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paço) | Square considered to be Lison's port of entry; check out King Jose I on horseback statue |
Eat | Beher Lisboa | Jamon restaurant |
Eat | Confeitaria Nacional | Oldest bakery in Portgual. Get Bolo Rei (King Cake) if going around Christmas and pastel de nata |
Eat | Martinho da Arcada | 1782 café of poets |
Activity | Lisbon Tram 28 | Take tram from Alfama neighborhood. Tram is famous so long line |
Activity | Saint George Castle (Sao Jorge) | View of city and towers; buy skip the line ticket. Or go early |
Eat | Café-Restaurante Martinho da Arcada Marquês | Oldest café in Lisbon; traditional Portuguese food |
Activity | Parque Eduardo | Manicured lawns and garden across the street |
Activity | Miradouro das Portas do Sol | Overlook Alfama red tile roofs/domes/bell towers |
Activity | Miradouro de Santa Luzia | See view of Tagus river; considered one of most beautiful. |
Eat | La Petit Cafe | Cute small cafe; nice service |
Eat | Martuo Bar and Bistro | Get codfish bruschetta or salad; craft beers. Try walk-in for lunch |
Activity | Miradouro da Graça | View of Castle, river, central Lisbon, good for sunset |
Activity | Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte | Highest point in Lisbon |
Eat | Go to Barrio Alto | Walk around streets and pop into bars for music and nightlife |
Day 2 | Lisbon
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Activity | Belem Tower | Come here early due to long lines before 10am (longer than monastery) Dates back to 1515; built as fortress to protect Lisbon harbor |
Activity | Jeronimos Monastery | Come here first to avoid lines; free with Lisboa card; built to celebrate explorer Vasco de Gama's trip to India |
Eat | Pastéis de Belém | Known for pastel de nata |
Activity | Museu Coleção Berardo | Art musuem, 30% discount with Lisbon card |
Activity | Parque das Nações | Maritime area; learn about maritime history; also has an aquarium |
Activity | Cais de Sobre | Street that is pink (used to be red light district), has food stands; Time Out market |
Eat | El Rei D’frango | Mom and pop, no frill restaurant. No reservation so long queue. Get fish try: bacalhau com nata |
Eat | Ha Tapas no Mercado | Cheap authentic, Small tapas, charcuterie cheese and chorizo |
Eat | Timeout Market | Food stalls, etc |
Day 3 | Sintra (Morning)
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Activity | Pena Palace | Summer residence of the royal fam. 10% discount with Lisboa Card. Opens at 9:30 AM. Try to see the terraces first and then do state rooms tour. Eat lunch here in cafeteria then check out gardens |
Activity | Paque de Pena | Garden designed by King Ferdinand |
Activity | Moorish Castle | 15% discount with Lisboa card. Can just walk from Pena Palace. Remnants of castle (can walk along the external walls) |
Activity | Quinta da Regaleira | 20% discount with Lisboa Card. Large country estate from 19th century. Filled with interesting sculptures, fountains. Check out initiation wells (used to mysterious rituals) |
Eat | Casa Piriquita | Get travesseiros (pillow flakey pastries filled with almond cream - famous Portguese dessert). Also get queijada (soft cheesecake, was King's fave) |
Activity | Sintra National Palace | 10% discount with Lisboa Card (only go if have time) |
Day 3 | Porto (Evening)
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Stay | Airbnb - Oporto Trendy Apartments (Gustago Eiffel, 184 Porto, Grande Porto) | Off the main busy street, view from living room has the Luis I bridge, beautiful location |
Activity | Shop at Livraria Lello | Oldest bookstore in Portugal; JK Rowling got inspo from here - closes at 7pm; $5 entrance fee but very crowded. Consider buying voucher online ahead of time |
Activity | Taylors Wine Tasting | Audio tour, can walk in whenever; closes at 6pm |
Activity | Walk down Rua do Almada | One of Porto's oldest streets; mix of shops, etc |
Activity | Luis I Bridge | Double decker bridge that you can take to Gaia; designed by Eiffel's student |
Activity | Jardim do Morro | Public garden - good for sunset view over river (located in Gaia) |
Eat | Chocolataria das Flores | Dessert - very good hot chocolate; chocolate cake |
Day 4 | Porto
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Activity | Walk Cais da Ribeira | Waterfront along river, check out shops, etc |
Activity | Monastery of Serra do Pilaar | $2 entrance fee but good view of Porto, esp at night. Closes at 5pm |
Activity | Sao Bento Railway Station | Blue tiles. Take your instagram pictures here |
Eat | Papavinhos | Tapas by riverfront but only open between 12-3pm |
Activity | Se do Porto | Church built over multiple centuries; closes at 6:30pm - free |
Activity | Chapel of Souls (Capela del Almas) | External all tiles; church |
Activity | Clerigos Church and Tower | Baroque, known for bell tower (you can climb 200 steps to go up to bell tower for $6E) - closes at 7pm |
Activity | Igreja do Carmo | Painted textile on exterior (furthest church from the above) - free, closes at 7pm; most iconic landmark in Porto |
Activity | Sao Francisco Church | Baroque and Gothic; inside is gold woodwork - $6 E entrance fee, closes at 8pm |
Activity | Palacio da Bolsa | Stock exchange; book ticket ahead of time and check out tour |
Eat | Tapabento | Need to email for reservation; confirm 1 day prior. |
Activity | Igreja de Santo Ildefonso | Tile churches; free admission but closes at 6pm |
Eat | Sande de Pernil | Sandwich shop across from Santo Ildefonso church |
Activity | Caves Calem | Commercialized but premium wine tasting and tour |
Eat | Lareira | Famous sandwich in Porto - "the prego" is the national sandwich |
Day 5 | Duoro Valley
Event | Name | No BS Notes |
Vineyard | Quinta do Vallado | One of oldest quintas in valley; also a nice hotel |
Activity | Museu do Douro | Museum to learn about wine |
Activity | Sao Leonardo at Galafura and Santo Antonio do Loureiro | Viewpoints of valley |
Activity | Pinhao | Small village with vineyards in area |
Activity | Lamego | Beautiful town known for Baroque art |
Vineyard | Quinta da Pacheca | One of oldest estates |
Vineyard | Quinta das Carvalhas | Hillside facing river; one of largest estate in region |
Vineyard | Quinta do Crasto | 17th century - owned by same family |
Vineyard | Quinta do Seixo | View of Duoro Valley; also 17th century |
Wine cellar in Duoro Valley
Beautiful fall day in Duoro Valley
One of the many blue tile churches
The barrel room in one of the port houses
View from our AirBnB
Inside one of the many churches in the area
The windy curvy streets of Lisbon
And of course, the tram.
Open air cathedral - Carmo Convent
Moorish Castle
Another view of the walk along the ruins of Moorish Castle
Pena Palace
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