How many days is ideal in Portugal?

In nine to 12 days, you can expect to see a generous chunk of all that Portugal has to offer, from its most sensational cities to sublime vineyards and beaches, on a north-to-south trip.



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How many days in Portugal is enough? Depending on your travel style and the type of trip you're planning, 7, 10 or 14 days is enough time to visit Portugal. If you want to drive around the country, plan to set aside at least 2 to 3 weeks.

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While we always recommend spending as much time as possible in Portugal, 5 days is plenty of time to see the largest two cities – Porto and Lisbon. Our 5-day Portugal itinerary starts in the beautiful city of Porto, early in the morning.

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In 10 days you can see a lot of the highlights, including Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, the Douro Valley, and more. If you want to see even more (including the Algarve or any of Portugal's islands), you'll need at least 2 weeks.

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Big sister Lisbon is twice the size, more cosmopolitan, faster paced and 200 miles further south, so in summer it can be sweltering. Compact, walkable Porto has a more traditional feel and is cooled by Atlantic breezes through summer, though fog and rain can roll in via the same route during the winter.

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If you are lucky enough to spend 5 days in Lisbon you have the chance to get to know the city in depth. And do it calmly, having plenty of time to see and enjoy its monuments and with the possibility of making excursions to the most interesting places in the surroundings.

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When is the best time to visit Portugal? Where is this? The best time to visit Portugal is in spring (March-May), when the country is in bloom and waking after the winter. You could also go in fall (between September and October) when the sun is still shining, the weather is warm, and many of the crowds have dispersed.

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Portugal is not a large country and you can get almost everywhere easily and efficiently by train or bus. Regional trains are often cheaper and some lines very scenic, but it's almost always quicker to go by bus – especially on shorter or less obvious routes.

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If you're planning a trip to Portugal, a stop in Porto is a must. Luckily, it's only 313 kilometers (about 195 miles) from Lisbon and easy to reach from the capital city. Downtown Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a historic center and colorful houses.

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How Much Time Should I Spend in Lisbon and Porto? The ideal breakdown is 2 full days in Lisbon and 2 full days in Porto. The remaining 3 days, you'll stop in several places of interest on your travel from Lisbon to Porto.

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Seeing Porto in 5 days is more than doable, and it turned out to be an amazing trip. I'm excited to share all the details with you. We're excited to go back, not only to enjoy Porto more, but also explore the Douro Valley and wine region.

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If you only have five days in Portugal, you can pair two major cities—Lisbon and Porto, for example—or choose one region for an in-depth experience. Explore the dreamy Algarve coast, head to the wine-famous Duoro Valley, or stick to Lisbon and its surrounds.

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The cost of living in Portugal is generally considered about 46 percent cheaper than in the United States. This, coupled with the country's excellent quality of life, beautiful beaches, stunning mountain ranges, reliable public transport, and rich history and culture, make it very easy to fall in love with Portugal.

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In fact, just walk into the charming, medieval Alfama neighborhood without a good map, and you could probably spend your week just finding your way out again. (But you'll have a good time doing so.) A week is perfect for Lisbon, especially considering one or two days spent day-tripping.

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U.S. Citizens are entitled to drive in Portugal with their U.S. issued driver's license for a period no to exceed 185 days, provided they are not legal residents.

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Rainfall. In Lisbon rainiest months of the year are December and November during which monthly rainfall average reaches 128 mm. On the other side, driest months are August and July when the average rainfall is reduced to 4 mm per month.

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Like many places in Europe, July and August are the peak tourist season in Portugal. August, in particular, is very busy due to the fact that it's Portugal's holiday month, so Portuguese travelers join the throngs of international tourists.

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To get a well-rounded experience of Portugal, it makes sense to try to visit both places. Ideally, I'd recommend three or four nights in Lisbon (in order to do a day trip to Sintra) and two nights in Porto. On the shortest itinerary I would plan on two nights in each city. Fly into one city and out of the other.

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Your Lisbon Itinerary: 7 Days in the Portuguese Capital
  1. Day 1: Embrace your inner tourist.
  2. Day 2: Marvel at Calouste Gulbenkian.
  3. Day 3: Visit Belem.
  4. Day 4: Explore the town of Sintra.
  5. Day 5: Adventure with a picnic.
  6. Day 6: Stroll through Lisbon's Botanical Gardens.
  7. Day 7: Discover Lisbon's heritage.
  8. Related Articles.


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So, how many days to explore Lisbon? We always recommend that it takes three days to fully explore Lisbon. This is sufficient to visit all of the characterful districts, experience the nightlife and join a couple of unique activities.

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