Is 8 days enough for Portugal?

8 days in Portugal is the perfect amount of time to see most of the major sites and attractions from Porto all the way down to Lisbon!



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This itinerary will assume you've rented a car and are taking a road trip through Portugal, but it's doable via other transportation methods.
  1. Day 1: The Duoro Valley.
  2. Day 2: Duoro Valley.
  3. Day 3: Douro to Porto.
  4. Day 4: Porto.
  5. Day 5: Porto to Lagos.
  6. Day 6: Lagos to Lisbon.
  7. Day 7: Lisbon.
  8. Day 8: Sintra.


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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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As I hope you've now realized, Portugal's cities, landscapes, culture and prices make it perfect for a one-week trip. Even though there is still much more to see and do after this itinerary, it's a great start to exploring the country's main highlights.

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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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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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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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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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?? Trip Cost for a Mid-Range Budget Traveler A mid-range budget traveler, such as myself, can expect to spend approximately $110 per day or $770 for one week of travel in Portugal, excluding flights. I break down my Portugal travel expenses by category below.

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Although you could easily stay for a month, you will need at least 14 days to explore Spain and Portugal to give you enough time to see a couple of the big cities and a few smaller towns as well, without feeling too rushed.

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While it is a small country, if you only have 7 days in Portugal, you are better off just visiting two (or max three) major cities or regions and saving the rest for a return trip. To help make planning a trip to Portugal a little easier, I've put together four different Portugal itinerary options to choose from.

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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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Travel by Train: The railway offers regular and direct services from Porto to Lisbon, and is the recommended means of travel. The fastest train (the Alfa Pendular service) takes 2h50minutes, while seats on the slightly slower Intercidades (intercity) service only cost €25.10 for an adult single.

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The average journey time by train between Lisbon and Porto is 4 hours and 8 minutes, with around 17 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

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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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Yes, Lisbon is walkable. While it has a reputation for being hilly, Lisbon's historic streets are indeed walkable. There is no need to rent a car, just remember to pack some good walking shoes!

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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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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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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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Lisbon is, among other things, known for its unique historical center, stunning architecture, colorful azulejos (ceramic tiles), and fantastic food. It also has a fascinating history, filled with rulers, invasions, destructions, and re-constructions. History aside, Lisbon is a fantastic place to visit.

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