5 Days Itinerary in Portugal
Portugal really has it all with the bustle of Lisbon, stunning coast in Algarve, Hawaii like islands off the coast, and the heart of wine culture in Porto. 5 full days is not even close to enough in order to see everything Portugal has to offer, however 5 days is still plenty of time to scratch the surface.
My friend and I had a week off and wanted to visit a country we both haven’t been to and landed on Portugal. I’ve seen more people post about how amazing the country is and oftentimes seems overlooked since Spain is the neighboring country. The people were so friendly, the food we had was great, wine was incredible (and cheap), and the excursions we went on lived up to the hype.
When to Visit
July and August are the hottest months and bring in the most tourists. They are the best months in terms of weather, especially along the coast, but the prices are higher. The Spring and Fall are probably the best seasons to visit for still some great weather and less crowds. You are still able to visit the beaches and main tourist spots.
Where to Stay
Home Lisbon Hostel - this is the hostel I wanted to stay at and from my research seemed like the best overall hostel in Lisbon. It’s around 50 usd per night.
Goodmorning Solo Traveller - we went to this hostel to hangout and meet some people and loved the vibe here. We met some new friends and went out with them in the evening. I would for sure stay here next time I visit. It’s around 60 usd per night.
Yes! Lisbon Hostel - Another great hostel option! Seems great for solo travelers and a mixed vibe in between chill and being able to meet people in the lobby.
Air b&bs - We stayed at an air b n b our first two nights in Alfama and it was nice to have our own space and good sleep after a long day of travel. Since my friend and I split the room it ended up being less expensive than a hostel.
Hotel Mar Azul - We stayed here for two nights in the heart of Old Town Lagos and it was the perfect location! We didn’t have to drive anywhere for dinners and it was only a 25 minute walk to Ponta da Piedade and Praia do Camilo. It was around 100 usd per night so it was very affordable for 2 people.
What to Pack
If you’re going in July or August it will be pretty hot so bring lots of clothes that are sweatproof. Avoid jeans and long sleeves, instead wear linen pants, shorts, and flowy dresses. Make sure to bring good walking shoes and leave the cute heels and sandals at home. If you’ve been to San Francisco and match the steep hills with cobblestones then you will be prepared for Lisbon. All I brought was a pair of Reeboks, Hokas, and one pair of slide on sandals for the beach. Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and coverups for the beach.
5 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Lisbon
We spent our first full day in Lisbon and went to some of the most famous spots around the city. We started the day exploring around where we were staying in Alfama. It’s one of the cutest and oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon. After wandering the street we went to some Miraduros which are viewpoints of the city. The most famous one is called de Santa de Santa Luzia. You really can’t go wrong with any of them so pick a few around the city! We went to Manteigaria to try some Pastel de Nata’s for the first time and can confirm they are delicious.
We were tired from a long day and after wandering the streets of Lisbon. We finished with a long dinner at a placed we stumbled on near our air b n b, and truly have no idea what it was called. I love the culture of meals lasting for hours and no rush to leave, but just to enjoy food, drinks, and good company.
Day 2: Sintra
We ubered to Heim cafe to start the morning with good fuel and lots of caffeine. Their iced latte was so good we ordered two each. The cafe was on the way toward Sintra and so after brunch we ordered an uber all the way to the top of Sintra and walked over to the outside of Pena Palace. We explored the premise for an hour before our timed entry slot at noon. We booked our tour with headout.com and it also included the Moorish Castle which we also booked as an extension with the Pena Palace booking. We explored the town near Sintra and ate a late lunch at Tascantiga. We found the restraunts seemed very touristy so if you can wait I would recommend trying places in Cascais or Lisbon.
We went straight to Elevador da Bica, the yellow funicular that goes up and down the steep incline street and near the top overlooks the city. We ate at an italian restaurant near Alfama and called it a night. If you’re looking for a more upscale restraunt I would highly recommend Alma.
Ponta da Piedade
Day 3: Lagos
The next morning we ate at Augusto Lisboa cafe in Lisbon before catching a bus all the way down to Lagos. It ended up being around a 4 hour bus ride from Lisbon. We arrived in time to check into our air b n b and ate at Harley’s in old town Lagos. After an early dinner we walked over to Ponta da Piedade to watch the sunset and basque in the coastline with impressive rock arches.
Benagil Caves
Day 4: Lagos
We woke up so early… too early for any coffee shop to be open. We booked a kayaking tour through Trip Advisor to see the Benagil caves at 7:30am. We reckoned it was the perfect timing because the morning light was still there and the tide was low to see all the caves on the tour. There were also less crowds and tours going on during the early morning. The tour lasted about 2 hours and after we wrapped up we got brunch at Earth Shop and Cafe since nothing was open in the early morning.
After fueling up once again we started our hike from the cafe called the 7 Hanging Valley Trail. It’s an out and back trail that is 8 miles and we decided to only hike one way which was around 4 miles. The trail was unreal and we stopped so many times because every angle was so special. We ended the trail and swam in the ocean for an hour before ubering back to our hotel and calling it a night.
7 Hanging Valley Trails
Day 5: Back to Lisbon
We spent our last morning walking around old town Lagos and grabbed a coffee at Coffee and Waves. After some health conscious food and caffeine we went to the beach one last time at Praio Do Camilo. We basked in the sun before grabbing our belongings and taking another bus to Lisbon. It took us around 5 hours to get to Lisbon, but it was nice to be able to just head to the airport straight away in the morning. Once we arrived at our hotel we got ready for a fancier dinner at Leonetta. It was some of the best pasta I’ve had in my life. We went a little crazy with appetizers, drinks, food, and dessert. I was feeling chatty and wanted to meet some friends so we hung out with some new people at Goodmorning Fellow Traveler. We bar hopped for our last night.
If I had More time:
Madeira
The home of Ronaldo and also known as the Hawaii of Europe. United is flying direct to Madeira next summer so I will for sure be coming back to explore this island.
Azores
Another incredible island and worthy of exploring. It is a bit quieter and off the beaten path so if you want less crowds then I would come here.
Porto
I’ve heard nothing but amazing things from visiting Porto. They are known for their port wine, bridges, and more charming architecture. I will for sure come visit this city the next time I visit Portugal.
Cascais
This is a coastal town outside of Lisbon. It is a very easy day trip and looks stunning. I was hoping to fit this into our itinerary, but since we got cut short in Lisbon with our delayed flight we decided to spend more time in Lisbon.
