Portugal travel guide: Lisbon, Porto, Madeira and the Algarve
Portugal is a long, narrow country where the main cities are a few hours apart, so a short trip can cover a lot. Most visitors start in Lisbon, take the train north to Porto, and add either the Algarve coast or the island of Madeira. The one thing to know is that the south is a beach trip and the north is a city and wine trip, and a week rarely does both well.
The short answer
- First trip
- Three or four days in Lisbon, two or three in Porto, and the train between them. Add the Algarve if you want sea and sand, or Madeira if you want walking and mountains.
- How long
- A week covers Lisbon and Porto comfortably. Ten days adds a beach base in the Algarve or a few days on Madeira. Two weeks lets you slow down.
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October give warm weather without the August crowds. Winter is mild on the coast but wet, and the Algarve is quiet.
- Getting around
- Fast trains link Lisbon and Porto in under three hours. The Algarve is easier with a car, and Madeira needs a flight from the mainland.
- Money
- The currency is the euro. Cards are widely taken in cities and tourist areas, and a little cash helps in small cafés and villages.
- Book ahead
- Summer weekends on the Algarve, the Porto to Lisbon fast trains on busy days, and a rental car for Madeira or the Algarve from June to September.
Best cities to visit in Portugal
Lisbon
A hilly capital of trams, viewpoints, tiled streets and long dinners, with the sea and Sintra close by. It suits a first visit to Portugal, couples and friends, and anyone who wants a big city that is easy to enjoy.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Porto
A granite city above the Douro river, with port lodges across the water, a lively old center and a strong food scene. It suits wine and food trips, short breaks and walkers who do not mind hills.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Funchal
The capital of Madeira, built up a steep hillside above the Atlantic, with gardens, markets, cable cars and mountain walks nearby. It suits hikers, gardeners and travelers who want mild weather at almost any time of year.
Give it 4 to 6 days
Lagos
A walled town in the western Algarve, close to sandy coves and sea cliffs, with boat trips and a busy old center. It suits a beach week, families, and travelers who want sea and some nightlife in one place.
Give it 3 to 5 days
Places to visit in Portugal beyond the cities
Sintra and the Cascais coast
Palaces on wooded hills and a run of beaches west of Lisbon, reached by suburban train in under an hour. Easy as a day trip, but busy in summer.
The Douro valley
Terraced vineyards along a winding river, east of Porto. You can go by train, boat or tour, and it suits a day or a night at a wine estate.
The Alentejo
Rolling plains, cork oaks, whitewashed towns and Évora, a walled city with Roman remains. It is easiest by car, about one and a half to two hours from Lisbon.
Coimbra and the center
A university city on a hill above the Mondego river, roughly halfway between Lisbon and Porto. Many trains stop here, so it makes an easy break in the journey.
The Azores
Volcanic islands in the Atlantic with crater lakes, hot springs and green hills. They need a flight from Lisbon or Porto and several days to be worth the trip.
Portugal itineraries
- Seven days: Lisbon and Porto
Four nights in Lisbon, with a day trip to Sintra or Cascais, then the train to Porto for three nights. Take a morning train so you reach Porto with the afternoon free, and keep a half day for the Douro river.
- Ten days: Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve
Three nights in Lisbon, three in Porto, then the train south from Lisbon, or a short flight, and four nights in Lagos. Go north first and finish on the coast, so the beach comes at the end.
- Five days: Madeira
Fly to Funchal and base yourself there for the whole stay. Spend one day on the town and markets, one on the levada walks, one on the eastern or western coast, and keep a spare day for the weather.
- Fourteen days: the long loop
Four nights in Lisbon, a night in Évora or Coimbra, three in Porto and the Douro, then a week split between Lagos and the Algarve coast. Travel by train between the cities and hire a car only for the south.
Best time to visit Portugal
May, June, September and early October are the best months for a city and coast trip. The weather is warm, the sea is swimmable in the south by June, and prices are lower than in July and August. October still has good days on the Algarve, though evenings cool and rain becomes likelier in the north.
July and August are hot inland and crowded on the beaches, with Lisbon and Porto hot at midday. Winter is mild on the coast but wet, and Porto is cooler and rainier than Lisbon. Madeira stays mild all year, with the hills wetter and cooler than Funchal.
How to get around Portugal
- TrainsComboios de Portugal (CP) runs the main network. The Alfa Pendular fast train takes under three hours between Lisbon and Porto, and the slower Intercidades takes a little over three. Book seats ahead on busy days.
- BusesLong-distance coaches reach towns the trains miss, and are often the better option to the Algarve or the Alentejo. They run frequently, and fares are low.
- CarsA car helps in the Algarve, the Alentejo and on Madeira, and is a nuisance in Lisbon and Porto where parking is tight and streets are steep. Many motorways have electronic tolls, so ask your rental company how they are charged.
- FlightsLisbon and Porto have domestic flights to Faro, Funchal and the Azores. Funchal is about an hour and a half from Lisbon by air, and there is no ferry worth taking from the mainland.
- City transportLisbon and Porto both have metros, trams and buses on a rechargeable card, and the old centers are best on foot. Taxis and ride apps are cheap by western European standards.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Portugal. Each city guide has its own list.
- Fast trains between Lisbon and Porto1 to 2 weeks ahead
Fares rise and the Alfa Pendular fills on Fridays, Sundays and in summer.
- Rental car for the Algarve or Madeira4 to 8 weeks ahead in summer
Cars run short from June to September, and prices climb.
- Hotels in Lisbon, Porto and Lagos2 to 3 months ahead in summer
Central rooms in good areas go early, especially at weekends and during city festivals.
- Sintra palaces and Lisbon's busiest sightsA few days to 2 weeks ahead
Timed tickets cut the queues, which can be long in summer.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities and tourist areas, and contactless is common.
- Cards and cashCarry a little cash for small cafés, market stalls and rural places. Cash machines are easy to find and give euros.
- TippingNot expected in the way it is in the United States. Rounding up or leaving a few coins for good service is normal, and about 5 to 10 percent in a sit-down restaurant is generous.
- Tourist taxesSet by each municipality, not nationally. Where it applies it is charged per guest per night, often with a limit on the number of nights, and is paid at the hotel. Lisbon and Porto both charge it; check the current rate when you book.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType C and F sockets at 230 volts, the same as most of continental Europe.
What to skip in Portugal
- Seeing the whole country in a week
Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Madeira are far enough apart that squeezing them all in means more traveling than seeing. Pick two bases and stay put.
- Peak-week Algarve in August
The beaches are full, parking is hard and prices peak. Go in June or September, or go for one of the quieter stretches along the west coast.
- Fado shows aimed at tour groups
Dinner shows with a set menu are expensive for what they offer. Choose a small fado house with a short menu, or an evening of live music in a neighborhood tavern.
Portugal: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Portugal?
A week is enough for Lisbon and Porto with a day trip. Ten days adds the Algarve or Madeira. If you only have four days, stay in Lisbon and add Sintra.
What is the best time to visit Portugal?
May, June, September and early October. You get warm weather and open beaches without the crowds of July and August.
Is Portugal expensive for tourists?
Cheaper than most of western Europe, though Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve in summer cost more than the towns inland. Meals are good value, and hotels are the main expense.
How do you get around Portugal without a car?
By train between Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, and by coach to the Algarve and the Alentejo. A car is only worth it for the Algarve, the Alentejo and Madeira.
Do you need a car in Portugal?
Not for Lisbon and Porto, and not for the main train route. You will want one for exploring the Algarve coast, the Douro valley beyond the train line, and Madeira's hills.
Is it better to visit Lisbon or Porto?
Lisbon is bigger, with more to see and a wider choice of day trips. Porto is smaller and easier to cover in two days, with strong food and wine. Most visitors do both.
Do I need a visa for Portugal?
Non-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
Can you visit Madeira and the mainland in one trip?
Yes, with a flight to Funchal of about an hour and a half from Lisbon. Give Madeira at least four days, so the flight and the weather do not swallow the visit.