7 Day Portugal Itinerary | Porto, Douro Valley, Lisbon • Abroad with Ash

Combine quirky Lisbon, old-world Porto (my favorite), and the stunning Douro Valley with this 7 day Portugal itinerary. I'll take you through logistics, how many days to spend in each place, and the best things to do!

Portugal, once the forgotten neighbor of Spain, has quickly risen in popularity. The beautiful coastline, colorful palaces, old-world towns, stunning wine region, and cheap price tag entice visitors from around the world.

While Portugal isn't a big country, it can be overwhelming to decide what to fit into your itinerary without wasting too much time traveling between destinations.

This post is here to help with which places to visit, how long to spend at each, and how to get from point A to point B.

If you're spending one week in Portugal, combining Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley should be your first itinerary.

It’s easy to get to each city/region, and the travel time between destinations is minimal. This 7 day Portugal itinerary offers the perfect mix of big and small cities along with the stunning wine region. What more could you ask for?

table of contents

Porto

Flying into and out of Portugal

Book your flight into Porto (airport code OPO) and out of Lisbon (airport code LIS).

With this 7 day Portugal itinerary, I prefer to fly into Porto and out of Lisbon. Spending one week in Portugal means a quick pace (i.e., not much time to adjust for jet lag and time change).

Porto offers a slower pace than Lisbon and is the best city to arrive in. I've started this Portugal itinerary slow, with extra time in Porto knowing you'll probably be tired the first day.

Lisbon, on the other hand, will be fast and furious with side trips.

I've found it's best to start with a smaller city rather than hit the ground running in the largest, busiest city.

Breakdown of this 7 day Portugal itinerary

Porto: 3 nights

Douro Valley: 1 night

Lisbon: 3 nights

See my Lisbon and Porto tour recommendations in one place

Porto: 3 nights and 2.5 days

Assuming you're coming from the USA, you'll likely arrive (and be settled into your hotel) by late morning or early afternoon. This means you'll have about half a day upon arrival, plus 2 full days afterward.

Porto is a great city to slow down and enjoy the views, food, Port wine, and atmosphere.

This is precisely why I start this 7 day Portugal itinerary in Porto. This city is just the right size, offering plenty to do without being overwhelming or exhausting. It's the perfect place to get over your jet lag.

With a little over 2 days in Porto, you'll be able to visit Livraria Lello (an ornate, whimsical bookstore), walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge, enjoy a few Port tastings in Gaia (technically another city, but it's just across the bridge), join a walking tour and/or food tour, and hit all the top sights.

I always recommend joining at least one tour in each city. It's a great way to get oriented, make sure you don't miss the sights that are actually worth seeing, and get recommendations from a local guide for restaurants and other places to check out.

A few tours I recommend:

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Porto: Private City Tour is three hours and is led by a local. The price isn't bad for a private tour. It's $190 for two people. It becomes cheaper per person the larger the group.

Those comfortable on a bike and hoping to see more of the city in three hours should consider an E-Bike tour (Porto is very hilly—an E-Bike is a must). 3-Hour Porto Highlights on an Electric Bike - Guided Tour is a great option.

Foodies interested in the local cuisine will love this 3-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour. Choose a group or private tour that's guided by a local.

If you choose to do your own thing, I recommend buying Rick Steves' Portugal guide and following his Porto walk. This ensures you hit all the top sights and do it in a logical order.

Below are the musts for your Porto itinerary:

Igreja do Carmo - baroque-styled church
Bolsa Palace
Church of São Francisco
Stroll Cais da Ribeira - riverside street with bars, shops, and tiny homes stacked on top of each other
Dom Luís I Bridge - two-level bridge (cross on the upper level for incredible views)
Praça de Lisboa - park
Clérigos Tower - climb the tower for views of the city
São Bento station - train station with beautiful tiles
Rua das Flores - popular street
Avenida dos Aliados - popular street

Another reason I opt to spend 3 nights in Porto is the affordability. You can find a steal of a deal at a 5-star hotel. Maison Albar Le Monumental runs for about $450 a night and would easily cost over $1,000 in the USA.

Porto is a great city to indulge in. Book a Michelin-starred dinner, sail along the Douro River on a catamaran, and sip on cocktails while enjoying the views. Your dollar goes far in Porto, so take advantage!

Additional Porto Blog Posts:

WHERE TO STAY IN PORTO, PORTUGAL | AREAS + HOTELS

IS PORTO WORTH VISITING + PHOTO DIARY

BEST COFFEE SHOPS & CAFES IN PORTO | TOP 5

A DAY TRIP TO PORTO FROM LISBON | DETAILED ITINERARY

HOW MANY DAYS IN PORTO DO YOU REALLY NEED?

Douro Valley: 1 night and 1 day

Jake and I did this exact itinerary for my birthday. My actual birthday was the night we spent in the Douro Valley. I couldn't have chosen a more memorable place to celebrate.

Both Jake and I kept saying we couldn't believe the views and that pictures don't do this region justice.

We stayed at Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta and LOVED IT! The on-site restaurant was wonderful (especially breakfast in the morning with stunning Douro Valley views), the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the overall property and grounds were just breathtaking.

Logistics: how to get from Porto to the Douro Valley

You'll need a rental car for this leg of the trip. I recommend reserving your car as early as possible. We booked through Hertz and took an Uber to this Hertz location.

Slowly make your way into the Douro Valley and pick a few Port lodges to stop at. If you don't plan on sharing tastings/have a designated driver, then either:

Drive straight to your hotel and arrange a half-day tour from there. This is a good option if you'd rather get checked in and then explore the Douro Valley with a local driver.
Hire a driver to take you to your hotel while making stops at Port lodges and viewpoints along the way. This lets you start exploring the valley immediately, but you'll need to arrange another driver to get back to Porto. Welcome Pickups is another great transfer option.

The roads are narrow with tight turns in some areas. Not a good idea to mix drinking with driving in any condition, but especially with these roads.

Should you do a day trip to the Douro Valley instead?

You may be thinking, "Why not do a day trip to the Douro Valley from Porto instead?" Day trips are extremely popular and many travelers choose to go this route.

I 100% think it's worth the effort of booking a rental car (or driver) to have at least one night in the valley.

The Douro Valley was stunning. Watching the sunrise and sunset in this region was one of the most memorable moments of this trip. Not to mention our breathtaking breakfast while gazing at the mist-filled valley.

My only regret was that we didn't have 2 nights. Our hotel had numerous "valley hikes" and a beautiful pool I would have loved to enjoy.

If you still think it's not worth your time to spend a night in the Douro Valley and prefer to do a day trip, I recommend changing this 7 day Portugal itinerary to the below:

day 1 - sleep in Porto: arrive in Porto/afternoon to explore Porto
day 2 - sleep in Porto: explore Porto
day 3 - sleep in Porto: day trip to the Douro Valley
day 4 - sleep in Lisbon: travel from Porto to Lisbon

With this itinerary, you still have 3 nights in Porto and add an extra night in Lisbon.

Most day tours to the Douro Valley are about 8 to 9 hours in length:

Lisbon: 3 nights and 2.5 days

While it may seem rushed, 3 nights in Lisbon is plenty.

Portugal isn't a country where you'll spend your days rushing from one world-famous museum, palace, or cathedral to the next. It's more about wandering the streets and neighborhoods, stopping at beautiful viewpoints, and enjoying the food, wine, and culture.

This 7-day Portugal itinerary gives you more time to linger in Porto. Lisbon, on the other hand, will be busier.

When comparing Porto vs. Lisbon, I always choose Porto. I think it's a better city for wandering and slowing down, and I don't feel quite the same way about Lisbon.

In Lisbon, I'd see the main sights and neighborhoods, check off your top day trips, and move on.

Logistics: how to get from the Douro Valley to Lisbon

If you rented a car for your day in the Douro Valley, you can either drive straight to Lisbon or drop your car off in Porto and take the train or bus to Lisbon.

Drive from the Douro Valley straight to Lisbon

It will take about 4 hours to drive from the Douro Valley to Lisbon. The perk of driving is that it gives you the freedom to stop in Aveiro and Coimbra along the way and go at your own pace.

This is what Jake and I did because we liked the flexibility. We dropped the car off in Lisbon and took an Uber to our hotel.

Take the train from Porto to Lisbon

Your other option is to drop your car off at your car rental agency in Porto and take an Uber to the train station. The high-speed train takes 2 hours and 50 minutes from the Campanha station in Porto to the Oriente station in Lisbon.

Take the bus from Porto to Lisbon

You can also take the bus, which will take about 3 hours and 15 minutes. I've used FlixBus multiple times and have always had a good experience.

In reality, it will take roughly the same amount of time whether you drive straight from the Douro Valley or drop your car off in Porto and take the train or bus to Lisbon.

If you didn't rent a car and did the Douro Valley as a day trip, it's super easy as you'll just take the train or bus straight from Porto.

How to plan your 3 days in Lisbon

I would break out my time in Lisbon like this:

Day 1 in Lisbon

Arrive in Lisbon from the Douro Valley/Porto in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the day exploring Lisbon.

I recommend booking a bike tour for today. This will give a good introduction to the city and you'll be able to see so much more by bike. Plus, the city is really hilly, so booking an electric-bike tour will be worth it.

Jake and I did this e-bike tour and loved it. This Go 7 Hills Electric Bike Tour is another good option.

Not comfortable on a bike? These are some great walking tours:

Best of Lisbon Private Walking Tour
Best of Lisbon Guided Walking Tour - small group
Lisbon Essential Walking Tour: History, Stories and Lifestyle - small group

Food and photography tours:

Lisbon Walking Tour with a Photographer - Morning Edition
Lisbon Food and Culture: 3 Hour private Tour
Undiscovered Lisbon Food Tour - small group
Tastes & Traditions of Lisbon Food Tour - small group

Day 2 in Lisbon

This day is sure to leave an impression with a visit to Pena Palace, one of the most colorful castles in Europe (and one of my favorites).

It’s an easy day trip from Lisbon, being a quick 40-minute train ride from Rossio station.

Try to visit Tuesday – Thursday for fewer crowds. Arrive as early as possible and book your ticket/time slot in advance.

If you plan to just tour Pena Palace and walk around the main town, you can make this a half-day trip. This means you'll have another half day to explore Lisbon.

If you've had enough of Lisbon, there's plenty to keep you busy in and around Sintra. Or you might consider joining a tour that combines several worthwhile stops that would be difficult to do on your own.

Sintra tours:

Day 3 in Lisbon

Take an Uber to Belem and plan to spend 2-3 hours here.

Make sure to visit the impressive and massive Monastery of Jeronimos.

Torre de Belem, aka Belem Tower, has become a popular Instagram location and a visit to Pastel de Belem for the original Portuguese pastry is a must. Some say Pastel de Belem has the best Pastel de Nata pastries in Portugal.

AwA Tip: Most guidebooks will tell you to take trolley #15E to reach the district of Belem. While riding the trolley is unique, I wouldn't recommend it.

Take a 10-minute Uber instead. Not only does the trolley take a minimum of 30 minutes, but it's also almost always packed. You might not be able to get on if it's already full once it reaches your stop, which means you'll end up taking an Uber anyway.

Use the rest of day 3 in Lisbon for whatever sights you haven't hit yet and consider joining another walking tour.

Additional Lisbon blog posts:

10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LISBON PORTUGAL

HOW MANY DAYS IN LISBON DO YOU REALLY NEED?

TOP 5 LISBON CAFES AND COFFEE SHOPS

BEST DESSERTS IN LISBON | PASTEL DE NATA, PASTRIES, GELATO

Ideas if you have more than a week in Portugal

Thinking of extending this 7 day Portugal itinerary? You have a couple of options.

The first would be to slow this itinerary down. Spend 3 nights in Porto, 2 in the Douro Valley, and 4 to 5 nights in Lisbon (to add a few more day trips).

Another option is to fly to the Azores. An archipelago of 9 volcanic islands. This is perfect for my adventure travelers. The Azores have been referred to as the "Hawaii of Europe". Lush, green, lots of hiking, and stunning scenery—though the weather can be very unpredictable.

You could also spend a few days in the Algarve region, famous for its beaches.

In summary

I hope this 7-day Portugal itinerary helps point you in the right direction when planning your trip, from how long to spend in each destination to the best way to get around. This is the most recent itinerary Jake and I did, and we loved it!

The amount of time we spent in each destination felt just about perfect (although I would have happily added one more day in the Douro Valley). It was the ideal mix of slowing down in Porto, seeing the highlights of Lisbon, and soaking up the scenery of the Douro Valley.

PORTO Hotel Recommendations

Luxury 5-Star Hotels in Central Porto

Luxury 5-Star Hotels in Vila Nova de Gaia

Midrange Hotels in Central Porto

LISBON HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Luxury Hotels in Lisbon

Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel - incredible location
Memmo Principe Real - Design Hotels
Valverde Lisboa Hotel & Garden, Relais & Châteaux
Art Legacy Hotel Baixa-Chiado - brand new boutique hotel
The Ivens, Autograph Collection
Torel Palace Lisbon
Bairro Alto Hotel

Mid-Range Hotels in Lisbon

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