A 14-Day Portugal Itinerary
Welcome to Portugal, home to many gorgeous locations full of beautiful nature, stunning architecture, rich history, and delicious food. You could easily explore this diverse country for months. However, two weeks is the perfect amount of time to get a good impression.
Planning to travel longer in Portugal? These are must-sees on a 3-week Portugal road trip.
Though you can travel by public transport, it’s much easier to discover the country by renting a car or campervan. From a picture-perfect coastline to charming timeworn cities, discover it all on a 2-week Portugal itinerary.
We recommend to rent a car in Portugal through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Day 1-4: Lisbon
Start your journey in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe. Known for its charming streets, beautiful buildings, and authentic trams, it has become one of the most popular destinations to visit within the country. Spend your days soaking up the sun, jumping from one cute cafe to the next while you roam through the city’s different districts.
The various neighborhoods of Lisbon are full of rich history and culture. You can explore the museums and art galleries or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll through the many little alleyways. To travel around, make sure to get a Lisbon Card. This card provides unlimited rides on all public transportation and entrance to a select number of the city’s most popular sights and museums.
Discover the iconic Pink Street, lined with buzzing cafes and bars, perfect in the evening. Or, roam through the labyrinth of cobblestone streets in the oldest neighborhood Alfama. No matter where you go these first few days, Lisbon’s beauty and colorful tiles will take your breath away.
Also read: The Best Cities to Visit in Europe.
Hotels in Lisbon
Lisbon’s best neighborhoods to stay in are the charming old town: Barrio Alto and Alfama, or in the center at Baixa and Chiado. There are also plenty of great hostels to choose from.
Day trip to Sintra
As you discover the beautiful capital, don’t forget to dedicate one of the days to visiting the fairytale-like Sintra. This stunning UNESCO site is full of hilltop castles, colorful palaces, and exotic gardens. It’s only a short 40-minute train ride from Lisbon, making it the perfect day trip on your 2-week Portugal itinerary. You can use the same Lisbon Card you used in the city to get there.
Due to its microclimate, you’ll find the hills covered in lush greenery. Wander between the majestic pine forests as you discover the different castles and palaces in this huge natural park.
Tip: Sintra is incredibly popular amongst tourists, so it’s best to book your tickets in advance as it is likely to get busy. You can see availability and tickets here. From Lisbon, you can also join an organized tour of this magical town, including an entrance to a few sites.
This relaxed little town has a great atmosphere, quiet beaches, and incredible seafood, causing it to slowly grow in popularity. It’s the perfect introduction to the series of cute little coastal villages that lead down to the Algarve. Roam through the old historic center and relax on one of the beaches, looking out at the rugged Isle do Pessegueiro (Peach island).
Stay the night in one of the cute accommodations in the center of town or go camping. If you’re traveling in the summer, try to book your accommodation in advance as it can fill up quickly.
Lisbon to Porto Covo: About a 2-hour drive by car or 2,5 hours by bus. Note, however, that traveling by bus can take much longer due to potential stops between locations.
Day 6-8: Algarve
One of the highlights of a 2-week Portugal itinerary has to be time spent in the famed sunkissed Algarve region, the jewel of Portugal. Enjoy a breathtaking coastline, epic caves, and waves that give the area its reputation as a surfers’ paradise.
If you’ve got the time, don’t forget to put the Benagil Cave & Praia do Marinha (beach) on your list! You can easily discover these wonderful sights of the Algarve by yourself or by joining a tour.
Where to Stay in the Algarve
Lagos’ gorgeous town is the perfect place to base yourself for the next two days. It has a lively atmosphere and is within walking distance of some of Portugal’s best beaches and surf spots. See all hotels in Lagos.
Porto Covo to Lagos: 1h and 40 minutes of driving, or 2 hours by bus.
Day 9: Évora
After soaking up the sun on the southern shores, head back inland toward the stunning medieval city of Evora. This hidden gem sits at the heart of the rural Alentejo region and is a must-see if you’re 2 weeks in Portugal. Travel through the countryside full of olive groves, open plains, and traditional stone villages before reaching the impressive city walls.
Evora even has UNESCO status due to its beautiful architecture and rich history that goes as far back as the Romans! Spend a few hours during the day exploring the quaint streets that sit sandwiched between white and yellow-painted houses. Make sure to visit the Evora cathedral and the ruins of the Roman temple in the center.
From Lagos to Evora: 2,5 hours by car or about 4 hours by bus.
Hotels in Evora
Evora has lots of beautiful accommodation options, from cute boutique guesthouses to luxury spa hotels. It’s even possible to stay in one of the unique aqueduct houses!
Day 10: Obidos
Continue on to the ‘Town of Queens’, Obidos – one of the most stunning towns you will come across on your travels through the country. This slice of Portuguese heaven, with its whitewashed cottages and colorful flowers, is so beautiful that Portuguese kings traditionally gifted it to their queens.
Take your time walking the 1.6 km-long castle walls surrounding the town, looking out over the hills and vineyards. Then, get lost between the charming cobblestone streets filled with traditional shops and a few churches covered in beautiful azulejos (Portuguese tiles).
The contrast between the white houses and their red roofs is a stunning sight, making Obidos a worthy destination on your trip to Portugal.
From Évora to Obidos: is a 2-hour journey by car. You can also travel by train or bus, which both take about 4 hours and have one transfer.
Hotels in Obidos
Day 11: Douro Valley
Welcome to the Douro valley, home to the many port houses of the world, tucked in between the lush hillsides, amongst endless vineyards and rolling hills. Enjoy one of the many hiking trails, discover the valley towns, or participate in water sports on the wild Douro River.
Wine Tour Portugal
Make sure to book a wine tour in the Douro Valley – one of the highlights of your 2-week Portugal itinerary. Known as the oldest wine region in the world, it stretches all the way from Porto to the border of Spain. Wine tours range from tastings to learning about the harvesting experience or staying the night on one of the beautiful estates.
Stay overnight in the Douro Valley
We stayed at Quinta do Monte Travesso, where we did a wine tour and camped overnight. However, there are hundreds of beautiful Quintas to stay at throughout the huge region, so the options are endless.
Day 13+14: Porto
Continue your journey to your last destination, Porto. Any 2-week Portugal itinerary wouldn’t be complete without spending at least a few days in this extraordinary city. With views over the Douro estuary, Porto has one of the oldest centers in Europe, proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It dates back many centuries to when it was one of the outposts of the Roman Empire.
Walk in the small hillside streets, take the funicular railway, and discover one of the most magical bookstores in Europe, Livraria Lello. Porto is not as hilly as Lisbon, meaning you can easily walk around the different neighborhoods. Though you can also join a boat or tuk-tuk tour to get even better acquainted with the impressive city of Porto.
Where to stay in Porto
Stay in Ribeira if you want to be by the riverside and enjoy the night-time buzz of the city. For hillside views and a younger influx of restaurants, stay near Igreja do Carmo.
How to Get Around Portugal
Portugal is incredibly diverse, and many of the most beautiful sites lie in remote locations. Because of this, the best way to travel the country is to hire a campervan or rent a car. These options also give you the most flexibility, allowing you to make up your own time schedule each day.
We recommend to rent a car in Portugal through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
However, you can also travel by public transport, though the journeys often take much longer. There are great rail and bus links between Lisbon and Porto, allowing you to stop at many villages in between. But also to the south, bus services run between villages.
Traveling longer in Portugal? Discover the must-sees on a 3-week Portugal road trip.
The Best Time to Visit Portugal
Portugal is beautiful all year round. However, the spring and fall months are the best time to visit Portugal. These are the shoulder seasons when fewer tourists visit, prices are lower, and it’s still sunny (but not as hot as in summer).
September/October is also the harvest season, making it a great time to go on a Douro Valley wine tour. Additionally, you can witness some of the best surf sessions happening in places like Nazare, where you’ll find some of the highest waves in the world.
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Excellent and helpful information here! Thank you!