I just returned from 12 days exploring the sun-kissed beaches in the Algarve to historic cities like Lisbon and Porto, as well as enchanting regions like the Douro Valley and Sintra.
This travel blog is a recap of my trip, which is perfect for first time visitors to catch all of the highlights with a few hidden gems sprinkled in.
In this post you’ll find a brief overview of what we did, where we stayed, my thoughts as far as what was worth it (and wasn’t), what I wish we had done or spent more time on and where we stayed.
This trip was not sponsored – I paid full price for everything (hotels, tours, meals, etc). This was a special trip I took with my mother and sister!
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate, meaning I may make a small commission if you book through them.
The Places We Visited in Portugal:
Porto
Porto was ultra charming with its riverside views, iconic bridges, and port wine cellars. You can wander through the medieval-esque Ribeira district, find cool viewpoints overlooking terra-cotta rooftops, try port from where it was invented, and enjoy sunset views from Jardim do Morro.
Douro Valley
A famed wine region not far from Porto, littered with historic wine estates among breathtaking views of the valley’s rolling hills that hug the picturesque Douro River.
Lisbon
Lisbon is the vibrant capital and blends history and modern culture with highlights like Alfama’s winding alleys, castle views, and Belém’s iconic monastery and tower. We savored pastéis de nata, explored scenic miradouros across the city’s seven hills, and enjoyed traditional Fado music.
Sintra
Just a short drive from Lisbon, Sintra is a fairytale-like town surrounded by lush forests and extravagant palaces.
Algarve Coast
The Algarve Coast in southern Portugal dazzles with golden beaches, dramatic cliffs, and charming fishing villages. Highlights include Praia da Marinha, Ponta da Piedade’s sea caves and arches, and the iconic Benagil cave, where sunlight illuminates the sandy interior.
12 Day Portugal Itinerary Highlights
Since we had 12 full days, we wanted to make the most of our time.
We started in the north and worked our way south.
We flew into Porto and out of Faro (in the Algarve).
Many people buy round trip flights to Lisbon – which is usually the most affordable and convenient option.
However, I’m so glad we planned our trip this way. We didn’t have to do any ‘backtracking’ or have any wasted travel days.
I was actually able to find premium economy flights that were cheaper than economy seats – so my Daily Drop Pro membership is definitely worth it!
Days 1-4: Porto and Douro Valley
We started in Porto and enjoyed 2.5 days exploring the city, and then on our last full day we took a day trip to the Douro Valley.
Our Porto Highlights:
Walking food tour
We started our first full day with a food tour. This was AWESOME!
And I’m so glad we did it on our first day – it helped us get acquainted with the food and all the cultural intricacies associated with it.
Mercado do Bolhão
Our food tour actually started here, but we came back another time. This is the original open air market, where you can browse all kinds of vendors.
Get a glass of wine while you shop and peruse! Just a fun & lively atmosphere even if you don’t buy anything.
Wandering the Ribeira district
Don’t miss Largo da Pena Ventosa: the cutest corner in old town!
Flores street was fun to stroll (close to our hotel) – live music and lots of patios!
Wines Caves in Villa Nova de Gaia
walk across the river via the Luís I Bridge and do a couple of port wine tastings.
We liked Caves Calem and Cockburn’s Porto Lodge for 2 very different experiences.
A Fado Show!
I’m so glad we didn’t wait until Lisbon to see a Fado show. We went to Taberna Real do Fado and it was an unforgettable experience.
It’s a set menu, and the doors open at 8 ppm. Everyone gets seated, orders drinks and enjoys the appetizers and then the meal service pauses for the show.
Then eating resumes between acts. Highly recommend it!
Tip: this Fado is also a 2 minute walk from our hotel in Porto!
VW Bus City Tour
We took an open-air VW bus tour one afternoon and this was really fun!
Our guide took us out to the beach, to some beautiful hidden gem cathedrals and to some viewpoints I never would have found in all my research!
Douro Valley Day Trip
One of my favorite days of the whole trip! We booked a small group tour led by a sommelier.
We traveled into the picturesque Douro Valley and visited 2 wineries (each very different in the best ways).
Halfway through the day we stopped in the adorable town of Pinhão and enjoyed a boat ride down the Douro River. We were then treated to a tasty lunch with plenty of wine!
I loved that our group was only 8 people – we had such a personalized and fun day – learning so much from the winemakers, our guide and the other travelers!
I booked our tour on Get Your Guide – here is the exact one we booked!
Must try foods and drinks in Porto:
- Vinho Verde wine (green/young wine)
- Porto-tonic (fun, local take on this classic cocktail)
- Francesinha (bread, meat, cheese, egg, tomato-beer sauce)
- Pastel de nata: we loved the custard tarts from Castro the most
- Don’t be afraid to order octopus and cod!
Highlight restaurants:
Rooftop Flores – amazing hidden gem garden terrace – great for a drink at sunset!
Brasão Aliados – this is where we tried Francesinha!
Cantina 32 – close to our hotel – super fun vibe – quality Portuguese dishes, mixed with a good variety of meat and seafood options. Great for sharing!
(stay tuned for a more in-depth post about Porto, including a lot more restaurant recommendations).
Where we stayed in Porto: Vitoria’s Terrace Apartments
We stayed 4 nights at Vitoria’s Terrace Apartments and can’t recommend it enough.
11/10 – this was a phenomenal spot! I chose it based on the high reviews, and the reviews were bang on.
Perfect location – walkable to everywhere in the old town, yet tucked away on the edge so very quiet at night.
Amazing view from our balcony.
In fact, it’s next door to a hidden gem viewpoint that people come to watch the sunset (so we had this exact view but from our private balcony).
We had a fully equipped room with provisions to cook meals if we wanted – since we were 3 travelers we chose one of the bugger rooms.
And the cherry on top were our amazing hosts – it’s a lovely couple who runs this apart-hotel – they are incredibly kind and helpful and provided SO many local recommendations, of which we tried many.
Day 5: Historic Villages
On day 5, we traveled from Porto to Lisbon. You can either take a train, fly or drive.
We ended up hiring a driver so that instead of ‘wasting’ a day for travel, we could see some sites along the way.
It was only a few hundred dollars more than if we were to take the train, and this way we made a travel day into an entire day of sightseeing!
We found and hired our driver through Viator here.
We were picked up at 9am and arrived in Lisbon around 6pm.
Here’s what we did on the way from Porto to Lisbon:
Aveiro
Aveiro is nicknamed the ‘Venice of Portugal’ because of its canals and brightly colored moliceiros (traditional boats). It’s also a nice little town with many beautiful buildings in Art Nouveau style.
Nazare
Nazare is a traditional fishing village that sees the highest waves on earth, that can reach 30 meters in height (usually between December and March).
The village itself is quite picturesque, with the pink marble cathedral being the highlight for us!
Óbidos
Óbidos is one of Portugal’s most well-preserved medieval villages and a picturesque town where you can stroll the narrow streets and walk on top of the old castle walls.
It’s also the capital of Ginja – a yummy cherry liquor served in a chocolate cup for about 1 euro – make sure to sample one or 3!
I really loved Óbidos and would have loved to spend at least half a day here – there’s great souvenir shopping, restaurants, and lovely sites.
The old castle is fascinating, and it’s even a 4-star hotel now! (I am definitely going to stay there on my next visit).
Day 5 thoughts: I would have skipped Aveiro to spend more time in Óbidos.
Days 6 & 7: Lisbon
We finally arrived in Lisbon and checked into our hotel.
We started our first full day with a guided tuk tuk tour of the city – it was the perfect way to get acquainted with all the main areas.
Our guide spent 4 hours with us, and not only brought us to amazing viewpoints, cathedrals and over to Belem, but shared all kinds of interesting history about the city and Portugal itself.
We learned and saw SO much that in all my pre-trip research I never would have known or been able to find myself!
Book the exact tour we took on Get Your Guide here.
Lisbon is a great city to wander, get lost, take in the sights, snap some fun photos and stop for food & bevvies – and that’s what we did!
Lisbon Highlights:
- Alfama neighborhood: Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood dating back as far as 1150. It’s a maze of narrow medieval streets, small squares & breathtaking viewpoints
- Chiado and Barrio Alto neighborhoods
- Viewpoints (Miradouros): Graça, Portas do Sol, Santa Luzia, Senhora do Monte
- Belém: the land of pastries and monuments (yes, these truly are the best pastel de nata)!
- Carmo rooftop bar – the view was amazing (we had wine, charcuterie & pizza)
- Green street (right at our hotel) – tons of cute wine bars and restaurants
- Casa do Pastel de Nata Licor for espresso martinis made Lisbon-style
- Fado Show at Bohemia LX – another incredible evening!
Things I thought were overrated in Lisbon
- Time Out Market – to me it was just a food court
- Pink Street – maybe I’m too old? It was loud, busy and full of influencers lol
- Waiting in line for Santa Justa lift (cool to look at – great view of it at Carmo rooftop)
Our Lisbon Hotel: Ando Living – Abrantes 10 House
We stayed 4 nights at Ando Living – Abrantes 10 House – I booked it because of the amazing reviews, and they were right!
This hotel was the perfect location.
Literally around the corner was the ‘green street’ area which is 3 blocks of little authentic bars and restaurants that open up in the evening.
It’s similar to Pink Street but the better, more authentic hidden gem among locals.
It’s an ‘apart-hotel’ so our suite was fully equipped with a kitchen, washing machine, and 2 balconies since we booked the 2-bedroom.
It was so clean, reasonably priced, easy to walk everywhere and we were welcomed with a bottle of wine and goodies!
Check prices & see details for the hotel we stayed at here
Day 8: Sintra
On our last day, we did a full-day tour to Sintra – which is one of the most popular day trips and a place that shouldn’t be missed.
Sintra is a charming, fairy-tale town nestled in the hills just outside Lisbon, celebrated for its romantic architecture, lush landscapes, and mystical atmosphere.
There are several stunning palaces to visit here, and you won’t be able to see them all in one day – so you’ll have to choose.
We visited two of the most famous places – the colorful Pena Palace and the the intricate Quinta da Regaleira with its enchanting gardens and hidden wells.
Pena Palace is so whimsically romantic – it was a gift from the King of Austria who married the Queen of Portugal.
I wish we had had time for the Moorish Castle!
We booked a private tour and this was absolutely worth every penny.
Our guide not only brought us everywhere, but came with us and explained all the history and stories behind everything we were looking at.
I am SO glad we hired a guide – this whole area is breathtaking but also quite overwhelming (especially with the crowds).
There were so many people without a guide that they were constantly trying to listen to what our guide was sharing 😂
Our guide was able to show us all the best places in the most efficient ways.
Not to mention we saw so many other beautiful places on this day, such as Azenhas do Mar (they call it Portugal’s Santorini).
We booked our Sintra day trip through Daniel Ponce on his website here (tell him Aly Smalls sent you!)
Days 9-12: The Algarve (Southern Portugal)
For our final leg of the trip, we flew from Lisbon to Faro, Portugal.
We rented a car at the airport and drove to our home-base at Quinta do Ourives in Carvoeiro where we stayed for 4 nights.
In the Algarve, from one end to the other (Faro to Lagos), it’s about a 2 hour drive – and Carvoeiro is perfectly in the middle.
We chose Carvoeiro because it’s a charming village with dramatic cliffs, peaceful beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for scenic coastal walks.
Nice and relaxing, but also had some lively restaurants and bars in town if you need that!
Our Algarve Highlights:
Algar Seco & Carvoeiro Boardwalk
Fantastic hidden gem spot only 5 minutes from the hotel. Incredible views and cliffs and sea caves you can climb all around.
Tip: Beneco Bar is a cool spot for a drink between the rocks!
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
This 8km hiking trail, starting near Carvoeiro, is one of the most scenic in the Algarve. It runs along the cliffs, offering stunning views of the coastline and hidden beaches below.
This is a must-do and was one of the highlights of the trip for me!
Tips:
- The start of the trail is only 6 minutes from the hotel
- Park at Praia do Vale de Centeanes and then take an Uber to the start of the trail at Praia da Marinha
- There are public restrooms at the first beach about (3 km mark) and beach restaurants if you want to stop for a break
- More public restrooms at the end – we enjoyed a celebration beer on the patio at O Stop!
Kayaking Benagil Caves
This was a really cool experience. We kayaked into several different caves and got much closer than any of the boat tours.
Benagil cave kayak tours can only be booked online – we booked through Get Your Guide here.
Ponta da Piedade
More cool coastal rock formations, sea caves and grottos. This is one of the most famous photo spots of the Algarve.
Some pool time at our amazing guest house
We had planned to see a couple other places, but couldn’t resist a relaxing day spent poolside at our guesthouse hotel!
A beach afternoon
The Algarve beaches are like nowhere else!
We loved Praia dos Estudantes and Praia da Dona Ana, two of the most famous beaches (for a reason)!
Strolling through Ferragudo
Adorably picturesque town with the white-washed houses built into the hillside, full of bougainvillea all through the streets.
Fun little place to shop!
Our Algarve Hotel: Quinta do Ourives
Quinta do Ourives is a 6-suite guesthouse bed & breakfast.
I came across the perfect 5-star reviews for this place and had to book it.
It’s run by the sweetest family who are so kind and full of great recommendations for what to do in the area.
Each morning guests are treated to a massive breakfast spread and any type of coffee you want!
There’s a large heated pool with all kinds of room for sunbathing, plenty of common areas to hang out and relax and all rooms have private patios with kitchens.
I will 100% be booking a vacation to stay here again – we only had 4 nights and I wish we had 10 more!
The location is also optimal – within 10 minutes you have all kinds of restaurant choices, 5 minutes to the beach and hiking, and only 45 minutes to the airport in Faro or to Lagos.
Check prices & availability for Quinta do Ourives here