Europe

Portugal in Ten Days: Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve

Getaways by CCTC · October 20, 2026

Tiled building facade on a sunny Lisbon street

Portugal is the easiest first trip to Europe we book: short flights, gentle prices, wonderful food, and a country small enough to see properly in ten days.

The route we'd take

Lisbon, 3 nights. Alfama, Belem, the tram, and the best dinners of the trip.

Sintra, 1 day trip from Lisbon. Palaces in the hills, go early.

Porto, 3 nights. Port cellars, the riverfront, and a slower pace.

Douro Valley, 1 or 2 nights or a full day trip. Terraced vineyards along the river.

Algarve, 2 nights if you want beach time before flying home.

Getting around

The train between Lisbon and Porto takes under three hours and is comfortable and inexpensive. You do not need a car for the cities. You do want one for the Algarve and, optionally, for the Douro.

When to go

May, June, September, and early October are ideal: warm days, cool evenings, and manageable crowds. July and August are hot and busy on the coast. Winter in Lisbon and Porto is mild, rainy, and very affordable.

What surprises people

Lisbon and Porto are both extremely hilly. Comfortable shoes matter more here than in most European cities. Dinner starts late. And the Algarve in shoulder season is quieter than the photos suggest, in the best way.

If you only have a week

Drop the Algarve. Three nights Lisbon, one day in Sintra, three nights Porto with a Douro day is a beautiful, unhurried week.

What we handle

Hotels in the right neighborhoods, train tickets, a Douro tour that isn't a tourist bus, and restaurant reservations for the two or three places worth planning around.

Tell us your travel window and we'll sketch the route.

Let’s plan it together