Portugal
10 days in Portugal: itinerary
Ten days is enough for Portugal's classic first-trip route: Porto 3 nights, Coimbra 1, Lisbon 3, Lagos 3, flying home from Faro. Do it if you want two cities plus the Algarve without rushing; drop the Algarve and add Douro or Évora nights if you prefer wine and inland towns to beaches.
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Key facts
- Nights
- 10 (Porto 3, Coimbra 1, Lisbon 3, Lagos 3)
- Hotel changes
- 3 moves in 10 days; keep it at that
- Main link
- Alfa Pendular train Lisbon–Porto, about 3 h
- Lisbon to Lagos
- Coach about 3 h 45; or train to Tunes plus a bus (check)
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct for cities; May–Jun and Sep for the Algarve
- Fly in / outcheck
- Into Porto (or Lisbon), home from Faro
- Cost, mid-range paircheck
- About €1,900–2,900 for two, excluding flights (2026 estimate)
Route map
The route runs south down the country on the train line and finishes on the Algarve coast, so you never double back. Porto to Coimbra and Coimbra to Lisbon are both on the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains. Lisbon to Lagos is the one weak link: the coach is direct and usually the simplest option.
If you would rather not move four times, cut Coimbra and give Lisbon or Lagos the extra night. Three hotel changes in ten days is the practical ceiling.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porto → Coimbra | Train (Alfa Pendular or Intercidades) | About 1 h 15 | €12–25 |
| Coimbra → Lisbon | Train | About 1 h 45 | €15–30 |
| Lisbon → Lagos | Coach, or train to Tunes plus bus | About 3 h 45 | €20–30 |
| Lisbon → Sintra (day trip) | Suburban train from Rossio | About 40 min | €2–5 |
| Lagos → Faro airport | Bus or train | About 1 h 30–2 h | €5–15 |
Fares vary by train type, how early you book and season; check current timetables before you commit.
Day by day
This is the shape of the trip, not a minute-by-minute plan. Book the two long train legs and the Lisbon–Lagos coach a few days ahead in summer.
| Day | Where | Morning | Afternoon | Evening | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto | Arrive, drop bags | Ribeira and the riverfront | Dinner in Ribeira or Bolhão area | — |
| 2 | Porto | Lello bookshop area, Clérigos | Port lodge tour in Vila Nova de Gaia | Sunset from a Gaia terrace | Walk across the bridge |
| 3 | Porto | São Bento station, tiled churches | Douro river cruise or a beach at Foz | Francesinha or grilled fish | — |
| 4 | Coimbra | Train from Porto | University and Joanina Library (timed entry) | Old town and fado | Train, 1 h 15 |
| 5 | Lisbon | Train from Coimbra | Baixa, Chiado, a viewpoint | Fado in Alfama | Train, 1 h 45 |
| 6 | Lisbon | Belém: Jerónimos and the tower | National Tile Museum or tram 28 | Time Out Market or Bairro Alto | Tram or metro |
| 7 | Sintra day trip | Early train from Rossio to Pena Palace | Quinta da Regaleira | Back to Lisbon for dinner | Train, 40 min each way |
| 8 | Lagos | Coach from Lisbon | Old town and the waterfront | Seafood by the marina | Coach, 3 h 45 |
| 9 | Lagos | Cliff walk to Ponta da Piedade | Beach afternoon | Sunset at the cliffs | Local bus or walk |
| 10 | Lagos / Faro | Last swim or market | Bus or train to Faro | Fly home | 1 h 30–2 h |
Belém's monuments close on Mondays; Sintra palaces use timed tickets and the walk up from the station is steep.
Getting around
Trains are the easy way between Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon: comfortable, city-centre to city-centre, and no luggage fees. Buy on the operator's site or app; booking a week or more ahead usually lowers the price. Keep a spare half-day in the plan, since strikes and engineering works do happen.
For the Algarve, the coach from Lisbon's Sete Rios terminal is direct and cheaper than the train-and-bus combination via Tunes. Once in Lagos, local buses and your feet cover the town and the nearest beaches. A car only pays off if you want to explore the western coast or inland Algarve.
- Porto airport to city: metro, about 30 min
- Lisbon airport to centre: metro or taxi, 20–30 min
- Faro airport to Lagos: bus or train, 1 h 30–2 h (check)
- Validate paper tickets on Lisbon trams and buses
Where to stay
Base yourself once per city and walk. In Porto, Ribeira is scenic but noisy; the area around Bolhão and Aliados is quieter and still central. In Lisbon, Baixa and Chiado put you between the hills, while Alfama trades quiet for atmosphere. In Lagos, the old town near the marina keeps restaurants and the bus station within a few minutes.
| Base | Nights | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porto | 3 | Bolhão / Aliados | Central, quieter than Ribeira, metro nearby |
| Coimbra | 1 | Baixa / near the university | One night, walkable to the library |
| Lisbon | 3 | Baixa / Chiado | Between the hills, easy for Rossio trains |
| Lagos | 3 | Old town / marina | Beaches, buses and restaurants on foot |
Costs
Figures below are 2026 estimates for one person, mid-range: a private room with a bathroom, restaurant meals, trains and coaches, and paid entries. Backpackers can run the same route on roughly half by using hostels and picnic lunches; a comfortable hotel trip costs noticeably more in July and August.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, 10 nights | €250–400 | €700–1,100 |
| Intercity transport | €50–80 | €70–110 |
| Food and drink | €200–300 | €350–550 |
| Entries and tours | €60–100 | €120–200 |
| Local transport | €30–50 | €40–70 |
| Total per person | €600–930 | €1,280–2,030 |
Excludes flights. Lisbon and Porto cost more than Coimbra and Lagos; August is the peak.
Variations
Swap the Algarve for the Douro Valley if wine and terraced hills appeal more than beaches: two nights in the Douro plus one extra in Lisbon keeps the same number of moves. Swap Coimbra for Évora if you want Alentejo food and a walled town, though that adds a bus leg from Lisbon.
With only 7 days, drop the Algarve and do Lisbon and Porto. With 14 days, add the Douro and Évora and slow the Algarve down. If you want a smaller, quieter base between Lisbon and Porto, Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos work as a one-night stop.
- 10 days, cities only: Porto 4, Lisbon 5, Sintra day trip
- 10 days, no car: the route above
- 10 days with a car: Porto, Douro, Lisbon, Alentejo coast
Questions people ask
Is 10 days enough for Portugal?
Yes for the classic route: Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and the Algarve, with three hotel changes. It is not enough to add Madeira or the Azores, which need their own four to seven nights. If you want a slower trip, cut one stop.
What is the best route for 10 days in Portugal?
Porto 3 nights, Coimbra 1, Lisbon 3, Lagos 3, flying home from Faro. It runs one way down the country on the train line, so you never backtrack. Book the Lisbon–Lagos coach ahead in summer.
Where should I stay on a 10-day trip to Portugal?
One base per city: Bolhão or Aliados in Porto, the Baixa near the university in Coimbra, Baixa or Chiado in Lisbon, and the old town or marina in Lagos. Three changes in ten days is the practical limit.
Do I need a car for this itinerary?
No. Trains link Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon, and a coach covers Lisbon to Lagos. A car only helps if you want the Douro Valley, inland Alentejo or the western Algarve coast.
How much does 10 days in Portugal cost?
About €600–930 per person on a budget and €1,280–2,030 mid-range, excluding flights (2026 estimate). Accommodation is the biggest variable, and August is the most expensive month.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Portugal (national tourism board)
- officialCP – Comboios de Portugal
- officialRede Expressos (coaches)
- secondaryWikivoyage – Portugal