7-Day Portugal Itinerary: Lisbon & Sintra
Are you planning a week-long trip to Portugal? Lisbon is probably at the top of your list of places to go in Portugal and in Europe. This city is a great place to go for a variety of different experiences such as historic city views, Sintra’s amazing castles, and beautiful beaches in Cascais.
Itinerary Overview
This itinerary assumes that 2 of your 7 days will be spent traveling to and from Portugal. If you are coming from somewhere else in Europe, this should align perfectly. Alternatively, if you are traveling from anywhere else in the world, allow day one to be the day of arrival after an overnight flight.
- Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon After traveling (Half day)
- Day 2: Lisbon
- Day 3: Lisbon
- Day 4: Cascais
- Day 5: Sintra
- Day 6: Sintra
- Day 7: Departure
Day One: Arrive in Lisbon & explore Bairro Alto
Day one of your Portugal trip starts with arriving at Lisbon’s airport after an overnight or morning flight. Firstly, pick up your bags and head to your accommodation to get settled. You will probably want to freshen up before heading out to explore.
Tip: From the airport, you can get to the city center by metro for a low cost. However, the streets of Lisbon are steep and not favorable towards heavy roller bags. For this reason, we recommend hopping in an Uber or Taxi to drive you to your accommodation. This should cost 12-18 Euros.
Pink Street
Once you are ready to hit the town, your first afternoon here is all about taking it slow after your travels. Head to the iconic Pink Street to snap a cute photo and maybe stop for a refreshing drink at one of the many bars in the area.
Livraria Bertrand
Make your way to the world’s oldest bookstore for a quick look around this historic shop. Purchase a book from this store as a souvenir and fun conversation starter.
Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara
As the sun is beginning to set, stop and enjoy the view at one of the best sunset spots in all of Lisbon. This city has tons of viewpoints or Miradouros and they all offer a great view. This one in particular has an amazing sunset.
Dinner at Timeout Market
The Mercado da Ribeira, also known as the Time Out Market, is an iconic indoor cafeteria-style food market in Lisbon. It offers a lively and immersive experience that food enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy. With a plethora of dining options, including diverse cuisines and traditional Portuguese dishes, it’s a fantastic spot to explore. Whether you’re savoring fresh seafood, indulging in pastries, or trying authentic local fare, the market promises a delightful culinary adventure. Beyond the food, the bustling atmosphere makes it a social hub where locals and tourists gather to share good food and create lasting memories.
Day Two: Lisbon- Exploring Alfama, Baixa, and Principe Real
Rise and shine for your first full day in Lisbon. Most breakfast places do not open up until 9 or 10, so if you want an early start, we recommend getting to a breakfast restaurant right when it opens. We loved Fauna & Flora for an adorable sit-down cafe, and Copenhagen Coffee Lab for a quick coffee shop-style breakfast.
Castelo De Sao Jorge
St. George’s Castle, known as Castelo de São Jorge in Portuguese, stands atop a hill overlooking Lisbon. Before entering, take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking city views—some of the finest in town. Allocate 30 minutes to an hour for exploring the castle’s interior grounds, and consider arriving around 10 am to avoid the crowds.
Tip: Purchase your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in the queue! Tickets can be bought here on the official website.
Explore Alfama
Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood, exudes charm with its cobbled streets, textured buildings, and hidden corners that will undoubtedly capture your heart. As you explore, don’t miss the stunning viewpoints (known as miradouros) that offer panoramic vistas of the city. And when hunger strikes, consider a delightful lunch at Pizzeria Romanio Bio!
These are some great stopping points in Afama:
- Miradouro Da Senhora do monte (super high up in Alfama)
- Miradouro Da Graca (cute coffee shop here)
- Miradouro Das Portas Do Sol (Tram 28 stops here)
Santa Justa Lift
Our next destination in Lisbon is the famous Santa Justa Lift. Constructed in the early 20th century, this extravagant elevator served as a practical means of transportation to bypass one of Lisbon’s steep hills. The lift ascends seven stories, connecting the lower streets of the Baixa neighborhood to the elevated Largo do Carmo district. It’s a remarkable piece of engineering that seamlessly transports passengers from bustling streets to panoramic views.
Shop at Embaixada
An upscale, open-concept shopping center in a super unique building. Shops here bleed into one another as they are all nestled into different rooms of this palace-like space. Plan to spend 15 to 30 minutes wandering around inside as your last activity before grabbing dinner.
Dinner Recommendation: The nearby Leonetta serves up some great Italian food!
Bairro Alto Nightlife
If you still have any energy left, Bairro Alto is a great area of Lisbon for local bars, fun clubs, and casual places to get a drink.
Day Three: Lisbon- Exploring Belem
Praça do Comércio
Start your third day in Lisbon at the city’s town center. Praca Do Comércio is a wide-open space that sits right on the river in the middle of the city. Sitting on the steps near the water to people-watch is a great way to break up all of the walking that you will be doing! You can also go to the top of the arch for a great view.
Belem Tower
One of the coolest things to see in Lisbon is the Belem Tower. It is very recognizable and is a must-see on your trip. From the Praca Do Comércio, rent a bike, or a scooter, or take the public transit line down to Belem. This area is a little outside of Lisbon’s main area, but there are many things to do here.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Near the Belem Tower is the gorgeous building that is the Mosteiro Dos Jerónimos! Open from 10 am to 6 pm (5 pm in winter), and with a 10 euro entry fee, it is worth spending some time at this architectural gem.
LX Factory
Old industrial warehouses turned artistic studios, this creative spot in Belem is a fun place to walk through to see some beautiful art, shop, and get some great food.
Pastéis de Belém
Before heading back to Lisbon, make sure to stop at Pastéis de Belém for the best pastel de nada. If you haven’t tried one by now, pastel de nada is an iconic Portuguese pastry and you must try one on your trip!
Rooftop Dinner
End your third day in Lisbon at one of the city’s many rooftop restaurants and bars. The energy is always so lively with people enjoying good food and breathtaking city views while watching the sun go down.
Our favorite: Memmo Hotel Rooftop Terrace
Day Four: Cascais Beach Day
Dedicate this entire day to relaxing at the beach after two and a half full days of walking all over Lisbon! The lovely beach town of Cascais is just a 30-minute train ride away from Lisbon. It is easily accessible, easy to get around (walking and biking), and has great beaches.
Spend your day here eating delicious fresh seafood, laying out on the sand, and playing in the water. This is a much-needed break from the first two jam-packed days!
Tip: Buy a ticket to Cascais when you arrive at the train station. Trains leave from Rossio station very frequently.
Day Five: Sintra– Moorish Castle, Sintra Town, & Sintra National Palace
Staying in Sintra
The last leg of this itinerary is spent in the town of Sintra. You will spend 2 days exploring the many things to do in this beautiful part of Portugal, and we recommend booking a hotel here for the last 2 nights. Either come to Sintra straight from Cascais on night 4 or make the 45-minute trip in the morning after on day 5.
Sintra Town
Spend the first hour or two exploring the quaint town of Sintra. There are lots of places to eat and shops to visit in the town center. This area is very walkable and the weather here is always a few degrees cooler than in Lisbon.
Sintra National Palace
The National Palace of Sintra is a super cool building. Its two pointy white chimneys emerging from the palace’s kitchen make this palace very recognizable. It is conveniently located near downtown so you can reach the palace on foot. Do yourself a favor and spend some time here admiring all of the unique rooms behind the gothic exterior facade.
Moorish Castle
Visiting the Castelo Dos Mouros will feel like taking a trip back in time. You can literally feel the age of this structure and it is just so impressive.
Be prepared to climb a lot of stairs as there is a huge stone wall surrounding the grounds of the castle. The views here are some of the best in all of Sintra! This castle is the last sight on the list for day 5.
Day Six: Sintra– Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, & Park and Palace of Monserrate
Pena Palace
Start your day early at the most well-known tourist attraction in Sintra, the marvelous Pena Palace. You’ve probably seen this place all over your Pinterest and Instagram feeds because this place is just that stunning.
Visiting this palace should be your first stop as early as possible because it gets very crowded here. The photo opportunities are endless here and we ended up spending close to 2 hours admiring this place.
Park and Palace of Monserrate
After visiting Pena Palace, head over to the palace and park grounds of Monserrate. This place has been admired by so many travelers for centuries because of its outstanding beauty. The gardens boast many exotic plants that have been imported from all over the world. Be sure to visit the sacred art room inside the palace!
Quinta da Regaleira
The last stop on day 6 is Quinta da Regaleira. This place is well known for its super unique interior. More specifically, the spiral staircase well which has beautiful greenery along the walls. It’s a must-see spot for photography lovers! This villa has beautiful Gothic architecture and it is a local favorite.
After you’ve seen almost all of Sintra, head back to your accommodation and pack up for your journey home.
Day Seven: Fly home
From Sintra, catch the 45-minute train ride back into Lisbon and make your way to the Airport for your flight home. If you have an early morning flight, consider leaving Sintra in the evening and spending the night at a hotel near the airport.
Planning your trip
For general information about planning a trip to Portugal, read: Portugal Travel Guide- Everything you need to know before visiting
Read more about the activities listed in this itinerary including opening times, and entry costs in our Lisbon Travel Guide
Read about how to get to Sintra, the best ways to get around, and other must-know tips in our Sintra Travel Guide
Where should I stay?
When we visited Lisbon, we stayed in this Airbnb and we really loved it!
Find more accommodation options on Airbnb and Booking.com
