10 days in Portugal – a complete travel itinerary!

Imagine this: You have 10 days free from work and don’t know how to spend.

Don’t worry, this post may help you!

Here is a complete travel itinerary on how to spend 10 amazing days (or more, if you can) in Portugal! A new location every day! Are you curious? 🙂

For this 10-days in Portugal itinerary, I would recommend renting a car, even though some of the cities mentioned are easily accessible by public transportation. The plus of having a rental car is that you can travel at the times that are more convenient for you, while the minuses would be increasing the total budget for your trip, and you will need to consider extra costs, like tolls and fuel.

The itinerary has a starting point in Lisbon and ends in Porto, but it would work just as well if you start in Porto and end it in Lisbon. I hope you enjoy it!

Let’s get started, shall we?

How to spend 10 days in Portugal – a complete travel itinerary!

Day 1 – Lisbon

Lisbon, my birthplace, and my favorite place in the whole world!

It is here that we start the 10 days in Portugal travel itinerary!

Lisbon is the capital and largest city in Portugal; the city of the seven hills as we call it. When you visit Lisbon you should be prepared to walk around, up and down the hills. I truly believe that is the best way to get to know the city.

I always wondered how come not so many people would come and visit this beautiful city, but during the last years, this has changed tremendously!
Me, as a proud Portuguese and born in Lisbon, I feel very happy every time someone tells me they have been to my city and loved it!
I just wonder: why did it take them so long to come and visit?!

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and the second oldest capital city, right after Athens, in Europe! Lisbon’s history is so rich that if I tried to summarize I would for sure miss out on a lot of important things. With that in mind, when you walk in Lisbon, you will see many historic landmarks and, I would even dare to say, that every corner has a story to tell in Lisbon’s history (and even Portugal’s).

I love Lisbon, it’s my city! I hope you enjoy starting this itinerary here. 🙂

How to get here

Most people will arrive in Lisbon via its airport, conveniently located close to the city center. If you ever landed in Lisbon, you will know what I’m talking about. The good side of this, if you are not a local, is that you can easily and quickly reach Lisbon downtown and many of the key sights to visit.

For tourists visiting Lisbon, I would recommend getting a Lisbon card.

Lisbon card is a card that allows unlimited travel by public transportation, free access to some museums, and UNESCO sites as well as deals and discounts on other attractions.

The price starts at 20Eur for 24h. For more information please visit the Lisbon Card website.

What to visit

Can I see many things in Lisbon in just one day? You may wonder.

The answer is YES, you can!

Lisbon is quite a big city, however, many of the touristic sights are nicely packed downtown which makes it perfect to see in one day. If you make use of your Lisbon Card, then you can save a lot of time going from place to place.

But here are some things you should not miss:

• Baixa to visit Praça do Comércio, Rossio and Bairro Alto
• Chiado and Carmo
• Oriente – Parque das Nações
• Belém

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

Since your stay would be just for 1 day, I recommend staying downtown and ideally in a hotel that has Parking facilities; remember, this 10 days in Portugal itinerary assumes you would be traveling on a rental car 😉

Hotel options in Lisbon are plenty and it all depends on your budget, so I recommend you check a booking platform of your choice.

Food & Drinks

For food, I’d recommend the restaurant Estórias na Casa da Comida, located at Travessa das Amoreiras, where I’m sure you have a fine dinner. Trust me, the Chef is a good friend of mine! haha

Price range: $$$$

For drinks, I recommend having a nice wine and/or cocktail at Rossio Gastrobar, where you will enjoy a magnificent view of Lisbon, right from Hotel Altis Avenida rooftop!

Price range: $$-$$$

Nearby

Sintra, Cascais, Palmela are just some examples of places you can visit, should you stay longer than 1 day in Lisbon.

Other posts you may like

Visiting the LX Factory | A week in Lisbon during Summer | 24h in Lisbon: what to see?

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Day 2 – Mafra

Hello Mafra! the second destination in our 10-days in Portugal travel itinerary.

Mafra is part of the greater Lisbon area and mostly known for the magnificent Mafra National Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Mafra’s Palace was part of the Republican Revolution in 1910; back then, King Manuel II took refuge at the Palace once he noticed that a coup was underway to take him out of power! It was a smart move, but it did not stop the revolution…

The Palace, also known as a Convent (Convento de Mafra) took 38 years to build and it was featured as one of the 7 wonders of Portugal!

A little personal fact about Mafra: when I was a kid, I lived there for a few months, and to this day, I have some recollections of those months. It was a nice experience, but it never felt like home. So eventually, I moved out.

How to get here

Mafra is just 40 km away from Lisbon. Within 40 minutes you should arrive in Mafra via the A8 highway.

What to visit

• Mafra’s Palace/Convent
• Tapada de Mafra
• the center for cute streets and traditional shops.

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

Mafra Hotel (***) 400m from the Palace.

Rate: 8.9/10 on Booking.com

Food & Drinks

I personally never had meals in Mafra, so I had to look on Google for some options.

After a quick search, I found out the restaurant João da Vila Velha, which serves traditional Portuguese food at a good price point. But you can find other options on the Zomato website.

Nearby

Ericeira is a must-see for all surf lovers or even if you want to appreciate a cute little town. They have great fish dishes over there, as well!

Other posts you may like

Visiting Mafra part 1 | Visiting Mafra part 2 | 5 places to visit 1h from Lisbon

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Day 3 – Óbidos

Óbidos, a beautiful and charming town in the “Oeste” area of Portugal, largely known for its castle, cobblestone cozy streets, and walls. One of the most attractive features of Óbidos is the fact that the old town of Óbidos is located right within the perimeter of castle walls!

According to historic records, Óbidos was a favorite location for many Queens of Portugal, giving it the informal title of “Vilas das Rainhas” (town of the Queens).

More on a personal note, when I was a kid I used to spend part of my Summer school break nearby Óbidos and would frequently visit it, good memories!

If there is a town that should be included in our 10 days in Portugal itinerary, it’s Óbidos!

How to get here

Óbidos is 78km away from Mafra; in about 50 minutes, via the A8 highway, you will arrive in Óbidos.

What to visit

So many great things to appreciate when in Óbidos, so let me point out a few:

• Enjoy the charming streets of Óbidos
• the Castle and its walls
• appreciate the views from the Castle – Óbidos is located on a hilltop, so perfect to appreciate the surroundings!

Other interesting activities in Óbidos:

• International Festival of Chocolate
• Medieval Market (every July)
• Christmas Market

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

After a quick search on Booking.com, I found Hotel Real Óbidos (****), which seems to be a great option and it even has a swimming pool, perfect for those hot Summer days!

Rate: 9.1/10 on Booking.com

Food & Drinks

According to TripAdvisor, these are the Top 3 restaurants in Óbidos:

1. A Nova Casa de Ramiro. Price range: $$-$$$
2. Capinha d’Óbidos. Price range: $ – Perfect for quick snacks!
3. Vila Infanta. Price range: $$-$$$

Nearby

Caldas da Rainha and Foz do Arelho, for a quick beach fix 🙂

Other posts you may like

A day in Óbidos part 1 | A day in Óbidos part 2 | 5 places to visit 1h from Lisbon

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Day 4 – Batalha

Welcome to Batalha, our 4th stop on this 10 days in Portugal Itinerary!

Batalha was founded by D. João I with its magnificent monastery to pay homage to the battle victory in Battle of Aljubarrota, in 1385.

This battle has opposed the kingdom of Portugal, supported by the Kingdom of England, and the crown of Castile, supported by the Kingdom of France, Crown of Aragon, and Italian allies. Portugal’s victory put an end to Castile’s ambitions to the Portuguese throne, and D. João I became King of Portugal. Tales say that a Portuguese woman, Brites de Almeida, killed eight Castillian soldiers. Think of her as Brienne of Tarth, kind of woman; she later becomes an icon of this battle and her legacy remains very alive in Portuguese culture and memory.

How to get here

From Óbidos to Batalha is a quick ride; both cities are about 58km apart. The recommended route is via A8 highway and it will take about 45 minutes.

What to visit

In my opinion, Batalha’s highlight is for sure its Monastery (Santa Maria da Vitória or most commonly known as Mosteiro da Batalha). This monastery has influences of Gothic and Manueline architecture, and it was added in 1983 by UNESCO to the list of World Heritage Sites.

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

Hotel Villa Batalha seems to be a favorite among Booking.com users.

Rate: 9.0/10 on the Booking.com website.

Food & Drinks

When I visited Batalha, locals recommended the Burro Velho restaurant, but unfortunately, at the time of my visit, it was closed. We ended up having a quick lunch at Pap’ Oliva which is located right across the Monastery; nothing fancy but it was sufficient.

Nearby

There are many interesting places to visit not very far away from Batalha. Here some ideas:

• Alcobaça
• Leiria
• Tomar
• Nazaré
• Fátima

Other posts you may like

A day in Batalha

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Day 5 – Coimbra

We have reached halfway through these 10 days in Portugal itinerary, and what better way than visiting Coimbra?

Coimbra is the 4th largest city in Portugal, and you probably don’t know but between 1131 and 1255, Coimbra was the capital of Portugal!

Coimbra is considered to have been one of the cultural European hotspots back in the day, mostly helped by the fact that it hosts the renowned University of Coimbra – #8 out of 10 oldest European Universities – which became part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2013.

Located on a hill by the Mondego river, which happens to be the only exclusive Portuguese river. Those visiting Coimbra should prepare their legs for all those hills! Worth it, though! 😉

Amongst Portuguese, Coimbra is known for being the location of our version of Romeo & Juliette: Pedro and Inês lived their romance in Coimbra, in Quinta das Lágrimas.

How to get here

Batalha and Coimbra are about 87km apart, and if you drive via the A1 highway, you will reach Coimbra in less than 1 hour.

What to visit

Coimbra is a very rich city when it comes to sights to visit, so you will have plenty to choose from. Here are just a few ideas:

• Coimbra’s historic city center
• University site
• Johannine Library
• Botanical Garden
• Quinta das Lágrimas

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

There are many hotel options in Coimbra, but if I had to pick one it would be Sapientia Boutique Hotel, it has beautiful views and the rooms seem very good.

Rate: 9.3/10 on the Bookin.com website.

Food & Drinks

When I visited Coimbra, one of the meals I had was at the O Trovador restaurant, so I would recommend visiting them.

Price range: $$-$$$.

Nearby

Figueira da Foz, Luso, Mealhada (for the best roast piglet ever!), and Serra da Estrela could be nice options to add to your itinerary in case you have more time.

Other posts you may like

2 days in Coimbra part 1 | 2 days in Coimbra part 2 | 3 Places I would like to revisit in Portugal

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Day 6 – Viseu

Hello Viseu!! you are officially our 6th stop on this itinerary through Portugal!

Viseu is part of the Dão Region, where many great wines come from; Viseu is a charming city that will for sure capture your heart (just like many others I mention in this itinerary, to be honest! haha).

Viseu was established during the Castro culture times and it has influences of many cultures: Romans, Suebs, Visigoths, and Moors! This makes the perfect architectural cocktail you can think of! Viseu is considered to be a probable birthplace of Portugal’s first king: Afonso Henriques.

How to get here

Between Coimbra and Viseu there are approximately 92km. The recommended route is via IP3 and you will be arriving in Viseu in about 1h10min.

What to visit

Viseu has a very special place in my heart; I loved every single corner of it! Let me try to make a must-see list:

• Sé (Cathedral)
• Largo da Sé
• Enjoy the cute streets and beautiful architecture
• Fontelo Park
• Grão Vasco’s Museum

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

Casa da Sé was our small, cozy, charming, luxury, and perfectly located hotel. We were both so astonished by how beautiful it was; once we got in, it felt like going back in time in a very nice way. The staff is amazing and it has a great breakfast!

Rate: 9.0/10 on the Booking.com website.

Food & Drinks

For dinner, you must go to the restaurant O Cortiço, but make a reservation! This place is a must, seriously!

The food is out of this world, the staff is super friendly and I can guarantee you that you’ll have a meal you’ll remember for a very long time. If you like to try traditional food, then please do yourself a favor and order Arroz de Carqueija. It’s a delicacy….

Price range: $$-$$$

Nearby

These are some extra places you can add in case you have time:

• Serra da Estrela
• Castro Daire
• Guarda

Other posts you may like

2 days in Viseu part 1 | 2 days in Viseu part 2

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Day 7 – Lamego

Lamego, our 7th stop in these 10 days in Portugal itinerary, is located on the shores of the Balsemão river and is part of the Viseu district. Lamego is known for its beautiful historic city center, whose origins date before the Roman occupation.

Up until 1835, Lamego was the capital of the district, but at that time it lost the title to Viseu.

When in Lamego for the first time, you might be surprised by how beautiful and rich Lamego’s city center is. There is just so much to see and appreciate, with the Sanctuary Our Lady of Remédios being the “cherry on top of the cake”.

How to get here

From Viseu, take the A24 and within 45 minutes (61km) you should arrive in Lamego.

What to visit

Most people that visit Lamego is primarily to check the Sanctuary Our Lady of Remédios, and friends, it’s a must! You can either take the steps upwards, as tradition requires, or you can do like I did, take a taxi to the Sanctuary, and then the steps downwards towards the city! haha Don’t think it’s much easier, but at least, you get to enjoy the view from Top-Down, if you get my point.

Here are some other things you should add to your list:

• Walk and enjoy the main boulevard of Lamego
• the Castle
• the Cathedral
• the Museum of Lamego

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

When I stayed in Lamego, I checked in in a different hotel that I’ll be recommending. The reason for that is just that I didn’t like where we stayed, so I checked for other options, and Lamego Hotel & Life seemed to be a good option.

Rate: 8.9/10 on the Booking.com website.

Food & Drinks

After checking Tripadvisor, we ended up at restaurant Manjar do Douro. The food was very good and the price reasonable but the drinks were way overpriced. But when you are having a good meal you can’t just have a glass of water… So we had to give in…

Price range: $$-$$$

Nearby

Lamego is very close to the Douro river meaning that you can, and should, go and enjoy the vineyards along the river. It’s a beautiful sight!

If you go to Pinhão ou Peso da Régua (just a short drive from Lamego), you may even take a cruise on the Douro, which I’ve heard many great things about! It’s definitely on my wishlist!

Other posts you may like

2 days in Lamego part 1 | 2 days in Lamego part 2

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Day 8 – Guimarães

Guimarães is a very important city in Portugal as it dates back from the 10th century and is recognized as the birthplace of the nation and Portuguese identity. See, quite a big deal, hum?

Guimarães’ historic center is so well preserved that it has been certified as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO back in 2001.

The feeling we had while walking around Guimarães is that we were being transported to another Era, as everything was so nicely preserved. When we visited the Castle, for a moment I had some Game of Thrones scenes going through my mind.

I am almost sure not many people know how beautiful Guimarães is, which makes the perfect 8th stop in our 10 days in Portugal itinerary! You will not regret visiting Guimarães. 😉

How to get here

This is probably going the longest drive on this itinerary, but it’s by no means a “long drive”! haha

From Lamego to Guimarães it’s about 119km, and you should arrive in about 1h20min. The recommended route is via A24, A4, and A11.

What to visit

One day in Guimarães might feel a bit tight to see so many things, so if you have the extra time, consider extending your stay in Guimarães. But let me summarize some sights you should not miss:

• Guimarães castle
• São Tiago and Tourel’s square
• Guimarães historic center
• Ducal Palace
• the Oliveira Square
• and if you have the extra time, take the cable car to the Sanctuary of Penha and appreciate the breathtaking views!

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

I did a quick search online for a good hotel in Guimarães and found Hotel da Oliveira (****) to be a good option since it’s located right at the city center.

Booking.com users have rated this hotel as 9.1/10!

Food & Drinks

I honestly can’t remember where we had dinner when we were in Guimarães but it was delicious, and I remember it was located at São Tiago’s square.

I would just advise you to browse online for the many options, I normally do so on TripAdvisor.

Nearby

Two of the most interesting cities not so far away from Guimarães, in my opinion, are Braga and Porto. But guess where are we going next?

Yes, exactly! 🙂

Other posts you may like

2 days in Guimarães part 1 | 2 days in Guimarães part 2

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Day 9 – Braga

We have arrived at the last but one destination on our 10 days in Portugal travel itinerary: Hello Braga!!

Braga is located at the northeast of Porto and it’s mostly known for its beautiful historic center, religious heritage, and for hosting the oldest Portuguese archdiocese.

Some of the things I liked the most about Braga, and I guess if you visit it you may feel just the same, is how alive and young this city feels. I remember seeing many young people strolling around, many pubs and bars, which was, of course, a plus!

Braga has a very rich historic city center with beautiful architecture that will for sure make an impression on those visiting this city.

How to get here

From Guimarães it is a short drive to Braga: 25km separates both cities! So if you take the A11 highway, you will reach Braga in just 25minutes. Nice, right?

What to visit

Here is a shortlist of things you should not miss when in Braga:

• Sanctuary of Bom Jesus
• Historic City Center
• Sé (Cathedral)
• and simply enjoy the cozy streets of Braga 😉

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

When I visited Braga, we stayed in a hotel right next to the train station, since we were traveling by train it seemed the best option. It wasn’t anything fancy, same as an Ibis hotel, for example, but for this itinerary, I checked other options, and one hotel that got my attention was the Mercure Braga Center (****).

The location is very nice and it even has a swimming pool, great for those warm days, I’d say.

Rate: 8.6/10 on the Booking.com website.

Food & Drinks

When in Minho, it’s not hard to find a restaurant with great food, and in Braga, that’s no exception. But from my personal experience, I would recommend Taberna do Migaitas restaurant. The food was great over there!

Price range: $$-$$$

Nearby

Braga itself is already a great place to visit, but if you have the extra time to extend your stay, then maybe consider these other locations:

• Gerês – for all Nature lovers out there!
• Viana do Castelo
• Ponte de Lima

Other posts you may like

Visiting Braga part 1 | Visiting Braga part 2

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Day 10 – Porto

And that’s it, friends, we have officially arrived at our last destination in these 10 days in Portugal itinerary: Hello Porto! 🙂

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and “the capital” of the North, so to speak. Porto is located along the Douro river which is a great option for those wanting to go on a cruise through the Douro river, or just enjoy its beauty from Porto’s Ribeira.

When in Porto, you should find the time to visit Port wine cellars, just across the river, in Vila Nova de Gaia, and allow yourself to have a great Port wine experience. I wish I liked Port wine…

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Porto is for sure the Ribeira, and it’s great to just sit on one of the many terraces and enjoy a nice drink while appreciating the view.

Porto’s historic center has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, in 1996.

On a personal note: I haven’t been to Porto in many years and it’ about time I change that!

How to get here

From Braga to Porto is a short drive of about 40minutes via the A3 highway; it’s only 57km!

What to visit

So many things to see in Porto that if you have the time, please consider extending your stay (just like for any of the other cities mentioned in these 10 days in Portugal itinerary!).

Here are some must-see sites:

• Ribeira
• Luis I Bridge and cross it to get to Gaia
• Lello Bookstore, especially if you are a Harry Potter fan 😉
• Aliados Avenue
• Clérigos Tower
• São Bento train station
• Bolhão Market for authentic Porto experience

And many many more!

Accommodation & Dining

Hotel

As you can imagine, Porto has many hotel options, for all budgets, which is a great thing. After some research, I found one that I think it would be a good option: it offers a great view and outdoor pool – Hotel Torel Avantgarde.

Rate: 9.2/10 on the Booking.com.

Food & Drinks

When in Porto one thing is mandatory: eat Francesinha!

As I mentioned before, I have not been to Porto in a while, so I asked a local for some tips! My friend Ricardo, from the blog O Pinguim Sem Asas, recommended that for Francesinhas you should Cervejaria Brasão and for other traditional delicacies check Casa Guedes. Check all the reviews on the TripAdvisor website.

Price range: $!

Nearby

For more tips on places to visit nearby Porto, I asked once again Ricardo for his suggestions and he mentioned:

• Porto de Leixoes in Matosinhos
• Cais de Gaia, just on the other side of the river from Porto.

NOTE

All photos from Porto were taken by Nuno Caetano Pais and gently sent to me for this post! Obrigada, Nuno.

Check out his work on Instagram @nunocaetanopais

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And that’s it friends! The 10 days in Portugal itinerary is officially over!

If you have the time, consider extending your stay for a couple of days in the cities mentioned or all the other suggestions.

I am confident that if you have the chance to follow this itinerary you will have an amazing time, visit beautiful sights, and have an amazing vacation!

Portugal is a very beautiful, culturally rich, and diverse country where anyone can enjoy vacations. Longer stays, shorter city trips, it won’t make a difference: you will always have a lot to see and enjoy!

Let me know in the comments if:

Have you ever been to Portugal or any of the cities mentioned in this itinerary?

If so, how did you like it? And if not: did I convince you to go visit Portugal? I hope so!

Until we meet again on a future post!

Take care!