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Planning a trip to Portugal?
Everything you need to have the best vacation ever with the best places to go, things to do, food to eat and places to stay in Portugal (itinerary for 2 weeks)!
The Perfect Portugal travel itinerary for a fun vacation in Portugal for 2 weeks (also see the 10 day Portugal itinerary and one week Portugal itinerary)
There are so many fun things to do in Portugal. After traveling to this must see country twice, I’ve discovered some of the best places to visit in Portugal.
Beautiful Portugal, on the southwest edge of Europe, feels authentic with friendly people, historical castles, quaint towns, great traditional food, and endless beaches.
Take a Portugal road trip…
This Portugal road trip itinerary includes some relaxing time in the whitewashed, slow-paced village of Burgau (on the Algarve coast,) in the mountains west of Lisbon in palatial Sintra, the vibrant capital city of Lisbon, and an optional trip up north to Porto.
Explore the top places to visit with this Portugal vacation itinerary. If you are wondering what to see in Portugal, this guide will take you to many of the best Portugal landmarks- learn fun things to do in Lagos, and Algarve, Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, and beyond.
This Portugal trip plan is perfect for traveling with friends, solo, as a couple, or with family. On my first trip, I traveled to Portugal as a backpacker with friends. My last visit was a Portugal family vacation- traveling with my sons, and my niece met up with us for part of the trip. Everyone loved this incredible country!
You will experience the best of Portugal with this plan for a 2-week Portugal itinerary, and you can use it to create a 10-day Portugal itinerary or a 1-week in Portugal itinerary.
Thinking about visiting Spain after Portugal? For a Portugal and Spain Itinerary, click here for the best Northern Spain Itinerary
Find the best prices on flights to Portugal here
Beautiful Burgau, Portugal
Click here to search for the lowest flight prices
Portugal 2 Week Itinerary Roadtrip Portugal (Self Drive Tour)
5 Days Burgau or Salema, Algarve Itinerary
GET THERE
How to get to Algarve
- Fly into the Faro Airport
- Rent a car (book in advance) and pick it up at the airport. *This will be a one-way rental, dropping off in Lisbon (or Porto)
Click here to see the best prices for car rentals
Portugal Travel Tip
Portugal has many toll roads- sometimes you pay at a booth when entering or exiting, but other times you are automatically charged (by your license plate.) All of the fees can be paid at any post office in Portugal within 5 days. Or, you can rent a device with autopay when you pick up your car.
Get more top travel tips from reading advice on Renting a Car in Europe
STAY
Where to stay in Algarve
- Rent an apartment in Burgau near the beach with a patio or up the hill with a balcony and an ocean view. The neighboring town of Salema is also a great place to stay in Algarve (and Rick Steve’s favorite!)
Looking for the best place to stay in Burgau or Salema?
Click here to search for a vill or apartment
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
DO
Portugal Highlights: Things to do in Algarve
- Set out for a hike from Burgau to Salema (or the opposite) then have lunch and take a taxi back. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach.
- Spend a day in Lagos. Top Things to do in Lagos: go on a 1-hour small boat ride in and through the Ponta Da Piedade. Have lunch in a traditional Portuguese restaurant then stroll the town center. Rent bikes, go on a bike tour or set out to see the Benagil Cave (40-minute drive east.) Spend the afternoon on one of the many popular beaches.
- Take a trip to windswept Cape Sagres, which was considered “the end of the world” by many of the famous explorers who visited in the 1400’s and the site of Prince Henry the Navigators school for navigators. Stop in the town of Sages or Vila de Bispo for lunch with the locals then head back for more beach time.
- Spend a relaxing day at Falesia Beach, voted a top beach in the world by Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Award
- Spend the day in Burgau
Click here to book a good tour or activity in Algarve
Get more information by reading: Exploring Burgau and Beyond in the Best of Portugal’s Algarve
DInner on the patio
EAT
Where to eat in Algarve and what to eat
- The seafood in the Algarve is some of the best in Europe. Try the grilled calamari, the seafood rice, and the seafood cataplana–a typical dish from this region of Portugal. Great wines and cheeses (try some of the sheep cheese variations) can be found in most markets.
- Recommendations for typical Portuguese food at Burgau restaurants: A Baracca in Burgau, A Tasca do Careca in Vila do Bispo (near Sagres), Restaurante Prato Cheio in Lagos
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Pena Palace in Sintra
Portugal Itinerary 2 Weeks: Road Trip Portugal
4 Days Sintra
GET THERE
How to get to Sintra from Algarve
- Drive 3 hours north
Portugal Travel Tip
Put the directions in your Google App map before you leave wifi and get navigation without using data (make sure to turn roaming off.) Also, get detailed directions from your host. You need very good directions to get to your accommodations in Sintra. Take your time, driving in this little town is a bit of a maze of one-way streets.
STAY
Where to stay in Sintra
Stay in the green hills, near the old part of town in a bed & breakfast or apartment that is within walking distance to the town center of Sintra. Or stay further out in a country inn (ask about directions and parking when you drive into Sintra.) If a view of the green mountains or Pena Palace is an option, it’s worth an extra cost.
Looking for the best place to stay in Sintra? Find the best prices at top-rated hotels here
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Sintra Marmoris Palace- Stay in a suite in a palace-like house with a pool. In the green area and a short walk to the Historic Center. Click here for the latest prices
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Casa Miradouro– Cozy and beautiful with great views and a short walk (hilly) to the Historic Center Click here for the latest prices
- Sintra 1012 Guesthouse– a boutique guesthouse located in the Historic Center Click here for the latest prices
- The Biester Charm House– a short drive up the mountain (10 minute walk to town), past the Castle of the Moors, it’s charming to say the least Click here for the latest prices
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
Click here to search for a villa or apartment
DO
Portugal Highlights: Things to do in Sintra and day trips from Sintra (or Lisbon)
- Spend one day in Sintra. Set out for a loop hike in the morning going up the mountain by Quinta Da Regaleira, the steep climb to the park and National Palace of Pena, then visit the Moorish Castle (free and interesting). Walk downhill back to the town center for a Portuguese lunch. Stroll the town, find a place to sit, and have a coffee and pasteis de nata (the national dessert.) Get a map of this area from your accommodations.
- Cascais– Walk around this bustling resort town. Stroll the streets, visit the shops, have a pastry, collect a picnic, then head to Praia Da Raihna and lounge on the beach and swim. Take the long road back and check out Cabo Da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Walk the rugged coastline then head back to Sintra.
- Obidos– Set out for the one hour drive north to visit the charming walled town. Park in the free parking lot and take a stroll around. Go up the stairs to the ramparts, and walk the circumference (caution with young kids- there is no railing.) Obidos is home to ginja, a cherry liqueur, which you can try in one of the many shops (best out of a chocolate cup!) If you are interested in seeing the location of the biggest wave ever surfed– head another half hour north to the fun beach town of Nazare.
Click here to book a good tour or activity in Sintra or a day trip from Sintra
Option: If you are planning on going to Porto, you could drive instead of taking the train and stop at Obidos on your way. Just make sure to stay in a place outside of the city center in Lisbon– with parking.
EAT
Where to eat in Sintra and what to eat
- Have dinner at a churrascaria and order the typical Portuguese dish, Piri Piri Chicken (good enough to eat every night) and some fries. This goes great with the local sangria (choose white or red wine.)
- Recommendations: Churrascaria Somos Um Regalo for Piri Piri Chicken in Sintra, Restaurante Apeadeiro for typical Portuguese with the locals in Sintra, and Fabrica das Verdadeiras Queijadas da Sapa for pastry and coffee.
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One of the many amazing viewpoints in Lisbon
3 Days Lisbon, Lisbon Itinerary
GET THERE
How to get from Sintra to Lisbon
- Drive into Lisbon and drop your car off, then take a taxi (or ask the car rental company to take you) to your hotel.
STAY
Where to stay in Lisbon
- Book a centrally located hotel in the Chiado or Alfama areas.
Looking for the best place to stay in Lisbon? Find the best prices at top-rated hotels here
- Palácio das Especiarias – In the Chiado, we LOVED this old palace hotel. It’s comfortable and convenient, the staff is above and beyond, and the buffet breakfast was exceptional. They have a family room that sleeps 5! Click here for the latest prices
- Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites– Top rated hotel on Trip Advisor, it’s in the center of town and caters to families. Click here for the latest prices
- Hotel Avenida Palace– If you are looking for a little more luxury, this is your place! Click here for the latest prices
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
Click here to search for a villa or apartment
DO
Things to do in Lisbon
- Put on your comfortable walking shoes and get ready for some great views (and hills!) See the neighborhoods of Barrio Alto and Chiado, Baixa, the Alfama (take a tour of Sao Jorge Castle), and the waterfront Parque das Nações. Don’t miss one of the best photo spots in Lisbon, Miradouro De Santa Luzia.
- Take the fun #28 Tram through the city (for high tourist season, catch it before 8:00 in the morning, to avoid long lines.)
- Take a trip by taxi to Belem (in west Lisbon) and walk to the Tower of Belem. Stroll around then go to Pasteis De Belem to indulge in the national dessert, Pastel de Nata (they invented it and have been baking the secret recipe since 1837.) There are two more interesting places you may want to visit in Belem- the historic monastery and the carriage museum.
Click here to book a good tour, activity or get tickets now
*For day trips from Lisbon, see day trips from Sintra
EAT
- On your walk, stop at the centrally located A Brasileira Cafe (since the 1920s) for a pastry and coffee. There are many great family-run restaurants in Lisbon, as well as wine bars for tasting the Portuguese wines and Port (or save this for Porto.)
Click here to join a dining experience, take a cooking class or go on a food tour with locals
For a Portugal 10 Day Itinerary: 10 Days in Portugal itinerary
Stay 3 Days in Sintra and 2 Days in Lisbon. Fly home, or to your next destination from the Lisbon Airport.
2 Weeks in Portugal Itinerary, continue…
2 Days in Porto itinerary
GET THERE
How to get from Lisbon to Porto
- Take the train from Lisbon to Porto
STAY
Where to stay in Porto
- Book a boutique hotel, guesthouse, or apartment near the historic Ribeira area
Looking for the best place to stay in Porto? Find the best prices at top-rated hotels here
- NH Collection Porto Batalha– A newly renovated 18th-century palace in a convenient central location with family rooms. Click here for the latest prices
- InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas– If you want to experience Luxury in Porto, look no further! It has been #1 on Trip Advisor. Click here for the latest prices
- 1872 River House- For a Charming and comfortable bed & breakfast on the River Duoro, this is your place. Click here for the latest prices
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
Click here to search for a villa or apartment
DO
- Walk, eat, and go port tasting!
Option: The Duoro Valley is one of the oldest and most beautiful wine regions in Portugal and also where the port grapes are grown. Many of the vineyards are terraced down to the Duoro River. Consider visiting for a day or staying in the area keep in mind that there isn’t much to do for kids.
Click here to book a good tour or day trip now
Click here to join a dining experience, take a cooking class or go on a food tour with locals
Getting Home
- Fly out of Porto home or to another country in Europe! Get suggested itineraries below
Portugal Map
Visit Morocco first, and then take the short flight into Faro to begin the itinerary above- Exploring Morocco Itinerary: Everything You Must See, Do, and Eat
For more tips and advice on travel in Europe, please read:
The Perfect Spain Itinerary for 10 Days: Exploring the North and Madrid
The Ideal Italy Itinerary: Best of Rome, Tuscany and Cinque Terre and The Perfect Rome Itinerary: Top Things to Do In Italy’s Eternal City
30 of the Best Places to Visit in Italy
The Perfect Greece Itinerary to Take Now! (Don’t Miss the Amazing Athens Itinerary)
2 Day Amsterdam Itinerary: Top Things to Do In One of the Best Cities in Europe
The Perfect Croatia Itinerary: Istria, National Parks, Beaches, & Dubrovnik
Exploring the Beautiful Places of Switzerland Itinerary
Best of Sicily Itinerary: Palermo, Syracuse & Taormina (delicious local food included!)
Don’t forget the things to do before leaving home! Get the Essential International Travel Checklist
More Travel Resources
Trip Advisor, Travel and Leisure, Forbes Travel, Travel Channel, Rick Steves
