Culture, nature, beautiful architecture, and affordable food is what makes Portugal one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. While most might only stop by in Lisbon, we visited a few other cities to seek out the best places to visit in Portugal.
Our adventure begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city. Here, we’ll explore the city’s old-town streets and historic landmarks like Rua Nova Do Carvalho, The Belem Tower, and The Sanctuary of Christ The King.
Next, we travel through Algarve, Cascais, Sintra and Porto where there are endless beaches, wine-tours, and the famous Benagil Cave. And of course, we had to visit the rumoured birthplace of Harry Potter — Livraria Lello.
Although we could mostly get around on foot and public transportation, activities like tile making and visiting the Benagil Cave are best experienced on a tour — links to the tours we went on in Portugal can be found below and in our 10-day Portugal Itinerary.
While we splurged quite a bit on unique experiences around Portugal, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that we spent under S$2k each over 10 days!
Use Our Guide to Plan Your Own Portugal Itinerary: 10-Day Portugal Itinerary for less than S$2k incl. Flights From Singapore
LISBON – 0:22
00:25 – Pasteis de Belem — One of the oldest Portuguese egg tart shops around and highly recommended by locals!
00:33 – Belem Tower — Officially called the Tower of Saint Vincent, Belem Tower is a 16th-century fortification that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
00:36 – Jeronimos Monastery — Learn more about the history of Lisbon at the Jeronimos Monastery!
00:41 – Praça do Comércio — Kinda like the city hall area of Lisbon, locals and tourists alike gather here to window shop, watch buskers, or simply just to chill.
00:47 – Santa Justa Lift — Use a transport card to take the lift. It connects the streets of Baixa to the hilly streets of Largo do Carmo.
00:51 – Rua Nova do Carvalho — Known as the pink street of Lisbon, it used to be a red light district but has since been converted to a quaint lane filled with cosy cafes and modern pubs.
00:57 – The Sanctuary of Christ the King — A definite iconic must-visit when you’re in Portugal!
ALGARVE – 1:03
01:07 – Praia da Rocha — Amazing sunset views can be enjoyed on this beautiful beach.
01:13 – Wildwatch Tour — This boat tour includes a short kayaking session, one of the highlights is definitely kayaking into the Benagil Cave. Benagil Cave is known to be one of the most beautiful sea caves in the world!
01:30 – Pinhao Beach — Soak up some sun here, and navigate through cliff formations to get to different areas of the beach!
CASCAIS & SINTRA – 1:33
01:36 – Shoreline path of Cascais, Guincho Beach — Excellent for surfing and windsurfing with views of Serra de Sintra hills in the background.
01:44 – Pena Palace — Pena Palace or Palácio Nacional da Pena which is perched atop one of the highest points in the quaint city of Sintra!
01:50 – Moorish Castle — Built during the medieval times, the Moorish Castle served as a watchtower in the past.
01:55 – Quinta da Regaleira — A UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Sintra’s historic central location.
02:02 – Cabo da Roca — The westernmost point of Europe, the lookout point here is 150 metres above sea overlooking the coast of Serra de Sintra.
02:09 – Marisco na Praca — You can pick and choose from a seafood bar here, but be sure to try the seafood rice!
PORTO – 2:14
02:17 – Sao Bento Railway Station — Porto São Bento was built in the 20th century, most people come here to marvel at the azulejo tiles of Porto and the Renaissance stone façade.
02:23 – Cafe Santiago — Just like in Lisbon, are you really in Porto if you haven’t tried the local delight, Francesinha?
02:30 – Porto Cathedral — Built in the 12th century, Sé Catedral do Porto is one of the city’s oldest cathedrals. It’s open to the public to simply sight-see or join in their service.
02:37 – Palacio de Cristal — Mostly used as an event space by Sofia Museum , we highly recommend setting up a picnic here and catching the sunset overlooking downtown Porto.
02:46 – Duoro Valley — Go on a wine-tasting day tour to try different kinds of port wine!
02:51 – Livraria Lello — This bookstore is said to have inspired JK Rowling to start on the Harry Potter series.
02:59 – Tile Making — You’ll get to see thousands of tiles lining the walls of buildings all across Porto, why not make your own too? Learn from a local in Porto!
03:03 – Ribeira Square — End your trip at one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Porto. The sunset here is also not to be missed!
PORTUGAL ACTIVITIES
Here are some things to do in Portugal, recommended food spots, must-do Portugal tours, and hands-on classes!
Things to do in Lisbon
Things to do in Algarva
Things to do in Caiscais
Things to do in Sintra
Things to do in Porto
