4 Days in Lisbon and Porto

I’ve shared many posts about Portugal because I’m completely in awe of the country. But for those looking for a quick getaway to Lisbon and Porto with a simple, easy-to-follow itinerary, here’s a short guide to help you get around hassle-free.

As I began writing, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be—there’s so much to see, eat, and drink that condensing it all into just four days felt overwhelming. Here’s my attempt to help you experience as much—or as little—as you want in those four days. Here it goes:

Lisbon (Lisboa)

Day 1

Round 1 of Walking
1. Rossio Square
2. Rua Augusta (one of the most famous squares in Lisbon)
3. Praca de Comercio (this is the square at the end of Rua Augusta and adjacent streets, lot of bollywood and hollywood movies have been shot here)
4. Santa Justa lift (started in 1902 first, you can actually go inside but there is a long queue and a small fee).
Round 2 (you can choose to do on Day 2) -
1. Torre de Belem,
2. Monastery of Jeronimos and Pedras dos Decombrimontos.
3. If you can, try riding one of their local trams, it is fun. Tram no. 28 is the most popular tram to see around.
Lunch Options
1. We recommend trying out Time Out market. It is a huge pavilion with many boutique and 1 Michelin star chef’s pop-up restaurants. You have to find a table to sit, get a bottle or whiskey from the bar and get food from various places. (It is right next to their largest fruits/veg market so keep walking and you will see doors for the market area with food)
2. An Indian restaurant called Chutnify in Principal Real. It was listed in Conde Nast (Vogue) as one of the best restaurants in Lisbon.

If you have more time, pick any of the closer neighborhoods and walk around for Cafes and restaurants like - Principal Real, Bairro Alto, Alfama, Chiado.

Day 2

Do a day trip to Sintra.

Visit Pena Palace and stop by their terrace café for sandwiches and coffee. From the entry gate, take the shuttle to the main gate—it’s a steep uphill walk otherwise. Important tip: private cars aren’t allowed to park within at least a 1-2-mile stretch, so you’ll be stopped if you try. The best plan is to arrive early, find parking as close as possible, then hop on the shuttle to Pena Palace gates..
Cabo de Roca - Westernmost of Europe in Sintra, not much to do, easy walking, take picture, eat roasted chestnut
Quinta da Regaleira - stunning estate near Sintra, famous for its enchanting gardens, mysterious tunnels, and the iconic Initiation Well. This UNESCO World Heritage site blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline architectural styles, creating a magical atmosphere that feels straight out of a fairy tale. Exploring its hidden passageways and lush grounds is a must for anyone visiting the region.
If you cant do all 3 then I recommend pick either Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira but dont skip Cabo de Roca.

Things to try:

Pastel de Nata - Link from Conde Nast, don’t have to try all, maybe 1-2 :)
Ginja, a cherry liqueur, is famously found in Óbidos, but there are also some great shops in Lisbon where you can try it. Try either A Ginjinha (one of the oldest shops) or Ginjinha Sem Rival (where somebody feed Phil went)
Seafood, Shrimp and local Vinho Verde (very refreshing wine)
If you want to try the places where Phil went in Lisbon, HERE is the link.

Porto

Day 1

Bolsa Palace - 30mins tour for $12 per person (different for kids and students). Tour is easy and quick. Must try!
Head to Ribeira - 10 mins walking distance from the palace, inclined down so slightly easy. For seniors, we have seen Uber coming all the way down to Ribeira, so try to use that option as walking out of here is either stairs/incline unless you walk over the Bridge.
1. Many small cafes enjoy a coffee with pastry. Have lunch, relax and enjoy the views of Douro River.
2. You can also buy good quality Souvenirs from here.
3. You can walk across and take in the views from the Dom Luís Bridge:
4. Famous port houses are on the other side of the bridge. You can do port wine tasting too, no advance booking required.

Day 2

Sao Bento Train station, the station is popular for the blue tiles and took 11 years to install. (Highly recommend) Many options from walkable distance here, example:
Igreja de Carmo (10 mins walk), Porto Cathedral (5mins walk), Porto University (9 mins walk).
If kids are Harry Potter fans then -Livraria Lello. It is a library and J K Rowling wrote many chapters of Harry Potter here. $5 per person ticket and the line tends to be longer. (7 mins walk from Sao Bento station). Must try!
There are many botanical gardens and museums if any of that interests you.
There are many cafes here so walk around and enjoy some shopping, coffee or even Gelato.
For Lunch - head to Matosinhos - Get an uber, it’s about 20 mins drive. The locals call Matosinhos the place with the best fish in the world.
We suggest Sao Valentim - a local favorite, small restaurant, they serve catch of the day, ask for it, usually Seabass or Sea Bream. Shrimps are recommended to try.
After lunch, head to Matosinhos beach (5mins walk from Sao Valentim, easy flat walk) and enjoy coffee at the beachside cafe. I don’t remember the name but it’s right on the beach and you can see it from the street.
Enjoy freshly roasted chestnuts, 3 EUR for a small bag.

Things to try

Roasted Chestnuts
Port and other Wine