Port cellars and Algarve cliffs

Who it is for

For a first trip to Portugal that wants a few days on the southern coast as well as Porto and Lisbon.

Not for anyone who wants to see the whole Algarve from a single hotel: Lagos covers the west, while Tavira and the Ria Formosa, 108 km away, need another base.

The strategy

The trip runs north to south. Porto comes first, with the Baixa and Ribeira one day and Gaia the next, then Lisbon, about three hours away on the Alfa Pendular from Campanhã. From Lisbon to the Algarve it is about 300 km, by express coach, by train with a change on the way or by car. In the Algarve, stay in Lagos, the western terminus of the Algarve line, and have a car or taxi for the Benagil and Seven Valleys day, 37 km away. Buy timed tickets for the Sintra palaces in advance. You fly home from Faro airport, about 90 km from Lagos. May, June and September fall in the best season at all three stops.

What you will see

• Luís I Bridge, Porto. Opened in 1886, designed by Théophile Seyrig, a former partner of Eiffel: a 172 m arch and two stacked decks.
• Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon. Commissioned by Manuel I in 1501 with the tax on pepper and finished almost a century later, it's the masterpiece of the Manueline style and a World Heritage Site since 1983.
• Ponta da Piedade, Algarve. The headland south of Lagos, with Miocene limestone cliffs, isolated stacks in the sea and caves.

Day by day

Porto

1. 1
   Day 1: Baixa, the Cathedral, and the Ribeira, top to bottom

   1. 2São Bento StationEssential
   2. 9Lello BookshopUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 1Luís I BridgeEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Gaia, the wine, and the river

   1. Palácio da BolsaIf there is time
3. 3
   Day 3: Boavista, Serralves, the Foz, and Matosinhos · if you have more time

   1. 7Casa da MúsicaWorth a visit
   2. 8Serralves FoundationHalf a day or moreWorth a visit

Lisbon

1. 4
   Day 4: Baixa, Alfama and the castle

   1. 3The miradourosUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 2São Jorge CastleOne to two hoursEssential
2. 5
   Day 5: Belém and the river line

   1. 9Belém TowerIf there is time
   2. Padrão dos Descobrimentos and MAATUp to half an hourIf there is time
3. 6
   Day 6: Art, Campo de Ourique and the river

   1. 7National Tile MuseumOne to two hoursWorth a visit
4. 7
   Day 7: Sintra (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Algarve

1. 8
   Day 8: Lagos on foot and Ponta da Piedade

   1. 6Church of Santo AntónioUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 7Slave MarketUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 1Ponta da PiedadeOne to two hoursEssential
   4. 5Praia do CamiloUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 9
   Day 9: Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente

   1. 2Sagres FortressOne to two hoursEssential
   2. 3Cabo de São VicenteUp to half an hourEssential
3. 10
   Day 10: The Seven Hanging Valleys and the Benagil cave

   1. 4Seven Hanging Valleys TrailHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. 8Benagil CaveUp to half an hourWorth a visit
4. 11
   Day 11: Tavira and the Ria Formosa (day trip) · if you have more time

   1. Tavira IslandHalf a day or moreWorth a visit