You want to see as many places in Portugal as possible but don’t really have a lot of time?
Then I have the ultimate route for you to see all the important spots in a short time.
Porto
Duration: 2-3 days
Porto is located in the North of Portugal and is a great place to start your vacation.
It has its own airport and is also easily accessible via train or bus.
If you arrive via train you will see that the Sao Bento Railway Station is a piece of art itself.
Porto is perfect for everyone who likes the feeling of a city but doesn’t enjoy the big-city flair and a huge amount of tourists.
WHAT TO SEE/DO IN PORTO?
the ribeira
Torre dos Clérigos
PORTO cathedral
casa da musica
Mercado do Bolhão
Lisbon
Duration: 3-4 days
In my opinion, the best way to go from Porto to Lisbon is via bus.
First, the bus ride is very affordable, and second, the bus ride takes 3:15 hours which is also bearable.
If you choose to go by Flixbus the ticket might cost only 4.99 € depending on your departure time.
Why you shouldn’t miss out on Lisbon during your Portugal trip is very self-explanatory: beautiful buildings, charming atmosphere, and a lot of cultural sights.
The capital of Portugal is truly mesmerizing and is definitely a place for everyone!
WHAT TO SEE/DO IN LISBON?
alfama
Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Torre de Belém
Praca do Comercio
Castelo de S. Jorge
Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Faro
Duration: 2-3 days
Again, I would suggest to take the Flixbus to head to Faro (duration 3:30 hours).
The cheapest route costs 7.99 € (oh, how much I love these affordable travel prices).
I have to admit, Faro itself is quite unspectacular but it has two major advantages.
First, it has an international airport which makes it easy to end the travel route here without having to go back to Lisbon.
Second, it is directly located at the famous Algarve, known for its beautiful beaches and cliffs which means you can go surfing, go on a boat tour, or go swimming.
The activities are endless!
When I was there I went to Portimao to do a super cool Pirate ship cruise tour that also had small boats to discover the caves.
You can book this tour on Get Your Guide [LINK TO THE ACTIVITY].
WHAT TO SEE/DO IN FARO?
best starting point to explore the algarve
boat tours
hop-on/hop-off city tour
These three cities are perfect for exploring the North, the Center, and the South of Portugal.
I found that these places are the best to have an impression of the country within 7-14 days.
While I was in Portugal I also made vlogs in all three cities, so feel free to check them out on my YouTube channel to get a first visual impression of these cities.
Have a nice time in Portugal!