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Introducing Portugal

From the seemingly never-ending festivals to the diverse range of cultures that have made Portugal their home over the centuries, to the simple but delightful culinary experiences, the vibrant heritage and cultural diversity of this country captivate travelers.

When is the best time to visit?
Portugal is a year-round destination, but if possible, travelers should aim to visit in the springtime when the almond blossoms and wildflowers cover the countryside. Learn more

Where should you go in Portugal?
Experience the traditional Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon before it will be absorbed by the rest of the bustling city’s culture, tour the ancient ruins of Sintra and historic Evora, walk along the bluffs of Europe’s most southwestern point at Cabo de São Vicente, and relax on the beaches of Ilha de Tavira.

How many days do I need?
There are too many destinations that are must-sees in Portugal to see the country in less than a week. At least 10 days is best. Learn more

Getting Around Portugal
Although smaller than neighboring Spain and France, distances in Portugal are still significant—traveling from Porto to Faro, for example, takes five hours by car. Flying is a quick and comfortable way to get between the country’s major cities, with the largest airport being Lisbon Airport (LIS). Going by bus or train are also options here. Learn more 

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 21 days

Portugal Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Camilo Beach in Lagos
Map of Lisbon, Porto & the Algarve - 10 Days
Lisbon, Porto & the Algarve - 10 Days

Experience three of Portugal's most iconic destinations on this 10-day trip, starting in Lisbon, where you'll tour ancient ruins, cobbled streets, and a UNESCO-listed village in the forested hills. Next, head north to Porto—famous for wine production and colorful architecture along the Douro River. The hardest decisions fall at the end, where you can choose between spectacular beaches and whitewashed villages in the Algarve.

Madeira Island's northern coast
Map of Explore Portugal: Porto, Lisbon, & Madeira Island - 14 Days
Explore Portugal: Porto, Lisbon, & Madeira Island - 14 Days

This epic Portugal tour highlights two cosmopolitan cities and a stunning mid-Atlantic island—part of an autonomous region—known for its tropical foliage and eternal spring-like weather. You'll kick off in Porto, home of centuries-old wine production and colorful architecture along the Douro River. Then fly to Madeira Island for secluded beaches and untouristed villages waiting to be discovered. Last but not least is Lisbon's friendly, up-and-coming capital—a striking city built on seven hills.

Porto's setting along the Douro River
Map of Best of Lisbon & Porto - 7 Days
Best of Lisbon & Porto - 7 Days

This adventure is the perfect introduction to Portugal for first-timers. Over the course of a week, you'll explore Lisbon's exciting food and culture scene, take scenic day trips to historic villages, and walk through Porto's UNESCO-listed city center. Finish in the oldest wine region in the world before returning to Lisbon by way of the country's medieval capital: Coimbre.

Marinha Beach in Portimão
Map of Best of Portugal, from Porto to Algarve - 8 Days
Best of Portugal, from Porto to Algarve - 8 Days

This tour mixes Portugal's vibrant cities with the incredible natural scenery of the Algarve region, starting with guided tours of Porto and Lisbon's hilly and historic neighborhoods. Enjoy a day trip to the Douro Valley for a tasting of the region's wine and port varietals, then head south to Algarve to explore its water sports, preserved coastal parks, and endless coastline filled with sandy beaches and rock formations. Spend hours relaxing on the beach, hiking along the coast, or meandering the historic fishing villages, all before watching dramatic sunsets and experiencing the area's exceptional nightlife.

Sunset from the Cabo da Roca near Lisbon
Map of Ultimate Portugal Tour: Lisbon, Porto, The Algarve, Douro Valley & More - 14 Days
Ultimate Portugal Tour: Lisbon, Porto, The Algarve, Douro Valley & More - 14 Days

This itinerary includes Portugal's two biggest cities, a slew of historic villages, and some spectacular beaches for an epic adventure to remember. Start in up-and-coming Lisbon to explore ancient ruins and trendy districts before going north to UNESCO-listed Porto (and its nearby wine region). You'll also get time in the university towns of Évora and Coimbra—each with its own medieval attractions and dining scenes—before kicking back for a few days in the Algarve.

Beach paths along the Algarve's southern coast
Map of Lisbon & the Algarve - 7 Days
Lisbon & the Algarve - 7 Days

This weeklong itinerary covers Portugal's biggest metropolis and its southern coast for a city-beach combo that's hard to beat. Kick off in Europe's hottest capital—Lisbon—for a guided introduction to the 'City of Seven Hills', including nearby highlights like Sintra and Cascais. Then, take the train south for several days of glorious beach-hopping while based in a charming old city surrounded by stone walls: Lagos.

Make the Most of Your Time in Portugal

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
Foz, Porto's Old Town
How Many Days to Spend in Portugal

Portugal's compact size means you can pack a lot into a short trip—a few days allows for exploration of Lisbon and Porto, along with a few excursions beyond city limits. With a...

Portugal Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Portugal Hotel Advice

Unique places to stay, curated by kimkim specialists
Photo courtesy of The Lumiares Hotel & Spa
The 7 Best Boutique Hotels in Lisbon

Follow the sounds of fado through Lisbon's streets to one of these hotels in neighborhoods across the city. Stay near the sophisticated Avenida Liberdade and Marquês de Pombal...

Photo courtesy of Mercure Porto Centro Aliados
The 5 Best Boutique Hotels in Porto

Porto's hotels echo the city's history, with locations dotted through the historic city center. Stay in a former manor house or comfortable guesthouse, with options at all...

The Algarve, Portugal
The Best Hotels in the Algarve

Head south to the golden beaches of the Algarve at one of these seaside retreats. Whether you stay in charming Tavira, along the cliffs of Carvoeiro, or at a wellness retreat...

Our Latest Portugal Content

Get yourself to Lagos in the Algarve and explore Praça Gil Eanes (Gil Eanes Square)
Lisbon, Porto, Lagos & Sintra: Best Itinerary Ideas

For most, 9 to 10 days is ideal for a Portugal trip, with stops in Lisbon, Porto, Lagos, and Sintra. With more time, you can enjoy extra activities at each location or a few days in another region, like Évora in the Alentejo. Read below for more inspiring Lisbon, Porto, Lagos, and Sintra itineraries.

Famous for its epic waves, Nazaré is a hotspot for surfers
Lisbon, Porto & Nazaré: Best Itinerary Ideas

Most travelers will find that eight to nine days are perfect for a well-paced Portugal trip with stops in Lisbon, Porto, and Nazaré. It's possible to hit the highlights in as few as six or seven days if you're okay with a faster-paced journey. Though with more time, you can enjoy extra activities at each stop or a few days in another region like the Algarve, Sintra, or Coimbra. Get inspired with the Lisbon, Porto, and Nazaré trip ideas below.

 Once in Évora, check out the historic sites, like the Cathedral of Évora
Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Évora & the Algarve: Best Itinerary Ideas

Travelers to Portugal typically plan a trip for about 15 days when combining Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Évora, and the Algarve with Douro Valley. If you're not interested in Douro Valley, 13 to 15 days is enough for your Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Évora, and Algarve trip. Even travelers with limited time can see the highlights in as few as 11 or 12 days. For the best itineraries, including Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Évora, and the Algarve, read below.

Portugal Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Portugal map: 7 Days in Portugal - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas
7 Days in Portugal - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas
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Portugal map: 5 Days in Portugal - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas
5 Days in Portugal - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas
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Portugal map: 14 Days in Portugal - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
14 Days in Portugal - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Portugal
Travel specialist Marina Courtaut
active 8 hours ago

Marina Courtaut

Can you think of a better way to live adventures than traveling? When we travel we open our minds to new experiences and learn new cultures by making the destination we visited our home for a...

read more...
Travel specialist Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
active 8 hours ago

Beatriz De Pablo Rocha

The combination of the two places where I grew up (Madrid and a small village in Badajoz, Extremadura) has made me a passionate traveler almost from birth. Unknown destinations visited by travelers...

read more...
Travel specialist Tiago Filipe
active 14 hours ago

Tiago Filipe

I've always traveled extensively with my family and from a very early age developed a strong taste for it. Portuguese were once sailors and discoverers and I like to think of myself as one too: a...

read more...
Travel specialist Patricia Marques
active 19 hours ago

Patricia Marques

I was born and raised in Barcelona (Spain). I started travelling at a young age, and I acquired the passion for traveling from my parents. My passion for traveling made me make the decision to...

read more...

Related Destinations

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Trip Reviews for Portugal

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Best Vacation Ever!!...
Portugal | May 16 - May 25, 2023

Kathleen
Kathleen T.
Santa Fe, NM | Reviewed on Jun 01, 2023

Wonderful vacation! I wouldn’t change anything. Catarina planned the perfect girls trip for us. Excellent guides and very memorable. Rita in Lisbon was very knowledgeable in history and detail. Mario our driver and guild was so pleasant and knew how to get us everywhere on time. He kept us entertained about local places and customs.Sonia in Porto where we visited the wineries and valleys. Absolutely a must. She taught us customs and daily life for the Portuguese. How I envy them! Every... read more

Wonderful vacation! I wouldn’t change anything. Catarina planned the perfect girls trip for us. Excellent guides and very memorable. Rita in Lisbon was very knowledgeable in history and detail. Mario our driver and guild was so pleasant and knew how to get us everywhere on time. He kept us entertained about local places and customs.Sonia in Porto where we visited the wineries and valleys. Absolutely a must. She taught us customs and daily life for the Portuguese. How I envy them! Every detail of our trip made it one of the best vacations I’ve ever had. Would highly recommend this company for a unforgettable experience.

Hotel Reviews
Vila Galé Porto Ribeira
Porto

Wonderful hotel. Staff were very helpful. Excellent location within walking distance of local restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
So nice and very hard workers with a smile.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable.
Lutecia Smart Design Hotel
Lisboa

Wonderful location for our morning flight. Clean and beautiful. The restaurant was the perfect way to spend our just meal in Portugal . 5 star in every way.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Our waiter was the best! Excellent service.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Dinner - Fado & Food
Porto

I will never forget this night in Portugal! What an experience listening to these stories being sung with beautiful music. A dinner show like no other.. A must for your visit.

Quality of Experience
Food
Best food ever!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All!
Transport
Experience, ,courteous and wonderful
Local specialist: Catarina Cotrim
Catarina
Catarina Cotrim
Local specialist in Torres Novas | Replied on Jun 01, 2023

Dear Kathy, my God, thank you so much 💗 From the start that you and the Teresas were such amazing clients, open and available to do and see everything ! It was such a pleasure to work with you and to have the oportunity to meet you.
I´m so glad that you´ve the best time here in Portugal and I can´t wait to meet you all again. Please come back 😘 if only to enjoy the sun and the sea of our Algarve!

I wish you all the best and I can´t thank you enough, specially, for your trust in our agency
With all my love
Catarina

Excellent Trip Plan for Mainland Portugal and the Azores
Portugal | May 6 - May 19, 2023

Karen
Karen F.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on May 30, 2023

Our group could not have been happier with our two week trip to Portugal and Sao Miguel Island! The hotels, transfers, and guides were all excellent. In Lisbon, our guide was Filipa for two days and she was very good. I would definitely recommend Palacio Ludovice Hotel as well - great location, rooms, and customer service. We loved the day trip to Sintra, Estoril and Cascais as well - another great guide and Nortada restaurant for lunch was a great recommendation. Evora was lovely but I... read more

Our group could not have been happier with our two week trip to Portugal and Sao Miguel Island! The hotels, transfers, and guides were all excellent. In Lisbon, our guide was Filipa for two days and she was very good. I would definitely recommend Palacio Ludovice Hotel as well - great location, rooms, and customer service. We loved the day trip to Sintra, Estoril and Cascais as well - another great guide and Nortada restaurant for lunch was a great recommendation. Evora was lovely but I would not necessarily recommend the Pousada de Evora, Convento dos Loios hotel. The rooms were generally sparse and they had very limited staff. However, Telma (our guide for two days) was outstanding and we loved the Olive Oil Estate tour and lunch - definitely a high point. Quinta Nova Winery House was in a spectacular location - but the trip up and down the mountain was nerve racking for those with fear of heights! Our dinner at their restaurant was delicious and the boat trip down the Douro River was wonderful. Would not recommended the picnic lunch at Quinda da Roeda Winery and it was a LONG, uphill walk from the dock (not 10 minutes - more like 30 minutes). Torel Palace in Porto was another high point - beautiful rooms and excellent service in a great location. The trip to Sao Miguel went as planned. However, we did not need the two rental cars. The hotel was only 10 minutes from the airport, so a taxi would have worked fine and we didn't use them the rest of the trip (I think we would have needed them if we stayed in the original hotel at the botanical gardens and probably should have rethought them after we moved to the waterfront). The Hotel Marina Atlantico was nothing fancy but nice with a great view and central location. We loved the Sunset Boat ride, the whale watching trip, and the Food and Wine Walk was wonderful. Natacha for Sete Ciudades and Furnas could not have been better - please recommend her for all of your clients; they will not be disappointed! All in all, we had a fantastic trip and were so happy with Marta and the Kimkim team as always. Thank you again! Karen Friedrich and Team!

Hotel Reviews
Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel
Lisboa

Lovely hotel with good service. Many rooms have windows that overlook the atrium and dining area instead of outside, so you may want to request an "outside" room if that is important to you. Great location in central Lisbon.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pousada Convento de Evora
Évora

It is a converted Convent, so rooms are small and sparse but clean. Minimal staff in the evening/morning so it was difficult to find someone if you wanted a drink at the bar or coffee in the morning. Location next to the ruins is very nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Quinta Nova Winery House - Relais & Châteaux
Sabrosa

Lovely hotel with beautiful rooms and amazing views. The cost of those views comes from the trip up the mountain on a narrow, switch back road with no rails - scary up and down trip every day for anyone afraid of heights. There are also no other services so you will need to eat and drink onsite. Breakfast was not served until 8:30AM, and there were no staff onsite earlier if you wanted a coffee or tea. I found that lacking for a Relais and Chateau property. Dinner was outstanding.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Torel Palace Porto
Porto

Unbelievable rooms and amazing service. Central to everything.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Marina Atlântico
Ponta Delgada, São Miguel

A very nice waterfront hotel - nothing fancy but clean and good service with a great balcony facing the waterfront. Very nice bar with good food. Great location.

Authenticity & Character
Feels like a convention hotel, so not really charming.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Marta Trzeciakowska
Marta
Marta Trzeciakowska
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on May 31, 2023

Hi Karen, thank you for submitting this review. It is a pleasure to have organized the trip for you and your group! All your comments will be a great help for us to continue improving the experiences we want to offer our travelers, and get more people to discover the beauty and wonders of Portugal. Wish our paths cross again in the future if you decide to come to Spain or Portugal at a different time. My warmest regards, Marta

The most inclusive, an incredible trip I’ve ever had
Portugal | May 16 - May 25, 2023

Terri
Terri G.
San Antonio, TX | Reviewed on May 26, 2023

Rita Chaves was so knowledgeable and professional. I learned so much. I felt she was a great friend after our wonderful time with her. All the drivers were great. Special shout to Leonardo. We had an eight layover and a lot of luggage -heavy also. At one am he helped is take the bags up the street and give flights of narrow streets.
The Fada was so special and memorable.
Sofia was so flexible and accommodating. Loved her fun personality.
Mario was a great driver and fabulous... read more

Rita Chaves was so knowledgeable and professional. I learned so much. I felt she was a great friend after our wonderful time with her. All the drivers were great. Special shout to Leonardo. We had an eight layover and a lot of luggage -heavy also. At one am he helped is take the bags up the street and give flights of narrow streets.
The Fada was so special and memorable.
Sofia was so flexible and accommodating. Loved her fun personality.
Mario was a great driver and fabulous guide.
Catarina was so helpful so and thorough. And very very patient!!
There’s no way our fabulous time in Portugal could’ve been done without all of the wonderful people. Please forgive me for the names I can’t remember,
I am looking forward to my next trip!

Hotel Reviews
Lutecia Smart Design Hotel
Lisboa

The quality of the food and accommodations were for Star.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Vila Galé Porto Ribeira
Porto

Everybody there could not have been more accommodating and kind. It was a great location to get anywhere.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Catarina Cotrim
Catarina
Catarina Cotrim
Local specialist in Torres Novas | Replied on May 29, 2023

Dear Terri (and Teresa & Kathy) it is with my heart full that I thank you for this amazing review! :)
I´m really happy that you have the most amazing time here in Portugal, I can´t wait for your return
You´re amazing clients, really easy going and very helpfull and open to my suggestions, it was a great pleasure to work with you and, of couse, to meet you all :)

I wish you all the best and i´m looking foward to hear from you again
Thank you so much
With a lots of love for you
Catarina