Porto to Faro: The Complete Portugal Journey in Two Weeks
Fourteen days gives you the time to fall properly in love with Portugal — not just its headline acts, but the quiet moments in between. This grand tour starts in the north with the Port wine cellars of Porto and the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, travels south through Coimbra’s ancient university and the cork oak plains of Alentejo, detours into Lisbon’s fado-singing soul and Sintra’s fairytale hills, and finishes on the golden cliffs of the Algarve. It’s two weeks of wine, history, coastline, and the best food in Europe you haven’t tried yet. Estimated budget: €1,500-2,200.
14-Day Itinerary Overview
Route: Porto (3) → Douro Valley Day (1) → Coimbra (1) → Lisbon (3) → Sintra Day (1) → Alentejo (2) → Algarve (3)
Best for: Comprehensive first visit, couples, travellers wanting the full Portugal experience
Budget: €1,500-2,200 per person (excluding flights)
Direction: North to south — Porto to Faro, one-way by train and bus. Alternatively, a one-way car rental from Porto with drop-off at Faro airport
Getting There & Getting Around
Arriving & One-Way Strategy
Fly into Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and depart from Faro Airport (FAO) — this avoids backtracking. Multi-city flights often cost the same as return flights on European low-cost carriers. The alternative is a one-way car rental (€200-350 for 14 days with Porto pickup and Faro drop) — this gives you maximum freedom for the Alentejo and Algarve segments. Visa: Schengen Area — 90 days visa-free for most non-EU travellers.
Public Transport Options
The train network covers the main Porto–Coimbra–Lisbon axis (Alfa Pendular, 1.5-2.5 hours between cities). Lisbon to the Algarve is 3 hours by train. Buses (Rede Expressos) connect smaller towns but the Alentejo villages are challenging without a car. Best strategy: Use trains for the long city-to-city segments and reserve a car for the Alentejo (pick up in Lisbon, drop in Faro, 4-5 days).
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Porto Arrival & Ribeira Welcome
☀️ AfternoonArrive in Porto, check into Ribeira accommodation. Walk to São Bento station to admire the azulejos. Descend to the riverfront and cross the Dom Luís I Bridge (lower deck) to Vila Nova de Gaia. Visit a Port wine lodge — Graham’s for the best terrace tasting (€15). Watch the sunset over the Douro from the Serra do Pilar viewpoint.
🌆 EveningDinner at Bufete Fase for the definitive Francesinha (€9). Stroll the Cais da Ribeira after dark.
Accommodation: Porto Ribeira (€40-90/night).
Day 2: Porto — Lello, Clérigos & São Bento
☀️ MorningPre-booked Livraria Lello (€8) at 9 AM. Climb the Clérigos Tower (€8). Walk Rua das Flores and explore the Mercado do Bolhão.
🌆 AfternoonVisit the Serralves Museum (€12-20) or its beautiful gardens. Walk through the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (free) for peacocks and Douro views. Evening: explore the Galerias de Paris nightlife district.
Entry: Lello (€8 redeemable), Clérigos (€8), Serralves (€12-20).
Day 3: Douro Valley — Pinhão & Wine Country
☀️ MorningTake the 8:30 AM train from São Bento to Pinhão (2 hours). Visit the azulejo station, then take a taxi to Quinta do Crasto for a tour (€15, pre-book). The terrace view is the most photographed spot in the Douro Valley.
🌆 AfternoonWalk the riverside in Pinhão, take a rabelo boat trip (€15, 1 hour), and taste Port at the small riverfront port houses. Catch the 5 PM train back to Porto. Dinner at a quinta restaurant if you decide to stay overnight — but the train back gives you a full day in Porto tomorrow.
Transport: Train Porto-Pinhão (€10 each way).
Day 4: Coimbra — Fado, History & the Joanine Library
☀️ MorningTake the 9 AM Alfa Pendular from Porto to Coimbra (1 hour, €15-20). Walk from the station up through the medieval streets to the University of Coimbra. Visit the Joanine Library (€12, pre-booked) and walk the university’s courtyards.
🌆 AfternoonDescend to the Baixa district and the riverside. Visit the Sé Velha (old cathedral). Walk across the Santa Clara Bridge to the Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery ruins. For dinner, find a restaurant serving Coimbra’s specialty — Leitão à Bairrada (suckling pig).
Transport: Train Porto-Coimbra (€15-20).
Accommodation: Coimbra city centre (€35-70/night).
Day 5: Lisbon — Alfama, Tram 28 & Fado
☀️ MorningTake the train from Coimbra to Lisbon (Alfa Pendular, 1.5 hours, €20-30). Check into Alfama accommodation. Walk to Miradouro de Santa Luzia for your first Lisbon view. Explore Alfama’s alleys. Grab pastéis de nata at Manteigaria.
🌆 EveningRide Tram 28 from Martim Moniz at sunset. Book a fado dinner at Tasca do Chico in Alfama (no cover, authentic) or Clube de Fado (more polished, €25-35 with dinner).
Transport: Train Coimbra-Lisbon (€20-30).
Accommodation: Lisbon Alfama (€35-80/night).
Day 6: Belém & Monumental Lisbon
☀️ MorningTram 15 to Belém. Visit the Jerónimos Monastery (€10), the Torre de Belém (€8), and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Eat warm pastéis at Pastéis de Belém.
🌆 AfternoonExplore Baixa-Chiado — Rua Augusta Arch, Rossio Square, Elevador de Santa Justa. Visit the Convento do Carmo ruins (€5), where the roofless Gothic arches stand as a memorial to the 1755 earthquake. Sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.
Entry: Jerónimos (€10), Torre de Belém (€8), Carmo (€5).
Day 7: Sintra Day Trip
☀️ Morning8:30 AM train from Rossio to Sintra. Bus 434 up to the Moorish Castle first (9 AM), then Pena Palace (booked for 10 AM).
🌆 AfternoonQuinta da Regaleira (€10) — explore tunnels and the Initiation Well. Grab travesseiros at Piriquita and return to Lisbon. Evening: a relaxed dinner in the Príncipe Real neighbourhood — Lisbon’s most charming evening quarter.
Entry: Pena (€14), Moorish Castle (€8), Regaleira (€10).
Day 8: Évora — Roman Temple & Alentejo Wine
☀️ MorningPick up a rental car in Lisbon and drive east to Évora (1.5 hours). Visit the Roman Temple and the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones, €5). Walk the walled city.
🌆 AfternoonDrive 30 minutes to Herdade do Esporão for a wine tour and tasting (€15-25, book ahead). Stay for sunset over the vineyards and dinner at the quinta’s restaurant. Overnight at the quinta or in Évora.
Transport: Car rental from Lisbon (€25-40/day).
Accommodation: Évora or Esporão quinta (€55-120/night).
Day 9: Marvão & Castelo de Vide — Alentejo Hilltops
☀️ MorningDrive north from Évora to Castelo de Vide (1.5 hours). Explore the whitewashed streets, the medieval castle, and the Jewish quarter (Judiaria) with its distinctive dark slate houses.
🌆 AfternoonContinue 15 minutes to Marvão, the crown jewel of Alentejo hilltop villages. Walk the castle walls, have lunch on the main square, and soak in the views across the Alentejo plains to Spain. Overnight in Marvão — the castle is beautifully lit at night.
Accommodation: Marvão guesthouse (€45-90/night).
Day 10: Drive South to the Algarve
☀️ MorningDrive from Marvão to the Algarve (3 hours). The drive south crosses from the cork oak landscapes of Alentejo into the golden limestone of the Algarve. Stop at Milfontes or Zambujeira do Mar along the Alentejo coast for a swim.
🌆 AfternoonArrive in Lagos and check into old town accommodation. Walk to Ponta da Piedade for sunset — the golden sea stacks and arches are spectacular in late light. Dinner in the old town.
Transport: Car rental.
Accommodation: Lagos old town (€40-80/night).
Day 11: Benagil Cave & the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
☀️ MorningDrive to Benagil (20 min). Rent a kayak from the beach at 8:30 AM and paddle into the famous sea cave (€25-35). The morning light through the cave’s skylight is magical, and early means no crowds.
🌆 AfternoonWalk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail from Benagil to Praia da Marinha (6 km, easy). Swim at Marinha Beach — consistently rated one of the world’s most beautiful. Drive back to Lagos via the clifftop N125 road.
Activities: Kayak (€25-35), hiking (free).
Day 12: Lagos Beaches & Ponta da Piedade
☀️ MorningA dedicated beach day. Choose from Praia do Camilo (200 steps down to a golden cove with sea arch), Praia Dona Ana (iconic cliffs), or the long stretch of Meia Praia (Atlantic waves).
🌆 AfternoonWalk the Ponta da Piedade boardwalk at low tide — the wooden pathways offer views from above of the sea caves, grottos, and rock arches. Take a small boat tour of the grottos (€20-30, 40 min) for access to caves you can’t reach by kayak.
Day 13: Sagres & Cabo de São Vicente
☀️ Full DayDrive west to Sagres (30 min). Visit the Sagres Fortress (€3) where Prince Henry the Navigator launched the Age of Discovery. Continue to Cabo de São Vicente, mainland Europe’s southwesternmost point. The lighthouse, wild cliffs, and crashing Atlantic surf are breathtaking. Spend the afternoon surfing at Praia do Beliche or simply watching the waves. Stay for sunset — watching the sun sink into the Atlantic from Europe’s edge is a proper end-of-trip moment. Dinner at a Sagres surf bar.
Entry: Sagres Fortress (€3), Cabo de São Vicente (free).
Day 14: Final Beach Morning & Departure
☀️ MorningOne last Algarve morning. Swim at Praia da Luz (10 minutes from Lagos, quieter on weekdays) or revisit your favourite Lagos beach. Have a final glass of Algarve wine with grilled fish.
🌆 DepartureDrop your rental car at Faro Airport (1 hour from Lagos by car or train). The A22 motorway is direct and toll-free. Faro airport is small and efficient — arrive 1.5 hours before European flights, 2.5 hours for international departures. The Algarve sun will follow you home.
Transport: Drive to Faro Airport (1 hour), flight home.
Practical Information for the Grand Tour
Visas & Entry
Schengen Area rules. EU/EEA nationals need ID. Most non-EU visitors get 90 days visa-free within any 180-day period. Always confirm current regulations.
SIM Card & Internet
Buy a SIM at the airport or any Vodafone/MEO/NOS shop (€15-20 for 20-30 GB, enough for 2 weeks). Free WiFi in most hotels and cafes. The Algarve has good 4G everywhere; the Douro Valley can be patchy.
Money & ATMs
Euros (€) everywhere. Cards accepted widely in cities. Keep €100-150 cash total for the trip — rural Alentejo restaurants and the Marvão castle entry are cash-only. The Faro airport ATM has good rates.
Language & Communication
English is widely spoken in tourism. In Alentejo villages, it’s rarer — learn: Desculpe (sorry/excuse me), Quanto custa? (how much?), Uma cerveja, por favor (a beer, please). The Portuguese appreciate any effort.
Best Time to Visit
May-June and September are perfect for a 2-week grand tour — the weather is warm everywhere, crowds are manageable, and prices are lower than July-August. Summer (July-August) is hot (30-40°C) and crowded, especially in the Algarve. Spring (March-April) and autumn (October) are pleasant but cooler — you may not swim in the Algarve.
Health & Safety
Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe. Watch for pickpockets in Lisbon (Tram 28, Rossio) and Porto (São Bento metro escalators). Tap water is safe everywhere. Sun protection is essential in the Algarve. Alentejo summer heat is extreme — carry water and avoid driving mid-afternoon. EU citizens need their EHIC card; others should have travel insurance with medical cover.
Budget Summary: 14-Day Portugal Grand Tour
Estimated Total: €1,500-2,200 per person
- Accommodation (13 nights): €450-1,040
- Train Porto-Coimbra-Lisbon: €45-75
- Car rental (Alentejo-Algarve, 6 days, one-way): €180-300
- Tolls & fuel: €50-80
- Douro Valley train & boat: €30-50
- Wine tastings & quinta tours: €45-80
- Museums & attractions: €60-90
- Meals (14 days): €280-450
- SIM card & miscellaneous: €30-50
Best Season: May-June or September
Recommended For: Comprehensive first visit, couples, travellers wanting the full Portugal experience
Money-Saving Tip: Book multi-city flights (into Porto, out of Faro) — they often cost the same as returns on TAP or Ryanair. Buy Port wine in Porto (Mercado do Bolhão) rather than the airport. Book the Alfa Pendular trains 2-3 weeks ahead for Promo fares (from €13 between cities instead of €30-50 walk-up).
Disclaimer: Prices are estimates and may vary by season. Quinta tours, the Joanine Library, and popular attractions require advance booking. Multi-city flights should be booked early for best rates. Always check current visa requirements and travel advisories. This itinerary is for general reference only.