1 Week in Portugal 🇵🇹 Lisbon & the Algarve Coast
7 Days
-Portugal, Spain,
By Jackie Swayze
Jul 22, 2025
Portugal is rich in history, food, culture, and some incredible natural beauty. This 1 week itinerary focuses on Lisbon and the Algarve Coast, with day trips from each.
Portugal is also one of the more affordable countries in Europe, so this is a great destination for those on a budget.
For more in-depth breakdown about visiting Portugal, check out my blog posts: https://maximizingmypto.com/tag/portugal/
Recommended Stays
HotelLisbon Wine Hotel
Book here: https://booking.tpx.lt/nZaQwr6e
This small hotel is located in the heart of Lisbon. The rooms are newly refreshed and incredibly comfortable. The included breakfast buffet is delicious. This hotel was a highlight of my trip to Portugal.
HotelLagos Avenida Hotel
Book here: https://booking.tpx.lt/hQn690Ig
Lagos is a great place to base yourself in the Algarve. This hotel is walking distance to everything in town and overlooks the water. The contemporary rooms are comfortable and the rooftop pool is a perfect place to relax at the end of the day.
Day 1
Start your trip in Lisbon by exploring the city on foot. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to get a lot of steps and go up/down plenty of hills.
Be sure to try a pastel de nata while you’re out! It’s an egg custard tart that originated here and they’re addictively delicious. You’ve been warned 😜
Dinner at Bairrices was probably the best meal of the entire trip (and the competition was fierce). It’s a set price and comes with a whopping 28 items. You can even order more of any of your favorites.
Day 2
On day 2, take the train out to Sintra and tour the National Palace of Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, and the National Palace of Sintra. You can easily get there via public transit and walk between all the sites.
Day 3
Eat a light breakfast because you’re going to want to be hungry for a food tour in the morning. You’ll get to try bifana sandwiches, port wine, sardines, and more on this tour of delicious Portugese foods. Here’s the tour I recommend: https://gyg.me/tuNTQCul
Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing sailboat ride on the Tagus River. Here’s the tour we did: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/358359?s=67&unique_share_id=a0bf4fdb-5f9f-4d31-8ff5-896e7f1b7979
Tagus River Bridge
Day 4
Spend the day in nearby Belém, where Portuguese exploration began. The Jerónimos Monestary is worth a tour, and when you’re done, treat yourself to another pastel de nata from the place they originated - Pastéis de Belém bakery.
Day 5
Start your day off with an incredible, healthy meal at Café Janis before picking up a rental car and driving down to the Algarve Coast. The drive takes about 3 hours without stops. Unwind afterwards by enjoying the rooftop pool at your hotel.
Search for a rental car here: https://rentalcars.tpx.lt/1qNpn4Q3
Café Janis
Day 6
Get up early and beat the crowds (and the heat) to visit the Benagil Sea Caves on a kayaking tour at sunrise. Here’s the tour I recommend: https://viator.tpx.lt/deasKVeQ
Afterwards, drive out to Cabo de São Vicente, the lighthouse at the very corner of Portugal. It sits high on a cliff with incredible views out to the ocean.
Spend the rest of the day in Lagos, exploring the town and soaking up the charming seaside.
Cabo de São Vicente
buteo kitchen & bar
Day 7
Seville, Spain is a 3 hour drive from Lagos and it makes for a perfect day trip. The city is very walkable, so once you park your car, you can see the whole town on foot. The Royal Acázar of Seville and lunch at La Bartola were my favorite parts of the day, but the whole city is beautiful and lively.
