Free itinerary
The perfect 7-day Portugal itinerary — the way we actually travel it
We're the family behind @our_adventures_in_portugal, and this is the route we send to everyone who asks. One week, three regions, no tourist-trap detours.
The route at a glance
Lisbon (2 nights) → Alentejo coast (1) → Costa Vicentina (1) → West Algarve (1) → Central Algarve (1) → depart Faro or Lisbon. Total driving: about 7 hours across the week. Best months: April–June and September–October.
Day 1–2 · Arrive, no car needed
Lisbon — but the local side
Skip the Baixa crowds after your first morning. Base yourself in Graça or Campo de Ourique, ride tram 28 before 9am, watch sunset from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte instead of the packed castle, and eat dinner at a tasca where the menu is handwritten. Day-trip option: Sintra at opening time, not midday.
Day 3 · ±2h driving
Lisbon → Alentejo coast
Pick up your rental car and head south across the 25 de Abril bridge. Stop at Cabo Espichel for the cliff views, then on to Porto Covo or Vila Nova de Milfontes for the night. This stretch — the Costa Vicentina — is the Portugal most itineraries drive straight past.
Day 4 · ±1.5h, slow on purpose
Costa Vicentina — the wild coast
Beach-hop south: Praia da Samoqueira, Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar and the dramatic cliffs at Cabo Sardão where storks nest on sea stacks. Overnight in Odeceixe or Aljezur. Dinner is grilled fish and vinho verde — this coast does it better than anywhere.
Day 5 · ±1h
West Algarve — surf country
Arrifana, Amado and Cordoama are the beaches where Portugal's surf families spend their summers. Even if you don't surf, the cliff walks are world-class. Sleep near Sagres and catch sunset at Cabo de São Vicente — the southwestern tip of Europe.
Day 6 · ±1.5h
Sagres → the golden coast
Head east along the south coast. Kayak into the Benagil cave early (before 10am beats the flotillas), swim at Praia da Marinha — Portugal's most photogenic beach — and overnight in Ferragudo or Carvoeiro instead of busy Albufeira.
Day 7 · ±2.5h to Lisbon
Eastern Algarve or back to Lisbon
If you fly from Faro: spend the morning on the sandbar islands of the Ria Formosa from Olhão. If you fly from Lisbon: take the A2 motorway back with one last stop at Évora for lunch in the Alentejo wine country. Either way, end with a pastel de nata.
Get our free hidden-gems map
Every stop on this itinerary is pinned on our Google Maps list — plus 50+ beaches, tascas and viewpoints that didn't fit in one week. Free, straight to your inbox.
Want it fully planned?
The Road Trip Guide has 7, 10 and 14-day routes
Four ready-made routes with exact driving times, where to stay per night, GPS links for every stop and rain-day backups — 26 pages, €29, VAT included.
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