EuropeOctober 20195 min read
6 Must-Visit Cities in Portugal (With Photos & Map)
In short
We spent 5 days in Portugal in August 2019, driving our rental car from Spain through Elvas, Lisbon, Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra and Porto. The landscapes, architecture, food and pastries surprised us. The stay cost our family of four 801 EUR (about 897 USD at 2019 rates), or 160 EUR per day.
- Dates
- 2019-08-06 to 2019-08-11
- Number of days
- 5
- Cities we visited
- Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto
- Inbound
- Spain by car
- Outbound
- Spain by car
- Mode of transport
- Rental car
- Distance travelled (car & foot)
- 966 km
- Number of photos taken
- 3300 (660 per day)
- Currency
- The Euro (1,00 EUR = 1.12 USD)
We spent 5 days in Portugal in August 2019, driving the car we had rented in Spain through Elvas, Lisbon, Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra and Porto. The stay cost our family of four 801 EUR (about 897 USD at 2019 rates). Here are the 6 cities we would recommend, with photos, a map, what we ate and our full budget.
Portugal was the 50th country of our world tour, and it surprised us. Having just spent time in Spain, we expected a similar culture and similar scenery. We were wrong: everything is different there. The hilly landscapes, the architecture of the cities, the cool climate, the seafood and the mindset of the people all felt unique to Portugal, and we loved it.
6 Must-Visit Cities in Portugal
Elvas
Elvas is an impressive fortified town surrounded by 4 km of walls, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its 8 km aqueduct, made up of 843 arches.
Lisbon
We watched the sun set in Belém, a district of Lisbon home to some of the city’s most emblematic sights: the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery (Monastery of the Hieronymites). Many great Portuguese explorers set off from Belém on their voyages around the world, including Vasco da Gama, who left for India in 1497. His tomb lies in the Church of Santa Maria of the Jerónimos Monastery, close to that of Camões (Portugal’s equivalent of Shakespeare). Belém is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We enjoyed walking the narrow, sloping streets of Lisbon’s Alfama district, stopping at a few of the many miradouros (viewpoints) and watching the famous trams bring the historic center to life.
Sintra
Just 20 minutes from Lisbon, Sintra is a wealthy town surrounded by lavish palaces and castles, and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We chose to focus on two major sights: the medieval Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira.
Quinta da Regaleira is made up of a romantic palace, a chapel and a park with caves, lakes, fountains, tunnels and wells. Its best-known feature is the “initiation well”, which, according to mystical tradition, symbolically leads the initiate from darkness to light through several “levels”. Historically, Quinta da Regaleira is known as one of the places with the most references to alchemy, Freemasonry and the Knights Templar in Portugal.
2026 update: Quinta da Regaleira now sells timed entry slots every 30 minutes, and recommends buying tickets in advance on its official online ticket office (source).
The medieval Moorish Castle dates back to the early Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century. It is truly impressive and offers sweeping views over Sintra. Its walls follow the ridges of the mountain it sits on.
Tomar
Tomar is better known as “the city of the Templars” (yes, the ones Dan Brown writes about in The Da Vinci Code). It is home to the Convent of the Order of Christ, today one of the most important historic monuments in Portugal. Dating back to the 12th century, it was originally a fortress built as the headquarters of the Order of the Temple, the religious military order that took part in the Crusades to Jerusalem and in the Iberian Reconquista against the Moors.
Coimbra
Halfway between Lisbon and Porto, Coimbra is home to Portugal’s oldest university, founded in 1290. It is a medium-sized city that is pleasant to stroll through.
Porto
Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, is of course known for its port wine. But what struck us most were its architecture and its narrow cobbled streets. Porto won us over with its hillside setting on the banks of the Douro River and the majestic bridges that link it to Vila Nova de Gaia.
Planning a 5-Day Trip to Portugal
Our 5-Day Itinerary
We only spent 5 days in Portugal, which was still enough to see Elvas, Lisbon, Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra and Porto. To us, these cities are must-sees, because each of them has such a rich history.
Getting Around and Where We Stayed
We drove the same car we had rented in Spain. It was very practical for visiting places on the outskirts of the big cities, such as Sintra and Belém. However, we found driving in urban areas more complicated than in Spain, especially when it came to parking.
2026 update: Private vehicles are no longer allowed to drive up to the Moorish Castle or Pena Palace, and driving in Sintra’s historic center is limited to residents. Visitors are asked to park in peripheral car parks such as Lourel and continue by bus (Parques de Sintra).
We rented accommodation within walking distance of the center in Lisbon (3 nights) and Porto (2 nights) for easy access to the sights.
What to Eat in Portugal
Portugal surprised us with the quality and variety of its food! As meat lovers, we were spoiled.
When we were in Macau, I introduced you to the delicious Macau egg tarts. Several of you then told us they are called pastéis de nata and originally come from Portugal. Since Macau was a Portuguese colony for 400 years, I had no trouble believing it. But I wanted to find out for myself whether they were better in Portugal. So we tasted them at Pastéis de Belém, where these famous tarts were first made in 1837. They were excellent, but you will have to visit Macau to judge for yourself!
I have to admit we were also won over by the other Portuguese pastries!
How Much Does 5 Days in Portugal Cost?
We thought Portugal would be a cheap country, but it turned out a little more expensive than expected. The cost of our stay for our family of 4 was:
- 801,00 EUR (896.72 USD);
- 160,00 EUR (179.12 USD) per day;
- 40,00 EUR (44.78 USD) per person and per day.
Amounts were paid in euros. US-dollar equivalents use the average exchange rate during our trip (August 6 – 11, 2019): 1 EUR = 1.12 USD.
In detail:
| Expense Category | Amount Spent |
|---|---|
| Flights | 0,00 EUR |
| Accommodation | 295,00 EUR / 330.25 USD |
| Transport (including gas, tolls, parking) | 240,00 EUR / 268.68 USD |
| Eating out | 173,00 EUR / 193.67 USD |
| Groceries | 40,00 EUR / 44.78 USD |
| Activities | 54,00 EUR / 60.45 USD |
| Total | 801,00 EUR / 896.72 USD |
Conclusion
Portugal is a small country with so much to offer. Our short stay left us wanting more, and we will probably go back one day.
This was the end of our time on the Iberian Peninsula. We then spent 3 days in Paris to wrap up our world tour!
Questions travellers ask
How many days did you spend in Portugal?
We spent 5 days in Portugal, from August 6 to 11, 2019, with 3 nights in Lisbon and 2 nights in Porto.
Which cities did you visit in Portugal?
We visited Elvas, Lisbon (including Belém), Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra and Porto, driving the car we had rented in Spain.
How much did 5 days in Portugal cost?
For our family of four, 5 days in Portugal cost 801 EUR (896.72 USD at 2019 rates): 160 EUR per day, or 40 EUR per person per day.
Is a car useful for visiting Portugal?
Our rental car was very practical for places outside the big cities, such as Sintra and Belém, but driving and parking in Lisbon and Porto were harder than in Spain. Since then, private cars can no longer drive up to Sintra's Moorish Castle or Pena Palace.
Where did you taste pastéis de nata in Lisbon?
We tasted them at Pastéis de Belém, in Lisbon's Belém district, where these egg tarts were first made in 1837.