This is our first time in Portugal, and rather than settle into one corner of the country, we’ve decided to try a bit of everything. Over a month, we’re tracing a loop from north to south: starting with the port lodges and tiled churches of Porto, drifting up the terraced hills of the Douro valley for wine, then working our way down through the university town of Coimbra and the walled, bone-chapelled town of Évora. From there we swap the car for our boots and walk a stretch of the Rota Vicentina along the wild southwest coast, before easing into the beaches and cliffs of the Algarve around Lagos and the barrier islands off Olhão. We finish in Lisbon, with an overnight stay in Sintra for its palaces. Cities, wine country, Roman ruins, coastal hikes, seafood, and a whole lot of azulejos — if it’s Portuguese, we’re going to try to taste it. Here’s a first crack at the whole country, one trip at a time.

Trip Summary

✈️ Day 0: Fly to Porto

📷 Day 1: Arrive in Porto and some light exploration

📷 Day 2: Explore Porto → Sé, São Bento tiles, Clérigos Tower, riverfront; evening port tasting in Gaia

🚊 Day 3: Day trip to Guimarães → Train to historic centre, castle, Paço dos Duques,

📷 Day 4: More of Porto → Museums (Soares dos Reis), Foz do Douro by tram, food & wine

🚗 Day 5: Travel to the Douro Valley → Pick up car at OPO, wine stops en route to Pinhão

📷 Day 6: Douro Valley Day 1 → Fariseu and Penascosa rock-art sites

📷 Day 7: Douro Valley Day 2 → Canada do Inferno

🚗 Day 8: Drive to Coimbra → Visit Conímbriga Roman ruins, Bairrada wine tasting

📷 Day 9: Explore Coimbra → University of Coimbra (UNESCO), Biblioteca Joanina, Royal Palace

🚗 Day 10: Drive to Évora → Evening stroll: Roman Temple, Praça do Giraldo, city walls

📷 Day 11: Explore Évora → Chapel of Bones, cathedral, museum

📷 Day 12: Explore Évora’s surroundings → Almendres Cromlech, nearby wineries & olive-oil estates

🚗 Day 13: Head to Porto Covo → Drop car at Lisbon Airport, bus down the coast

🥾 Day 14: Fishermen’s trail Day 1 → Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes (~20 km)

🥾 Day 15: Fishermen’s trail Day 2 → Milfontes to Almograve (~15–18 km)

🥾 Day 16: Fishermen’s trail Day 3 → Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar (~22 km)

🥾 Day 17: Fishermen’s trail Day 4 → Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe (~15 km)

🚌 Day 18: Take the bus to Lagos → Enjoy time there, maybe some beach time

📷 Day 19: Explore Lagos

🥾 Day 20: Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

📷 Day 21: Enjoy a relaxing day in Lagos

🚗 Day 22: Drive to Olhão → Explore Tavira, ferry to Ilha de Tavira, Cacela Velha viewpoint

📷 Day 23: Explore Olhão’s surroundings → Barrier islands and lagoon life

📷 Day 24: Relax in Olhão

🚗 Day 25: Drive to Lisbon and drop off the car → Take some time to explore the city.

📷 Day 26: Explore Lisbon and visit some museums

🚊 Day 27: Overnight in Sintra to visit National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira

📷 Day 28: Second day in Sintra → visit the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace before traveling to Lisbon

📷 Day 29: Last day in Lisbon → Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower (UNESCO), Alfama, Baixa, Chiado

✈️ Day 30: Fly home!