8-Day Portugal Itinerary Without a Car – Lisbon and Algarve

Posted on July 11, 2024 | Julie J. |

I have just gotten back from a trip to Portugal, one of my favorite European destinations, and I’m sharing below my experience so you can find some inspiration and help to plan your vacation.

I visited in early June with my boyfriend and we both loved it. June is a perfect time to visit Portugal as the weather is nice yet not too hot and there are fewer people than in July or August.

We had 10 days in Portugal but because of our flights, it was more like 8 full days, arriving in the evening and leaving early morning. We decided to focus on Lisbon and Southern Portugal, mainly the Algarve region as June is an ideal time to visit the area. We had some rainy days but overall the weather was nice and we even were able to swim in the ocean.

We used public transportation for our whole trip. Some people recommend renting a car to visit the Algarve but because there are already so many cute towns and beautiful beaches that you can reach by bus or train, we decided it was enough and we didn’t need to see everything.

We did Lisbon on our first day and Sintra on our last, but you can do both at the beginning of your trip or at the end.

With this itinerary, you’re likely to reach the destination before check-in time. Most train stations (but not all) have lockers. If not, all the places we’ve stayed at allowed us to drop off our bags early, so check with your hotel first.

You can also check out this 7-day itinerary from Lisbon including Porto, the Douro Valley, Coimbra, and Fatima.

HELPFUL WEBSITES TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP

FLIGHT DEALS

HOTEL DEALS

CAR RENTAL

TRAVEL INSURANCE

ACTIVITIES

VACATION RENTALS

HELPFUL WEBSITES TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP

FLIGHT DEALS

HOTEL DEALS

CAR RENTAL

TRAVEL INSURANCE

ACTIVITIES

VACATION RENTALS

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on any links and make a purchase, we’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you.

Table of Contents show

Day 1 – Lisbon

Arco do Triunfo, Lisbon — Arco do Triunfo

Street in the Alfama District in Lisbon — Arco do Triunfo

We spend our first day visiting Lisbon, strolling around the historic center, visiting churches, and sampling some local food.

We started the day with brunch at Hygge Kaffe. The food was incredible and the portions enough to keep us full until dinner (with a few treats in between!). We then walked towards the center along Avenida da Liberdade. it made me think of the Champs Elysées in Paris. If you want to shop luxury brands then this is the place to be.

Check out where to stay and the best hotels in Lisbon ↗

We made a few detours to see the iconic yellow train heading up before going up to the charming Bairro Alto neighborhood. There, don’t miss the beautiful Church of Saint Roch and the Luis de Camoes Plaza.

Our next stop was the ruins of the Carmo Convent (the entrance fee is 7 euros) which was partly destroyed by an earthquake. There’s also a small museum there with local artifacts and art pieces.

We then made our way down to Aurea Street. Check out the Santa Justa elevator on the way. You can take it for the experience if you want but it will only save you a minute or two.

We walked towards the riverfront to check out the Praça de Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch before heading to the Time Out Market, a food court with some of the best restaurateurs in Lisbon. It should be around lunchtime when you get there so you can sample some food.

On your way there, you can pass by the Instagram-worthy Pink Street.

Next on our itinerary was the Lisbon Cathedral built in the 12th century.

If you like museums, from there you can walk to the Fado Museum or take the bus to the Tile Museum. It’s unlikely you’ll have time for both though. There are plenty of other museums you can visit based on your interest. In one day, you should be able to fit one into your schedule.

Get ready for some more climbing as we headed next to the Saint-George Castle. We didn’t have to wait long to get the tickets, but if you’re there during the busy season, you should get them online beforehand.

Castelo de Sao Jorge, Lisbon — Castelo de Sao Jorge

You’ll get a beautiful view over all of Lisbon, and you can climb on top of the towers and protective wall. The park around it is charming with many trees and peacocks roaming around. It will take you at least an hour to visit.

Our final stop for the day was the lively Alfama District where we strolled around, stopped at a bar with outdoor seating for some green wine and sangria, and had yummy tapas for dinner at Catedrais.

We called it a day but Lisbon is a great nightlife destination in Europe so if you like clubbing you’re sure to find something fun to do.

If you want to take a tour, I recommend this half-day tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon with a local, a food & wine t o ur, or a sunset sailing cruise.

Day 2 – Faro

On day 2, we woke up early to catch a bus to Faro. It was my favorite place to stay on this trip. It’s a lively town without being over the top, with a perfect blend of quiet spots and busy bars and restaurants.

We arrived just in time for lunch at Alcachofra Cafe set in a beautiful square with flower trees everywhere. Afterwards, we headed to our hotel to drop off our bags and change into our swimsuits to go to Ilha Deserta.

There are ferries and speed boats to take you to the islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park where you can enjoy the beach, stroll around, or go bird watching.

We took the speed boat to Ilha Deserta, swam in the lagoon, and hiked along the boardwalk that goes around the island. The island is uninhabited with only a restaurant near the docks. It’s a beautiful place with unique flora and plenty of birds.

You could also get the 3-island ticket and visit more places. The ticket allows you to island hop, taking the boats when you want.

Also worth doing in Faro is a catamaran sunset cruise, a dolphin-watching tour, and a kayak tour. If you’re looking for something more adventurous you could go on a buggy tour or take a surfing lesson.

Once we got back in town, we strolled around the paved streets, enjoying the scenery. We had dinner in a small tapas restaurant called A Venda, which I highly recommend. It’s set in a quiet street and they serve authentic Portuguese food using locally sourced produce.

We stayed at Faroway Hostel in the city center and loved it. They have private rooms and dorms, a shared kitchen, and a rooftop. While the location was great, it was also noisy until late at night. So if you want to stay in the city center, try to book something in a small street without bars and restaurants or bring earplugs.

Day 3 – Tavira

On day 3, we took a day trip from Faro to visit Tavira. We had a lazy morning and took our time before catching a train to Tavira. We had lunch once we arrived and spent the afternoon strolling around town.

I recommend visiting the Misericordia Church, the ruins of Tavira Castle, the Tavira Museum, and Santiago Church. You can also stop by the Convent of Our Lady of Grace – it’s a hotel now so you can only see the outside unless you’re staying there.

If you start the day earlier than us, you could stop by Olhao on your way back to rent kayaks for a couple of hours. From there you can explore the lagoon and islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Day 4 – Albufeira and the Seven Hanging Valley Trail

On day 4, we took an early train to Albufeira. The train station is a bit outside of the city so you’ll either have to take the bus to the center or grab a taxi (we used Bolt but Uber should work too). For 2 people it was actually cheaper to grab a Bolt than to take the bus.

We dropped our bags at the hotel (there’s no left luggage at the train station) and headed to the start of the Seven Hanging Valley Trail. While you can reach the starting point by bus, it’s a hassle (the bus is on Google Maps if you want to check it out). We decided to take a Grab. It took 20 minutes and cost us around 20 euros.

The trail starts at Marinha Beach and ends in Vale de Centeanes (we grabbed an Uber back from there). It’s relatively easy with only a few short parts where the path gets a bit funky.

The trails follow the coast passing by beautiful coves and impressing cliffs. My boyfriend has vertigo and was fine as the path never gets too close to the cliffs. You can get closer but be mindful of not getting too close as it can collapse.

One of the highlights of the trails is the iconic Benagil Cave. While you can’t see much from the trail, you can rent kayaks or go on a boat tour from Benagil Beach.

We unfortunately decided not to do it as the weather was cloudy, coldish, and windy. If you can, I recommend going by kayak (either on your own or through a guided tour) so you can go on the beach inside the cave.

It took us around 3 hours, counting breaks to enjoy the views. The trail is 7 miles out and back.

If hiking is not your thing, you can go on a boat tour from Albufeira that will take you along the coast, passing through the caves and maybe spotting dolphins. Some companies have kayaks on the boat so you can get on the beaches and see the cliffs from closer.

You could also skip the trail altogether and go on a buggy tour to explore the nearby countryside.

We then headed back to Albufeira and spent the rest of the day strolling around town. We stayed at Vila Algarvia Boutique & Suites. The staff is friendly, it’s in a quiet area but close to the center, and a tasty breakfast is included.

I honestly didn’t like Albufeira much. It’s too much of a beach resort town for me where everything is catered to tourists. Also, it’s a destination for party-goers with tons of bars and restaurants playing loud music. It might be a good destination for you if you want to spend your day at the beach and your night partying.

Day 5 – Lagos

We took our time in the morning and headed to Lagos. We had lunch at The Green Room, a tasty Mexican Restaurant, before dropping off our bags at the hotel.

The main thing to do in Lagos is to stroll around town and enjoy the beach. So that’s what we did. We started by visiting the historic center – don’t miss the Santo Antonio Church and Ponta de Bandeira Fort.

Next we headed to Ponta Da Piedade. It’s a lovely walk through a wooden boardwalk, passing by beaches and rock formations. We took a cab back but you can also walk back the same way you came. At the lighthouse, you can go down and take a boat to explore some of the caves.

You can also join a boat or kayak tour from town and explore the coastline.

Day 6 – Sagres

On day 6 we headed to Sagres a tiny town popular amongst surfers. It feels like the end of the world and you either love it or hate it. It’s really quiet with only a few restaurants and accommodation options here and there.

It’s the perfect place to try your hand at surfing or just relax at the beach.

When we arrived, we dropped our bags at the hotel and had a lovely lunch at the Laundry Lounge.

We then visited the Sagres Fortress and walked all the way to the lighthouse.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying the beach. We went to Mareta Beach because the sea is quiet here, so, perfect for swimming.

Day 7 – Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vicente

On day 7, we took our time in the morning and had a lovely walk through the harbor, onto the ruins of Baleeira Fort, then followed the coastline through Ponta da Atalaia to Mareta Beach.

We had a tasty lunch at Three Little Birds before taking the bus to Cabo de Sao Vicente where we enjoyed the view and went hiking for a bit. You’ll find several trails starting there on AllTrails.

Day 8 – Sintra

8-Day Portugal Itinerary Without a Car - Lisbon and Algarve

Day 8 was a bit of a stretch as it takes half a day to get to Sintra from Sagres. We took the first bus of the day to Faro where we took another bus to Lisbon and then a train to Sintra.

We had lunch near the train station in Sintra before taking an Uber to the National Palace of Pena, a UNESCO world heritage site – if you can’t find an Uber, you can also take a tuk-tuk but it’s more expensive.

You’ll need to book a time slot online to visit Pena Palace. We didn’t know that but were lucky enough to find a convenient time slot at the last minute.

Needless to say, it was impressive and beautiful – it’s probably one of the most popular places to visit in Portugal.

The gardens are also beautiful and there are many places you can see without the ticket for the palace (you’ll still need to pay an entrance fee for the park).

Once you’ve visited the palace you should have time to visit the nearby Moorish Castle.

There is much more to see in Sintra but because we only had half a day we had to pick what we wanted to see. Another option would be to head to Lisbon on day 7 so you have a full day in Sintra. You could then also visit the Quinta da Regaleira, the famous Initiation Well, and the Sintra National Palace Museum.

We spent our last night in Lisbon and had a really good dinner at Honest Greens, which I highly recommend. We had an early flight the next morning so we stayed near the airport.

Final Thoughts

Overall this 8-day Portugal itinerary is a good compromise between seeing a lot and taking your time. We didn’t rush, took time to relax (it’s a vacation after all), and still managed to visit a lot of incredible places.

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