Itinerary Summary
Day one arrives in Lisbon for Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower, day two is the Sintra day with Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira, day three the bus to Evora for the walled cit…
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Lisbon Arrival: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower
10:00
3h
Lisbon Airport transfer and Jerónimos
Take the metro and tram from Lisbon Airport to Belém, drop bags, then tour the Jerónimos Monastery cloisters. Buy the monastery ticket online for a timed slot; the church itself is free and closes for Mass.
📍 Belém, Lisbon
14:00
2.5h
Belém Tower and Discoveries Monument
Walk the riverside from Jerónimos to Belém Tower, then climb the Monument to the Discoveries for a Tagus panorama. Tower entry is timed and limited, so book ahead; both are closed on Mondays.
📍 Belém, Lisbon
💡 Pro Tip: Belém's UNESCO monuments sit within a 20-minute walk of each other along the Tagus. Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are ticketed separately and both close on Mondays, so book timed slots online. Tram 15 from central Lisbon is convenient but crowded with pickpockets. Portugal uses UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer.
Days 2-7 are member-only
Members get the complete day-by-day plan with timing, transport and on-the-ground tips.
Budget Breakdown
AccommodationUS$50035%
Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra and Porto hotels, 6 nights
Food & DiningUS$28020%
Pastel de nata, leitao and bacalhau
Remaining cost categories are member-only
Members see the full breakdown for flights, hotels, food, tickets and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Jeronimos Monastery and Pena Palace need tickets booked ahead?+
Yes. Both sell timed tickets on their official websites and morning slots go first in spring and summer. Jeronimos in Belem and Pena Palace in Sintra can each cost an hour or more of queueing without a booking. Reserve in the same week you book flights and arrive at opening time.
How do you travel between Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra and Porto by public transport?+
Buses link Lisbon and Evora in about 90 minutes and are the usual choice. Coimbra sits on the main Lisbon-Porto rail line, so trains connect all three cities in two to three hours. Book Alfa Pendular seats ahead for the Porto leg, and fly into Lisbon and out of Porto.
What is the best season for a Portugal heritage tour with short queues?+
April to June and September to October bring mild walking weather and shorter lines at Belem, Sintra and Coimbra. July and August add heat and coach crowds at Pena Palace and Jeronimos. Winter is quietest and cheapest, but Porto and the north turn wetter.
How much walking is involved in this Portugal history itinerary?+
Expect plenty of standing and cobblestones: Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle sit on steep Sintra paths, Evora and Coimbra are hilly, and Porto's riverside has stairs. Comfortable shoes matter more than fitness. The route suits older travellers who pace themselves, but day two in Sintra is the toughest.
Attractions in This Guide
Guide at a Glance
- Duration: 7 days
- Budget: Comfort · approx. $1,200–1,640 (≈ €1,040–1,430), excl. int'l flights
- Difficulty: easy
- Best for: History & Culture
Budget Spreadsheet
Download the customizable budget template for this itinerary.
Unlock Budget DownloadPrint / Save as PDF
Open a print-ready version, then choose Save as PDF in the print dialog.
Unlock Print / PDFYou May Also Like
- Algarve Beach Holiday in 7 DaysPortugal · 7 days · Comfort · approx. $1,350–1,940 (≈ €1,170–1,690), excl. int'l flights
- Portugal Grand Tour: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto & the Algarve in 10 DaysPortugal · 10 days · Comfort · approx. $1,350–1,940 (≈ €1,170–1,690), excl. int'l flights
- Portugal Hidden Gems: Óbidos, Nazaré & Évora in 6 DaysPortugal · 6 days · Comfort · approx. $1,050–1,500 (≈ €910–1,300), excl. int'l flights