10-Day Portugal Itinerary (On a Budget): + Why Portugal is My Favorite Country in Europe
If you ask me what my favorite country in Europe is, the answer is easy: PORTUGAL. .
You may have seen me confess my love for Amsterdam once or twice or three times, but here’s the thing: Amsterdam is my favorite city in Europe. The Netherlands isn’t my favorite overall country in Europe… that prestigious title belongs to Portugal.
I felt called to visit Portugal back in 2022. The world was opening back up, and I had a Virgin Atlantic flight credit to use… Why Portugal? I wasn’t 100% sure at the time. I knew Portugal had gorgeous beaches, great food, and an interesting history, but so do plenty of other places in Europe… But Portugal was calling me, so I answered. Thank goodness I did.
The beaches were as beautiful irl as they look in photos. I had some incredible meals. I learned so much & I met such incredible people. My trip to Portugal taught me that if you feel called to visit somewhere, TRUST THAT FEELING and go!
While I made a mistake or two while visiting Portugal, I overall think my itinerary is near-perfect (I’ll share what I wish I had done differently when I break down my itinerary.)
What to Know Before you Visit Portugal:
Portugal is part of the EU & the Schengen, so for US citizens, it’s included in the 90-days in a 180 day period. They use the Euro!
Is Portugal Budget Friendly?
It definitely can be! It’s less expensive than the rest of Western Europe, but it’s still more expensive than Eastern European countries. I managed to visit on a pretty tight budget. I only stayed in hostels, booked cheap flights & took public transportation as much as I could. The trip didn’t; break the bank by any means. If you’re looking for a more affordable option in Europe compared to Italy, France, Spain, etc., Portugal could be a great choice!
Is it Easy to Get Around Portugal?
Absolutely! They have a great train system & the bigger cities (Lisbon & Porto) have a solid metro system. Uber is also common!
Is Portugal English Friendly?
Yes! Most locals I came across spoke at least basic English but most could converse with me really well! I would learn the bare basics of Portuguese (thank you, please, hello, goodbye, excuse me), but beyond that, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You’ll get by on little to no Portuguese!
Is Portugal Safe?
I found it to be very safe. I was out at night quite a bit, and had no issues or concerns. Of course, follow all the necessary safety precautions that you’d follow anywhere else.
My 10-Day Portugal Itinerary
Algarve (Lagos): 4 Nights
The algarve is said to have some of the best beaches in Europe, and I’d agree! I decided to stay in Lagos because it has a good mix of beautiful, easily accessible beaches & a cute town with things to do,
Where I stayed: Top City Hostel for about $40/night
The pool & the views were amazing! I met incredible people that I still talk to today
Getting Around: I found Lagos to be very walkable! I did book a transfer to/from the airport through this company and had a great experience with them. FYI: there’s no public transportation within Lagos- just cabs.
Best Things to do:
BEACH HOP! Seriously, the Algarve has some of the best beaches in Europe & in Lagos, they’re very easily accessible! All the beaches are connected & within a reasonable walking distance, so it’s easy to beach hop. Some favorites are Praia do Camilo & Praia do Dona Ana
Ponte de Piedade: This might be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. You need to visit during the day and at sunset! The views are just… unbelievable. I realize the photos are beautiful, but even then.. no photo quite does it justice!
Take a cave tour and/or a catamaran ride
The Benagil Cave is the most famous cave in the Algarve, and is totally worth booking a tour to go see! You can get there on your own by water, but I felt safer with a guide.
I also went on a catamaran ride through the Algarve & that was amazing! At one point, the boat stopped & we got to paddle board & jump into the water if we wanted!
Best Places I Ate:
Empanadas & Co: Some of the best empanadas I’ve had! There were tons of great flavors! Me & the people from the hostel ended up coming here multiple times!
Bora Cafe: I came here for breakfast every morning. I loved the 50/50 toast!
Lisbon: 2 Nights (3 full days)
I said there was a mistake I made on my trip to Portugal, so here it is: I didn’t spend enough time in Lisbon. While planning the trip & sharing my itinerary with a client of mine (who’s been to Portugal multiple times), she asked why I was spending more time in Porto than Lisbon and suggested that I reconsider. I should’ve listened. Now, this isn’t because I didn’t like Porto… quite the contrary. I actually just LOVED Lisbon so much and left wanting so much more.
Where I Stayed: Good Morning Solo traveler Hostel. HIGHLY recommend it! The beds are the comfiest of any hostel I’ve stayed at. Plus, I met such amazing people and we all went out together every night! I still talk to a couple people I had the pleasure of meeting there.
Getting Around: Lisbon has a really great metro system & a train system, making it very easy to get around. Uber is available as well. I walked around Lisbon for most of my visit- just be prepared for hills!
Best Things to Do:
A Day trip to Sintra is a must! Even visiting on a rainy day was beautiful.
Check out Praça do Comércio, a beautiful & vibrant square
I also really enjoyed Castelo de São Jorge
Where to Eat: Leonetta Lisboa, which is ironically an Italian restaurant. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in the world- I went twice!
For Pastel de Nata, my personal favorite spot (and trust me, I went to a lot of places) is Manteigaria. It’s pretty popular, for good reason!
Porto: 3 Nights
Porto is the epitome of charming! It’s one of those cities where you could easily spend the day wandering with no set plans and have the time of your life. That’s more or less what I did while there!
Where I Stayed: Pilot Hostel. It’s a nice, clean hostel. I didn’t love the vibes there (seemed clique-y), but that could have just been during my stay. Maybe I would have had a better time if I had stayed a different weekend- you just never know with hostels.
Getting Around: Porto has a metro, but I rarely used it since I found the city so walkable. I did uber to/from the airport for ~25 Euros each way.
Best Things To Do:
Visit Livaria Lello, the most beautiful bookstore I’ve ever seen! I’m not much of a souvenir girl, but I bought a copy of Dracula at this bookstore. If you’re a bookworm, you’ll love it here! If you’re not a bookworm, you’ll love it here!
Take a boat tour & learn the history of Porto’s bridges
Drink as much port wine as you desire!
Where to Eat:
I loved Lazy Breakfast Club for.. you guessed it.
When in Porto, you have to try the franchesinha. It’s… how do I explain this… a burger wrapped in cheese with egg on top and covered in this sauce… yeah. that about sums it up. VERY indulgent, but it’s kinda the main dish of Porto.
Why Portugal is my Favorite Country in Europe + Why You Should Visit
Portugal is certainly a more underrated part of Europe compared to its neighbor Spain + other countries in Western Europe. It’s a shame… people don’t know what they’re missing. I loved how well-rounded Portugal is! Plus, the people were friendly, it’s pretty affordable, & there’s great weather for most of the year. I was there in the middle of October & the Algarve saw 80 degree weather every day! It rained a bit in Porto, but oh well.
Besides adding a night in Lisbon and eliminating one in Porto, I think this itinerary is pretty perfect & totally worth following! I’m due for a revisit so I can check out some new spots & revisit the same places! I’m just dying for another beach day in Lagos and I would love to stroll the streets of Lisbon again.
My trip to Portugal taught me that if I feel called to visit somewhere, it’s for good reason. Portugal was my first big trip post-pandemic. It showed me that the wait was worth it and that I had grown SO much since 2019.
I met incredible people, and at the time, I really needed the reminder that there is SO much more out there than your daily surroundings. Your usual people, schedule & coffee shops aren’t the whole world.
This trip to Portugal was an awakening for me. I got home and immediately started planning a 3-month trip to Asia..
I’ll wrap this up by saying: If you’re looking for a beautiful, well-rounded country that’s less crowded than France, Italy, or Spain… Portugal is exactly that!
