2 weeks in Portugal – Complete Travel Guide

Are you planning to visit Portugal for summer vacations to enjoy the European summer, but you are not sure how to plan your vacations? Well, you are in the right place. Here I will share my experience in Portugal, my 2-week summer holidays in which I combined beach and relaxation with city breaks and exploring. Follow this itinerary for your 2 weeks in Portugal:

Best time to visit Portugal:

The best time to visit Portugal is of course when the weather is warm. Also, most of the visitors want to avoid the crowds. So, the perfect time to meet those two criteria is from May to
early June and from September to early October.

How many days do you need:

Portugal is not a big country and you can easily make a road trip without breaking the bank. It will take two weeks to see all the highlights around Portugal.
For those who don’t want to explore the country but want to take a short break and enjoy the beaches, one week is enough. You can easily spend one week in South Portugal, enjoying all the golden-sand beaches.

How to get around in Portugal:

There are several ways to get around Portugal, depending on the city or region you are exploring. In the south of Portugal, where the best beaches are, the best way in my opinion is to rent a car. This will allow you to explore more particular beaches, not only the most popular ones.
In Lisbon and North Portugal, I suggest using public transport, which functions very well.
Uber also is an affordable option. You can combine Uber with public transport and make an enjoyable trip In Lisbon and Porto.

Is Portugal expensive:

Portugal is considered one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe. So don’t worry, you can take a budget-friendly vacation in Portugal. You can enjoy a vacation In Portugal for as little as 65 euros per day per person.

Best way to spend 2 weeks in Portugal:

6 nights in south Portugal:

1 day in Faro

You can easily spend a whole day in Faro, visiting the city, the Old Town, and enjoying the afternoon and the sunset on one of the beaches nearby.

1 day in Algarve

A trip to Portugal will not be complete without a stop in the most beautiful cave in the world – Benagil Cave and relax for the rest of the day on Marinha Beach.

2 days in Albufeira

Albufeira is well known for its beautiful beaches. Probably the best beaches in Portugal. You can save half a day to explore the Albufeira Old Town and the rest, to explore all the beaches (my favorites Peneco Beach and Falesia Beach) and viewpoints Albufeira has to offer.

2 days in Lagos

You can start the 2 days in Lagos exploring the Lagos charming city center. And then toy will find yourself in trouble trying to figure out the best beaches to pass other one and a half days XD, but here is some help: The best beaches in Lagos are: Praia de Batata, Praia dos Estu-dantes, Praia do Pinhão, Praia Dona Ana, Praia do Camilo and Meia Praia. So choose 2 or 3 to enjoy the good weather and the ocean.

4 nights in Lisbon:

1 day trip in Sintra

Have you ever heard about the fairytale castle in Portugal? Ok, most probably they are talking about Pena Palace. A breathtaking castle just one hour from Lisbon. You can also visit Sintra Castle.

1 day-trip to Cascais

Considered a traditional fishing village, Cascais is a must if you are staying in the capital. Start your visit with a stop in Belem Tower and finish watching the sunset on one of the Cascais beaches.

2 days in Lisbon

Lisbon has a unique architecture and historical center. A trip to Portugal will not be complete without 2 days in Lisbon.

3 nights in north Portugal:

2 days in Porto

If you are a lover of food and drink, Porto is well known for this. It has the best food and drink in all of Portugal. But not only this, Porto is home to centuries-old architecture and churches. It is a beach destination too.

1 day in Aveiro 

Considered a Little Venice in Portugal, this is the perfect spot to close your trip in Portugal.

What if you have more time:

Évora -Known for its well-preserved monuments, Evora is one of the most charming destinations in Portugal.

Óbidos – Is an open museum town. Considered as one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval towns, this city is worth a visit.
Óbidos is an artist’s dream. An assortment of whitewashed cottages, nice cafés, and handicraft stores lining a series of narrow streets are completely enclosed by sturdy medieval walls.

Coimbra – Is home of Velha Universidade, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, merits a full-day tour of the university campus, but mind that you can easily get sucked at Biblioteca Joanina, which is a gem. Don’t forget also to visit the old cathedral of the town, Se Velha.

Braga – one of Portugal’s grandest cities with a long history as a commercial and religious center. Located in the north of Portugal, you can easily spend a pleasant day there.

Monsanto – have you ever heard of the rock village of Portugal? It’s a small medieval village with homes built between and around gigantic boulders, so mindblowing.