Portugal Itinerary: 10 Days on the cheap through Lisbon, Porto & Braga
Portugal is long and skinny. With your choice of sandy beaches for sunbathing and rocky outcrops for climbing along the coast, a booming artisan food culture that includes a well-established wine and olive oil industry, historic cable cars, and quirky, captivating cities, it’s not unlike California, albeit a particularly European version.
But here the striking scenery is complete with Roman ruins, cobblestone streets, and medieval old towns, blissfully untouched by the San Andreas fault.
Finally, and fortunately for budget travelers everywhere, it’s inexpensive to eat, drink, and sleep in Portugal, not to mention to get around, especially as compared to the most of Western Europe.
Here’s a rundown of how to navigate the country and take off on a 10-day trip through Lisbon, Porto, Braga and beyond!
Budget Basics: Eating, drinking & sleeping in Portugal
Expect to spend on average €50 per night for a centrally located, simple hotel room with a private bath and around €10 for a shared dorm at a hostel. If you like to cook and entertain while you travel, vacation apartments can be had for as little as €40 per night in bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto, depending on the time of year and location.
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It seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes in smaller cities, centrally located basic hotels are more expensive and harder to come by than in metropolises like Porto and Lisbon. Be sure to book hotels in smaller, popular cities like Sintra and Ponte de Lima further in advance, especially if you plan to travel during the busy spring and summer seasons.
Keep an eye out for lunch deals, especially for fresh seafood like these sardines in Lisbon. Photo: islandralm
Food and drink are very cheap in restaurants, especially if you make a point of eating away from the main tourist attractions. For extra savings, feast on a meal out in the middle of the day (12 pm – 4 pm) when hearty one-plate meals called pratos de día can be had for as little as €5.
Keep your booze bill under control by sticking to reasonably priced house wine, served in little clay pitchers. Get the freshest produce at open markets and the cheapest groceries at local and European chains like Pingo Doce, Aldi, and Lidl.
Portugal: Arriving and getting around
Even with a full 10 days to play with, to make the most of your time in Portugal, you’re best off flying into the south (Lisbon) and out of the north (Porto). If you book your ticket carefully, this should cost the same or only marginally more than a round-trip fare out of either of the country’s major international airports.
Once on the ground, you can traverse the highlights in an inexpensive combination of trains and buses for a grand total of €80-120 and 10 hours of travel time in the country.
Of course, if you’re traveling in a group, or just prefer your independence, it might be worth investing in an open-ended rental car (where you pick up a vehicle in one location and drop it off in another). Sure, it means you’ll have to spend time and money filling up and finding parking, but it also means you decide when and where to explore, not the bus or train schedule. In a group, a rental car, from around €20 a day, can even save you money.
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Just make sure to grab an international driving permit ($15 from AAA) before the trip. Another pro tip is to enable the automatic toll readers (Via Verde) on your rental, saving you time, fuss, and spare change.
Also, cut down on the number of days and consequently, the cost of renting as well as parking by picking up your car at the end of your time in Lisbon, and dropping it off first thing upon arrival in Porto.
Our 10-day Portugal itinerary
On the following pages, we outline a recommended 10-day journey through Portugal. Click below to get started!
Days 1 and 2: Lisbon
Days 3 and 4: Sintra, Cascais & Coimbra
Days 5 and 6: Valença and Ponte de Lima
Days 7 and 8: Braga and Guimarães
Days 9 and 10: Porto
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Hi Chris. In your opinion, why are you best off flying into the south (Lisbon) and out of the north (Porto)? Thanks!