This 7 day Portugal itinerary covers Lisbon, Sintra, Comporta and Évora day by day, with what each day costs in euros, the best months to travel, seasonal weather and a Google Maps link for every stop. Seven days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Portugal: long enough to slow down, short enough to keep to one rental car and two bases. The plan spends four nights in Lisbon, adds the classic Sintra day trip, then heads south to Comporta and the Alentejo rice plains before returning for the last morning.
April to June and September to mid-October bring warm, reliable days with fewer crowds than August. July and August are peak season — hottest, busiest and priciest — while November to March is mild, quiet and often better value.
Getting around
Lisbon itself needs no car: the metro, trams and the rechargeable Viva Viagem card cover almost everything. Rent a car for the Comporta and Évora days — the Alentejo coast has little public transport — and pick a hotel with parking or drop the car on return.
The 7-day Portugal itinerary
Day 1
Alfama, the castle and old Lisbon
Morning
Castle €15 (viewpoints free)
Alfama lanes and São Jorge Castle
Climb into Lisbon's oldest quarter from Portas do Sol, wander the laundry-strung lanes, then walk up to the castle ramparts for the city's best rooftops view.
Walk the grid of the rebuilt Baixa district, ride or admire the iron Santa Justa lift, and finish with a coffee and a bica at Café A Brasileira in Chiado.
Arrive at opening time for the monastery's cloisters — the Age of Discoveries at its most beautiful — then walk the riverfront to the Belém Tower ramparts.
Take the 8:30–9:00 train from Rossio and the 434 bus up the hill; a pre-booked timed ticket for Pena Palace means the terraces are calm before the crowds.
Europe's largest indoor tank holds sunfish, rays and a full Antarctic penguin colony; two hours is plenty, and the riverside cable car is a fun add-on.
Tuesdays and Saturdays, the flea market by the pantheon is worth a browse; otherwise the National Tile Museum explains the azulejos you've seen all week.
Mid-range estimate for two sharing a room, one restaurant dinner a day and the paid sights in this plan. Comporta beach dinners and Sintra tickets move the total the most.
Estimated daily total
€110–€210 per person, per day
Accommodation (per person, shared room)
€55–€100
Food & drink
€35–€65
Attractions & museums
€12–€30
Car, transit & transfers
€8–€18
Portugal weather by season
Season
Typical range
What to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
11–23°C / 52–73°F
Bright and breezy; pack a light layer for the Atlantic wind.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
18–31°C / 64–88°F
Dry and sunny; sightsee early, siesta mid-afternoon.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
12–26°C / 54–79°F
The warm sea and quiet beaches make September a favourite.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
8–16°C / 46–61°F
Mild with some rain; museums and cafés replace beach time.
SmartVoyage shows the live forecast, or seasonal averages for far-off dates, next to every day of a generated itinerary.
Practical tips for Portugal
Book Pena Palace and Jerónimos Monastery timed tickets online at least a few days ahead; both sell out in summer.
Buy a €0.50 Viva Viagem card at any Lisbon metro station and top it up — tram 28, the metro and the Santa Apolónia train all accept it.
Bread, olives and cheese placed on the table (couvert) are charged per person; wave them away if you don't want them.
Lisbon's calçada cobbles are slippery when wet and the hills are steep — pack good walking shoes and use the elevators and funiculars.
Rent the car only for the Comporta and Évora days; downtown Lisbon parking is scarce and the city is easily walkable or metro-able.
Dinner starts late in Portugal — most kitchens open around 19:30–20:00, and 21:00 reservations are normal.
Portugal itinerary questions
Is 7 days enough for Portugal?
Seven days comfortably covers Lisbon, Sintra, Comporta and Évora at a relaxed pace. To add Porto and the Douro Valley, extend by three or four days rather than rushing them in.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary?
April to June and September to mid-October offer the best mix of warm weather and manageable crowds. August works if you book Comporta beach dinners and Sintra tickets well ahead.
How much does a 7-day trip to Portugal cost?
Budget roughly €110–€210 per person per day for a mid-range trip — about €770–€1,470 for the week excluding flights. Accommodation and Comporta dinners move the total the most.
Do I need a car for this Portugal itinerary?
Not for Lisbon or the Sintra day trip — trains and transit cover both. Rent a car only for the Comporta and Évora days, when the Alentejo's limited public transport makes driving the easier choice.
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