7 Ways to Spend 7 Days in Portugal in 2024

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Did you know that a Portugal Golden Visa requires you to live at least 7 days a year in the country? We have put together a guide brimming with inspiration. Here’s how to spend those 7 days in Portugal, in style.

Day 1: Explore the Algarve’s Beautiful Beaches 

The Algarve is the most popular stretch of Portugal’s sun-kissed coastline. It is a mecca for beach lovers. Arriving at Praia da Marinha, amongst limestone arches and hidden coves, is like discovering buried treasure. 

Praia da Rocha is a hotspot day and night. Find bustling beach bars, full restaurants, and lively clubs. Serene Praia do Barril is the opposite, reachable via a charming miniature train, and home to a cemetery of anchors from retired tuna fishing vessels.

You can do more than flop on the Algarve. Surfers and water sports enthusiasts flock to beaches like Sagres and Praia do Amado. As the first of your 7 days in Portugal becomes dusk, the Algarve acts as a projector to run you an unforgettable sunset show.

Day 2: Combine Surf and Turf in Alentejo

The Rota Vicentina is the bridge between land and sea in south-westerly Alentejo. Follow the Trilho dos Pescadores (Fishermen’s Trail) for an overview of marine activity. See storks’ nests and locals extricating gooseneck barnacles, a delicacy, from the rocks.

Rural Rota Vicentina takes you into the heart of montados, cork forests. Stop off at traditional taverns to sample Carne de porco à Alentejana. This hearty signature dish of the region marries pork (turf) with clams (surf).

Turn back time in historical Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a monument to the Middle Ages. The slow pace of life allows you to disconnect from the strains and stresses of the 21st century.

Day 3: Explore the Capital Delights of Lisbon

Cobbled thoroughfares link ancient cathedrals with contemporary street art. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine walkways of Alfama. Embrace the bohemian vibes in Bairro Alto, taking in a birds’-eye-view of the Tagus River.

Lisbon is a city that tantalizes the senses. Mouthwatering aromas of pastel de nata pepper the salty ocean breeze. These flaky custard tarts have become a Portuguese institution.

The legendary Mercado da Ribeira has metamorphosed into the Time Out Market Lisboa. Leading chefs create masterpieces from a rich bounty of seafood, cheese, and wine. Take the tram in Europe’s San Francisco, complete with roads that are almost vertical. 

Day 4: Enjoy a Day Trip to Sintra

Hidden within the lush folds of verdant hills lies the enchanting town of Sintra. It’s a mere half hour away from the capital Lisbon. Yet Sintra feels like another world altogether.

The heart of Sintra beats within the walls of its palaces and estates. Each is a testament to the town’s storied past. Iconic Pena Palace is a picture book come to life and a masterpiece of Moorish and Romantic architecture.

Quinta da Regaleira bewitches with its secretive tunnels and mystical wells. Stroll gardens more manicured than a Hollywood A-lister. The Castle of the Moors stands guard, housing a panoramic perch with vistas reaching the horizon.

Day 5: Get Cultural in Coimbra 

Central Coimbra’s soul resides in its prestigious university. This venerable institution enjoys a reputation of Cambridge or Oxford. The ornate corridors of its Joanina Library are a literary sanctuary strolled by university staff and students.

The musty scent of dusty books partners the soft glow of gilded chandeliers. You’ll enter an academic zone where brains go into overdrive. This is where the leading minds of Portugal’s next generation mingle. 

A melancholy surrounds the city like fog. This is in part due to the haunting melodies of fado, Portugal’s national folk music. The Arco de Almedina transports you to an array of boutiques with colourful facades.

Day 6: Dine Fine in Porto 

The northwest’s Porto is Portugal’s second city. Take an outside table at Majestic Café in downtown Rua Santa Catarina. Plant your derriere where J. K. Rowling once sat to pen the first chapters of her Harry Potter debut.

Venture into the heart of the Ribeira district where there’s rustic charm on the menu, alongside the francesinha. This is an emblematic sandwich of cured meats smothered in a rich beer and tomato sauce. Other tasty treats include grilled sardines, octopus salad, and succulent bacalhau (salted cod).

No Porto visit is complete without dropping by the wine cellars that line the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the river. Here, amid the aging barrels of world-renowned Port wine, you can take tasting sessions. Local chefs reduce port to a sauce to complement tender meats and artisanal cheeses. 

Day 7: Tour Portugal’s Wine Country

On the Spanish side of the Iberian Peninsula, the Ribera del Duero is a major wine region. Across the border, in Portugal,  you’ll find the UNESCO-recognized Alto Douro. The Duero/Douro is the Penisula’s highest river and well worth touring on the last of your 7 days in Portugal.

In Alto Douro, marvel at the terraced vineyards arranged on the steep slopes lining the river. There are plenty of quintas (wine estates) to discover. The area’s microclimate contributes to the wines’ complexities. 

Another way of exploring the area is on a leisurely boat cruise. It will literally give you a new perspective on the area. Look out for the markets that turn sleepy towns and villages into a hive of activity.

Portugal Awaits You

A Portugal Golden Visa can take you places. We have given you some ideas for things to see and do in this beautiful country. If you have any questions about how to apply for Portuguese residency, don’t delay and contact us today!