Day 1 — Belém to Alfama
Lisbon · Tiles & Fado
Manueline Belém in the morning, warm pastéis, tram up through Alfama, fado after dark.
09:30
Jerónimos Monastery
Attraction · Timed entry
Buy the timed ticket online — the cloister queue hits an hour by 11:00. Vasco da Gama’s tomb is just inside the church (free entry).
€12
11:15
Pastéis de Belém
Snack · The original
The original since 1837, secret recipe and all. Skip the takeaway queue — the 400-seat tiled dining rooms inside seat you faster. Cinnamon on top.
€5
15:00
São Jorge Castle & Alfama miradouros
Attraction · Viewpoint
Enter by 15:00, then drift down through Miradouro de Santa Luzia — the azulejo terrace everyone photographs.
€15
20:30
Fado at Tasca do Chico
Evening · No reservations
Cramped, walls of photos, singers between the tables — this is fado vadio, not a dinner show. Arrive 20:00 for a seat; order petiscos and wine.
€25
Getting around: Tram 15E back + Tram 28 up into Alfama · 40 min
Day 2 — Ribeira & the Cellars
Porto · Bridges & Port
The world’s prettiest bookshop early, a francesinha for lunch, port lodges across the river.
09:00
Livraria Lello
Attraction · Timed entry
Book the 9:00 "priority" entry — the crimson staircase is photographable for about 20 minutes before the crowds. Ticket value comes off any book.
€8
10:30
Ribeira & Dom Luís I Bridge walk
Walk · Iconic
Walk the upper deck of Eiffel-school iron — 45m over the Douro. Locals dive off the lower deck in summer.
Free
13:00
Francesinha at Café Santiago
Lunch · Local heavyweight
Porto’s beer-sauce-drowned sandwich, done properly. Split one the first time — trust me — and order it "com ovo".
€14
16:00
Port tasting at Graham’s Lodge
Tasting · Book ahead
Up the hill, away from the riverfront crush. Check live tour times and book the tasting directly before relying on this slot.
€25
Getting around: Cross the lower deck to Vila Nova de Gaia · 15 min
Day 3 — Palaces in the Mist
Sintra · Romantic Hills
Pena at opening before the tour buses, an initiation well, pillow pastries, coastal sunset.
09:30
Pena Palace
Attraction · Timed entry
Buy the first timed slot and go straight to the palace interior — do the ramparts after. Bus 434 from the station beats the uphill hike.
€20
12:00
Quinta da Regaleira
Attraction · Mystical
Head straight to the Initiation Well and descend the spiral — then get lost in the tunnels below. Masonic symbolism everywhere; the free map matters.
€12
14:30
Travesseiros at Piriquita
Snack · Since 1862
The 1862 bakery behind the "pillow" pastry — warm travesseiro plus a queijada is the correct order. Second shop up the hill has the shorter queue.
€8
18:00
Cabo da Roca sunset
Viewpoint · Golden hour
Mainland Europe’s westernmost cliff — 140m over the Atlantic. It’s windy even in August; bring the warm layer.
Free
Getting around: Bus 434 down + 10 min walk · 25 min