I don’t know how we landed on Portugal for our girls trip, but it was truly the perfect destination! We split our time between Lisbon and Porto with a few day trips sprinkled in-between. Below you’ll find our 7 day itinerary in Lisbon & Porto!
Travel Gear
Where To Eat
Brunch & Breakfast
Lisbon
- Dear Breakfast – adorable brunch restaurant in Biarro Alto. Find delicious egg dishes, fresh juices, and boozy espresso martinis here!
- Graviola – acai bowls, pancakes, pastries, and omelettes…all the brunch options you could ask for.
- Comobia – great option for coffee and pastries to go! We stopped here a few times before catching early morning trains.
Porto
- Ateneia – quick service and a full breakfast menu.
- Miss Pavlova – don’t skip the pavlova! This Barbie-core breakfast spot had classic brunch offerings and decadent pastries.
- Zenith Brunch & Cocktails – a classic brunch with delicious cocktails and excellent service! Located in the trendy Cedofeita area of Porto, there is a market set up in the square next door with great local artisans.
Lunch
Lisbon
- Hifen (Cascais) – awesome cocktails and a great view of Praia da Ribeira from the top floor.
- Pastéis de Belém (Belem) – the origin of Portugal’s famous Pasteis de Nata!
- O Melhor Croissant da Minha-Rua (Sintra) – grab a pastry and espresso here before your palace tour.
Porto
- Incontro Cafe Bistro – this tiny Italian bistro was the perfect lunch spot after our train ride from Lisbon. If you plan to visit for dinner, make a reservation, the space only seats 14.
Dinner
Lisbon
- Atira-te ao Rio Restaurant – the ultimate sunset dining experience, Atira-te ao sits on the shore of the Tagus with ample outdoor seating and traditional Portuguese cuisine. Reservations here are much easier to get than Ponto Final (located next door) and the food is incredible! We ate here on our first night in Lisbon and it was truly a meal to remember.
- Ponto Final – also located on the Tagus, Ponto Final is the more famous of the two restaurants here. You’ll need to book at least 1-2 months in advance or be prepared to wait up to 3 hours for a table.
- Fabbrica di Pasta Fresca – fresh pasta with delicious sauces and located near the Rossio train station. A great option after your day trip to Sintra or Cascais!
- Time Out Market – “the best of Lisbon under one roof” find Lisbons top restaurants and chefs at Time Out Market in Cais do Sodre.
- Restaurante “Avella” Belem – select a fish for your table and have it prepared in traditional Portuguese fashion. This was a no frills, but delicious meal!
Porto
- Puro 4050 – you must try the mushroom risotto! Maybe one of my favorite meals from the trip. Be sure to make a reservation or show up before 7pm to wait in line – this spot fills up quickly! Listen to live music if you are seated outside!
- Mistu – asian fusion cuisine with excellent service! Located slight off the tourist path, Mistu has cool girl vibes and delicious food to match. Would make the perfect dressy date night during your time in Porto.
- Praia de Luz (beach bar & restaurant) – order an Aperol spritz and watch the sunset at Praia de Luz beach bar. Slightly hidden from the main road above, after walking down a few steps you’ll find yourself feet from the ocean at this trendy beachfront club. This spot is about 15-miuntes from the historical center of Porto, but offers the best sunset views!
Cocktails & Dessert
- Espaco Porto Cruz 360 lounge (Cais De Gaia) – rooftop lounge with Port wine cocktails and an incredible view of the Rio Douro and Porto’s historic center.
- Rooftop Flores (Porto) – a true hole in the wall, this scenic outlook has a panaramic view of the beautiful city.
- Scoop ‘m Dough (Cascais) – vegan ice cream and pastries.
Where To Stay
In Lisbon we stayed in Bairro Alto near the Cais do Sodre station. We rented a charming Airbnb off the main road that was perfect for our group of 6. Bairro Alto is best known for its nightlife and numerous bars. Proximity to the train station was a huge perk and allowed us to reach both Cais do Sodre and Rossio Station by foot. This location was also near Pink Street, Time Out Market, and the Bica Funicular.
For the second leg of our trip we stayed in this modern Airbnb with an incredible view of Porto! Just minutes from Rue das Flores, Luis I Bridge, and dozens of bars and restaurants. We loved our stay here!
Travel Hair Necessities
What To Do
- Day Trip to Cascais – visit this small fishing village and check out the sandy beaches near Lisbon. About a 1-hour train ride from Cais do Sodre in Lisbon. This is not a large town and you only need a half day to see the sites and enjoy a meal by the ocean.
- Calem Wine Tasting – learn how port wine is made in a brief 30-minute tour followed by a tasting.
- Sunset Cruise on the Tagus – this was the highlight of our trip and such a memorable night for our girls trip! We booked through Rent a Boat Tours and got very lucky to be the only ones on board (max seating is 12 guests so still a small group regardless!). Our crew, Pedro & Joao, were so kind and taught us a lot about Lisbon. We also tried green wine/vino verde for the first time while we sailed up and down the Tagus. This excursion was a great value for the cost!
Sunset sail on the Tagus
Azulejos Tiles & Cascais
Pena Palace in Sintra
- Check out the Azulejo tiles – these decorative blue & white tiled murals are located throughout Porto on monuments, churches, and historic buildings. This blog post was helpful in finding them!
- Livraria Lello – we unfortunately didnt have a chance to visit this stunning book store in Porto, but I would highly recommend. You’ll need to purchase an entrance ticket in advance.
- Day Trip to Sintra – this is a full day trip and a must while you are in Lisbon! Take a 45-minute train to the town of Sintra to see the stunning Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. I suggest going to Quinta da Regaleira first to avoid lines at the Initiation Well and give yourself time to explore the grounds before going to Pena Palace. We spent the second half of the day at Pena Palace and the crowds cleared as it got closer to closing time (better for photos!).
- Visit the Miradouros in Lisbon – these viewpoints are located throughout the city.
- Jardim do Morro – gorgeous video of Porto and the Douro River from Cais de Gaia.
view from Jardim do Morro
Quick Tips
- Most restaurants and shops take cards, but AMEX is not always accepted.
- Don’t book Alfa Pendular tickets from a third party (like Rail Ninja) book at the station or directly through Comboios de Portugal. Rail Ninja will come up first on google search when you look up the Alfa Pendular – do not book through it!
- Ubers are very affordable and plentiful! Coming from NYC I was blown away at how inexpensive Uber was in both Porto and Lisbon.
- Make reservations for large groups and on Friday and Saturday evenings. We noticed this mainly in Porto, but many restaurants in the main tourist area are quite small. Accommodating 6 without a reservation AND during peek dinner hours was nearly impossible (we learned the hard way on day 1 in Porto).
- Don’t pack heels…I promise you will not wear them! Both Porto and Lisbon are hilly and have cobblestone roads. Even in sneakers were were struggling on some of the hills. I cannot even imagine doing any of the city walking in heels.
- Pack for a variety of temperatures. Mornings and evenings in September were crisp (think sneakers and a light jacket), but by midday the sun is warm and you’ll want to be in sandals and a sun dress. This is your written permission to overpack!
- Food and drink are reasonably priced throughout Portugal. A full meal including starters, main dishes, 1-2 bottles of wine, and dessert for 6 people was under 200 euro at most restaurants.
I hope this helps you plan your next trip to Portugal! It’s an incredible destination for a girls trip and 7-days was just enough time to enjoy each city. Feel free to DM me on Instagram (@melissa.frusco) with any questions or recommendations!
