FlightTAP Air Portugal
22:00JFK New York
7h 15m
10:15+1Lisbon LISTue 8 Sept
EDT → WEST · clocks +5h
Example journey time; times are illustrative. Check the current timetable before booking.
10-day Portugal itinerary: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Douro Valley by train
Mon 7 – Fri 18 Sept 2026·12 days·Lisbon · Sintra · Porto · Pinhão
OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
2 flights 7 trains 4 stays 7 activities 2 buses 2 ferries
Times are local to each place12 days · Lisbon · Sintra · Porto · Pinhão · Best in September
Ten days is about right for a first trip to Portugal if you skip the Algarve and stick to the north-south rail spine. This itinerary starts in Lisbon, takes a day trip to Sintra, rides the train to Porto and continues up the Douro Valley, the terraced port-wine country east of Porto, before ending back in Porto. There are no car rentals and no domestic flights. Everything on the ground is by train, metro, bus and ferry.
It covers 12 calendar days and 10 nights in Portugal, including the overnight flight out of New York. You leave in the evening, land in Lisbon the next morning, and fly home from Porto around midday on the last day, which is how most people actually travel when they search for a "10-day Portugal itinerary". It's set in mid-September, when the summer crowds thin out, the weather is usually still warm and the Douro grape harvest is getting started.
What you're looking at: this is a real Arcway example trip. The map and the day-by-day timeline below come from its bookings, each in local time. The three long-distance train times (Lisbon to Porto, and Porto to Pinhão and back) come from CP's published 2026 timetables. All the other journey times, including the flights, are illustrative. The stays are example neighborhoods, not real reservations, and the activity times are suggested slots, not tickets. Check current timetables and opening hours before you book anything.
At a glance
- 12 calendar days, 10 nights in Portugal, 3 bases: Lisbon (4 nights), Porto (3 nights), a riverside guesthouse in Pinhão in the Douro Valley (2 nights), then a last night in Porto.
- Getting around: overnight TAP flights from New York (JFK) to Lisbon and home from Porto to Newark, 3 CP trains (one Alfa Pendular, two regional Douro Line trains), metro to and from both airports, a commuter train and bus for Sintra, and the ferry across the Tagus.
- Pace: one planned thing a day, with plenty of free time and a whole day with nothing booked in the Douro.
- Time off: if you fly out of the US on the evening of Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026), the trip uses 9 vacation days.
Planning notes for US travelers
Getting there. The example trip is a multi-city (open-jaw) ticket on TAP Air Portugal: New York (JFK) to Lisbon, and home from Porto to New York (Newark), so you never have to backtrack. TAP and United both fly nonstop on those routes. Lisbon also has nonstops from other US cities. Most flights from the East Coast are overnight and land in the morning. The flight times in this example are illustrative, so check the current timetable when you book.
Jet lag. In September, Portugal is 5 hours ahead of New York and 8 hours ahead of Los Angeles. That's why the arrival day is light: check in, walk, eat early and try to stay up until a normal bedtime.
Passport, Schengen, EES and ETIAS. Portugal is in the Schengen Area. US citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and every Schengen country you visit counts toward the same 90 days. The State Department says your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the day you leave the Schengen Area and have 2 blank pages. Under Schengen rules it must also have been issued within the last 10 years. Since April 10, 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational at all Schengen external borders. On your first entry, your fingerprints and a photo are registered instead of a passport stamp, which is free but can add time at the airport. ETIAS, the new €20 (about $22) travel authorization, is not in operation yet as of November 2026. The EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance, so check the official ETIAS site before a trip in late 2026 or 2027.
Trains. Buy train tickets from CP (Comboios de Portugal) on cp.pt or in the CP app. Long-distance tickets go on sale up to 60 days ahead. The full one-way fare on the Alfa Pendular from Lisbon to Porto is €35.70 (about $40) in Turística (second class) or €49.90 (about $56) in Conforto (first class) in 2026. CP's Promo fares give up to 65% off if you book 8 or more days ahead, on a limited number of seats. Promo tickets can be exchanged but not refunded. With only three train rides, a rail pass is unlikely to save you money on this route, so compare the price of individual tickets first.
Money, tipping and plugs. Portugal uses the euro. Prices on this page are converted at the European Central Bank reference rate of November 10, 2026 (€1 = $1.12), so check the current rate. Tipping isn't obligatory. Rounding up, or leaving around 5 to 10% for good table service, is common. Outlets are type C/F at 230 volts and 50 Hz, so bring a plug adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers handle 230 V, but check hair dryers and straighteners before you plug them in.
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An example trip built by Arcway to show how a finished multi-stop journey can look. The pictures are AI-generated travel illustrations, not photos from a real journey. Journey times marked as examples are illustrative; check current timetables before booking. Stays and visit slots are examples, not reservations.
Monday · 7 SeptemberDay 1
Tuesday · 8 SeptemberDay 2
TrainMetropolitano de Lisboa
12:30Lisbon Airport
50m
13:20Baixa neighbourhood, example guesthouse
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
Stay · Check-in 15:00
Baixa neighbourhood, example guesthouse
Check-outSat 12 Sept · 07:45
Nights4
Example accommodation in this neighbourhood, not a reservation.
Wednesday · 9 SeptemberDay 3
Activity · 09:30
Alfama lanes and Santa Luzia viewpoint
Miradouro de Santa LuziaA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
Thursday · 10 SeptemberDay 4
TrainCP
08:41Rossio station
40m
09:21Sintra station
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
BusScotturb, route 434
09:35Sintra station
30m
10:05Pena Palace
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
Activity · 11:00
Pena Palace, suggested timed admission
Pena PalaceA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
BusScotturb, route 434
15:00Pena Palace
35m
15:35Sintra station
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
TrainCP
16:10Sintra station
40m
16:50Rossio station
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
Friday · 11 SeptemberDay 5
FerryTranstejo Soflusa
11:00Cais do Sodré ferry terminal
10m
11:10Cacilhas ferry terminal
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
Activity · 11:30
Cacilhas waterfront lunch and riverside walk
Cacilhas ferry terminalA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
FerryTranstejo Soflusa
14:30Cacilhas ferry terminal
10m
14:40Cais do Sodré ferry terminal
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
Saturday · 12 SeptemberDay 6
07:45Check out of Baixa neighbourhood, example guesthouse
TrainCP · AP 123
09:00Lisboa Santa Apolónia
2h 48m
11:48Porto Campanhã
Published timetable checked for 2026. Check current services before booking.
Stay · Check-in 15:00
Cedofeita neighbourhood, example guesthouse
Check-outTue 15 Sept · 08:15
Nights3
Example accommodation in this neighbourhood, not a reservation.
Sunday · 13 SeptemberDay 7
Activity · 10:00
Livraria Lello, suggested timed admission
Livraria LelloA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
Monday · 14 SeptemberDay 8
Activity · 16:00
Ribeira and Dom Luís I bridge walk
RibeiraA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
Tuesday · 15 SeptemberDay 9
08:15Check out of Cedofeita neighbourhood, example guesthouse
TrainCP · IR 865
09:30Porto Campanhã
2h 16m
11:46Pinhão station
Published timetable checked for 2026. Check current services before booking.
Stay · Check-in 15:00
Riverside guesthouse, example stay
Check-outThu 17 Sept · 10:00
Nights2
Example accommodation in this neighbourhood, not a reservation.
Activity · 16:00
Pinhão tiled station and riverside walk
Pinhão stationA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
Wednesday · 16 SeptemberDay 10
Activity · 10:00
Douro valley free day: village, vines and a slow lunch
Riverside guesthouse, example stayA suggested visit slot, not a reserved ticket.
Thursday · 17 SeptemberDay 11
10:00Check out of Riverside guesthouse, example stay
TrainCP · IR 866
12:18Pinhão station
2h 17m
14:35Porto Campanhã
Published timetable checked for 2026. Check current services before booking.
Stay · Check-in 15:00
Cedofeita neighbourhood, example guesthouse
Check-outFri 18 Sept · 08:45
Nights1
Example accommodation in this neighbourhood, not a reservation.
Friday · 18 SeptemberDay 12
08:45Check out of Cedofeita neighbourhood, example guesthouse
TrainMetro do Porto
09:30Cedofeita neighbourhood, example guesthouse
50m
10:20Porto Airport
Example journey time; check the current timetable before booking.
FlightTAP Air Portugal
12:30OPO Porto
8h
15:30Newark EWR
WEST → EDT · clocks −5h
Example journey time; times are illustrative. Check the current timetable before booking.
Home in New YorkFri 18 Sept · 15:30
Day by day
Day 1 · Overnight flight from New York
Leave JFK in the evening on a nonstop TAP Air Portugal flight to Lisbon. The departure and arrival times here are illustrative, so check the current timetable when you book.
Day 2 · Arrive in Lisbon
Land at Lisbon airport in the morning and take the metro into town: the Red Line from the airport, changing at Alameda to the Green Line for Baixa-Chiado. Stay in the Baixa, the flat, central grid between the river and Rossio square, which makes a good base without a car. Keep the first afternoon free for a slow walk and an early dinner.
Day 3 · Alfama and the Santa Luzia viewpoint
Spend the morning in the Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, a tangle of steep lanes below the castle. The Miradouro de Santa Luzia, a tiled terrace with views over the rooftops to the river, is the planned stop. The rest of the day is yours.
Day 4 · Day trip to Sintra and Pena Palace
Take the CP train on the Sintra Line from Rossio, then Scotturb bus 434 from Sintra station up to Pena. Palace tickets are sold for a specific date and time, and you can only enter the palace at your scheduled time. In 2026, an adult Essential Visit ticket cost €20 (about $22). Book ahead and take the train back to Rossio in the late afternoon.
Day 5 · Ferry across the Tagus to Cacilhas
Take the Transtejo ferry from Cais do Sodré across the river to Cacilhas for a riverside walk, a long lunch and views back to Lisbon, then ride the ferry back. It's an easy half-day that leaves the afternoon free.
Day 6 · Train to Porto
The Alfa Pendular AP123 leaves Lisboa Santa Apolónia at 09:00 and reaches Porto Campanhã at 11:48. It's in CP's 2026 timetable, Monday to Saturday. Stay in Cedofeita, a lived-in neighborhood a short walk from the center of Porto.
Day 7 · Livraria Lello
Porto's most famous bookshop is busy all day, so the plan has an early slot. Entry is by Ticket-Voucher: €15.95 (about $18) in 2026, and the full amount is deducted if you buy a book from Livraria Lello's own editions. The voucher is valid for up to 60 minutes after your scheduled time.
Day 8 · Ribeira and the Dom Luís I bridge
Head down to the Ribeira waterfront in the late afternoon and walk across the Dom Luís I bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the port wine lodges are. Stay for sunset over the river and the old town.
Day 9 · Train up the Douro Valley to Pinhão
CP's InterRegional IR865 leaves Porto Campanhã at 09:30 and reaches Pinhão at 11:46. It runs daily in the timetable valid from June 28, 2026. For the second half of the ride the line runs right along the river. In Pinhão, check in at a riverside guesthouse and take an evening walk to the station, known for its blue-and-white tile panels.
Day 10 · A free day in the Douro
Nothing is booked. Walk up into the vineyards, visit a wine estate (many ask you to book tastings ahead) or just have a slow lunch by the river. In September the harvest is often underway.
Day 11 · Back to Porto
Take a late check-out, then the IR866 from Pinhão at 12:18, arriving at Porto Campanhã at 14:35. It also runs daily in the 2026 timetable. Spend the last night back in Cedofeita.
Day 12 · Fly home from Porto to New York
Take Metro do Porto Line E (Violet) to the airport for the nonstop TAP flight to Newark. Leave plenty of time: under the EES you may have to scan your passport, fingerprints or face on the way out. Flight times are illustrative, so check the current timetable when you book.
Questions
- Is 10 days enough for Portugal?
- Ten days (here, 12 calendar days and 10 nights in Portugal, including the overnight flight from New York) is enough for Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Douro Valley at an easy pace, with 2 to 4 nights in each base. It isn't enough to add the Algarve without feeling rushed. If you want beaches in the south too, plan on about two weeks.
- Do I need a car for this Portugal itinerary?
- No. Every leg on the ground is by train, metro, bus or ferry: the metro from both airports, the commuter train and bus 434 to Sintra and Pena, the Alfa Pendular from Lisbon to Porto and the Douro Line train to Pinhão. A car only helps if you want to visit several wine estates on your free day in the Douro, and a local driver or tour is a good alternative there.
- Do Americans need a visa or ETIAS for Portugal?
- US citizens don't need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after you leave. Since April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. ETIAS, a €20 online authorization, wasn't in operation as of November 2026. Check travel-europe.europa.eu for the start date before you go.
- Should I buy a rail pass for Portugal?
- For this route, probably not. There are only three long-distance train rides. The full 2026 Alfa Pendular fare from Lisbon to Porto is €35.70 (about $40) in second class, and CP's Promo fares give up to 65% off when you book 8 or more days ahead, on a limited number of seats. Price the individual tickets on cp.pt before you look at a pass.
- Can I fly into Lisbon and out of Porto?
- Yes, and it saves a day of backtracking. Book a multi-city (open-jaw) ticket. This example uses TAP nonstops from New York (JFK) to Lisbon and from Porto to Newark. United also flies those routes. Lisbon has more US nonstops than Porto, but Porto–Newark is a regular transatlantic service.
- How do I use this itinerary for my own trip?
- Copy it into Arcway, which is free, and choose your dates. Arcway moves every day to match and keeps all the times local. Copied items aren't booked, so Arcway flags the gaps you still need to fill, like a night with nowhere to stay or a leg with no transport. Then forward your own booking emails and they slot into the trip.
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