We are an active in our mid 50s and will be visiting Portugal for the first time for 10 days in the last part of February. We will be flying in an out of Lisbon (from the US). We love seeing picturesque towns, good food and wine. On our list is Lisbon, Porto and the Douro valley. Not sure we can squeeze in the Algarve? Would appreciate any itinerary suggestions. Thanks in advance
Posted by
13 posts
If it's your first time in Portugal and you enjoy food, wine and picturesque towns, your plan already hits the right notes. With 10 days in late February, you can comfortably combine Lisbon, Porto and the Douro without rushing. The Algarve is lovely, but in February the weather can be unpredictable, so it’s usually best kept for trips with more time or warmer months.
A balanced itinerary could look like this:
Days 1–4: Lisbon
Explore the historic neighbourhoods, take a half-day trip to Belém, and consider a day in Sintra if the weather cooperates. Sintra can be magical but also very humid and foggy in winter.
Days 4–7: Porto
Porto in February is atmospheric and far less crowded. It’s a very walkable city with amazing food and wine. If you enjoy small-group experiences, a walking food & wine tour can be a great way to discover local places you might otherwise miss — I highly recommend this one:
https://bluedragon.pt/porto-walking-tours/food-wine-walking-tour/
Days 7–9: Douro Valley
Even in February the Douro is gorgeous. Stay one or two nights if possible, as the scenery is best appreciated without rushing. Many quintas remain open for tastings, though with shorter hours.
Day 10: Return to Lisbon for your flight
With this plan you avoid unnecessary backtracking and make the most of winter daylight. If you still want a touch of the coast, you could swap in a short visit to Cascais from Lisbon instead of trying to push all the way down to the Algarve.
Hope this helps with your planning — enjoy your trip, Portugal is fantastic in any season!
Posted by
OP
California
3 posts
Thanks so much. If we rent a car would be a good idea to drive from Lisbon to Porto so we can stop and see things along the way?
Posted by
Texas, USA
89 posts
We were just there two weeks ago. We did enjoy Belem but not so much Sintra. Also agree with the Douro Valley wine tour. If driving would suggest a brief stop in Tomar. Lots to do in Porto. Most of the "commercial" tours focus on wine, but there is so much more. You might want to look at the Hop-on-Hop bus tour while there. I have found those to be quite useful all over Europe. I can either get off and visit a site or put it on my not interested list.
February is going to be a bit more than chilly. Plan for that.
Good travels.
Posted by
16 posts
I went to Nazaré last February and loved it so much, I'm going back again this coming February.
The weather was mild - t-shirts in the daytime and light jackets at night.
The restaurants were open because some of the surfers were still in town. Even caught some of the season-ending big waves.
But the best part was Carnival! It was incredible. Portuguese folks descended upon the town for colorful parades and music.
It was a lot of fun. Can't wait to go back.