We will be doing 8-day trip to Portugal in the end of August.
Landing in Lisbon and flying back from Lisbon. We are thinking of taking the train to Porto as soon as we land and start our trip from Porto. We want to make Lisbon and Porto as our bases and do all must-see places as day trips.
May be 3N in Porto and the rest in Lisbon. Does it sound like a good plan?
We are a family of 3 and our interests are in history and architecture etc,.
thanks for any suggestions.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/portugal/best-portugal-tour-2025
You could look at the "Itinerary" and use it to help you choose what you want on your 'must see' places list. With fewer days you won't be able to hit everywhere the tour goes.
I think your plan is a good one. Lisbon has perhaps more to see, and good day trips. My only hesitation might be that end of August could be hot, and maybe slightly cooler if you stay north. You could also look at one night in Coimbra on the way there or back as well.
In the second half of Aug 2023 my wife and I visited Portugal, passing 4 nights in Porto and 4 nights in Lisbon (with another 2 nights in Coimbra). Your division of time between Porto and Lisbon would have worked for our interests. (The only reason we chose to spend 4 nights in Porto was because it was our first stop and thus where we recovered from jet lag after landing from N. America.)
Our trip report might be useful reference for your planning: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-portugal-aug-sep-porto-coimbra-lisbon-then-to-spain
Thanks so much everyone for your feedback - this is very helpful.
Really appreciate the effort and time you have taken for this.
Krish
I like Porto, so I would split 4 days, 4 days. Also gives a day for travel and getting over jetlag. Lisbon can be hot in August, and perhaps a bit cooler going north.
Day trips from Porto are Guimarães, birthplace of Portugal and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Braga, which has the famous Bom Jesus. Since you like history and architecture, both are good options if you run out of things to do in Porto and very much deserve a day each.
