An example

What a plan looks like

A week in Lisbon and Porto, arranged with Jollimo: every day, everything on it, who it is for, what it comes to each, and what to pack. Nothing here is a picture of the app — it is the app, reading a real plan.

Yours starts as a name, a date and a rough number of people, and gets filled in from there.

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A trip for Mara

Lisbon & Porto
Apr 3 – Apr 12, 2026

10 days, three cities, one river valley. Everything below is planned, priced, and written down so nobody has to make a decision at 23:00 in an unfamiliar street. Costs are per person.

Dates Apr 3 – Apr 12, 2026Travelling 4 peopleRoute Dublin → LisbonNights 9
Days
10
9 nights
Per person
€1,653
all in, incl. flights
Group total
€6,612
4 sharing
Budget target
€2,200
€547 to spare

The route

Where you sleep, and for how long. Three bases and one valley.

What it costs

Per person, split across everything.

€1,653per person
  • Food & drink€52231.6%
  • Accommodation€41525.1%
  • Activities€29117.6%
  • Flights€21012.7%
  • Buffer€1207.3%
  • Transport€955.7%

Flights are 13% of the total. The rest is €1,443 once you are on the ground.

When you are going

  • April daytime18–22°C
  • April nights11–14°C
  • Rain days / mo≈ 8
  • Sunset≈ 20:10

Shoulder season: fewer crowds than summer, cheaper rooms, and a jacket is genuinely needed after dark.

The plan in one breath

Days 1–2 in Lisbon, Day 3 in Sintra, Day 4 in Lisbon, Day 5 in Lisbon → Porto, Day 6 in Porto, Day 7 in Douro Valley, Days 8–9 in Porto, and Day 10 in Porto → Lisbon.

  • Book firstTrains, 60 days out
  • Book nextPalace tickets, 3 weeks out
  • Hardest daySintra — 20,000 steps
  • Best mealSeafood at Cacilhas

Three rules for this trip

  1. Book the trains first. They open 60 days out and the cheap fares go in days, not weeks.
  2. Nothing before 09:30. This plan has two big walking days and a wine day. The rest is deliberately loose.
  3. Eat where the locals eat. Every meal marked in the plan is somewhere you could also skip — the price is a guide, not a commitment.

The first three days

A taster. The full plan has every stop, time and price.

Day 1Land, drop bags, breatheFri Apr 3

Lisbon · €127 per person

Day 2Belém and the riverSat Apr 4

Lisbon · €134 per person

Day 3Palaces in the hillsSun Apr 5

Sintra · €137 per person

See all 10 days →

Day by day

Lisbon & Porto

10 days from Friday, April 3rd to Sunday, April 12th 2026. Times are suggestions, not a timetable — the only fixed points are the trains.

All costs per person
The only fixed points are the two trains. Everything else here is a suggestion with a time attached so the day has a shape. Skip what you do not fancy — the plan will not collapse.

Lisbon

Days 1–4
DAY1

Land, drop bags, breathe

Friday, April 3rd · Lisbon
ArrivalSlow start
Nothing ambitious today on purpose. Jet lag plus over-scheduling is how trips get ruined on day one.
  • 11:20
    Land at Humberto Delgado Airport€0
    Terminal 1. Passport control has been running ~25 min lately.
  • 12:15
    Metro to Baixa-Chiado€12
    Buy a Viva Viagem card at the machine (€0.50 for the card, then load €10 in credit). Single ride €1.80.
  • 13:00
    Check in and dump the bags€0
    If the room is not ready yet, the front desk holds luggage for free.
  • 14:00
    Late lunch in Alfama€16
    Grilled sardines and a cold beer at one of the tiny tascas off Rua de São Pedro.
  • 16:00
    Wander Alfama with no map€0
    Steep, tangled, and the best introduction to the city. Miradouro de Santa Luzia for the view over the river.
  • 19:00
    Sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte€0
    Highest viewpoint in the city. Get there 30 min before sunset for a spot at the wall.
  • 20:30
    Welcome dinner with fado€42
    Booked at a small house in Alfama — dinner plus a 40-minute fado set. Cash is easier here.
Day total: €127 per personSleep: Alfama River Rooms · €45 each a night7 stops
DAY2

Belém and the river

Saturday, April 4th · Lisbon
MuseumsPastries
Buy the Pastéis de Belém at the counter inside and eat them standing up — the sit-down queue is 40 minutes longer.
  • 08:30
    Tram 28 east to Belém€2
    Or the 15E from Praça da Figueira — faster and far less crowded than the 28.
  • 09:15
    Jerónimos Monastery€12
    Opens 10:00, but the cloister queue builds by 09:30. Combined ticket with the tower below.
  • 11:00
    Pastéis de Belém€6
    The original 1837 shop. Two custard tarts and a coffee.
  • 12:00
    Monument to the Discoveries + Belém Tower€8
    Both are a 15-minute walk along the water. The tower is small inside and the stairs are tight.
  • 14:00
    Lunch at the Time Out riverside€14
    Or grab a sandwich and eat in the Jardim da Torre de Belém.
  • 15:30
    MAAT museum€9
    The low white building on the water. Rooftop is free to walk even if you skip the exhibits.
  • 19:30
    Dinner in Cais do Sodré€26
    Time Out Market is convenient; the side streets behind it are better and cheaper.
Day total: €134 per personSleep: Alfama River Rooms · €45 each a night7 stops

Sintra

Day 3
DAY3

Palaces in the hills

Sunday, April 5th · Sintra
Day tripBig walking day
Book Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira online the week before — timed entry sells out in April. Trains run every 30 min from Rossio.
  • 07:40
    Train from Rossio to Sintra€5
    €4.80 return, 40 minutes, and it fills up — be on the platform early for a seat.
  • 09:00
    Bus 434 up to Pena Palace€3
    The walk up is 45 min of steep switchbacks. The bus is €2.60 and worth it on the way up.
  • 09:30
    Pena Palace€20
    Pre-booked 10:00 entry. The terrace is the photo; the interior tour is skippable if you are running behind.
  • 12:30
    Lunch in Sintra old town€15
    Travesseiros (almond pastry) at Piriquita are the local thing. Sit-down lunch is pricey — grab and go.
  • 14:00
    Quinta da Regaleira€15
    The initiation well, the tunnels, the grottoes. Allow two hours and wear shoes with grip — the paths are wet.
  • 17:00
    Cabo da Roca€4
    Westernmost point of mainland Europe. 30 min by bus 403 from Sintra. Windy and cold even in April — bring the jacket.
  • 20:30
    Back in Lisbon, easy dinner€18
    You will be wrecked. Pizza or a bifana near the apartment.
Day total: €137 per personSleep: Alfama River Rooms · €45 each a night7 stops

Lisbon

Days 1–4
DAY4

South bank and the good seafood

Monday, April 6th · Lisbon
Food dayFerry
This is the day the group will talk about afterwards. Say yes to whatever whole fish the waiter recommends.
  • 09:30
    Slow morning, coffee at A Brasileira€4
    Nothing scheduled before 09:30 and that is deliberate.
  • 10:30
    Ferry to Cacilhas€3
    €1.30 each way with the Viva Viagem card, 10 minutes across the river. Stand at the back for the skyline.
  • 11:00
    Walk the Cacilhas waterfront€0
    Quiet, working-class, and the view back at Lisbon is the best in the city.
  • 13:00
    Seafood lunch at Cacilhas€38
    The reason for this trip. Grilled fish by weight, bread, olives, vinho verde. Split the bill across the table.
  • 16:00
    Ferry back, siesta€2
    A nap is a legitimate afternoon activity on day four.
  • 18:30
    Praça do Comércio and the riverfront€0
    Walk the arcades to the Time Out Market building and out to the pier.
  • 20:00
    Dinner in Bairro Alto€30
    Book ahead. Afterwards the bars open up and the streets get loud — in the best way.
Day total: €134 per personSleep: Alfama River Rooms · €45 each a night7 stops

Lisbon → Porto

Day 5
DAY5

Travel north

Tuesday, April 7th · Lisbon → Porto
Travel day
Train tickets on CP open 60 days out and the cheap fares vanish quickly — book them before anything else on this trip.
  • 08:30
    Breakfast and pack€7
    Checkout is 11:00. Leave the bags at reception and go for a last walk.
  • 10:00
    Time Out Market for snacks for the train€11
    Cheese, presunto, fruit, a bottle of water.
  • 12:00
    Check out, metro to Oriente€2
    Oriente station is 20 min on the red line from Baixa-Chiado.
  • 13:39
    Alfa Pendular to Porto–Campanhã€32
    2h 50m, booked in advance. Sit on the left for river views near Coimbra.
  • 16:45
    Check in, Ribeira€0
    Metro or a 20-minute walk down to the river. The lofts are up a steep lane — pack light.
  • 18:30
    Golden hour on the Luís I Bridge€0
    Walk the upper deck across to Gaia and back. One of the great city walks.
  • 20:30
    Dinner on the Ribeira waterfront€28
    Tourist-adjacent and you pay for the view, but the first night in a new city is not the night to hunt.
Day total: €133 per personSleep: Ribeira Loft Apartments · €41 each a night7 stops

Porto

Days 6–9
DAY6

The old town and the river

Wednesday, April 8th · Porto
WalkingViews
Buy a Livraria Lello ticket online — it includes a book credit and it is the only way to skip the street queue.
  • 09:00
    São Bento Station azulejos€0
    Twenty thousand tiles in the entrance hall. Go early — by 10:00 it is a scrum of tour groups.
  • 09:45
    Livraria Lello€8
    The famous staircase. Pre-booked timed entry, roughly 30 minutes inside.
  • 11:00
    Clérigos Tower€6
    240 steps, no lift, best view in Porto. Narrow at the top — one at a time coming down.
  • 13:00
    Lunch at the Bolhão Market€17
    The renovated market has proper stalls upstairs. Francesinha or grilled octopus.
  • 15:00
    Ribeira and the riverbank€0
    Walk the quay, watch the rabelo boats, sit in the sun. Free and the whole point of Porto.
  • 17:00
    Six Bridges river cruise€18
    50 minutes, leaves from Ribeira. Cheaper if you book the 17:00 instead of the sunset slot.
  • 20:30
    Dinner in Cedofeita€30
    Away from the river the prices drop by a third and the food is better.
Day total: €132 per personSleep: Ribeira Loft Apartments · €41 each a night7 stops

Douro Valley

Day 7
DAY7

Vineyards and the river road

Thursday, April 9th · Douro Valley
Day tripWine
No driving after the tastings — the tour handles transport, and this is the one day not to try to do it cheaply yourself.
  • 08:15
    Pickup from Ribeira€0
    Small-group van, eight people max. Confirm the meeting point the night before.
  • 10:00
    Quinta tasting in Sabrosa€95
    Tour the lagares and the barrel room, then six wines including a tawny flight.
  • 12:30
    Lunch at the quinta€0
    Included in the tour — roast lamb, garden vegetables, and the quinta table wine.
  • 14:30
    Pinhão and the tile station€0
    The station's azulejo panels tell the story of the grape harvest. Ten minutes, worth the stop.
  • 15:30
    Second quinta, port tasting€30
    This is the one with the vintage ports. Buy a bottle here rather than at the airport.
  • 17:30
    River viewpoint on the N222€0
    The famous stretch of road along the Douro. The van stops for photos.
  • 20:00
    Back in Porto, light dinner€20
    Cheese, bread, and an early night after a day of wine.
Day total: €198 per personSleep: Ribeira Loft Apartments · €41 each a night7 stops

Porto

Days 6–9
DAY8

Cellars, coast, and one last long dinner

Friday, April 10th · Porto
Port wineCoast
Book the cellar tour a few days ahead. The last dinner is the one worth reserving properly — do it before you leave home.
  • 09:30
    Slow breakfast, no alarm€8
    The last full day. Do not overfill it.
  • 11:00
    Cross to Gaia, Port cellar tour€22
    Booked at one of the big lodges: barrels, history, and a three-port tasting at the end.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in Afurada€19
    The fishing village across the mouth of the river. Fresh grilled fish, half the price of Ribeira.
  • 15:30
    Foz do Douro and the Atlantic€0
    Where the Douro meets the sea. Walk the promenade to the Felgueiras lighthouse.
  • 17:00
    Serralves Museum and gardens€20
    Art deco villa, contemporary museum, and a huge park. The gardens are the highlight.
  • 19:30
    Sunset back on the Ribeira€7
    Last look at the bridge with a glass of something cold.
  • 21:00
    Final dinner€45
    Reserved in advance. Francesinha for anyone who has not tried it yet, then the good stuff.
Day total: €174 per personSleep: Ribeira Loft Apartments · €41 each a night7 stops
DAY9

Slow last day in Porto

Saturday, April 11th · Porto
No alarmsLast dinner
The only day with nothing booked before 11:00. If the weather turns, swap the afternoon for the Foz promenade and a long lunch instead.
  • 09:30
    Coffee and a pastry, no plan€7
    A confeitaria in Ribeira. Sit outside even if it is cold — that is what the heaters are for.
  • 11:00
    Port cellar tour in Gaia€24
    Cross the bridge and go down into the lodges. Booked in advance; ends with a tasting flight of three ports.
  • 13:30
    Seafood lunch in Matosinhos€38
    Twenty minutes on the metro and the best grilled fish in the region. Order the catch of the day by weight and share it.
  • 15:30
    Walk the Matosinhos seafront to Foz€0
    Flat, breezy, and the Atlantic the whole way. About 50 minutes at an easy pace.
  • 17:00
    Back to Ribeira, repack for tomorrow€0
    Start sorting the bag now rather than at 07:00. Port bottles go in the checked luggage.
  • 19:30
    Golden hour from the upper bridge deck€0
    Last look at the river from up high. It does not get old.
  • 21:00
    Final dinner in Porto€50
    Reserved weeks ago. Order properly, take your time, and get the good bottle.
Day total: €172 per personSleep: Ribeira Loft Apartments · €41 each a night7 stops

Porto → Lisbon

Day 10
DAY10

The last morning, then home

Sunday, April 12th · Porto → Lisbon
Departure
Nothing on this day is optional, so the plan is deliberately thin. The train to Lisbon is the one hard deadline.
  • 08:00
    Breakfast at the apartment€6
    Finish whatever is left in the fridge. The airport is expensive for a sad sandwich.
  • 09:15
    Last walk down to the river€0
    Ten minutes from the door. Say goodbye to the bridge properly.
  • 10:00
    Check out€0
    Confirm the baggage arrangements for the overnight stay before you leave.
  • 11:00
    Metro to Porto–Campanhã€2
    Allow more time than you think — the metro runs every 15 minutes.
  • 12:39
    Alfa Pendular to Lisbon Oriente€32
    Booked in advance. About three hours; sleep on it.
  • 16:00
    Airport hotel check-in€0
    Some airlines let you drop bags the night before. Ask at the desk.
  • 18:30
    Dinner near the airport€20
    Nothing special tonight. Save it for home.
  • 20:30
    Repack, check the flight, set two alarms€0
    Confirm the terminal and the check-in time. Passport, charger, printed bookings.
Day total: €102 per personSleep: Airport Hotel (final night) · €30 each a night8 stops

Take it with you

The dates, and everything on the plan that has a time. Google Calendar takes the whole event as one entry, with the plan in its description; the file gives every timed thing its own entry, so a day reads in your calendar the way it reads here. No costs, and nobody’s name.

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