Portugal in the Summer: How I'd Do Porto, Lisbon, and the Azores in One Trip

Most Portugal guides hand you a list of cities and then leave you completely on your own. Which is how you end up spending half your trip in a train station, or squeezing the Azores into two days and then wondering why everyone else came back obsessed with it.

So here's how I'd actually do it. Three stops, one summer, and a route that'll make you want to come back every year. 

Honestly? Almost everyone, which is the best thing about Portugal. Not only is it not too much of a flight from most cities in the US, but it also refuses to be just one "thing". Porto is for the wine and the wandering. Lisbon is for the food and the gorgeous views. The Azores are for when you want to be somewhere that doesn't feel real, a paradise on Earth.

You don't have to be one kind of traveler to want all of that. That's why Portugal is on the top of my list whenever anyone asks where to go in the summer. 

Porto is where old-world charm runs straight through a contemporary town that creates such an interesting balance. You get colorful riverside streets, blue tiled buildings, port wine that's genuinely from here, and a sunset over the Douro that is unreal.

It's the kind of city where each neighborhood hands you something you weren't even looking for, so I wouldn't overschedule it. Leave gaps in your day to wander, and that's where you'll find the most fun. If you are like me, though, and do want a little structure, here are some of my must-dos:

• Ribeira before sunset, then cross the Luís I Bridge for one of the best views you'll get in the city.
• Livraria Lello. It's so worth it, I promise. Then head to São Bento Station for the blue tile murals.
• A francesinha at Café Santiago. It's technically a sandwich. It is also a lot of sandwiches. Come hungry
• Port at Graham's Port Lodge or Wine Quay Bar, right over the Douro.
• A Douro Valley wine tour if you can spare an extra day, and I'd really recommend you spare it. It's one of the best day trips in the country.

Lisbon is built on seven hills, which sounds very charming until you're halfway up one in August. Wear really comfortable shoes, I'm begging you.

What you get is a city with a completely different view around every corner, neighborhoods that each feel like their own little town, and a pastry situation that will quietly reorganize your priorities! Here are some great spots: 

• A pastel de nata from Manteigaria to start your morning, then wander through Alfama.
• Golden hour at Miradouro de Santa Luzia, then Castelo de São Jorge.
• The Rua Augusta Arch, and then give Bairro Alto your whole afternoon.
• The original Pastéis de Belém after you've done Jerónimos Monastery. And no, this isn't a repeat of the Manteigaria stop. Different pastry, different debate, and everyone here has a side.
• Rooftop cocktails at Lumi, Seen, or SUD Lisboa before you go find the nightlife.

If you want out of the crowds and into somewhere that feels unreal, or you love wine, The Azores is for you. They are an archipelago sitting out in the middle of the Atlantic, and they're great for a peaceful break, hiking or just enjoying nature. Here are some of my top picks: 

• Sete Cidades, with a stop at Miradouro da Grota do Inferno for the view everyone puts on a postcard.
• Terra Nostra Park in Furnas. Swim, soak, wander, do it again.
• Lagoa do Fogo early in the morning, before the clouds and the crowds show up. This one really does matter.
• Gorreana Tea Factory, the oldest tea plantation in Europe, on your way back to Ponta Delgada.
• Lagoa das Empadadas, then fresh seafood and a sunset drink at TukáTulá Beach Bar to close it out.

They also need you to actually plan. This is not a day trip from Lisbon; it does require some planning effort to have a good experience, so listen up and continue reading to see how I would actually plan the most stress-free and exciting Portugal trip. 

The order that makes the most sense to me: Porto, then Lisbon, then the Azores. You work your way down the mainland and end the trip somewhere slow instead of somewhere hectic, which is always how I'd rather finish a trip.

• Porto to Lisbon: take the train. It's around 3 hours, it's cheap, and you skip the airport entirely.
• Lisbon to Ponta Delgada: about 2.5 hours by plane, and direct flights run pretty frequently in summer.
• Total: 10 to 12 days is the honest answer. You can get it down to 8 if you cut the Douro Valley and one day in Lisbon, but I wouldn;t rccomend that. 

Summer is peak season in Portugal, so the viewpoints and the pastry lines are going to have other people in them; that's just what happens when you go to a great spot. Build your days around early mornings and later evenings, and you'll get most of it to yourself.

And save the spots before you go, so you're not standing on some hill in Alfama trying to remember the name of the place you wanted to get to!!

If you've been, comment what I missed. I always want to expand my collections and learn about cool new spots I can hit the next time I'm there. 

Till next time :)