What to book before you travel to Portugal?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

8 activities to book · about €222 per person

Lisbon

Days 1-2
Days 1-2Tram 28 and Alfama, guided2h on footThe tram that climbs the old city, then the lanes on foot with someone who knows which door leads where.€25Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 1-2Sunset cruise on the Tagus2hLisbon from the water as the light goes, with the bridge and the hills lining up behind you.€35Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Miradouro de Santa Luzia · Wandering the Alfama · Mercado da Ribeira · LX Factory

All activities in Lisbon on GetYourGuide

Sintra & Cascais

Day 3
Day 3Pena Palace, skip the lineEntryThe yellow and red palace on the ridge above Sintra. The queue at the gate is the part worth skipping.€20Book on GetYourGuide →
Day 3Quinta da RegaleiraGardensGardens built as a riddle, with a spiral well you walk down into and tunnels that come out somewhere else.€12Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Sintra old town · The Cascais beaches · Boca do Inferno · Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe

All activities in Sintra on GetYourGuide

Évora

Day 4
Day 4Old town and Chapel of Bones, guided1h30The Roman temple, the cathedral and the chapel lined with the bones of five thousand monks, explained rather than just seen.€15Book on GetYourGuide →
Day 4Alentejo wine tasting2hThe reds of the plain, drunk where they are made, with someone to tell you what you are drinking.€30Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Temple of Diana · The lanes of the old centre · The public garden

All activities in Évora on GetYourGuide

The Algarve · Lagos

Days 5-6
Days 5-6Benagil caves by kayakHalf dayThe sea caves of the Algarve from the water, which is the only way into the one with the hole in its roof.€45Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 5-6Catamaran and dolphins2h30Out along the cliffs by boat, with a real chance of dolphins on the way back.€40Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Ponta da Piedade · Praia Dona Ana · The Seven Hanging Valleys trail

All activities in Lagos on GetYourGuide

Lisbon

Day 7 · return

This stop's activities are already listed above: nothing new to book.

No booking needed: Miradouro de Santa Luzia · Wandering the Alfama · Mercado da Ribeira · LX Factory

All activities in Lisbon on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Portugal cost?

€222 per person if you do them all, across 8 bookings. The most expensive is "Benagil caves by kayak" at €45, the cheapest "Quinta da Regaleira" at €12. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Portugal without booking anything?

18 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Wandering the Alfama, Mercado da Ribeira, LX Factory. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Lisbon, with 2 activities to book, against 0 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 1h30 for the shortest to Half day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip