Reader-supported. We may earn a commission on purchases through our links. Disclosure ›

Portugal 2 Week Itinerary: Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz and Nazare

This Portugal 2 week itinerary is for travelers who want more than a quick Porto-and-Lisbon trip. It links five places that fit naturally together: Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz and Nazare. You get Porto’s riverfront energy, Aveiro’s canals, Coimbra’s old university streets, Figueira da Foz’s broad Atlantic beaches and Nazare’s cliff views, seafood and giant-wave coastline.

The route works best if you start in Porto, ease south through Aveiro and Coimbra, slow down by the water in Figueira da Foz and Nazare, then return north for your flight. Trains cover the first half well. For the coastal stretch between Figueira da Foz and Nazare, a short car rental saves time and makes the trip feel much less forced.

Choose Your Trip Style: $, $$ or $$$

You can plan this as a simple train-and-guesthouse trip, a comfortable mid-range vacation or a more polished itinerary with boutique hotels, private transfers and destination restaurants. The estimates below are for 14 days in euros, excluding international flights and major shopping. They assume 13 nights, meals, local transport, paid sights and the rental-car style listed for each tier.

Suggested Route for 2 Weeks in Portugal

This itinerary follows a relaxed north-to-south line through northern and central Portugal. The point is not to collect towns as fast as possible. It is to have enough time for tiled train stations, river walks, beach afternoons, seafood lunches and a few unplanned detours.

Day-by-Day Portugal 2 Week Itinerary

Unique Places Worth Adding if You Want the Trip to Feel Special

The main route is strong on its own, but these side trips add texture. Choose one or two if you want vineyards, striped beach houses, forested viewpoints or monastery towns without rebuilding the whole itinerary.

Porto: Best for River Views, Wine and First-Time Portugal Energy

Porto is the best place to start because it has the largest airport on this route, strong train connections and enough variety for several days. Spend your first day close to the Douro River: Ribeira, the Dom Luis I Bridge and the Gaia riverfront give you the classic Porto view without much planning.

On your second day, focus on the historic center. Climb Clerigos Tower, book Livraria Lello in advance if you want to go inside, see the tilework at Sao Bento Station and wander down Rua das Flores toward the cathedral and river. VisitPortugal notes Livraria Lello’s 1906 opening and its location near Clerigos, which makes the two easy to pair in one walk.

Give Porto at least one slower day. Go to Mercado do Bolhao in the morning, spend the afternoon in Serralves or Foz do Douro, then cross to Gaia for a port lodge tasting. If food is a priority, this is also the best city on the route for a high-end dinner.

Aveiro: Best for Canals, Costa Nova and a Softer Travel Day

Aveiro is flat, pretty and easy to enjoy without rushing. VisitPortugal describes the city as a water-shaped landscape, crossed by channels where colorful moliceiro boats now carry visitors instead of seaweed. That makes it a useful change of pace after Porto.

Spend one day in the center: take a moliceiro ride, walk the Art Nouveau route, visit the Aveiro Museum area and try ovos moles, the local egg-yolk sweet. On the second day, go to Costa Nova for the striped palheiros and continue to Praia da Barra for the lighthouse and beach.

Coimbra: Best for History, University Views and Fado

Coimbra deserves two nights because the upper town is steep and slower than it looks on a map. The main draw is the University of Coimbra area, especially Biblioteca Joanina, but the city works best when you leave time for viewpoints, old lanes, cafes and an evening fado performance.

Use your first afternoon for the riverfront and lower town, then save the university for the next morning when you have more energy. If you have a car, Conimbriga Roman ruins can be added as a half-day side trip, but do not force it if you want a more relaxed itinerary.

Figueira da Foz: Best for Big Beaches and a Local Holiday Feel

Figueira da Foz is a classic Portuguese beach city rather than a polished international resort. VisitPortugal highlights its wide beach, long-standing casino and Serra da Boa Viagem viewpoint, and those three things explain the stop well: beach, old resort energy and coastal scenery.

Spend your first day on Praia da Claridade and in Buarcos. On the second day, choose Cabedelo for surf atmosphere or head up to Serra da Boa Viagem for views over the coast. This is also a good place to slow down laundry, beach time and long seafood lunches before the final stretch to Nazare.

Nazare: Best for Cliffs, Seafood and Giant-Wave Coastline

Nazare is famous for Praia do Norte and its giant waves, but the town is more than a surf viewpoint. The lower beach area is good for a simple seaside stay, while Sitio gives you cliff views, the sanctuary area and access toward the fort above Praia do Norte.

VisitPortugal explains that Praia do Norte sits north of the Nazare Promontory and is known for dangerous, powerful seas shaped by the Nazare Canyon. Treat it as a viewpoint beach, not a swimming beach. For swimming and beach walks, Praia da Nazare is the calmer and more practical choice.

Three nights works well here because weather matters. If the sea is rough, make the fort and wave-watching your main event. If the weather is calm, use one day for Alcobaca and Batalha, or simply stay in town and eat seafood twice.

Top Places to Eat on This Route

Restaurant openings, menus and prices change, so confirm hours and book ahead for dinner, weekends and Michelin-listed places. The cuisine labels below are meant to help you choose quickly.

What to Eat in Each Place

• Porto: francesinha, tripas a moda do Porto, bacalhau, port wine, bifanas and modern Portuguese tasting menus.
• Aveiro: ovos moles, eel, cod, estuary fish, seafood rice and salt-influenced regional dishes.
• Coimbra: bacalhau, chanfana if you find it, convent sweets and hearty tavern food.
• Figueira da Foz: grilled fish, seafood rice, monkfish rice, squid and simple beach lunches.
• Nazare: fresh fish, seafood cataplana, caldeirada, octopus, sardines in season and sunset drinks by the beach.

Where to Stay: Hotel Ideas by Budget

For this route, hotel location matters more than chasing the cheapest nightly rate. In Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra, stay central so you can walk. In Figueira da Foz and Nazare, prioritize the beach area unless you specifically want a quieter stay.

For a $ trip, book mostly guesthouses and spend more on only one sea-view night. For a $$ trip, choose central hotels in Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra, then sea-view comfort in Nazare. For a $$$ trip, put the biggest hotel budget into Porto and Nazare, where views and service change the experience most.

Car Rental Places and When to Rent

You do not need a car for the whole trip. In fact, Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra are easier without one if you stay central. The most useful rental window is from Coimbra or Figueira da Foz through Nazare, because the beach, viewpoint and monastery day trips are simpler by car. If you are flying into Porto, it is worth taking a minute to compare car rental prices at Porto Airport before you travel, since rates and supplier quality vary a lot.

If you rent a car, choose the smallest car that fits your luggage. Streets and parking garages in older Portuguese towns can be tight. Also check whether your hotel includes parking before booking a car for Porto, Coimbra or Nazare. When you are ready, you can check rental car availability for Portugal and compare free-cancellation deals across suppliers.

Practical Planning Tips

Train, bus or car?

Porto to Aveiro and Aveiro to Coimbra are easy by train. Coimbra to Figueira da Foz is also manageable. The awkward leg is Figueira da Foz to Nazare, which is much simpler by car than by public transport. If you do not want to drive the whole trip, consider renting a car only from Coimbra or Figueira da Foz through the Nazare section.

Where should you fly in and out?

Porto is the cleanest start for this exact route. Lisbon also works, especially if you want to end after Nazare, but then you may want to reverse the order: Lisbon, Nazare, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto.

When is the best time to go?

May, June, September and early October are the easiest months for this itinerary because the cities are lively, the coast is pleasant and the busiest summer crowds are lighter. July and August are best if beach weather matters most, but book coastal hotels early. For Nazare giant-wave watching, winter is the better season, but beach weather is less predictable.

How many nights should you spend in each place?

For a balanced two-week trip, spend 4 nights in Porto, 2 in Aveiro, 2 in Coimbra, 2 in Figueira da Foz and 3 in Nazare. Use the final night either in Porto, Lisbon or whichever city makes your departure easiest.

Final Thoughts

This Portugal 2 week itinerary works because it leaves room to feel the trip instead of racing through the country. Porto gives you the strongest city base, Aveiro slows the pace, Coimbra adds history, Figueira da Foz gives you a broad local beach stop and Nazare ends the route with cliffs, seafood and one of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines.

If you want a faster version, cut Figueira da Foz to one night and add that night to Porto or Nazare. If you want a slower version, keep the same five stops but skip the Douro Valley or monastery day trips. The route is at its best when you leave space for long lunches, weather changes and unplanned walks by the water.