The perfect 4 day Portugal female solo trip

Portugal was my first ever multi day solo trip as a woman. Traveling alone can be a nice way to reconnect with yourself and do exactly what you feel like doing, which is not always the case when you are traveling with other people. I found Portugal to be a great destination for solo travel, and I designed this itinerary so you can explore two of the most important cities in the country, Lisbon and Porto.

I found Portugal to be a fairly safe place. I did feel slightly less comfortable in Lisbon, especially in narrow, more isolated streets a bit further away from the main tourist areas. That said, if you stay within the main tourist zones, you should have no issues.

In terms of cost, Portugal is usually cheaper than many of its European neighbors, especially for accommodation and transportation. I would avoid eating out in tourist areas, as prices can be significantly higher while the quality is often average.

Days 1-2: Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. The city is known for its historic tram network, which is still used as public transport across several central neighborhoods. One of the key features of Lisbon is its elevated viewpoints, called miradouros, which are spread across the city’s hills and offer wide views over the river, the rooftops, and surrounding districts.

Here are some of the activities I would absolutely recommend you do:

Visit Miradouro de Santa Luzia

Miradouro de Santa Luzia is a viewpoint from which you can see the rooftops of the Alfama neighborhood, the river, and ferries passing by. You can also see beautiful blue painted tiles in this area.

Visit Castelo de São Jorge

Castelo de São Jorge is a historic castle located on one of the highest hills in central Lisbon. From the castle grounds, there are wide views over Lisbon’s city center and the Tagus River.

Visit Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

This is perhaps my favorite place in Lisbon. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is a historic monastery located in the Belém district of Lisbon. It was built in the early 16th century and is closely linked to Portugal’s Age of Discoveries, as it was funded by trade routes and maritime exploration. The building is known for its architecture, which includes detailed stone carvings, arches, and cloisters.

Days 3-4: Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is located in the north of the country along the Douro River. The city has strong links to the port wine industry, with many wine cellars located across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. The city is more modern and more industrial than Lisbon. To be honest, I did not find a lot of tourist activities to do in Porto, but simply walking around and taking time to relax felt like a meaningful way to experience the city.

How to go from Lisbon to Porto

The simplest way to go from Lisbon to Porto is by train. There are also bus options available, but for the small difference in price and the added comfort, I recommend taking the train.

Where to stay in Porto

I stayed at the most beautiful boutique hotel in Porto. The decoration was absolutely beautiful, the room was super cozy and confortable and I found the prices to be really good.

It's called Pur Oporto. I genuinely recommend it.

Photo: www.actahotels.com

Photo: www.actahotels.com

Livraria Lello

The place I really recommend you visit in Porto is Livraria Lello. It is a historic bookstore located in the city's center. It was opened in 1906 and is known for its interior design, its decorated wooden staircase, stained glass ceiling, and detailed carved shelving. The bookstore is often linked to Harry Potter because J.K. Rowling lived in Porto in the early 1990s and it is said that she drew inspiration from elements of the city’s architecture and atmosphere when developing the early ideas for Hogwarts. In the bookstore you will find a wide range of books, mainly in Portuguese and English, covering literature, travel, and art.