Solo Travel in Portugal: Why It Became One of My Favorite Trips

The Route I Took

📍 Porto – 4 nights
A beautiful introduction to Portugal, with colorful tiles, historic churches, and amazing viewpoints.

📍 Lisbon – 3 nights
Neighborhoods full of character, famous trams, and plenty of hills.

📍 Lagos – 3 nights
The coastal scenery I’d been dreaming about, plus my favorite walk of the trip.

📍 Faro – 1 night
A relaxing final stop before my flight home.

I always try to stay at least three nights in a destination when I travel. It gives me time to settle in, get my bearings, and experience a place without feeling like I’m constantly packing and unpacking.

The one night in Faro was the exception. It made sense because I was flying home from there, and it gave me a relaxed final day before heading to the airport.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change this itinerary.

Here’s why I think it deserves a spot on your travel list.

Why Portugal Is Great for Solo Travel

I’ve traveled to several countries on my own, and Portugal is one of the easiest I’ve visited.

For starters, getting around was simple. I never rented a car. I traveled between cities by train, and once I arrived, I walked almost everywhere. Even the one train transfer I had between Lisbon and Lagos was easy. I stepped off one train, walked across the platform, and got on the next one.

If you’re wondering how I planned it all, here’s exactly how I got around Portugal using trains, metros, buses, and rideshares.

Solo Travel Confidence Tip

Book a walking tour early in your trip. You’ll get your bearings, learn how the city is laid out, and feel more confident exploring on your own afterward.

I also never had a problem speaking English. Portugal gets plenty of international travelers, I never found myself struggling to communicate.

I felt totally comfortable traveling by myself the entire trip. As with any destination, I stayed aware of my surroundings and used common sense, but I never felt uneasy exploring on my own.

If you’re planning your first solo trip to Europe, Portugal is one of the countries I would recommend first. It’s easy to navigate, easy to enjoy, and has enough variety that you can experience historic cities, beautiful coastlines, and relaxed beach towns all in one trip.

Porto Completely Won Me Over

I don’t know how anyone could not fall in love with Porto.

I stayed in the Baixa neighborhood near São Bento Station, and it was the perfect base for exploring on foot. Every time I came up the metro escalator, it was like, boom. There was Porto.

Beautiful buildings covered in blue and white tiles. Churches around every corner. Cafés filled with people enjoying coffee. I loved wandering without a strict plan, popping into churches, admiring the tilework, and finding different viewpoints around the city.

One of my favorite memories from my entire trip was grabbing a coffee and pastry from a little café and walking over to the miradouro beside Porto Cathedral. Sitting there overlooking the rooftops while the city slowly woke up was one of those simple travel moments I never want to forget.

I also loved learning about Portugal’s famous port wine during the Calém Port Wine Tour and trying something completely different at the Pinhais Sardine Factory Tour.

Both were group tours, but neither felt overwhelming as a solo traveler.

If I had more time in Porto, I also would have considered a day trip to the Douro Valley, especially after learning more about Portuguese wine.

If Porto is part of your trip, my 3 days in Porto itinerary has a complete day-by-day plan with more things to see, eat, and do.

Lisbon Kept Me on My Toes

Oh my goodness. Those hills!

Everyone talks about them, but I still wasn’t prepared. I’ve been to San Francisco, so I thought I knew what I was getting into.

I was wrong. So very wrong.

I stayed in the Alfama district because I wanted to experience Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood. I knew it was full of steps and hills around every corner but even so, it was exactly what I hoped it would be. It felt less like staying in a big city and more like staying in a local neighborhood where people actually live. Like I wasn’t in Lisbon, but I was.

I loved wandering the narrow streets, watching the yellow trams make their way through the hills, and noticing all the beautiful sidewalk patterns along the way. My favorite part of Lisbon wasn’t a famous attraction. It was simply getting lost in Alfama and seeing what I found around the next corner.

I also spent time exploring Belém, including the famous Pastéis de Belém.

For more details, check out my Everything I Loved Doing in Lisbon and Things to Do in Belém posts.

I didn’t make it to a fado show on this trip, so that’s something I’d save for another visit.

I also didn’t make it to Sintra. But my friend Natalie did when she visited. She posted about her visit in this Visiting Portugal in February post.

I’m So Glad I Didn’t Skip Lagos

Lagos almost didn’t make it into my itinerary.

I worried I was trying to fit too much into one trip, and I seriously considered skipping both Lagos and Faro. I’m so glad I didn’t.

After spending time in Porto and Lisbon, Lagos felt completely different. It had the slower pace and coastal feel I was hoping for. The minute I arrived and started walking toward town, I knew I had made the right decision.

The Algarve coast was one of the highlights of my entire Portugal trip. I loved kayaking along the coastline, exploring the little sea caves, and thinking, Oh my gosh, I’m actually kayaking along the Portugal coast.

But my favorite experience in Lagos was the coastal walk to Ponta da Piedade. I had no idea how incredible the rock formations would be, and every turn revealed another beautiful view.

For more details, check out my Lagos Coastal Walk and Kayaking in Lagos guides.

Faro: The Perfect Ending for Solo Travel in Portugal 

Faro wasn’t a place I added because it was at the top of my Portugal bucket list. I chose it because it made catching my flight home easier.

And it ended up being the perfect way to end my trip.

At the marina looking towards the city

After days of exploring busy cities and walking miles every day, I enjoyed slowing down and wandering without a plan. I explored the old town, visited a Bones Chapel out of curiosity, and ended the day watching the sunset by the marina.

Would I tell someone to rearrange their entire Portugal itinerary just to include Faro?

Probably not.

But if your flight leaves from Faro, I think it’s worth checking out my post on spending a day in Faro. It gives you one more chance to enjoy Portugal before heading home.

Tips for Solo Travel in Portugal

After spending nearly two weeks traveling through Portugal on my own, I came home with a few things I think are helpful to know before you go.

You Don’t Need a Car

One of my favorite things about Portugal was how easy it was to get around without renting a car.

I traveled between Porto, Lisbon, Lagos, and Faro by train, and it was much easier than I expected. The stations were easy to navigate, and even the train transfer I had between Lisbon and Lagos was simple.

If you are comfortable using public transportation, Portugal is a great destination for a solo traveler.

Bring Comfortable Shoes With Good Grip

Portugal is beautiful, but your feet sure are going to know you’ve been there.

The cobblestone streets are gorgeous, but they are not always the easiest to walk on. The sidewalks can also be slick, especially when they are wet, so shoes with a rubber sole are a good idea.

And those Lisbon hills?

They are real.

I walked almost everywhere during my trip, and comfortable shoes made a huge difference.

Be Prepared for Portuguese Dining Hours

Dinner in Portugal runs later than many Americans are used to.

Many restaurants don’t even open until 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. is a very common dinner time.

If you’re wondering what to order, don’t miss my guide to the best foods to eat in Portugal.

Carry Water With You

One thing that surprised me was that water is not always free at restaurants, and public water fountains are not as common as you might expect.

I got into the habit of carrying a water bottle with me, especially on days when I was walking a lot.

Plan for Paid Public Bathrooms

Another thing I noticed was that many public restrooms required a small fee to use.

It wasn’t a big deal, but it is something worth knowing. Keeping a few coins handy can save you from being caught off guard.

Stay Long Enough to Enjoy Each Place

I try to stay at least three nights in a destination whenever I travel. It gives me time to settle in, figure out the area, and experience a place without constantly packing and unpacking.

For this trip, four nights in Porto, three nights in Lisbon, three nights in Lagos, and one night in Faro worked perfectly for me.

Hotels Are My Preference

I stayed in a mix of accommodations. Hotels in Lisbon and Faro. Airbnb stays in Porto and Lagos. They were safe, comfortable, and had great locations.

That said, I still prefer hotels when I travel solo. Having a front desk, someone to ask questions, and that extra sense of security is worth it to me.

Your travel style may be different, and that’s okay. The best accommodation is the one that helps you feel comfortable and confident on your trip.

Would I Recommend Solo Travel in Portugal for Female Travelers?

Perfect end to the day!

Absolutely!

Portugal was a trip where everything came together. The beautiful cities, the coastal scenery, the easy transportation, and the friendly people made it a destination I would happily return to.

But what I loved most was how comfortable I felt exploring on my own.

I could wander through the streets of Porto, climb the hills of Lisbon, kayak along the Algarve coast, and enjoy a quiet dinner by myself without feeling like I was missing out because I was traveling solo.

If you are thinking about taking your first solo trip, Portugal is a destination I would put near the top of your list. It gives you the chance to experience so many different things without making travel feel overwhelming.

My time in Portugal reminded me why I love solo travel so much.

The things that stay with me aren’t the big attractions. It’s always the simple ones. A coffee with a view. A quiet walk through a neighborhood. A moment where you stop and think, I can’t believe I’m here.

And that’s what makes traveling alone worth it.