17 days in Lisbon, Porto & Athens Itinerary

Built on seven hills, Lisbon has experienced a renaissance in recent years, making it the cultural star of Portugal.

Get some historical perspective at Castelo de S. Jorge and Templo Romano de Evora (Templo de Diana). Discover out-of-the-way places like Batalha Monastery and Monastery of Alcobaca. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Lisbon: Capelas Imperfeitas (in Batalha), Quinta da Regaleira (in Sintra) and Palacio Nacional de Mafra (in Mafra). And it doesn't end there: pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica da Santissima Trindade, make a trip to Belém Tower, take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedral of Evora (Se Catedral de Evora), and see the interesting displays at Museu Nacional do Azulejo.

For other places to visit, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Lisbon journey planner.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Lisbon is an approximately 13.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of bus and flight. The time zone difference moving from Brasilia Time to Western European Time is 3 hours. While traveling from Rio de Janeiro, expect little chillier days and colder nights in Lisbon, ranging from highs of 21°C to lows of 11°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 6th (Wed) so you can travel to Porto.

Called "Oporto" by many, the city of Porto along the Duoro River lent the country and Port wine their names. Portugal's second-largest metropolis dates back to the 4th century, representing both a rich cultural past and industrial present through its architecture and style.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Bom Jesus do Monte and Santuario Nossa Senhora dos Remedios. Get in touch with nature at River Rafting & Tubing and Praia da Costa Nova. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Porto: Santuario de Santa Luzia (in Viana do Castelo), Se Catedral de Viseu (in Viseu) and Guimaraes (Largo da Oliveira & Centro Historico de Guimaraes). And it doesn't end there: see the interesting displays at FC Porto Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Igreja do Carmo, and pause for some photo ops at Monumento aos Herois da Guerra Peninsular.

For more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, read our Porto vacation builder tool .

You can fly from Lisbon to Porto in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. November in Porto sees daily highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sun) so you can travel to Athens.

One of the world's most ancient cities, Athens remains Europe's undisputed historical and cultural capital.

Popular historic sites such as Acropolis of Athens and Temple of Athena Nike are in your itinerary. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Acropolis Museum and Temple of Poseidon. The adventure continues: get engrossed in the history at National Archaeological Museum, explore the ancient world of Temple of Hephaestus, contemplate the long history of Ancient Agora of Athens, and indulge your taste buds at Food & Drink.

To see maps, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, read Athens online journey planner .

Traveling by flight from Porto to Athens takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from Porto to Athens due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Porto in November, plan for somewhat warmer nights in Athens, with lows around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.