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Portugal City Breaks 2025/2026
Portugal City Break Guide 2025/2026
Portugal city breaks are a fantastic option for a few days away in Europe. It's is such an incredible and varied destination it's no surprise why it has become such a popular place in 2025/2026 for both beach holidays along its coastlines, city escapes in Lisbon and Porto and outdoor adventures inland. City breaks in Portugal are popular for the culture, history, and stunning landscapes that they provide visitors, as well as allowing citybreakers to enjoy activities both within the cities and outside, like wine tasting in the Douro Valley, or playing a little golf in Cascais.
Popular City Break Destinations In Portugal
Getting To, From & Around Portugal
There are plenty of flights from the UK to Portugal, with a number of airlines, including low-cost airlines like Ryanair and easyJet, flying into four main cities. There's Porto in the north, Lisbon on the central west coast, Faro on the Algarve in the south and Funchal over in Madeira. While the sandy beaches of the Algarve are more considered a sunny holiday destination, the cities of Lisbon and Porto are the places to head if you prefer more of a traditional city break escape, from discovering incredible history in the old towns to simply stopping off at a cafe to enjoy a local custard tart while you rest your feet.
Depending on where you're visiting, will depend on your best way to get around. From major town or city to another, the rail transport network can be a good option, such as between Porto and Lisbon or simply from Lisbon to Cascais. If you're planning to stay within a small area, public transport can be useful, or if you love a good walk, exploring by foot can be just as fun.
Things To Do In Portugal
From sipping on sweet Port amongst the lush landscapes of the Douro Valley to trying your hand at an exciting watersport, there are so many activities and attractions to explore and discover in Portugal.
Organised tours can be a great starting place, allowing you to find places you otherwise might not have known about. These can be as simple as a hop-on hop-off bus tour, or an organised day trip by coach, taking you around the historic monuments and museums, before stopping for a traditional lunch and heading on to see the gardens and landscapes of a city.
Where To Stay In Portugal
Lisbon
As the capital of Portugal, Lisbon is typically the first Portuguese city break destination on a hit list. It's easy to get to, relatively affordable and packs a punch with so many things to do. What's more, you can combine it with time at the beach or golf course in Cascais, just a short train ride away. Our top tip is to grab yourself a Lisboa card which includes travel from the airport into Lisbon city centre and out to Cascais.
Explore Lisbon
Porto
Porto is a stunning city, full of historic treasures, delicious cafes and fascinating museums. From its historic UNESCO World Heritage Site to the impressive Douro River, if you've done a few other cities, Porto earns its place on the bucketlist for many holidaymaker.
Explore Porto
Faro
For a sunny city break option, Faro is a seriously underrated option. Most Brits flying in to Faro will head straight out to the beach towns of Vilamoura, Albufeira and Lagos, but Faro has a unique charm with its Old Town and marina. It's not too big and overwhelming, yet still offers some greta bars and restaurants and access to the beach via the foot ferry to Praia de Faro.
Explore Faro
Fab City Centre Hotels In Portugal
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