Five days, zero guesswork —the starter trip.

Arrive, drop bags, shake off the flight. Walk Alfama or Bairro Alto to orient yourself — narrow lanes, azulejo walls, the Tagus always downhill. Grab a pastel de nata somewhere that isn't trying too hard.

Sunset sail on the Tagus with wine in hand and the bridge turning gold overhead. Two hours on the water, minimal effort, maximum return. Book a small sailboat if you want it quiet, catamaran if you want space to move around.

Full-day trip to Sintra — Pena Palace's candy-colored towers, Quinta da Regaleira's spiral wells, the Moorish Castle ruins if you have stamina left. Small-group van tour handles logistics and ticket lines; DIY by train works if you book palace entry days ahead.

Most Sintra tours loop through Cabo da Roca (Europe's westernmost point) and stop at Guincho Beach on the way back — wide Atlantic swells, serious surf energy, not a calm-water day but worth the wind in your face.

Morning market-to-table cooking class — you'll shop for ingredients, then actually cook a multi-course Portuguese meal with a local guide. Expect early start times (9 or 10 AM) and a lunch you earned.

Walking food tour through Lisbon's eating neighborhoods — ginjinha shots, petiscos in century-old tascas, bacalhau done three ways. This is how you taste the city without gambling on every restaurant yourself.

Private transfer from Lisbon to the Algarve — three-hour drive, or you can add stops at Évora or a coastal winery if you're not in a rush. Book 48 hours ahead to avoid surcharges.

Check in somewhere between Lagos and Albufeira, then hit the sand. Armação de Pêra Beach if you want a long wide stretch with minimal fuss, Salema Beach if you prefer a smaller fishing-village bay with cliffs on both sides.

Dinner at Rocha Beach House in Praia da Rocha — beachfront, 5/5 across 134 reviews, the rare beach operation that actually earns the rating. Watch the light drop over the water.

Benagil Cave tour by speedboat out of Portimão or Albufeira — the cathedral dome, the collapsed roof spilling light, the orange sandstone arches you can't reach on foot. New rules (2023) mean you view from the water, not the beach inside. Book morning departures for calmer seas.

Dolphin-watching boat trip off the Algarve coast — catamarans with biologist guides, morning slots when dolphins are feeding and the Atlantic's not yet choppy. Or just float and let someone else do the scanning.

Nothing scheduled. Beach time, a long lunch that turns into dinner, maybe a clifftop walk if you're feeling motivated. This is the day you don't optimize.