The short version
- Choose [Lisbon](/destinations/lisbon) for a first trip to Portugal, a week-long stay, easy beach days and the most to see.
- Choose [Porto](/destinations/porto) for a shorter, cheaper break, port wine, a more compact city and a trip into the Douro Valley.
- Do both if you have a week or more. The fast train between them takes about three hours.
Size and feel
Lisbon is a capital city spread over seven hills along the wide Tagus estuary. It's bigger, busier and more varied, with distinct neighbourhoods: the old Moorish lanes of Alfama, the grand squares of Baixa, the nightlife of Bairro Alto and the monuments of Belém, a tram or train ride away. You'll use trams, the metro and taxis as well as your feet.
Porto is smaller and more compact. Most of what you'll want to see is within walking distance, from the riverside Ribeira district to the cathedral and the tiled railway station. It feels grittier and more lived-in, and many visitors find it more relaxed. Both cities are steep, so comfortable shoes matter in either.
Things to see and do
Lisbon has more big-name sights:
- The castle and viewpoints over Alfama.
- Belém's monastery and tower, and the custard tarts at the café nearby.
- Tram 28 through the old districts, if you can face the queue.
- Day trips to the palaces of Sintra and the seaside at Cascais.
Porto is more about atmosphere:
- The riverside at Ribeira and the views from the Dom Luís I bridge.
- Port lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, with tours and tastings.
- Azulejo tiles at São Bento station and the city's churches.
- A day or two in the Douro Valley, among terraced vineyards, by train, boat or car.
If you want a packed sightseeing list, Lisbon wins. If you'd rather wander, eat and drink well and take a day out in wine country, Porto may suit you better.
Beaches
Lisbon is the better pick for combining a city with a beach. The train along the coast to Cascais takes under an hour, and the long sandy beaches of Costa da Caparica are across the river. In summer, it's easy to spend mornings sightseeing and afternoons by the sea.
Porto has beaches too, at Foz do Douro and Matosinhos, but the Atlantic here is colder and the weather less reliable, so they're better for a walk and a seafood lunch than for swimming. For a proper beach holiday in Portugal, look south to the Algarve, or at the quieter coast of the Alentejo.
Weather
Lisbon is warmer, sunnier and drier. Porto, further north, gets noticeably more rain over the year, mostly between October and April, and its summers are a few degrees cooler, which some people prefer.
- Spring (April to June): good in both, and the best time for Porto.
- Summer (July and August): hot and busy in Lisbon, pleasantly warm in Porto.
- Autumn (September and October): excellent in Lisbon, with a warm sea; still good in Porto in September.
- Winter: Lisbon is mild with sunny spells between rainy days. Porto is wetter and greyer.
Each guide shows the best months to go, and our where to go in May and September pages show what else is at its best then.
Food and drink
Both are excellent and good value by western European standards. Lisbon has more choice, from old-fashioned tascas and the Time Out Market to modern restaurants, and is the home of the pastel de nata. Porto is known for hearty food, like the francesinha sandwich, and of course for port, with the lodges just across the river. If wine is a big part of your holiday, Porto and the Douro are hard to beat.
Cost
Porto is generally a little cheaper than Lisbon, especially for hotels and eating out, though both have become more expensive as they've grown more popular. In either city, staying a little outside the old centre and eating where locals eat makes a big difference.
Getting there and between them
Both have direct flights from London and many UK regional airports, of around two to two and a half hours. Lisbon has more routes and more flights, so it's often easier to find good times and prices. Both airports are close to the centre and linked by metro: Lisbon's is unusually close, about 20 minutes away, and Porto's around half an hour.
The Alfa Pendular fast train links the two cities in about three hours, so it's easy to fly into one and out of the other. Book an open-jaw flight and you won't need to backtrack. If you're flying from the South West, both have direct flights from Bristol.
Which is better for...
- A 3-day city break: either, but Porto's compact centre makes it easier to see in a long weekend. See the best places for a 3-day city break.
- A first visit to Portugal: Lisbon, with Sintra as a day trip.
- A week: Lisbon, or better, both.
- Couples: Porto for the wine, the river and the slower pace.
- Families: Lisbon, for the beaches, the aquarium and the trams.
- Winter sun: Lisbon, by some way.
For more of the country, see our Portugal holiday ideas.
Still can't choose?
If you're travelling with others and half want Lisbon and half want Porto, our guide to choosing between two holidays has some quick ways to settle it. Or add both to your list on somewhere🎉, let everyone share out their points, and let the draw decide.