Portugal Honeymoon: Romantic Itinerary and Places to Stay

Portugal is made for honeymoons and romantic getaways: sunsets over the Atlantic, castles and palaces to sleep in, wine estates in the Douro, cliff-top hideaways and candlelit fado. Here’s how to plan a romantic trip to Portugal, with the most romantic places to stay.

Quick answer: combine Lisbon (fado, rooftops, sunset sails) with a few nights in the Douro Valley (Six Senses or a wine estate) and finish on the Algarve coast or in Madeira. For unforgettable stays, sleep in a castle at Óbidos, a royal palace at Bussaco, or the legendary Reid’s Palace. May, June and September are ideal.

A romantic two-week itinerary

• Lisbon (3 nights): sunset on a sailing boat, a rooftop bar, fado in Alfama. See Lisbon rooftop bars and fado in Lisbon.
• Sintra (1 night): fairy-tale palaces, misty forests, a palace hotel. See where to stay in Sintra.
• Douro Valley (2–3 nights): vineyards, river views and wine tastings. See Douro Valley hotels.
• Porto (2 nights): port cellars and riverside dinners. See Porto hotels with a view.
• The Algarve or Madeira (4–5 nights): beaches, sunsets and a spa. See the best spa hotels in Portugal.

The most romantic places to stay

Castles and palaces

• Pousada Castelo Óbidos: sleep inside a medieval castle in a walled village. See Óbidos.
• Palace Hotel do Bussaco: a fairy-tale former royal hunting palace in an enchanted forest near Luso.
• Quinta das Lágrimas: a palace in Coimbra whose gardens are linked to Portugal’s great love story, Pedro and Inês.
• Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais: an 18th-century palace with views of the Pena hills.

Wine and countryside

• Six Senses Douro Valley: a manor house in the vines, with a superb spa.
• São Lourenço do Barrocal: an Alentejo estate near Monsaraz, with stargazing.
• L’AND Vineyards: suites with sky-view ceilings to watch the stars from bed.

By the sea

• Vila Joya (Albufeira): an intimate clifftop hotel with a two-Michelin-star restaurant.
• Farol Hotel (Cascais): a design hotel on the rocks by the lighthouse.
• Areias do Seixo Villas (Silver Coast): eco-chic villas among the dunes.
• Belmond Reid’s Palace (Madeira): the legendary clifftop hotel with afternoon tea above the bay.

Romantic things to do

• A sunset sail on the Tagus in Lisbon. See sunset sails.
• A private wine tasting in the Douro or the Alentejo. See Portugal’s wine regions.
• Stargazing at Alqueva. See Monsaraz and Alqueva.
• A boat trip to Benagil and the Algarve’s sea caves. See Algarve boat trips.
• A photo shoot with a local photographer. See photo tours.
• Dinner with a view at sunset almost anywhere on the coast.

Browse romantic experiences.

When to go

May, June and September bring warm weather, long days and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, while winter is quiet and great for cosy city breaks and spas. See the best time to visit Portugal.

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