Portugal has a fantastic market culture — from centuries-old flea markets to modern food halls and organic Saturday markets. Here's what's accessible during your trip.
Flights arrive at LIS at 8:00 am, 8:30 am, and 10:30 am. Each group heads directly from the airport to Lisbon Oriente station and catches its own train to Porto — no lunch stop in Lisbon. Everyone reconvenes at the hotel on Rua das Flores before dinner.
Allow 30–45 min from landing to clear passport control, collect bags, and reach Oriente. Build in extra time for the 8:00 and 8:30 am flights as passport control queues can be longer in the morning.
| Departs Oriente | Arrives Campanhã | Duration | Suitable For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:09 ⭐ | ~13:05 | ~2h 55m | 8:00 am flight | Land ~8:00 → Oriente by ~9:15–9:30 → catch 10:09. Tight but very doable. Earliest possible Porto arrival ~1 pm. |
| 10:09 ⭐ | ~13:05 | ~2h 55m | 8:30 am flight | Land ~8:30 → Oriente by ~9:30–9:45 → catch 10:09 if bags are quick. Otherwise 11:39 is the safe fallback. |
| 11:39 | ~14:35 | ~2h 55m | 8:00 / 8:30 am flights (safe option) | Comfortable buffer for either early flight. Arrive Porto ~2:30 pm — great for an afternoon explore before dinner. |
| 12:09 | ~15:05 | ~2h 55m | 8:00 / 8:30 am flights | Relaxed option — time for a coffee at Oriente before boarding. Arrive Porto ~3 pm. |
| ~13:15 ⭐ | ~16:10 | ~2h 55m | 10:30 am flight | Land ~10:30 → Oriente by ~11:45–12:00 → comfortable catch. Arrive Porto ~4 pm. Recommended for the last group. |
| ~14:15 | ~17:10 | ~2h 55m | 10:30 am flight (safe option) | Extra buffer if passport control is slow. Arrive Porto ~5 pm — still plenty of time before dinner. |
| ~15:15 | ~18:10 | ~2h 55m | Any group (backup) | Latest comfortable train — arrive Porto ~6 pm, still time to check in before dinner. |
Early arrivals (8:00 / 8:30 am flights catching the 10:09) will reach Porto around 1 pm — well before the hotel's check-in time. Ask the hotel to store bags and use the afternoon to explore. The last group (10:30 am flight) should arrive by 4–5 pm at the latest.
First night in Porto! You want quality without breaking the bank. These are all within walking distance of Rua das Flores (most are under 10 minutes).
Porto's dessert scene is excellent. These are the best spots near Rua das Flores and the historic center.
Pickup is at Sé Cathedral (Calçada da Vandoma) at 8:20 am. These options are all within a 5–8 min walk of both your hotel and the Sé, and open early.
Operated by Living Tours. Meeting point: Calçada da Vandoma (next to Sé Cathedral). Look for staff in red. The tour runs in English and includes hotel pickup as an option (confirm at booking).
After a big day with wine and food included in the tour, you may want something lighter. But if you're ready to celebrate, this is a perfect night for a fine dining experience.
Choose one main activity for the morning — you'll return to the hotel for an hour around 1–2 pm before heading out again.
Lunch around 12:30–1:30 pm, then back to hotel for a rest before the afternoon.
Back to the hotel for an hour — off your feet, rehydrate, and refresh before the afternoon session. July in Porto can hit 30°C / 86°F, so the midday break matters.
Checkout is 11 am. Ask the hotel if you can store bags for a couple of hours if you want to explore a bit more before your train. Campanhã is about 10–15 min by taxi from Rua das Flores (~€10). Have 2 taxis/vans arranged. Buy train tickets on cp.pt in advance.
To arrive in Lisbon by 2 pm, you need to depart Porto by around 11:15 am at the latest. All AP trains from Campanhã take ~2h 40m.
| Train | Departs Campanhã | Arrives Oriente | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 102 ⭐ | ~11:20 | ~14:00 | 2h 40m | Best option — arrives right at 2 pm in Lisbon |
| AP 104 | ~10:20 | ~13:00 | 2h 40m | Earlier option if checkout allows |
| IC 532 | ~11:40 | ~14:45 | 3h 05m | Intercidades — cheaper but slower |
The Epic Sana Marquês is in the Marquês de Pombal / Avenida da Liberdade area — Lisbon's upscale hotel district.
Check in, freshen up. The Epic Sana Marquês has a pool — if the 13-year-old (or any of you) needs a recovery afternoon, this is the moment. Or do a gentle first walk down Avenida da Liberdade — Lisbon's elegant Champs-Élysées equivalent, lined with lime trees, luxury boutiques, and café terraces. A beautiful introduction to the city.
Lisbon has one of Europe's most exciting bar scenes right now — the Príncipe Real neighbourhood (near your hotel) is the city's most sophisticated area for after-dinner drinks, while Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Cais do Sodré cover the full spectrum from intimate wine bars to late-night cocktail dens.
Lisbon's dessert scene is outstanding. Here's the full guide for your three nights in the city.
This is the last dinner of the trip and the biggest birthday celebration opportunity. Go all out or keep it memorable in a different way.
Flight departs 10:00 am. For an international flight, arrive at the airport by 7:30 am at the very latest (3 hours before), ideally by 7:00 am to allow for check-in, security, and possible queues in July. That means leaving the hotel no later than 6:30 am.