Booked DONE
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 2 × Delta award, nonstop JFK↔LIS. Depart Sat Aug 22 (overnight → lands Aug 23 AM), return Sun Aug 30. | 97,400 mi + $138 |
| Porto hotel | Aug 23–25 (2 nts). Charged Aug 11 on the Sapphire. | €309 (~$334) |
| Lisbon hotel | Aug 25–30 (5 nts). Pay at checkout — use the Sapphire. | $707 |
Routing: fly in & out of Lisbon, train up to Porto on arrival, train back, fly home from Lisbon — no airport backtrack.
Trains BOOK NOW
Verified live on cp.pt · Aug 6, 2026. 2nd class, both legs. Prices per person. Promo fares are limited and non-refundable — book soon.
Aug 23 · Sun — Lisboa Oriente → Porto Campanhã PICK: 10:09
Your Delta nonstop lands ~8:00 AM. Metro Red Line from the airport to Oriente is ~20 min — the 10:09 Alfa Pendular gives a comfortable buffer (arrive Porto 12:48, right in time for Ribeira lunch). The 08:09 only works if you breeze through; don't stress about it.
| Dep | Arr | Service | Dur | Price 2nd class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07:09 | 09:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €21.50 promo | too early |
| 08:09 | 10:55 | Alfa Pendular | 2h46 | €35.70 | tight |
| 10:09 | 12:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | ★ pick |
| 11:39 | 14:43 | Intercidades | 3h04 | €28.05 | cheaper, slower |
| 14:09 | 16:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | |
| 15:39 | 18:43 | Intercidades | 3h04 | €28.05 | |
| 16:09 | 18:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | |
| 17:09 | 19:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | |
| 18:09 | 20:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | |
| 19:09 | 21:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €35.70 | |
| 20:09 | 22:48 | Alfa Pendular | 2h39 | €21.50 promo |
Book (pre-filled: 2 passengers · Aug 23 · Lisboa Oriente → Porto Campanhã): cp.pt ↗
Aug 25 · Tue — Porto Campanhã → Lisboa Oriente PICK: 14:40
Afternoon train as planned — the 14:40 Alfa Pendular lands you in Lisbon 17:22, in time for a Chiado evening. The 16:40 is the relaxed backup if you want more Porto.
| Dep | Arr | Service | Dur | Price 2nd class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:40 | 12:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €35.70 | morning |
| 11:40 | 14:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €35.70 | |
| 13:40 | 16:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €35.70 | |
| 14:40 | 17:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €35.70 | ★ pick |
| 14:45 | 17:52 | Intercidades | 3h07 | €28.05 | cheaper, slower |
| 16:40 | 19:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €35.70 | backup |
| 17:40 | 20:32 | Alfa Pendular | 2h52 | €21.50 promo | |
| 18:40 | 21:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €21.50 promo | |
| 20:40 | 23:22 | Alfa Pendular | 2h42 | €16.00 promo |
Book (pre-filled: 2 passengers · Aug 25 · Porto Campanhã → Lisboa Oriente): cp.pt ↗
Cost for both legs: ~€143 for two on the recommended Alfa Pendular trains (10:09 + 14:40, €35.70 pp each). Go Intercidades instead and it's ~€112 — slower by ~25 min each way. The original plan budgeted ~$120, so either way you're on target.
Ground logistics: LIS airport → Lisboa Oriente station is the Metro Red Line (Vermelha), ~20 min. At the other end, Porto Campanhã → São Bento downtown is a 5-min connecting train included with your ticket (or a quick metro/Uber). Both legs end city-center to city-center.
Promo fares are non-refundable; full fares are refundable. Your call — for a fixed itinerary the promo is usually fine.
Ground logistics: LIS airport → Lisboa Oriente station is the Metro Red Line (Vermelha), ~20 min. At the other end, Porto Campanhã → São Bento downtown is a 5-min connecting train included with your ticket (or a quick metro/Uber). Both legs end city-center to city-center.
Promo fares are non-refundable; full fares are refundable. Your call — for a fixed itinerary the promo is usually fine.
Itinerary
Aug 23 · Sun
Arrive Lisbon → train to Porto
Land Lisbon, take the Alfa Pendular to Porto ↗ (~3h). Check in. Evening: Ribeira waterfront, riverside dinner.
Learn more
The Alfa Pendular is Portugal's fastest train — comfortable, city-center to city-center, no airport hassle. Book 2nd class ahead for ~€25–35pp. In Porto you arrive at Campanhã, then a free 5-min connecting train to São Bento downtown.
- Ribeira is Porto's UNESCO-listed riverfront — colorful tiled houses stacked up the hillside, restaurants and live music along the Douro.
- Ease into it: a relaxed first-night dinner by the water, watch the rabelo boats and the lit-up bridge.
Aug 24 · Mon
Porto city
Livraria Lello ↗ (timed ticket, at opening), Clérigos Tower, São Bento azulejos, Bolhão Market. Afternoon: Gaia port cellars — Graham's ↗ (book ahead). Sunset: Jardim do Morro.
Learn more
- Livraria Lello — a 1906 neo-Gothic bookshop with a famous crimson staircase, said to have inspired J.K. Rowling. Buy the timed ticket online and go at opening; it's deductible from a book purchase.
- Dom Luís I Bridge — Eiffel-disciple double-deck iron bridge. Walk the upper deck for the best views; cross it to Gaia.
- Vila Nova de Gaia — the port-wine lodges line the south bank. Graham's tour+tasting (~€25–40pp) has the best hilltop river views. Taylor's and Cálem are alternatives.
- São Bento station — ~20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history, free to walk through.
Aug 25 · Tue
Porto → train to Lisbon
Afternoon AP train to Lisbon (~3h). Check in. Evening: Chiado/Baixa, Time Out Market, sunset at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
Learn more
- Chiado & Baixa — Lisbon's elegant downtown: grand squares, mosaic pavements, historic cafés (Café A Brasileira), boutiques. Where most of your stays are based.
- Time Out Market — a huge food hall in Cais do Sodré gathering many of the city's best chefs and stalls under one roof — easy first-night dinner.
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara — a terraced viewpoint over the castle and old city, ideal at sunset.
Aug 26 · Wed
Lisbon + Alfama
Tram 28 early, Sé Cathedral, Alfama, Castelo de São Jorge. Sunset at Miradouro das Portas do Sol.
Learn more
- Tram 28 — the iconic yellow tram that rattles through the oldest neighborhoods. Ride it early (before ~9am) to avoid crowds and pickpockets.
- Alfama — Lisbon's medieval maze of alleys, laundry-strung balconies and fado bars; survived the 1755 earthquake. Just wander and get lost.
- Castelo de São Jorge — Moorish hilltop castle with the best panorama over the city and river.
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol — postcard viewpoint over Alfama's rooftops down to the Tagus.
Aug 27 · Thu
Sintra day trip
Train from Rossio ~8am. Pena Palace ↗ booked for 10:00 AM; 434 bus up. Then Quinta da Regaleira ↗ booked for 2:00 PM (lunch in town between). Back evening.
Learn more
Sintra is a fairytale hill town of palaces in misty forest, ~40 min by train from Rossio station. Go EARLY (aim to arrive 8:00–8:30am) — it's the most crowded day-trip from Lisbon.
- Pena Palace — a riot of red-and-yellow Romanticist towers on a peak, Portugal's most famous palace. Book the earliest timed entry online; take the 434 bus or a tuk-tuk up (the walk is steep). Don't skip the Park of Pena grounds.
- Quinta da Regaleira — a mystical estate with the spiral Initiation Well, tunnels and gardens that feel like a movie set. Many visitors' favorite. Book ahead (~€15pp).
- Lunch in Sintra's historic center between the two.
Aug 28 · Fri
Belém + afternoon beach
Morning: Jerónimos Monastery ↗ (timed ticket), Belém Tower, Pastéis de Belém. Afternoon: stay on the Cascais line west to Carcavelos — the big classic Lisbon beach (~20 min past Belém, no backtrack).
Learn more
- Jerónimos Monastery — vast 16th-century Manueline masterpiece, UNESCO-listed, where Vasco da Gama is entombed. Buy a timed ticket online to skip the line.
- Belém Tower — the iconic fortified riverside tower, symbol of Portugal's Age of Discovery.
- Pastéis de Belém — the original custard-tart bakery (since 1837); the recipe is a secret. Expect a line; it moves fast.
- Carcavelos beach — Lisbon's big, easy sandy beach, on the same train line just past Belém. Wide beach, calmer water than Guincho, beach bars. Good swim afternoon.
Aug 29 · Sat
Guincho beach day
Train from Cais do Sodré to Cascais (~40 min), then bus/Uber 10 min to Praia do Guincho — wild, dramatic Atlantic beach backed by dunes. Lunch in Cascais old town. Optional bike along the coast.
Learn more
Praia do Guincho is a stunning, wild Atlantic beach inside Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, with golden sand, dunes and the Serra de Sintra as backdrop (it featured in the Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service).
- It's exposed Atlantic — expect strong wind and surf (a famous windsurf/kitesurf spot) and cold water. Spectacular for scenery, walks and that wild-coast feel; less ideal for calm swimming.
- Getting there: train to Cascais, then a short bus (Scotturb 405/415) or Uber, or rent bikes and ride the coastal path.
- Cascais old town is charming for a seafood lunch before/after.
- Want a calmer swim instead that day? Carcavelos or the Cascais town beaches are more sheltered.
Aug 30 · Sun
Fly home
Already in Lisbon — relaxed morning, Delta nonstop LIS→JFK.$5k Sapphire bonus tracker
Opened mid-June → spend $5,000 by ~Sept 15, 2026 to earn the 100k points. Confirm your exact deadline in the Chase app. Pay the statement in full each month; don't carry a balance.
| Counts toward $5k | ~Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Porto hotel | ~$334 | Aug 11 ✓ |
| Lisbon hotel (pay at checkout, use Sapphire) | $707 | ~Aug 30 |
| Trains + attractions + food in Portugal | ~$1,100 | Aug 22–30 |
| Everyday spend (groceries, gas, dining, bills…) | ~$2,860 | now → Sept |
| TARGET | $5,000 | by ~Sept 15 |
The plan: route ALL everyday spend to the Sapphire now through July (~$1k/mo), stop using other cards. The trip spend in late August is a cushion, not what you rely on. Check the Chase running total in early August — if you're short, prepay the Lisbon hotel on the Sapphire to close the gap with margin.
Note: the flight's $138 went on the Delta Amex (needed for TakeOff 15) — it does not count toward this $5k.
Note: the flight's $138 went on the Delta Amex (needed for TakeOff 15) — it does not count toward this $5k.
Still to book
Flights & hotels handled. Here's everything else, in the order to do it.
Trains — Alfa Pendular (cp.pt) ✅ See the Trains section at the top
Exact trains, times, prices and pre-filled booking links for both legs — verified Aug 6, 2026.
Timed-entry tickets — book 2–4 weeks out
- Pena Palace ↗ — ✅ booked 10:00 AM
- Quinta da Regaleira ↗ (Sintra, same day) — ✅ booked 2:00 PM
- Livraria Lello ↗ — timed bookshop ticket, go at opening
- Graham's port cellar ↗ tour + tasting (Gaia)
- Jerónimos Monastery ↗ — optional timed ticket to skip the line
Before you go
- Bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (the Sapphire qualifies) — use it abroad
- Pool your 11k Freedom Unlimited points into the Sapphire (makes them transferable)
- See the $5k Bonus tracker for the spend plan