A girl sitting on rocks beside a clear, turquoise stream in a rocky canyon with plants and a mountain in the background.

Packing List

9-Day Portugal Trip

What to Pack for Your
Portugal Adventure 

You're heading to Portugal for nine days of mountain hikes, waterfall swims, medieval villages, and vibrant cities. This trip takes you from Lisbon's historic neighbourhoods through mountain villages to Gerês National Park, ending in Porto. You'll need to pack for variety - city exploration, mountain hiking, natural pool swimming, and a few  dinners.
Trip dates: May to September

Climate: Warm in cities (20–30°C), cooler in the mountains (15–25°C), especially evenings

Activities: Hiking to waterfalls, swimming in natural pools, city walking tours, wine tasting, beach day

Accommodation: Mix of hostels and guesthouses with shared rooms
The golden rule: Pack light. You'll be moving between locations throughout the trip, and a backpack or duffel bag (around 40 litres) makes everything easier. You'll have access to laundry mid-trip, so you don't need 9 days worth of clothes.
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Women's Men's Trip Specific
A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a white top and patterned shorts walks down a narrow, cobblestone street with colorful old buildings on either side. There are people in the distance, some standing and some sitting, with a small chalkboard sign on the sidewalk. The scene appears to be in a historic or European-style neighborhood.

Women's Packing List

A travel packing list titled 'Mountains, Cities & Waterfalls' for women. It includes sections for essentials, optional items, shoes, clothes, and documents, with items like credit cards, daypack, camera, charger, jacket, t-shirts, swimwear, passport, and flight info, accompanied by small illustrations of a stamp, hat, camera, and passport.

DOCUMENTS & MONEY

☐ Passport (plus photo or printed copy stored separately)
☐ Travel insurance documents (printed or saved on phone)
☐ Flight details and booking confirmations
☐ Required visas (check if you need one)
☐ Credit/debit cards (bring at least 2 different cards)
☐ Cash in euros (for small purchases and tips)

BAGS

☐ 40-50-litre backpack or duffel bag (your main luggage)
☐ 20-litre daypack (for day trips and activities)
☐ Small crossbody bag or tote (for evenings and cities)
☐ Padlock (for hostel lockers)

TECH & ESSENTIALS

☐ Phone and charging cable
☐ Power bank (essential for long days out)
☐ Universal adapter (Portugal uses Type F plugs - two round pins)
☐ Headphones
☐ Camera (optional - your phone works great)
☐ E-reader or laptop (optional)

CLOTHES

Remember: you'll have access to laundry, so pack for about a week and plan to wash clothes halfway through.
Tops:
☐ 4-5 t-shirts or tank tops (everyday wear)
☐ 1–2 nicer tops (for dinners out)
☐ 1 sports top or active tee (for hiking)
☐ 1 long-sleeve linen or cotton shirt (cooler evenings in mountains)
☐ 1 button-down shirt (sun protection or layering)

Layers:
☐ 1 lightweight jacket or windbreaker (essential for mountains and evenings)
☐ 1 cardigan or hoodie (Gerês can be cool in the evenings)

Bottoms:
☐ 1 pairs of jeans or trousers
☐ 1 pair of lightweight trousers or flowy pants
☐ 1–2 pairs of shorts (essential for summer)
☐ 1 pair of athletic shorts or leggings (for hiking)
☐ 1–2 dresses or skirts (optional but nice for dinners)

Other:
☐ Pyjamas
☐ Underwear for 7–8 days
☐ 2–3 bras (including 1 sports bra)
☐ 2–3 swimsuits 
☐ 1 sun hat or cap (Portuguese sun is strong)
☐ 4–5 pairs of socks

SHOES

You'll be doing a lot of walking, hiking, and beach time, so comfortable shoes are essential.
☐ 1 pair of comfortable walking trainers (for cities and general use)
☐ 1 pair of hiking shoes or sturdy trainers (for Gerês mountain trails)
☐ 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals (for beach and hostel showers)
☐ 1 pair of dressier sandals or shoes (for nicer dinners in Porto/Lisbon)

TOILETRIES & HEALTH

☐ Sunscreen SPF 50+ 
☐ After-sun lotion or aloe vera
☐ Mosquito repellent
☐ Shampoo and conditioner (travel size or bring your own bottle)
☐ Body wash or soap
☐ Toothbrush and toothpaste
☐ Deodorant
☐ Hairbrush and hair ties
☐ Makeup and skincare (keep it minimal)
☐ Prescription medications
☐ Basic medicines (ibuprofen, antihistamines, plasters)
☐ Contact lenses/solution and glasses (if you wear them)
☐ Tampons/pads or menstrual cup
☐ Razor (if you use one)

SLEEP & COMFORT

☐ Sleeping mask (hostels can be bright in the mornings)
☐ Earplugs (for light sleepers in shared rooms)
☐ Small first-aid kit (plasters, pain relief, antiseptic)

HIKING & ACTIVITIES

☐ Quick-dry travel towel (microfibre works best)
☐ Reusable water bottle (stay hydrated and reduce plastic)
☐ Sunglasses (essential for bright Portuguese days)
☐ Waterproof phone case (optional)
A man walking on a wooden boardwalk towards the beach at sunset, carrying a blue bag and a black hat, with a red beach hut nearby and sand dunes in the background.

Men's Packing List

Packing list for mountains, cities, and waterfalls trip for men, includes essentials like credit cards, backpack, camera, charger, toiletries, clothes such as jackets, shirts, shorts, underwear, socks, and optional items like sleep mask and sunglasses, with sections for documents and shoes.

DOCUMENTS & MONEY

☐ Passport (plus photo or printed copy stored separately)
☐ Travel insurance documents (printed or saved on phone)
☐ Flight details and booking confirmations
☐ Required visas (check if you need one)
☐ Credit/debit cards (bring at least 2 different cards)
☐ Cash in euros (for small purchases and tips)

BAGS

☐ 40-50-litre backpack or duffel bag (your main luggage)
☐ 20-litre daypack (for day trips and activities)
☐ Small crossbody bag or tote (for evenings and cities)
☐ Padlock (for hostel lockers)

TECH & ESSENTIALS

☐ Phone and charging cable
☐ Power bank (essential for long days out)
☐ Universal adapter (Portugal uses Type F plugs - two round pins)
☐ Headphones
☐ Camera (optional - your phone works great)
☐ E-reader or laptop (optional)

CLOTHES

Remember: you'll have access to laundry, so pack for about a week and plan to wash clothes halfway through.
Tops:
☐ 5-6 t-shirts
☐ 1–2 long-sleeve shirts (cooler mountain evenings)
☐ 1 button-down shirt or polo (for dinners out)

Layers:
☐ 1 lightweight jacket or windbreaker (essential for mountains)
☐ 1 hoodie or light jumper

Bottoms:
☐ 1 pairs of jeans or trousers
☐ 1 pair of lightweight trousers or chinos
☐ 2 pairs of shorts
☐ 1 pair of athletic shorts (for hiking and activities)

Other:
☐ Pyjamas or sleep shorts
☐ Underwear for 7–8 days
☐ 2 pairs of board shorts or swim trunks
☐ 1 sun hat or cap
☐ 5–6 pairs of socks

SHOES

You'll be doing a lot of walking, hiking, and beach time, so comfortable shoes are essential.
☐ 1 pair of comfortable walking trainers (for cities and general use)
☐ 1 pair of hiking shoes or sturdy trainers (for Gerês mountain trails)
☐ 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals (for beach and hostel showers)
☐ 1 pair of casual shoes (optional, for nicer evenings out)

TOILETRIES & HEALTH

☐ Sunscreen SPF 50+ 
☐ After-sun lotion or aloe vera
☐ Mosquito repellent
☐ Shampoo and conditioner (travel size or bring your own bottle)
☐ Body wash or soap
☐ Toothbrush and toothpaste
☐ Deodorant
☐ Hairbrush and hair ties
☐ Prescription medications
☐ Basic medicines (ibuprofen, antihistamines, plasters)
☐ Contact lenses/solution and glasses (if you wear them)
☐ Razor (if you use one)

SLEEP & COMFORT

☐ Sleeping mask (hostels can be bright in the mornings)
☐ Earplugs (for light sleepers in shared rooms)
☐ Small first-aid kit (plasters, pain relief, antiseptic)

HIKING & ACTIVITIES

☐ Quick-dry travel towel (microfibre works best)
☐ Reusable water bottle (stay hydrated and reduce plastic)
☐ Sunglasses (essential for bright Portuguese days)
☐ Waterproof phone case (optional but useful for beach days)

Trip-Specific Packing Tips

For the beach day near Lisbon

☐ Atlantic water can be cool - but the beaches are beautiful
☐ Bring sunscreen and reapply often
☐ A beach towel or sarong is useful

For the historic village

☐ Cobblestone streets can be slippery - sturdy shoes are better than flimsy sandals
☐ Bring a light layer for evenings - stone villages can be cooler

For hiking in Gerês

☐ Proper hiking shoes make a huge difference on mountain trails
☐ Bring a light rain jacket just in case (mountain weather can change)
☐ Pack your swimsuit in your daypack - you'll want it for the natural pools

For Porto and Lisbon

☐ You'll be walking a lot on hills - comfortable shoes are essential
☐ A small crossbody bag is perfect for exploring cities
☐ Pack one nicer outfit for dinners and evenings out

General Portugal tips

☐ The sun is stronger than you think - reapply sunscreen regularly
☐ Portugal is casual - leave fancy clothes at home
☐ You can do laundry at hostels mid-trip 
☐ Bring a reusable water bottle - tap water is safe to drink everywhere
☐ Power banks are essential - you'll be using your phone for photos all day

Weather Guide: May to September

May: 18–24°C, perfect for hiking
June: 21–27°C, sunny, great surf conditions
July–August: 25–30°C, peak summer, hottest months
September: 22–27°C, warm water, fewer crowds

Coast (Lisbon): Warm days, cooler sea breeze in evenings
Mountains (Gerês): 5–10°C cooler than coast, chilly evenings
Cities (Porto, Lisbon): Hot during day, pleasant evenings

Need help?

Still not sure what to pack? Get in touch via Email or WhatsApp and we'll help you sort it out.

Ready to book? Check out the full 9-Day Coast to Mountains itinerary →

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