Traveling to Lisbon and Porto mid May, any must sees or recommendations? I already have my accommodations booked. Looking to keep to a pretty tight budget.

We are in Lisbon right now. We went to Sintra and Cascais for the day with an 8 person group with a company called “I hate tourist tours” it was so great. Highlight of our trip so far . Great guide.

Erin thanks you Erin! Sounds right up my alley

Susie yah it was really great. 8 ppl was good as it was more personal

I was just in both Porto and Lisbon until April. A really goo hotel to look up is Mystay Porto Batalha (Battle Square, there is a monument there). It is an inexpensive newly renovated boutique hotel right in a very good location. It is however on an "alleyway/street" that can not be accessed from one end (a short but very steep walk up a hill then 3 flights of steps and you are at the hotel's front door from Sao Bento train station. If you are young and hike, it's easy. I'm 59 and out of shape so took a while to walk up every night, but did it!!
The hotel is also easily accessed if you tell the taxi driver to take you to the Mercure Batalha property. It is right at the top of the hill and then 20 feet from the hotel's front door on 30 Rua da Maderia and you walk downhill from there. My first taxi driver from Sao Bento Station wouldn't take us because he said it was too close and we could walk there. Eventually after lugging luggage up hill after hill using my gps, I flagged a taxi and went back to the station to get my wife and other luggage. Only cost 6E after all that for the ride and luggage. I tipped him 4E!!
The YELLOW Hopon-Hop off stop #2 is diagonally located at the square at the Porto Hotel front door. BEAWARE we bought a "2 day" ticket to get around - CAUTION, they tried to rip us off by saying that 2 days "does NOT mean 48 hrs worth of time. We bought our ticket at 13:35 the 1st day and used it until 6:00pm when they shut down, then a full "day" the next day, AND SUPPOSEDLY had till 13:35 the last day; BUT at 12:00 noon I boarded for our first and last ride before the 13;35 EXPIRY TIME, BUT THE DRIVER WOULDN'T let us on the bus. I argued that 2 days meant 48 hours and because they specifically kept referring to the 13:35 expiry time, it meant my ticket did not expire until 13:35. The driver said no! I used the ticket on day 1 at 13;35, then day 2 till 6:00pm. I had used 2 day's worth. I said no! Long story short he threatened to called the cops but didn't; we stayed on the bus; held the bus up for about an hour; I got my last ride; and I'll be posting this to tell others to fight back! They told us the ticket was good for 48 hrs when we bought at 13:35 otherwise why buy a 1/2 day for the full price? I could have bought at 9:00am instead!
Anyways, the bus does provide a boat cruise and port wine tasting that is good. Porto has great stops along the bus route. The Majestic Cafe is about a block downhill from the hotel. The French toast is excellent. There is a local Pingo Doche Market another 2 blocks away for cheap groceries and fresh food!! The location of the hotel is excellent, a 5 min downhill/down stairway to the center square in Centro as well as Sao Bento station (a historical tile must see). Cheers, you can lose weight walking; I did!

Stayed at the Tesouro da Baixa by Shaidu, which included a really good breakfast buffet with a slant towards vegetarian food as well as fresh squeezed orange juice and a free self serve expresso bar 24 hrs a day (sometimes there are cakes and cookies until later in the day).
Excellent location as Tram #28 is just steps away along with other trams #25 or bus 760 and #13 (which can be tram or bus). The hotel on 3 Dom Duarte is literally between two major squares the Praca Dom Duarte city center and Praca da Figureira the terminus for all the transportation you'll need for seeing Lisbon as well as the Mercado Figureira a market for cheese, meat, wine, and beer lovers! Cheap and plenty!
There is no need for the Hopon-Hopoff here! Personally I would avoid the Tram #28 because everyone takes it. For the experience, every other tram is the same. Get the 1 day 7E transit pass as every trip on the transit is 3E or more. You'll save lots getting the pass and reloading it every day for 7E at the Metro stations everywhere. The Rossio Metro is also located in the Praca Da Figueira. Take the Tram #28 to the end stop in Estrella near the Mercado de Campo Ourique which is open until 11pm every night and til 1:00am on Thur Fri and Sat. The late night return bus is the number 744 which runs all day to this area and back. In the day the bis is large but at night it is a smaller van! Just look out for it. The tram and the bus also stop just before the end at the Mercado. Keep a sharp eye out for this huge Church and push the stop button. If you look across to the church you'll see the Mercado de Campo Ourique sign. It is great food and drinks. No paper cups, all glassware, music, 13E for rack of lamb dinner, 13E ribeye steaks, 12.50E sushi and temaki platter!! So cheap for Europe! When 3 times in 9 days!! Much better than the Time Out Market (Mercado da Riberia at Praca Dom Luis which opens until 11:00pm as well as 2:00am on weekends).
Take the #13 bus (very long 2 busses) to the Belem area to see the tower, the famous Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument, and have a nata at Pastéis de Belém. Just don't wait in line, go inside and sit down at a table and order a coffee and nata and enjoy. Table service is cheap for coffee and tea as well. My preference is the custard tart at Fábrica da Nata - Pastéis de Nata along Avenue da Liberdade, also steps away from the hotel Tesouro.
The hotel offers a 3 hour walking tour that is fantastic! We tipped 10E each because it was well worth the time and Raphael's great knowledge of Lisbon's history and architecture. Have fun!

LX Factory is a must to visit in Lisbon. Travel the old street cars especially #25 for excellent sight seeing. Sintra is a great visit with the strange castle. Sagres down on the coast too.

Susie in Sunday’s the lx factory has a market. Also this is where the actual office for the tour company is if you want to chat to them.

We always like doing Hop on Hop off and really found it was really good in both those cities. Gives you a great overview but you really must sit up on the upper deck for the best view. Great way to get around as well to all the tourist places without renting a car or taxi. Check it out in advance so you know where it stops and where you can pick it up. .

In Lisbon, I recommend a sunset sailing. Most of them offer free wine and the view is beautiful
https://www.viator.com/.../Sunset-Cruises/d538-g3-c5638
VIATOR.COM
The Top 5 Lisbon Sunset Cruises (w/Prices)

Don’t miss Livraria Lello in Porto, rated as the third most beautiful library in the world (J.K Rowling inspiration for Hogwart’s library). Also a tour down the Douro River is a must too. We did an 8 hour. Cruise up to a Port winery and it included breakfast and lunch with wine of course on the boat.

Diane thanks, I’m a huge HP fan, definitely going to check out this library!

I would like to be your guide I know portugal from North to south and east and west