2 Weeks Portugal Road Trip: Your Perfect Itinerary

If you look at a map, Portugal doesn’t seem like a particularly big country, but it’s incredibly deceptive. The best Portugal road trip itinerary takes time – at least two weeks if you want to go from Porto in the north to Algarve in the south. The distance may not be that far, but there’s a hell of a lot to see!

Last year, we decided we’d finally get beyond Porto and Lisbon and go and see more of the country. Renting a car in Portugal, we took to the open road, dawdling our way along the scenic Estadio da Praia coastal track and heading inland to the historic city of Evora.

Combining that experience with our previous trips, we’ve put together the ultimate 2 weeks in Portugal itinerary, taking in the big cities, vibrant seaside towns, and rural nature.

Portugal Road Trip: Quick Overview

Day 1: Porto

We started our Portugal road trip in Porto, up in the northern part of the country. The city gives its name to the well-known fortified wine, which has been made here from Douro Valley grapes for hundreds of years. 

Begin at Luís I Bridge, a metal monster built in the 1880s that crosses the Douro River. There are two levels to this bridge, but make sure you walk the upper one, which has amazing views of the city. It’s the ideal way to get a panoramic glimpse of Porto before diving into its treasures.

Even though Porto’s old quarter north of the river is where the city’s most beautiful architecture is located, we spent our first day exploring the south bank, which is famous for wineries and port tasting. 

Before you begin boozing, make a quick stop at Jardim do Morro station, not to ride the metro (although that’s quite a fun way to cross the Luis I Bridge), but for the viewpoint just below the station entrance.

All the best Portugal road trips should include a little wine tasting, and we couldn’t wait to get started! Porto actually has a whole district called WOW (World of Wine), which occupies a complex of former port warehouses. It’s basically a complex of bars, restaurants, and museums, including a wine school where you can brush up on your knowledge of Portuguese vinho.

We found ourselves spending a couple of hours at WOW before making our way back towards the Douro River to check out the street performers and souvenir shops that line the south bank. We even bought a couple of lovely coffee cups here decorated with Portugal’s famous blue-and-white azulejo tiles.

If you’re feeling a little peckish, head into Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau. We didn’t plan on checking this out, but we popped in out of curiosity because of the quirky décor and the pianist giving a mini concert. We ended up ordering a glass of port and a freshly made fish pie – which turned out to be a great combo! 

Once you’ve got your refreshments, wander upstairs, where there’s plenty of comfy seating and a good view that you can enjoy while listening to the tinkling of the piano.  

Day 2: Porto

The historic centre of Porto was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in the ‘90s for its beautiful architecture, which spans the centuries. There’s a lot to see here, from the Romanesque cathedral (founded in the 12th century) to the azulejo-decorated Sao Bento Train Station (built in the early 1900s).

Azulejo tiles are a recurring feature in a lot of old Portuguese buildings, including the Igreja do Carmo and the Chapel of Souls. 

For Potterheads, one of the highlights of any Portugal road trip has to be the Livraria Lello, which is said to have inspired J. K. Rowling. Even if you’re not a fan of the books, it’s still worth pre-booking a ticket – it’s often cited as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world! 

One of our fav places in Porto is the area around Largo da Pena Ventosa. It’s a super cute collection of narrow alleyways crisscrossed by drying laundry, giving it a traditional neighbourhood feel. Drop in on the small wine bar on the main square for a little glass of something and a snack.

There’s a wonderful diversity to old Porto that we really enjoyed. The Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange a Palace), for example, has an incredible Arab Room elaborately decorated with Moorish motifs. 

Over in the Clérigos Church, meanwhile, you can hike up an 18th-century bell tower for awesome views. Make sure to come back at night as well to enjoy the evening musical performance inside the church.  

Finish the day with dinner on the Cais da Ribeira, the promenade that runs along Porto’s riverfront. We chose Ribeira 50, which had decent food and was a great location for people-watching. The weather was pretty miserable, so we ended up sitting there for hours drinking Portuguese wine and watching musical performances by various street artists. 

As they say, every rain cloud has a silver lining!

Day 3: Aveiro & Praia de Costa Nova

Next up on our two week Portugal itinerary was Aveiro, a city bisected by picturesque canals. Just under an hour south of Porto, it doesn’t have a load of attractions, but it is a nice place to break up the drive down to Nazare.

The best parking here is at the Parking Forum Aveiro. It’s underground, paid, and right next to the historic centre. 

After you’ve ditched your wheels, stroll along the river, taking in the waterways and the unique local boats known as moliceiro. Traditionally, these long, narrow vessels with their brightly painted bows were used to harvest molico, a type of seaweed, but they’re now basically pleasure craft for tourists. 

Cross the river via one of the many bridges and make your way up Aveiro’s main avenue, Doutor Lourenço Peixinho. We found a brunch place here called Urban Spot that does a fabulous stuffed croissant.

Walk off your meal with a stroll down the city streets, which are paved with mosaic tiles. We kind of just let our feet go where they wanted, passing the stylish buildings of Praça do Doutor Joaquim de Melo Freitas and the Church of Aveiro’s Mercy.

The main draw in Aveiro for most people is a boat tour along the canals. We booked ours in advance through Onda Colossal, selecting a 45-minute ride for €15 per person, which felt like decent value. 

Before heading onward to Nazare for the night, hop in the car and make a short detour to the Praia da Costa Nova. 

Road trips in Portugal should always involve plenty of time on the coast, even if it’s not beach season! The country is blessed with lots of scenic seaside, and the Praia de Costa Nova is a prime example. This gorgeous wide beach comes with a picturesque lighthouse and cheerful, colourfully painted stripy houses.

Day 4: Nazare & Obidos

Nazare is famous in the surfing community for its big waves, which look absolutely terrifying in the winter! 

Even though we didn’t fancy riding them, we woke up early in the morning to go to Farol de Nazare to see the raw power of nature. 

We found free parking here, which was super convenient for reaching the viewpoint as well as for checking out the long, sandy beach nearby.

Continue your Portugal road trip in Obidos, about half an hour’s drive away. This town has some of the best-preserved medieval city walls in Portugal. Even better, they are free to access and offer amazing views of the town and surrounding countryside. Just watch your step, as there aren’t any guardrails!

We opted for paid parking here, near the aqueduct, a short walk from the Porta da Vila. This attractive old gatehouse is decorated with blue tiles and has surprisingly good acoustics. When we visited, a musician was putting on a little performance for passersby.

Stroll along the pedestrianised Rua Direita, which is lined by souvenir shops, cafes, and places selling sour-cherry-flavoured ginja, the local liqueur. 

Hanging over the whole town is the Castelo de Obidos, a formidable structure that has been listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal by the Ministry of Culture. It’s now a 4-star hotel with some pricey but atmospheric rooms.

Day 5: Cascais & Cape Roca

About an hour further down the coast, Cascais is the heart of the Portuguese Riviera. Its prime seaside location outside of Lisbon has captivated the upper crust of society for more than a century. Royalty and nobility built deluxe mansions here throughout the 1800s and 1900s, where they could escape the chaos of the capital.

We found solid parking in Cascais just beside the Citadel of Cascais, an imposing fortress-turned-palace-turned-art-district that dates back to the 15th century. It’s part of the Museum Quarter, a cool area with lots of striking buildings that have been converted into exhibition spaces.

Our favourite of them all was the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, a curious hodgepodge of a palace that contains various expensive treasures collected by the Count of Castro Guimarães.

Just opposite the museum is the Miradouro Casa de Santa Maria, where we stopped briefly to enjoy the view of the lighthouse and the Casa de Santa Maria.

From here, walk to Cascais Old Town, a collection of pretty pedestrianised streets filled with shops and restaurants. It’s a charming place to spend half an hour before heading down to the Praia da Ribeira de Cascais to relax on the sandy beach.  

Continue your 2 weeks in Portugal itinerary with a quick stop off at Cape Roca, a rugged bit of coastline that offers a striking contrast to the more refined pleasures of Cascais. (It’s also possible to add this onto your daytrip to Sintra if you’re feeling a bit worn out on Day 5.)

Cascais and Cape Roca are just outside Lisbon, so we opted to book a room in the capital to give ourselves four whole nights in one place. Trying different accommodation is fun and all, but it’s also nice not to have to pack everything up every other day!

Day 6: Sintra

Instead of settling in to explore Lisbon on our first day in the capital, we decided to head to Sintra, mainly because we had quite good weather on Day 6. It’s a lot more walking around outdoors in Sintra, whereas in Lisbon we were always ducking in and out of monasteries, covered markets, and other buildings – but we’ll get to that in a bit!

Sintra is where monarchs used to escape when the heat became oppressive in the capital. As a result, there are a couple of notable palaces here that attract a lot of tourists, which is why we recommend booking a timed entry ticket in advance to ensure you get a chance to visit.

The most famous of the former royal homes is the National Palace of Pena, a colourful mess of a building in a prime hilltop location. The outside is stunning, but the inside isn’t that special, although if you book the last time slot of the day you can take some photos of the courtyard without people getting in the way.

The other main palace here is the National Palace of Sintra, which is a bit plain by comparison with Pena but sticks out (literally) thanks to its unusual conical chimneys. Again, there’s not much to see inside.

Don’t miss the ruins of the Moorish Castle, the oldest building in the area. We really enjoyed walking along the intact walls and towers, taking in the fab views of the surrounding landscape.

There are several other royal residences you can explore in the area, but we found it impossible to see them all in one day. Our recommendation would be to definitely visit Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle, then maybe pick a third place to check out. 

In between your royal itinerary, stop off for lunch at Cajo, a cute neighbourhood spot where we ate some outstanding local specialities.

The palaces in Sintra are spread over quite a big space, but it’s not possible to drive between them. Basically, what we did was park in town, then catch the bus to the castles we wanted to see.

Alternatively, you can ditch your car entirely for this part of your Portugal road trip and catch the train that runs frequently between the capital and Sintra. 

Day 7: Lisbon

Did you know that Lisbon is the second-oldest capital in Europe, older even than Rome? No, neither did we before our visit! 

Like Rome, the Portuguese capital sprang up around seven hills. Unlike Rome, you really notice the steepness of the slopes.

The town authorities even built an elevator in 1902 to make it easier for citizens to travel between upper and lower Lisbon. Back then, the Santa Justa Lift was something of an entertaining novelty for locals, but now it’s become a full-blown tourist magnet. Queues can be tedious, so get here early to beat the crowds.

Start your day in the Rossio district near the lift, which is essentially in the centre of the city. From here, head down the pedestrianised Rua Augusta towards the harbour. 

There’s not anything specific to see along this street, but you’ll get a general feel for the buzzy heart of Lisbon as you walk past numerous restaurants and shops housed in stately mansion blocks.

Eventually, you’ll come to the Arco da Rua Augusta, a grand arch that commemorates the reconstruction of Lisbon after a lot of it was levelled by an earthquake in 1755. The arch leads onto the Praça do Comércio, a buzzy harbourside square lined by restaurants.

The Santa Justa Lift isn’t the only mode of transport in Lisbon that combines utility and pleasure. We loved the capital’s tram network, especially No. 28, which connects the harbour with the city’s oldest neighbourhood, Alfama.

A lot of the Alfama was spared the destruction of earthquakes, although the 12th-century Lisbon Cathedral has had plenty of restoration work done to it over the years. 

There are a tonne of awesome miradouros (viewpoints) scattered throughout the district, but if you only visit one, our fav was the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. A balcony decorated with beautiful azulejos, it’s a perfect perch to look down on the harbourside houses.

Overlooking the neighbourhood is the restored Castelo de Sao Jorge, originally constructed by the Moors way back in the 1st millennium CE.

End the day with dinner at the Time Out Market, which brings together lots of different food and drink concepts under one roof. We also had a fun visit to the nearby Pink Street, a short pedestrian alley lined by restaurants and bars that lives up to its colourful name.

Day 8: Lisbon & Belem

There are two medieval buildings that stand out above all others in Lisbon. The most famous is arguably the Jerónimos Monastery, a gorgeous building designed (so we read on a handy plaque) in the Manueline style. Basically, that seems to mean lots of ornate, Gothic-inspired stonework! 

It was truly stunning and one of the highlights of our Portugal road trip, but make sure you turn up either early or late to avoid the queues. We turned up first thing in the morning and waited about half an hour, but it’s also possible to book tickets online in advance.

The Jerónimos Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Belém Tower,  a smaller but still incredible building on the waterfront that was built as a defensive structure. 

We’d rate the outside of the tower as a must-see, but honestly, we didn’t find the inside particularly interesting. If the queue looks too long, you can safely skip getting a ticket.

While you’re in the area, don’t miss out on grabbing a pastel de nata (or three) from Pastéis de Belém. Yes, it’s hella busy, but these custard tarts are iconic, so suck it up! Plus, the staff seemed pretty used to the volume of people, so orders moved along quickly.

Once you’ve got your sweet treat in hand, hop on a tram and head to Santo Amaro, where you’ll find LX Factory. This place used to be a massive textile factory, before it got a hipster makeover and became the go-to place for trendy eateries, artisan shops, and street art. The vibe is on point! 

Day 9: Evora

Most of our two weeks in Portugal itinerary hugs the coast, but if there’s a good reason to head inland, it’s Evora. This picture-perfect medieval town is a whirlwind of beautiful – and occasionally creepy – architecture. 

We started our visit at the 16th-century aqueduct, then followed the cobblestone Rua do Cano beneath it into the centre of town.

Right in the centre of things is one of the city’s oldest landmarks, the Roman Temple of Evora. Although there’s not much to the ruin these days, it’s a very dramatic building to have in the middle of a square. 

If you stand in the right place, you can see through the temple’s pillars another major attraction, the Cathedral of Evora. This magical building was our fav part of our visit. It’s got an amazing rooftop where we spent ages snapping cool photos of the architecture and the views.

We went up in the late afternoon, right before closing, and there were definitely fewer people about than when we passed by in the morning.

Evora is home to several impressive religious buildings, including the fantastically tiled Church of Saint Mamede and the beautifully carved façade of Graca Church. The most unusual one we visited, though, was the Chapel of Bones, which has walls lined with real pieces of human skeleton. Talk about grim!

Just a short walk from the Chapel of Bones is Portugal’s second-oldest university. Established in 1559, the University of Evora is open to the public, which means you can poke your nose into tile-decorated classrooms – when there aren’t classes, of course.

A street or two over, you can also see what remains of the Royal Palace of Evora. The building itself isn’t overly impressive, but the surrounding gardens are a nice place to go for a time out.

By this point, we were famished, so we made our way back in the direction of our car, passing through Evora’s main plaza, Giraldo Square, for a few snapshots of the fountain on the way.

We’d made a dinner reservation at O Templo, which is not far from the end of the aqueduct. Honestly, it was one of the best dining experiences of our whole trip. The food was outstanding, especially the pork cheeks stewed in red wine. There are only a few tables, so advance booking is essential. 

Day 10: Estrada da Praia & Sagres

When we were deciding how to spend 2 weeks in Portugal, we wanted to try and balance a mix of city and nature. After a few days of striding about Lisbon and Evora, we were ready for a bit of the great outdoors.

The journey between Evora and Estrada de Praia was the longest drive of our Portugal road trip at just over 3 hours. In the end, you’re rewarded with one of the most scenic coastlines in the country, studded with top-notch beaches (we loved both Bordeira and Amado).

The Estrada de Praia is essentially a coastal track that runs along this prime bit of the Algarve. The route has several stopping points marked with letters of the alphabet, all with free parking where you can pull up and enjoy the views. 

Even though it’s only a dirt road, it’s a well-maintained one, and we managed just fine in a Volkswagen Polo. 

After you’ve completed the loop, head 30 minutes south to Sagres. This place is fairly small, but it does boast some excellent places to eat, as well as the ruins of a 15th-century fortress built by Henry the Navigator, the royal prince who drove a lot of Portuguese naval expeditions.

The main lure in these parts, though, is Cabo de Sao Vicente, the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe. At sunset, the place swarms with people, which is why we recommend coming a little earlier in the day. 

Parking can be a struggle at the cape, so if you have the time and the energy, do what we did and hike the 7.4km (4.6 miles) trail from Sagres. It takes about two hours, but it’s a nice walk. Plus, you can catch the bus back to save you from making the return journey on foot!

There are a handful of hotels in Sagres, but we opted to drive 30 minutes along the southern coast to Lagos, which is a more central base for exploring the Algarve.

Day 11: Lagos, Ponta de Piedade hike & Dona Ana Beach

The last few days of our 2 weeks in Portugal itinerary are all based in the Algarve, one of the most beautiful and sunny regions of the country. 

You could easily focus on just this part of the country, trimming down your trip to a 5-day Algarve road trip itinerary if you’re short on time. 

Start your day in the Old Town of Lagos, a cobblestoned area that is partially circumscribed by medieval walls. Make sure to check out the Church of Saint Anthony, a simple but attractive building that conceals some super-bling wood carvings.

Next, head to Porta de São Gonçalo, which you can pass through to get to the well-preserved Forte da Ponta da Bandeira and a sandy beach broken up by rock formations.

We were still craving more nature, so we walked a short way out of town (about 15-20 minutes) to the starting point of the Ponda da Piedade hike. This boardwalk trail curves around the coast outside of Lagos, passing hidden beaches like Praia do Camilo and viewpoints like the Miradouro do Abismo.

Grab a freshly squeezed OJ at O Camilo en route – it was delicious and a great pick-me-up.

After you’ve completed the return journey, go down to Praia Dona Ana to enjoy a bit of sun and a meal at the decently priced beachfront Marisol restaurant.

Day 12: Benagil Cave & Carvoeiro

Next up on our road trip through Portugal, we took to the Atlantic Ocean to visit one of the Algarve’s most magical attractions, the Benagil Cave. A 45-minute drive from Lagos, this rock cavern encloses a sandy beach and has a unique hole in the roof.

To add to the adventure of it all, the cave is only reachable by sea. We chose to go on a morning kayak tour, though it’s also an option to get there using a paddleboard or on a motorboat tour. Just don’t try to swim! Every year, a few people drown due to the current.

Benagil Cave is just outside the resort town of Carvoeiro, a lovely little place with a sandy beach, orange cliffs, and white-washed houses. There are a few shops to browse in town, but the main point of coming here is to chill by the sea. 

If it’s too brisk to swim, there’s a great boardwalk that goes past a series of caves and rock formations.

Day 13: Ferragudo & Portimao

A village of cobblestone streets overhung by flowers and lined by colourful houses, Ferragudo was one of the most charming places we visited on our Portugal road trip. 

It’s also home to Benjamim Bistro, a cafe with a seductive array of desserts. We got a table outside and got stuck into a delicious slice of carrot cake while indulging our love of people-watching.

Across the way from Ferragudo is Portimao, a larger, more tourist-heavy town with a couple of old churches. We didn’t find the historic quarter particularly remarkable – Ferragudo is much nicer – but further to the south, you can find a busy marina and several sandy beaches.

Day 14: Albufeira Old Town & Dos Pescadores Beach

The last stop on our road trip around Portugal is Albufeira, known (especially to Brits) as the party town of the Algarve. It’s true, there are a lot of bars and clubs around town, but we also found the old town here surprisingly attractive.

To see what we mean, head to the Miradouro do Pau da Bandeira. From here, you get a great view over Albufeira’s white-washed houses and sandy beachfront. Getting to the viewpoint is as easy as hopping on an escalator from the old town – no stairs required.

We spent quite a bit of time here snapping photos, especially near Largo Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco, Albufeira’s main square. 

There are plenty of open-air places you can sit down and get a refreshing beverage, but for a proper meal, head to Alfredo. We had some super seafood pasta here, sitting at one of the tables on the outdoor wooden decking.

End the day (and your holiday) in proper Albufeira style: with a beer or a cocktail down at one of the beachside bars lining the expansive Praia dos Pescadores. 

FAQs

Do I need a car to visit Portugal?

A car is not essential, but it is recommended if you want to explore several different regions. On our Portugal road trip, 14 days just flew by, and it would have taken quite a bit longer to get around the country if we’d had to rely on trains and buses.

Is Portugal good for a road trip?

Yes, absolutely! The country’s roads are well maintained, the drivers are respectful, and it’s easy to navigate using Google Maps. Factor in the many lovely coastal drives, and we can honestly say it’s one of the nicest places to go on a road trip in Europe.

How long would it take to drive around Portugal?

We obviously took our time driving from Porto down to Lagos, crossing the country in 8 days. If you were to drive straight down from north to south, though, it would probably take between 5 and 6 hours on the highway. Add on an extra 2 to 3 hours if you’re avoiding Portugal road tolls.

What is the best month to travel to Portugal?

The best weather is obviously during the height of summer, between June and August. One of our top road trip Portugal tips, though, is to go a little later in the year, around early October. That’s when we went and the weather was still warm, but the crowds weren’t insane.

Is Portugal cheap or expensive?

It really depends on where you’re comparing Portugal to, but our total 2 weeks in Portugal cost was cheap compared to when we’ve visited other places in Western Europe. One of the most affordable things about our road trip was actually the car rental!

Final Word

Our Portugal road trip route takes a good amount of time, which is great if you have a lot of holidays saved up and want to see a big chunk of the country in one go. 

If you’re looking for a shorter getaway, you can always stick to just an Algarve road trip instead. Alternatively, we also had an awesome time driving around Madeira for a week – which we particularly recommend for nature lovers!