A Perfect Two Week Road Trip Itinerary in Portugal
Why You Should Travel Portugal via Road Trip
It’s the easiest way to explore Portugal’s picturesque coastline and beach hop as you go.
Portugal is a relatively small country, it takes just around 6 hours to drive from Braga, the northernmost city, all the way down to Faro on the southern coast.
You save money on tours! If you want to wander through the castles of Sintra at your own pace or spend an entire day at a secluded beach in Algarve - you can! No waiting for or paying for tours with fixed schedules.
Some of the streets in Porto may get a little narrow, but the roads, expressways, and parking areas throughout Portugal are well marked and maintained. We also didn’t have to pay for parking once during our 10 day adventure with a car!
ROAD TRIP (with your music)!
Trips are best with friends! You’ll all save money by splitting the cost of a car rental/fuel. But more importantly, you’ll make amazing memories. We spent two weeks in Portugal with our closest friends, and it was truly the best ❤️
Tips for Renting a Car
We rented a car with Eurocar from the Lisbon airport. We booked ahead and picked it up right when we arrived. It was a great experience, and the rep was super helpful. He gave us a ton of recommendations on how to make the most of our road trip.
Ask the rental agency if you’ll save money with a diesel car, we definitely did.
Ask for a toll pass!
Make sure you have a car charger and aux chord (if the car doesn’t have bluetooth).
It’s not difficult to rent an automatic, but it will be slightly more expensive.
The convertible is probably worth the splurge.
If you’re planning on spending a lot of time in a big city (aka Lisbon), get two rentals, one before and one after. You probably won’t use it in the city.
It’s almost always cheapest to rent a car at the airport.
Take pictures of the car before you go and make sure you note any damages (no matter how small) to the agent who shows it to you.
Disconnect you bluetooth from the car when you drop it off.
As always, be a responsible driver. Make sure you have an international driver’s permit (yes, you can get fined for not having one) and note any road laws that may be different than what you’re used to.
Porto (2 days)
This northern city is 2h45 from the Lisbon airport. Being the farthest away in our list of destinations, we sent it north after landing in Portugal. Straight to Porto!
Views of Douro Ribeira from Vila Nova de Gaia.
Where to Stay in Porto
Porto’s famous Douro Ribeira (river) cuts through the city, creating a colorful hillside cityscape right on the riverbank. The Ponte Luis I bridge connects the two halves of Porto, creating a picture-perfect postcard scene. The northern side of the city hosts the popular landmarks and neighborhoods like Baixa and Ribeira. We stayed in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river. Gaia has plenty of great things to do, and being on the other side of the river, it easily has the most picturesque views. It’s also the hub of the port wine industry, so that’s where you’ll want to do your tastings. For more info on Porto’s neighborhoods, check out Culture Trip’s article.
Port winery boats on the shore of Vila Nova de Gaia.
The House of Sandeman Hostel
Sandeman is one of the coolest hostels we stayed in throughout all of Europe. The hostel is in an amazing building right on the river, and it’s under the same brand as one of Porto’s finest Port labels: Sandeman. As soon as you walk in, you can feel the culture of Porto radiating from its walls. Sandeman offers everything from luxury suites, to nice private rooms, or our favorite option… the dorm rooms! But these aren’t just regular dorm rooms. The beds are modeled after wine barrels, so it feels like you’re sleeping in an ancient wine cellar.
Wine barrel inspired bunk beds in the House of Sandeman hostel dorm rooms.
The hostel also hosts regular events to celebrate local cuisine, arts, and music. They know soooo much about Porto, and have endless resources to help you plan an epic visit. Highly recommend!
Things to Do in Porto
Porto, home of Port wine, the most beautiful train station in world, and one of JK Rowling’s favorite libraries (seriously, it helped inspire Hogwarts!). This lovely city in northern Portugal is built along a river and reminded us so much of Venice it was uncanny. A must-stop on a Portugal road trip.
Port Tasting
Obviously! We had a tasting at Kopke Wine House, the oldest Port wine house in the world. Grab a bottle or two to go and enjoy them along the river for sunset or at night for some spectacular views and people watching.
Wine tasting at the oldest port winery in Porto, Kopke Wine House.
Livraria Lello
This gorgeous Gothic bookstore opened in 1906 is claimed to have been an inspiration to J.K. Rowling in writing the Harry Potter series. Apparently, the famous author lived in Porto between 1991 to 1993, and loved spending time in Libraria Lello.
It’s obvious to see how Libraria Lello served as inspiration for the Harry Potter series!
Naturally, the bookstore attracts thousands of visitors every day. The bookstore opens at 10am, and we recommend you arrive even before that. The line literally stretches for entire blocks. The line isn’t actually to get into the bookstore, but to buy a ticket to get in. Entry costs 5 euros, but can be put toward a purchase should you decide to buy a book instead of just stand around inside taking pictures. Makes sense.
Whether or not you’re a Harry Potter fan, this bookstore is amazing to behold. It’s worth a visit, but head there early before the line gets long!
São Bento Train Station
Have you ever seen those gorgeous blue and white tile scenes across an entire wall? Yeah, those are in this train station. Absolutely marvelous. The station is in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Historic Centre of Porto. The station is also listed as a National Monument of Portugal.
The São Bento Train Station has a rich history of building plans, fires, rebuilding and artistic design. There are over 20,000 azulejo tiles throughout the station, some dating back to the early 1900’s. Even if you don’t arrive in Porto via train, you absolutely must dip your head in to see the iconic blue and white azulejo tile murals.
Teleferico de Gaia
Grab the cable car from the middle of Gaia to the top of the top of the D. Luis I bridge for the most EPIC views of Porto. A one-way ticket is 6 euros, or 9 for round trip. WELL worth it.
Pasteis de Nata
These custard tarts that are Portugals most famous desert. I crave them every day.
Sunset Boat Cruise
Sadly, this opportunity escaped us. We simply didn’t have enough time, but desperately wish we did. Instead, we enjoyed an early afternoon drink on the riverside at sunset. Still a beautiful alternative.
Where to Eat and Drink in Porto
Majestic Cafe
Perola do Bolhao
A Sandeira do Porto
Taberma do Barqueiro
Nazaré (1/2 day)
This sleepy beach town is a great place to stop for lunch and a sleepy beach afternoon on the way back to Lisbon from Porto.
Praia de Nazaré
The beach is famous for great surfing waves and the gorgeous rocky cliffs on either side of the endless sandy coast. Sadly the wind was acting up when we stopped by, so we didn’t stay long. It was quite difficult to find parking, so give yourself time to do a few laps before finding a spot.
Lisbon (5 days)
Lisbon! This is probably where you flew in, if you arrived via airplane. If you only have limited time, stay here. There’s loads to do in the city itself, but there are also a handful of great day trips to see more: Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo dad Roca just to name a few.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
Lisbon is the City of Seven Hills, so you can just imagine. There are so many neighborhoods, each with their own unique personalities to offer. Some of our favorites were Alfama, Bairro Alta, and Alcântara. Check out this Culture Trip article for some other cool neighborhoods.
The Independente Hostel
This awesome hostel is in a great location in Bairro Alto - a young, boho, quirky and fun neighborhood with lots of cool digs. The hostel itself is in a beautiful building with a great vibe. The dorm rooms are basic, but have cool capsule-like wooden 3-bed bunks. Head to the topmost bunk if you’re daring!
They also have two wickedly cool restaurants that you absolutely have to try, even if you don’t stay here. Their breezy restaurant The Decadente is a casual option for lunch or dinner nearby. It’s also where they host their daily breakfasts. Their upscale rooftop restaurant, The Insolito, is an amazingly unique venue with delicious food. To access the restaurant, you have to take an old-school golden elevator up to the rooftop. Really really cool. Definitely have to make a reservation.
Views from the Insolito restaurant in Lisbon.
Things to Do in Lisbon
The largest city in Portugal, there’s a seemingly endless number of things to see and do. Ride the quirky yellow trams, take in the city views from higher ground, eat your way through the famous Time Out market, and get lost in the old Alfama district. It won’t take long for you to fall madly in love with Lisbon.
Take a food and wine tour!
The one we took lasted a couple of hours and was well worth what we paid for. We got to nibble on a variety of traditional Portuguese dishes, taste local wine, and try Ginjinha, a delicious cherry liqueur that’s famous in Portugal.
Our amazing tour guide Madalena serving up good looks and cherry liquor.
Igreja de Sao Domingos
This church that truly is one of a kind. You’ll understand why when you see it.
Time Out! Market
This cool indoor market is an awesome place to grab a bite to eat, or even to do some food shopping for dinner prep.
Shop, eat, and party at LXFactory!
Visit this colorful art complex during the day for a yummy brunch and a market run by local artists. Put on your dancing shoes and visit LX at night to party with locals and travelers alike.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol Observation Deck
Most guides will tell you to hike up to Castelo de São Jorge for an epic view. We say: go to Miradouro das Portas do Sol Observation Deck for the exact same view for free. It’s a stunning sight.
Wander the streets!
Alfama is the oldest district in Lisbon, and has some gorgeous alleyways. Bairro Alto is a bit hippy with cool street art and funky street cars. Literally anywhere you go will have beautiful sights and surprises. Just go for it!
Mercado de Santa Clara
Saturday mornings host fun street stalls of crafts and local products. Head over for a stroll and pick up a few unique souvenirs.
Chapito de Mesa
Have a late dinner at Chapito de Mesa and watch Lisbon’s nightlife wake up. You’ll also get the chance to experience Fado, traditional Portuguese singing.
Sunset Boat Cruise
On our last night in Lisbon, we treated ourselves to a sunset cruise leaving from Doca de Alcântara.
Where to Eat and Drink in Lisbon
PARK Bar** (little tricky to find, it’s at the top of a parking garage!)
Tasca Mastai
CineBairro
A Cevicheria (go early!)
Delirium Cafe
Pateo 13**
Portas do Sol**
Pasteis de Belem (best pasteis de nata in Lisbon!)
Cafe Galeria House of Wonders** (in Cascais)
Sintra (1 day)
Take your rental on a day trip to Sintra! The national park near this mountain town is dotted with pastel-colored castles, villas, and hidden gems. Visit Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, and, our favorite, Quinta de la Regaleira. After grabbing a bite to eat in town, drive through the lush national park to Cabo da Roca.
Pena Palace
Quinta de la Regaleira
Cabo da Roca (1/2 day)
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the western most part of continental Europe. Combine this stop with a day in Sintra, and you’ll have just enough time to make it back to Lisbon for dinner.
Cascais (1 day)
We visited Cascais from Lisbon. We stayed for a day and a night, but it’s well worth longer than that if you have the time. You can even stay in Cascais if staying in downtown Lisbon isn’t your style.
Go to the beach!
Cascais is known for its beautiful beach. Just a stone’s throw away from Lisbon, it’s a great way to get some sun and sand if you don’t have enough time to get out to Lagos.
Wander the streets
Night or day, the lively shops of Cascais are charming and enchanting. Visit art galleries, craft stalls, gourmet dining, or tasty digs. All packed into winding little cobblestone streets.
The Algarve (5 days)
World-class beaches, sunshine, and coastal cliffs? Head down to Portugal’s southern coast for an epic week of crazy blue waters. We stayed in Lagos, which takes about 2h45 to drive to from Lisbon.
Where to Stay in the Algarve
There’s a little slice of heaven in the Algarve for everyone. Depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for will determine where you want to go. Some of the most popular options are Lagos, Faro, and Albufeira. We stayed in Lagos on a recommendation, and loved it. It’s a bit farther west than other options, but there are loads of great beaches nearby. Plus, it’s really not that far to drive to other spots down the coast. Faro is only an hour away. Again, here’s a Culture Trip article with more on the Algarve hot spots.
Top City Hostel
Top City Hostel is an obvious choice for backpackers. The lax vibe and social atmosphere makes it easy to make friends and have a good time. They also have a pool, a rooftop, and regular scheduled events.
The Best Beaches in the Algarve
In no particular order, here are some of the best beaches we pinned for an epic week in the Algarve:
Pinhao Beach
Praia Dona Ana
Camilo Beach
Ponta da Piedade
Porto de Mos Beach
Beach Tres Irmaos
Benagil Caves (Yes, you can swim, even though it says you can’t - it’s super easy!)
Falesia Beach
Top tip: the secret beaches aren’t really secret anymore. You’ll probably be happier and more comfortable on a bigger beach!
Where to Eat and Drink in Lagos
Beats & Burritos
Nah Nah Bah
Lalitana Restaurante
Bon Vivant
Three Monkeys Bar
Other Places to Visit in Portugal
We only had so much time, and while we managed to squeeze in a lot, there’s always more to do! Here’s a couple of things we’re coming back for.
Praia de Odeceixe in Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa
Sesimbra
Portinho da Arrábida Beach
Obidos Municipality
Nazare
Douro
Aveiro
Viana do Castelo
Peneda-Geres National Park
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