In a nutshell
- Planning a Portugal road trip on your own? Awesome! We’ll share our suggested 14-day itinerary — including a map and hotel tips with parking.
- On our self-drive route, you’ll spend two weeks exploring cities like Porto and Lisbon, discover the interior, and relax on the beach for a few days.
- Prefer to skip the car? A Portugal road trip by bus is totally doable too — we’ll show you how at the end of the article.
14-Day Road Trip Itinerary for a Portugal Road Trip by Car
If you have 2 weeks to spend in Portugal, we recommend exploring the country with a rental car or van. It gives you the most flexibility and lets you get anywhere quickly.
Here’s our suggested program for a 14-day Portugal road trip itinerary.
Our Portugal Road Trip on a Map
Porto
How much time to plan? 1–2 days
Our hotel tip: Catalonia Porto (public parking nearby)
You start your road trip in Porto. Pick up your rental car at the airport on arrival.
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After that, check into your hotel. On your arrival day, it’s best not to plan too much — just relax and treat yourself to a nice dinner.
For example, you could try a Francesinha — the signature dish from Porto. O Afonso is a well-known spot for it, but you’ll find Francesinha at almost every restaurant in Porto.
The next day, spend a full sightseeing day in Porto. These are our personal highlights:
- strolling through the lanes of the Old Town
- walking along the riverside district Ribeira
- the bridge Ponte Dom Luís I
- enjoying the view of Porto’s skyline from Vila Nova de Gaia
- checking out São Bento train station
- visiting the bookstore Livraria Lello e Irmão
- admiring the panorama from the Torre dos Clérigos
- getting to know a port wine cellar
Here you’ll find more info on the highlights in Porto
Peneda-Gerês National Park & Braga
How much time to plan? 1–2 days
Our hotel tip (Braga): Hotel Residencial Dora (public parking nearby)
From Porto, it’s best to set off early in the morning to Peneda-Gerês National Park — about a 1.5-hour drive.
Plan a full day in the national park. You can drive to various viewpoints, go hiking, and swim under waterfalls.
Here are some highlights in Peneda-Gerês National Park:
- Cascata de São Miguel
- Cascata do Arado
- Miradouro da Pedra Bela
- Parque das Termas
- Trilho das 7 Lagoas do Xertelo
In the evening, drive to Braga — a lovely city in northern Portugal that most people seriously underestimate. We recommend spending the night there and exploring the city the next morning.
These sights in Braga are well worth a visit:
- Braga Cathedral
- Bom Jesus do Monte Church
- Praça da República
- Stone arch gate Arco da Porta Nova
- Braga sign
Coimbra
How much time to plan? 1 day
Our hotel tip: Coimbra Monumentais B&B (free parking)
From Braga to Coimbra is about one hour and 45 minutes by car. If you leave around noon, you’ll arrive in Coimbra in the early afternoon and can check straight into your hotel.
Use the afternoon and evening to explore Coimbra. Here are some top picks in the city:
- Old Cathedral
- Santa Cruz Monastery
- University quarter
- Joanina Library
- Portugal dos Pequenitos
If you don’t manage to see everything on the same day, you can save some sights for the next morning before heading on to Nazaré.
Nazaré
How much time to plan? 1 day
Our hotel tip: Hotel Mar Bravo (free parking)
From Coimbra, it’s a good hour’s drive to Nazaré — a charming fishing village famous for the biggest waves in the world. Keep in mind that the waves are at their highest from October to March.
The town itself is very small and not particularly action-packed. Life here revolves mostly around the beaches.
The main beach, Praia do Nazaré, is great for relaxing. The water is mostly frequented by beginner surfers.
The absolute standouts in Nazaré are the Fortress of São Miguel Arcanjo, the lighthouse, and the viewing platform overlooking the giant waves. All three are located on the same cliff.
Sintra & Cascais
How much time to plan? 1–2 days
Our hotel tip (Cascais): Casa Vela Boutique House (public parking nearby)
From Nazaré, continue south toward Sintra. We recommend leaving early in the morning — it’s just under 1.5 hours.
It’s best to park your car in the center of Sintra, as close as possible to Sintra train station. This parking lot works well: view on Google Maps.
From the train station, take tourist bus 434, which stops at all the castles and palaces in Sintra. It’s best to buy tickets in advance online on the Sintra tourist bus website.
Here are our tips for the must-sees in Sintra:
- Palacio Nacional da Pena (buy tickets here)
- Castelo dos Mouros (buy tickets here)
- Quinta da Regaleira (buy tickets here)
- Palacio Nacional de Sintra (buy tickets here)
Here you’ll find all the info on the sights in Sintra
By afternoon, you’ll be back at your car. From the parking lot, drive on to Cabo da Roca — the westernmost point of the European mainland. That’s about a 30-minute drive.
Depending on the time and how much energy you have left, you could make a detour to Praia da Ursa — one of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon. From there, head to your hotel in Cascais and keep the evening free.
You can explore Cascais the next day. The main highlights — the beachside promenade, the historic center, and the rock formation Boca do Inferno — are all within walking distance.
Read more about the attractions in Cascais
Lisbon
How much time to plan? 2–3 days
Our hotel tip: Moov Hotel Lisbon Oriente (private parking at the hotel, 10 euros)
Around noon, drive to Lisbon. Since hotels with parking in the city center are hard to come by, we recommend staying a little outside — for example in the modern Parque das Nações district.
You should absolutely plan two full days for Lisbon. These neighborhoods and sights are not to be missed:
Great for the first afternoon / evening:
- A stroll through the old town of Alfama
- Sunset at one of the many viewpoints
- Castelo de São Jorge
Perfect for a full day of sightseeing:
- Riding Tram 28E
- Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio
- Lunch at the Time Out Market
- Nightlife district Bairro Alto and the Bica tram
- Eating a Pastel de Nata
- Elevador de Santa Justa
- A viewpoint in Lisbon for sunset
Program for half a day:
- Torre de Belém
- Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- Eating Pastéis de Belém
- LX Factory
- Ponte 25 de Abril
Read more about the sights in Lisbon
Check out our 3-day itinerary for Lisbon
On your last day in Lisbon, drive south in the afternoon toward the Algarve.
Algarve West Coast
How much time to plan? 2 days
Our hotel tip: Ondazul (Zambujeira do Mar) and Pontalaia (Sagres)
We recommend driving straight from Lisbon to Vila Nova de Milfontes — about 2.5 hours by car. This is where your Algarve adventure begins.
For your first night, it’s best to find a place to stay in Zambujeira do Mar or Praia do Odeceixe. These are two small coastal towns with great beaches.
From there, continue the next day toward Sagres. Along the way, we recommend stopping at two or three beaches. The west coast has some seriously beautiful stretches of sand.
Here are our tips for beaches on the Algarve west coast:
- Praia da Arrifana
- Praia da Bordeira
- Praia do Amado
Also well worth a visit is the small inland village of Aljezur — a great lunch stop.
In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Sagres. At sunset, the lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente or Praia do Beliche are both worth your time.
Also read our tips for the most beautiful beaches in Portugal
Algarve South Coast
How much time to plan? 3 days
Our hotel tip: Charming Residence & Guest House Dom Manuel Adults only (public parking nearby)
For the last three days of your Portugal road trip, we recommend basing yourself in one hotel and enjoying some relaxed beach days.
Personally, we think the beaches around Lagos are especially beautiful — and there are plenty of great hotels in the area.
Fun activities on the south coast include kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. If you feel like wandering through a town, we recommend Lagos or Albufeira.
It’s best to book your return flight from Faro. You can drop off your rental car right at the airport.
14-Day Portugal Road Trip by Bus
If you’re traveling solo or prefer not to rent a car, you can also explore Portugal using public transportation.
All the cities are connected by buses or trains.
Here are the providers where you can book bus and train tickets:
Flixbus (buses)
Rede Expressos (buses)
CP Comboios de Portugal (trains)
However, no buses run to many beaches — especially on the west coast of the Algarve.
Getting to Peneda-Gerês National Park by public transit is also tricky. There, you can book a guided tour instead.
Our suggested Portugal travel itinerary without a car:
- Porto (1–2 days): The sights in Porto are easy to explore on foot, and the city is well connected by public transit.
- Peneda-Gerês National Park & Braga (1 day): Best visited on a guided Peneda-Gerês and Braga day tour from Porto.
- Coimbra (1 day): Buses run from Porto to Coimbra in 1.5 hours.
- Nazaré (1 day): Buses run from Coimbra to Nazaré in just over 1.5 hours.
- Lisbon (4 days): Allow at least two days to explore Lisbon and 1–2 days for day trips to Cascais and Sintra.
- Algarve South Coast (5 days): It’s best to stay in Lagos. From there you can take buses to places like Sagres or Albufeira, and there are beautiful beaches right in town.
More Destinations for 3 to 4 Weeks in Portugal
If you want to travel through Portugal for more than 2 weeks, you can explore even more places to visit in Portugal.
We also recommend spending more time at certain stops and taking your road trip at a more relaxed pace.
- Ericeira and Peniche: Two cool surf towns in Portugal north of Lisbon.
- Évora: A small city in the interior well worth a half-day stop.
- Algarve West Coast: Plan a few more nights here — it really rewards slow travel.
- Monchique: A charming village in the interior of the Algarve.
- Algarve South Coast: Take more time for your beach days at the end of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Road Trip Through Portugal
How much does a road trip through Portugal cost?
That really depends on how much you want to spend.
You can make your Portugal road trip very budget-friendly if you stay in a tent, van, or hostels.
The less touristy areas like northern Portugal are especially affordable. In the Algarve and in Lisbon, prices are a bit higher — but overall, the price level is still very reasonable compared to most of Western Europe.
How many days do you need for a Portugal road trip?
14 days is the minimum we’d recommend if you want to travel from north to south.
If you have less time, it’s better to focus on just one region — like the Algarve or Lisbon and the surrounding area.
The more time you have, the better! Portugal has a seriously impressive number of highlights to offer.
When is the best time of year for a road trip through Portugal?
We recommend spring or fall. Months like May, June, September, and October are especially great.
It’s warm but not too hot, and it’s nowhere near as crowded as in July and August.
