Vibrant cities, rugged coastlines and a relaxed atmosphere, that’s what awaits you on a road trip in Portugal. During this two-week itinerary in Portugal, we take you from Porto to Faro. Stroll through the winding streets of Porto and Lisbon, catch a wave along the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve and taste a fresh Pasteis de Nata. Along the way, you’ll pass the best sights that Portugal has to offer, with tips on what to visit, the best restaurants and where to stay. Whether you travel by RV or car, this itinerary is suitable for everyone. Let’s hit the road!
Two week road trip Portugal
Sun, sea and a laid-back vibe. Portugal is one of those countries where you can completely unwind. Even in the cities, where there is always something to do, there is a relaxed atmosphere. This itinerary starts in the north of the country in Porto and takes you south to Faro. Along the way you follow the impressive coastline of Portugal and pass pleasant villages, rugged cliffs and the most beautiful beaches. Those who want can also easily reverse this itinerary where you start in Faro and end in Porto or Lisbon.
Day 1 – 2: Porto
We begin this two-week itinerary in Portugal in the country’s second largest city: Porto! Typical of this amazing city are the beautiful buildings decorated with azujelos, hand-painted blue and white tiles like at Igreja do Carmo or Capela das Almas. Go for a first porto at the bustling Mercado do Bolhão market where you can buy all kinds of local products. Furthermore, don’t miss a visit to the most beautiful library in Europe. Livraria Lello is undoubtedly one of the most popular things to do in Porto, so book your ticket online in time.
In the evening, it is fun to walk towards the Dom Luís I bridge, from where you will have a fantastic view of Porto and the Douro River. The Dom Luís I bridge is a gigantic, steel structure and was once the tallest bridge in the world. It is now one of the best places to watch the sunset over Porto. End the day on Cais da Ribeira (Quay of Ribeira). This neighborhood comes alive at night where you will find several outdoor cafes right by the water while street performers give the best of themselves.
Where to stay in Porto
From the airport, take public transportation to Porto and pick up your rental car or RV after Porto. In Porto itself, driving is really challenging with the narrow, winding streets and main attractions are within walking distance of each other.
- Budget (€): Nice Way Porto Hostel
- Comfort (€€): Moov Hotel Porto Centro
- Luxurious (€€€): Eurostars Porto Douro
Day 3: Aveiro
+/- 75 km ● 1h drive – direct train from Porto
An hour’s drive from Porto you will find Aveiro, also known as the Venice of Portugal. One of the best things to do in Aveiro is to take a gondola ride called moliceiro’s, and explore the city from the water. You cruise along the canals past the many colorful houses while the guide tells you more about the city’s maritime past. Near Aveiro you will find Costa Nova. This coastal village is very picturesque with its colorful, striped beach houses and pristine sandy beaches. It is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon making it a very nice place to walk.
Where to stay in Aveiro
Aveiro is a surprisingly large and modern city where you will find plenty of accommodations. You can choose to stay in the center or spend the night in a cozy B&B in Costa Nova, near the beach:
- Budget (€): Hotel do Mercado
- Comfort (€€): Turim Aveiro Palace Hotel
- Costa Nova: Palheiros da Ria Beach House
Day 4: Cabo da Roca
+/- 290 km ● 3h drive
Today you descend further to Portugal’s capital: Lisbon. Along the way, you will follow the rugged coastline of the west coast and pass surf spots such as Nazaré, known for having the biggest surf waves in the world. Be sure to stop at Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, from where you can watch brave surfers brave the giant waves. Then drive on towards Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.
We found the surroundings of Cabo da Roca phenomenal. On this 140-meter-high promontory, the world really seems to stop. Here you see pristine nature and dramatic cliffs where the Atlantic Ocean pounds roughly against them. Park your car at the red and white lighthouse Farol do Cabo da Roca, which is the oldest lighthouse in Portugal. From here you can take a short walk to Ursa Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Then drive another 40 minutes to Lisbon, your final destination today. This is where you will spend the next few days.
Where to stay in Lisbon
Choose a hotel with parking or park your car outside the city. Driving in Lisbon is not pleasant and you can get around just fine on foot, by streetcar or an Uber. In Lisbon, you have plenty of cozy accommodations for every budget:
- Budget (€): Green Heart Hostel
- Comfort (€€): Dear Lisbon Charming House
- Luxurious (€€€): Hotel Lisboa
TRAVEL TIP: Are you traveling with an RV in Portugal? Then this location is an ideal pitch and it’s free too! From here you take the ferry in about 20 minutes to the center of Lisbon for less than €3.
Day 5 – 6: Lisbon
Lisbon is one of our favorite capitals in Europe, and you can easily spend a few days here having fun. One of the best things to do in Lisbon is to stroll through the Baixa and Alfama neighborhoods. Baixa is where you’ll find various shops, the lively Praça do Comércio square, and the trendy Time Out Market. Alfama is Lisbon’s old quarter, full of winding alleys and buildings adorned with the typical azulejos, and it’s also home to Lisbon’s castle and cathedral.
What should also not be missed during a city break in Lisbon is a visit to the Belém district, located just outside the city center. Here you will find the old defense tower Torre de Belém and the impressive monument Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Walking back towards Lisbon, you will also pass the Jerónimos Monastery. The highlight for us in this district? The world-famous Pasteis de Belém! Right next to the monastery you’ll find the bakery where you can buy the iconic Portuguese pastry, a small cake made of crispy puff pastry filled with vanilla custard. Only the bakery’s owners know the recipe, and it is the only place in the world where you can buy the Pasteis de Belém.
Day 7: Sintra & Cascais
A visit to Sintra is a must when traveling in Portugal. It’s no surprise that this fairytale-like town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The easiest way to visit Sintra is by taking the direct train from Lisbon. In about 40 minutes, you’ll arrive at the Sintra train station, and from there you can walk to the colorful palaces. After your day trip to Sintra, you can make a stop in the chic town of Cascais before taking the train back to Lisbon. Or join this organized day trip that takes you to Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais!
The literal highlight in Sintra is the colorful Palácio da Pena. This 19th-century romantic castle sits high on a hill, surrounded by the lush Parque de Pena. We recommend doing this palace first to get ahead of the crowds. The palace opens at 9:30 a.m. and tickets for the peak times between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. are often sold out days in advance. So be sure to buy your tickets online! From the Pena Palace, you can then walk slowly back down past the other sights. Other palaces worth visiting are Quinta da Regaleira and Castle of the Moors.
- Pena Palace and entrance to the park: buy your tickets online here
- Quinta da Regaleira palace: buy your tickets online here
- Castle of the Moors palace: buy your tickets online here
Day 8 – 10: Algarve (west coast)
+/- 250 km ● 3h30 drive
Today we’re visiting leave Lisbon behind us and continue south along the west coast. The road takes you through the unspoiled Alentejo region. Along the 126-kilometer-long coastline, rugged cliffs, small coves, sandy beaches, and blue lagoons alternate. Be sure to stop in picturesque Porto Covo for lunch along the way. Porto Covo is a typical traditional coastal village with whitewashed houses accented with blue.
From Porto Covo you can also walk a section of the famous Fisherman’s Trail. This popular 150 km coastal walk starts in Porto Covo, runs all the way to Cape São Vicente in the Algarve and takes you past pristine cliffs, deserted beaches and coves all to yourself! More info on the complete Fisherman’s Trail read here. After your hike, drive further to Aljezur, today’s final destination.
Where to stay in Aljezur
Your final destination on day 8 of this road trip Portugal is the trendy Aljezur which is located on the border of the Alentejo region and the Algarve. Aljezur is a popular surf destination and the atmosphere here is very relaxed. Here you won’t find big hotels but hip B&Bs, cozy guesthouses and yoga and surf retreats:
- Budget (€): FlorAL
- Comfort (€€): Casa Nook Arrifana
- Luxurious (€€€): Utopia
Aljezur
Aljezur has been gaining popularity in recent years, and for us it is also one of our favorite destinations in Portugal. On beaches such as Praia Monte Clerigo and Praia de Arrifana, you can watch surfers brave the waves. Plop down in one of the cozy bars like at Ti Raul Surfbar from where you can also see a fantastic sunset. Another fun destination is Odeceixe. Here you will find a lagoon that empties into the ocean where you can drift in. The town of Odeceixe itself is also fun to stroll through, with a typical Portuguese windmill on top of the hill.
Sagres
Another stop not to be missed on this Portugal road trip is a visit to Sagres, the most southwestern point in Portugal. Sagres is about a 45-minute drive from Aljezur. You can visit the fortress that lies on top of the promontory and from where you can see far out over the Atlantic Ocean. Close to Sagres you will also find Bordeira where again you can find beautiful beaches typical of the west coast. A fun walk to take here is the Carrapateira Coastal Trail, also known as the letter walk. Here you walk from Praia Amado to Praia Bordeira.
TRAVEL TIP: The road from Aljezur via Bordeira to Sagres is very beautiful to drive and also fine to do with a motorhome. Wild camping is strongly discouraged as they have very strict controls in this area. Always check the Park4Night application for places where you can camp.
Day 11 – 13: Algarve (south)
+/- 40 km ● 45′ drive
We end this itinerary Portugal 2 weeks in the south of the country. The next few days alternate between one impressive beach and another. The best base for this part of the Algarve is the cozy Lagos, one of the oldest towns in the region. You will find white churches, narrow streets full of nice restaurants and bars, old city walls and a fortress by the sea.
Some of the most beautiful beaches in this region can also be found near Lagos. Praia do Camilo is, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, with golden cliffs, rock formations in the sea and a view that will take your breath away. Ponta da Piedade, just outside Lagos, is one of the region’s most famous sights: impressive rock formations, a cave system and azure waters. You can hike at Ponta da Piedade on a wooden decking path that takes you from one beach to another.
Albufeira & Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
Driving on toward bustling Albufeira, be sure to make a stop at the legendary Benagil Cave. This huge limestone cave can only be reached by kayak or boat. Inside you will find a pristine beach with a large opening in the roof through which the sunlight falls beautifully inside. An alternative is to take the most beautiful hike in the Algarve: the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. This spectacular walk takes you along the most beautiful cliffs of the Algarve, such as Praia da Marinha. During the walk you will also pass the Benagil Cave, which you can admire from above, through the huge hole in the roof.
Where to stay in the Algarve
The best places to base yourself for exploring the Algarve are Lagos and Albufeira. Albufeira has a livelier atmosphere and the city is also known for its nightlife. So if you want to go out in the evening, Albufeira is ideal. Parking is available at most beaches, but in high season they are quickly filled. So early is the message.
- Lagos – (€): Olive Hostel Lagos | (€€): Hotel Marina Rio
- Albufeira – (€€): Casa dos Arcos | (€€): Hotel Indigo Albufeira
Day 14: Faro
On the last day of this Portugal road trip it is time to drive towards Faro, the capital of the Algarve and for most also the final destination of this trip. If you still have some time left, you can explore Faro’s old town, surrounded by medieval city walls. Or visit the nearby Ria Formosa nature reserve. Here you will find blue-green lagoons, white sandbanks and 200 different species of birds including storks and flamingos. A perfect ending to this two-week tour of Portugal.
How to get around in Portugal
Portugal is an ideal destination to explore on your own. For this itinerary, however, it is recommended that you have your own transportation so that you have the freedom to go wherever you want. Both in the international airports of Porto and Faro you can rent a car for this road trip in Portugal. A nice alternative is to explore the country with a campervan! Portugal is very camper friendly and you will find serviced campsites all over the country in the most idyllic places.
Traveling through Portugal by train
For the first part of this itinerary Portugal in two weeks, you can also make excellent use of the train network. From Porto there are direct trains to both Aveiro, Cascais and Lisbon.
Best travel time Portugal
Portugal is a year-round destination, but the best time to travel is during spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October). During the shoulder seasons, it is less touristy, prices are lower and temperatures are also more pleasant. In the summer months, temperatures can sometimes reach 35°C in the Algarve and the beaches are very crowded. September and October are also the best months for surfing in Portugal.
Still have questions about this itinerary Portugal in two weeks? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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