All-Time Favorite: South of Portugal Road Trip

The Portugal Getaways South of Portugal Road Trip includes round-trip flights, 7 nights of hotel accommodation (2 in Évora, 3 in the Algarve, 2 in Lisbon), a rental car for the full duration of the trip, and all taxes and fees related to the booking. Breakfast, meals, guided tours, and city taxes are not included.

Yes, round-trip flights are included. Other departure cities are available on the package page, and additional options are available on request. Contact the Portugal Getaways team before booking to discuss departure options. Seat selection, extra baggage, and cabin class upgrades are not included in the package price but can be arranged as paid add-ons, subject to availability.

Checked luggage is not always included and depends on the airline and fare type in your package. You can confirm what is included and add luggage during the booking process. The Portugal Getaways team is always available to help if you prefer to arrange it with us directly.

One rental car is included for the full 7 nights, covering the entire route from Lisbon to Évora, the Algarve, and back to Lisbon. The standard vehicle is a compact or economy car. Automatic transmission and larger vehicles are available on request at an additional cost. You'll need a valid Canadian or US passport and driver's license at pickup.

The rental includes basic third-party liability insurance, and depending on the car rental company, a collision damage waiver (CDW) may already be included. Even with CDW, most rentals have a mandatory excess, which is the amount you are responsible for paying out of pocket if the car is damaged. We always recommend upgrading to the highest insurance level available. This can be arranged through the Portugal Getaways team when booking with an agent.

You drive on the right in Portugal. Roads are well maintained and clearly signed. The key drives on this route are: Lisbon to Évora approximately 1.5 hours (134 km), Évora to the Algarve approximately 2.5 hours (204 km), and Algarve back to Lisbon approximately 3 hours (280 km). Évora and the Algarve are straightforward to navigate. In Lisbon, the city center has narrow streets. We recommend parking at the hotel and using public transport to explore the city.

Portugal uses electronic toll collection on motorways. Most rental cars include a toll device that charges automatically. Ask the rental company to confirm this at pickup. Toll costs are not included in the package price and are charged directly to the driver. Before your trip, the Portugal Getaways team will send you a travel checklist that includes a tolls calculator from Via Verde, so you can estimate costs for your specific route in advance.

Hotel parking is available at most properties on this route but is not included in the package price. In Évora and the Algarve, most hotels have on-site parking, often at no extra cost. In Lisbon, parking at city center hotels is more limited and may carry an additional charge. We recommend parking at the hotel and using public transport to explore the city. Contact the Portugal Getaways team if you want us to prioritize hotels with free on-site parking when booking.

The package includes 3-star hotels as standard with upgrades to 4 and 5-star available.

In Lisbon, all properties are centrally located in or near the historic center, within easy walking distance of the main sights. In Évora, most properties are within or just outside the city walls, though one 5-star option is a historic convent hotel approximately 3 km from the center, well suited to self-drive given the rental car is included. 

In the Algarve, properties are spread across the Albufeira, Portimão, and Lagos areas, several near the beach, and are not always in a town center. 

The package price varies depending on the hotel selected. Exact options are shown when you click a date in the booking calendar. Contact the Portugal Getaways team to discuss preferences before booking.

Breakfast is not included by default but can be added during the booking process. Complimentary breakfast can be prioritized on request. Contact the Portugal Getaways team when booking and we will do our best to arrange it.

No. City taxes are not included and are paid directly at each hotel on arrival or checkout.

This is an independent self-drive package. The day-by-day itinerary is a set of suggestions, not a fixed programme. Guided experiences including wine tastings in the Alentejo, boat tours at Ponta da Piedade, and Fado dinners in Lisbon can be added when you book. 

Day trips to Seville and Tangier are not included in the package but can be added as optional experiences. A day trip to Seville from the Algarve is one of the most popular add-ons on this route. A Tangier crossing can also be arranged if you prefer a different experience. Contact the Portugal Getaways team when booking and we will include the right option in your quote.

All three destinations are accessible year-round. Spring (April to May) brings mild temperatures around 20°C (68°F), wildflowers in the Alentejo, and fewer crowds. Summer (June to August) is warm and dry, reaching 30°C (86°F) in the Algarve, ideal for beaches but busier and more expensive. Autumn (September to October) offers warm temperatures around 22°C (72°F), quieter roads, and lower prices. Winter (November to March) is mild at around 14°C (57°F), well suited to Évora and Lisbon, with fewer visitors and good value on hotels.

Portugal is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in Europe for travelers. It is a stable destination with no active conflicts, not affected by the current conflicts in Europe or elsewhere. Canadian and US passport holders do not currently need a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. Entry requirements are the traveler's responsibility and can change. Check with the relevant embassy or official government website before you travel.

The land portion of your package is refundable if cancelled at least 14 days before your travel date. Airfare is non-refundable from the moment it is issued, but the Portugal Getaways team will always check with the airline to explore options. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended. This summary does not replace the full terms and conditions of your booking, which we encourage you to read before confirming.

Yes to all three. The Portugal Getaways team can add nights at any stop, include day trips to Sintra, Óbidos, or Fátima, or adjust the route entirely. Additional costs may apply. If you're travelling solo, the package price is based on two travelers sharing a room and a single supplement applies. Contact the team directly and we'll make it easy. You can also check solo pricing by changing the number of guests from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before clicking See Dates and Prices.

For general support during office hours, contact the Portugal Getaways team at our regular number. Support is available every day from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM Azores Time. Outside office hours, an emergency number is provided in your trip documents. For local emergencies in Portugal, dial 112.