Portugal Cultural Road Trip: Évora, Porto & Lisbon

The Portugal Getaways Portugal Cultural Road Trip package includes round-trip flights, 7 nights of hotel accommodation (2 Évora, 3 Porto, 2 Lisbon), a round-trip rental car picked up and returned at Lisbon Airport, and all taxes and fees related to the booking. Breakfast, guided tours, meals, and city taxes are not included.

Yes, round-trip flights are included. The package price varies depending on your departure airport. Other departure cities are available on request. Contact the Portugal Getaways team before booking to discuss departure options. Checked luggage is not always included and depends on the airline and fare type. Confirm what is included and add luggage during the booking process. Seat selection and cabin class upgrades can be arranged as paid add-ons, subject to availability.

You pick up the rental car at Lisbon Airport on arrival and drive to Évora, approximately 130 km (81 mi) and 1 hour 30 minutes via the A6. After 2 nights, you drive north to Porto, approximately 370 km (230 mi) and 3 hours 45 minutes via the A13 and A1. After 3 nights, you drive south to Lisbon, approximately 310 km (193 mi) and 3 hours via the A1. You return the car at Lisbon Airport on departure day. All roads are well maintained and clearly signed throughout.

A round-trip rental car is included, picked up and returned at Lisbon Airport. The standard vehicle is a compact manual car. Automatic transmission is available on request at an additional cost. You will need a valid Canadian or US passport and driver's license at pickup. An International Driving Permit is not mandatory but can be useful as a backup.

The rental car includes basic third-party liability insurance. Depending on the rental company, a collision damage waiver (CDW) may already be included, but most rentals still carry a mandatory excess. We always recommend upgrading to the highest insurance level available at pickup. This can be arranged through the Portugal Getaways team when booking or directly with the rental company on arrival.

Yes, tolls apply on the A6 from Lisbon to Évora, the A1 between Porto and Lisbon, and other main motorways on this itinerary. Portugal uses electronic Via Verde tolls, typically billed automatically via a transponder in the rental car and charged to your credit card. Confirm with the rental company at pickup whether a transponder is included. Toll costs are not included in the package price. Before your trip, the Portugal Getaways team sends you a travel checklist that includes a toll calculator link so you can estimate costs for your specific route.

Yes, traffic drives on the right in Portugal, the same as in the US and Canada. Roads are well maintained and clearly signed throughout this itinerary. The A6 from Lisbon to Évora and the A1 between Porto and Lisbon are modern motorways with regular service stations. GPS in English works reliably throughout Portugal. Most North American visitors find driving in Portugal straightforward.

Yes. The most natural stop is Coimbra, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Évora and 1 hour 15 minutes from Porto. It has one of the oldest universities in Europe and a historic center worth 2 to 3 hours. Another option is Tomar, about 2 hours from Évora, with the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Knights Templar headquarters. Contact the Portugal Getaways team and we can suggest the best stop for your day.

Yes. If you prefer not to drive the Porto to Lisbon leg, a one-way car drop-off in Porto and a train to Lisbon can be arranged. The train from Porto to Lisbon takes approximately 3 hours in the highest available class. A one-way drop-off fee may apply with the rental company. Contact the Portugal Getaways team before booking and we will check the cost and arrange the train ticket if this is your preference.

The Alentejo is the largest region in Portugal, a vast landscape of cork oak forests, wheat plains, vineyards, and whitewashed villages south of Lisbon. It produces some of the best red wine in Portugal and has a cuisine built around pork, bread, and olive oil that is distinct from anywhere else in the country. Évora is the regional capital, a UNESCO World Heritage city with Roman ruins, a medieval cathedral, and the macabre Chapel of Bones built from the remains of approximately 5,000 monks. Starting here puts the most historically layered part of Portugal first, before the better-known cities of Porto and Lisbon.

Porto's historic Ribeira district and most of the main sights are walkable from centrally located hotels. The car is most useful for a Douro Valley day trip, approximately 100 km east of Porto. For everything in the city, including Vila Nova de Gaia and the Port wine caves across the river, walking or Uber® is easier than driving. Parking in the historic center can be difficult. We recommend leaving the car at the hotel during your Porto stay and using it only for the Douro Valley excursion.

Yes. Sintra is approximately 28 km from Lisbon and reachable by train in 40 minutes from Rossio station or by car in 30 to 40 minutes. With a rental car included in this package, Sintra is an easy half-day or full-day addition from Lisbon. Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, Quinta da Regaleira, and Monserrate Palace all require advance tickets, especially in peak season. Contact the Portugal Getaways team and we can include a Sintra guided tour or help you book palace tickets in advance.

Parking is available at all hotels but is not always free and is not included in the package price. In Évora, parking is generally easier and often free near the hotels. In Porto and Lisbon, parking in the historic center can be limited and paid. Underground car parks are the most practical option in both cities. Contact the Portugal Getaways team if you want us to prioritize hotels with free parking.

The package includes 4-star hotels as standard with upgrades to 5-star available on request. In Évora, all properties are within or just outside the city walls, within easy walking distance of the Roman Temple and the historic center. In Porto, some properties are in the historic Ribeira area while others are in Vila Nova de Gaia across the river or in Matosinhos near the beach, a short metro ride from the center. In Lisbon, most properties are centrally located though one option is near Belem, slightly west of the historic 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 or prioritized on request. Contact the Portugal Getaways team when booking and we will do our best to arrange complimentary breakfast at your chosen properties. City taxes are not included and are paid directly at each hotel.

In Porto, the historic center and Ribeira district are compact and walkable. The car is most useful for the Douro Valley day trip. Uber® is available in Porto for getting around the city. In Lisbon, the car is not needed. The city is walkable and well served by trams, metro, and Uber®. Parking in Lisbon can be expensive and complicated in the historic center. We recommend leaving the car at the hotel during your time in both cities.

No. All tours and excursions are optional and at additional cost. Popular add-ons include Alentejo wine tastings near Évora, a Monsaraz and Alqueva Lake visit, a Douro Valley guided tour from Porto, Fado dinner shows in Porto and Lisbon, a food walking tour in Porto, and a sunset sailing tour on the Tagus in Lisbon. Tours can be added during the booking process or by contacting the Portugal Getaways team.

Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage city with 2,000 years of history in a compact, walkable old town. The Roman Temple dates to the 1st century AD. The Chapel of Bones is built from the remains of approximately 5,000 monks. The medieval cathedral has rooftop views over the Alentejo plains. The surrounding region has prehistoric megaliths at Almendres, the hilltop village of Monsaraz overlooking Alqueva Lake, and some of the best red wine produced in Portugal. Two nights gives you the city and at least one day in the Alentejo countryside.

Spring (April to June) is the strongest window at 18°C to 24°C (64°F to 75°F) across all three destinations, with the Alentejo countryside green and wildflowers in bloom around Évora. Autumn (September to October) is equally strong at 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F), harvest season in the Douro Valley and the Alentejo vineyards. Summer (July to August) reaches 28°C to 35°C (82°F to 95°F), particularly hot in Évora and the Alentejo. Winter (November to March) averages 10°C to 16°C (50°F to 61°F), quieter and significantly more affordable throughout.

Yes to all three. The Portugal Getaways team can add nights in any destination, include the Algarve, Sintra, or the Douro Valley as an overnight stop, or adjust the itinerary. If you are travelling solo, the package price is based on two travelers sharing a room and a single supplement applies. You can check solo pricing by changing the number of guests from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before clicking See Dates and Prices. Contact the Portugal Getaways team directly and we will make it easy.

Portugal is a safe and well-visited destination with no active conflicts and not affected by the current conflicts in Europe or elsewhere. Standard precautions apply throughout. US and Canadian passport holders do not currently need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. ETIAS is not yet mandatory. When it becomes mandatory, the Portugal Getaways team will notify you in advance. For local emergencies in Portugal, dial 112.

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. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended for a multi-destination road trip. For general support, contact the Portugal Getaways team at our regular number, available every day from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Outside office hours, an emergency number is provided in your trip documents. For local emergencies in Portugal, dial 112.

Yes, you can apply any available reward credits or travel credit to this package before paying. If you need help applying your credit, contact the Portugal Getaways team and they will add it to your booking. Terms and conditions of the rewards credits or travel credits apply.