Portugal North to South: The Ultimate Road Trip

Check out of your Porto hotel and drive to the Douro, about 1 hour 30 minutes via the A4.

Suggestion for the day: A Douro River Boat Trip

The Douro Valley is the world's oldest demarcated wine region, officially regulated since 1756, known for its terraced vineyards along the river. A boat trip along the Douro is a relaxed way to see the valley from the water, passing villages and vineyards.

For dinner, try regional dishes like alheira de Mirandela (a traditional Portuguese sausage), leitão (roasted suckling pig), or bacalhau (salted codfish).

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Wineries & Douro Villages

The Douro's wineries are locally known as quintas. Options include Quinta do Naval and Quinta do Seixo, both offering tours and tastings.

Villages worth exploring:

• Peso da Régua: a key riverside town and gateway to many quintas
• Pinhão: known for its train station decorated with traditional azulejo tiles
• Lamego: a historic town with the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
• Mesão Frio: one of the oldest towns in the region
• Favaios: known for its traditional moscatel wine

All suggestions are optional.

Check out of your Douro hotel and drive to Lisbon, about 3 hours 45 minutes via the A1.

Suggestion for the day: Downtown Lisbon on Foot

• Chiado: shops and cafes, with Livraria Bertrand, a historic bookstore
• Baixa: the downtown grid, with Praça do Comércio, a grand waterfront square, and views from the Arco da Rua Augusta
• Bairro Alto: narrow streets with bars, restaurants, and Fado music venues

Also worth a look: São Roque Church, São Pedro de Alcântara Garden, the ruins of Carmo Church, Santa Catarina Viewpoint, Luís de Camões Square, Terreiro do Paço, and the Santa Justa Lift, a 19th-century iron elevator.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Sintra

Sintra, about a 28km (17mi) drive from Lisbon, was the summer residence of Portugal's royal court, and its hillside palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Pena National Palace: a brightly colored 19th-century palace mixing several architectural styles
• Quinta da Regaleira: known for its underground tunnels and symbolic gardens
• Moorish Castle: ruins dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries
• Sintra Village: cobbled streets and the Sintra National Palace, the former summer residence of the royal family
• Monserrate Palace: a 19th-century palace blending Gothic, Moorish, and Indian influences

Tips: book tickets in advance during peak season, and wear comfortable shoes. The drive from Lisbon takes about 30 to 40 minutes, the train about 40 minutes.

All suggestions are optional.

Check out of your Lisbon hotel and drive to Évora, about 1 hour 30 minutes via the A2 and A6.

Suggestion for the day: Évora's Heritage

Évora's history runs deep, with a preserved Roman temple standing inside a medieval and Moorish-influenced old town, all within its walls, which is why the center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Roman Temple: one of the best-preserved Roman structures in Portugal, dating to the 1st century AD
• Évora Cathedral (Sé de Évora): a Gothic structure dominating the city skyline
• Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones): a chapel built from the bones of thousands of monks, meant as a reminder of mortality
• Praça do Giraldo: the city's main square
• University of Évora: one of the oldest universities in Portugal, founded in 1559
• Aqueduto da Água de Prata: a 16th-century aqueduct that once supplied the city's water

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Évora's Surrounding Alentejo

• Almendres Cromlech: a prehistoric megalithic site dating back to 6000 BC, with standing stones weighing up to 40 tons
• Monsaraz: a hilltop village overlooking Alqueva Lake, with narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and a 13th-century castle
• Marvão: a fortified medieval hilltop village, worth the day trip
• Alentejo wineries: Herdade do Esporão, Monte da Raposinha, Cartuxa, Herdade do Sobroso, Dona Dorinda, Herdade das Servas, and Quinta do Carmo all offer tastings, some with lunch or dinner

Back in Évora, try a traditional Alentejo dinner: migas alentejanas (a bread-based side dish), carne de porco à alentejana (pork with clams), and marinated olives, paired with a regional wine.

All suggestions are optional.

Check out of your Évora hotel and drive to the Algarve, about 2 hours 30 minutes via the A2.

Suggestion for the day: Settle In

Take some time to explore your hotel's amenities, then head out for a first look at your Algarve surroundings. In the evening, a local restaurant near the coast is a good introduction to the region, fresh seafood and cataplana, a traditional seafood stew, are both worth trying.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Faro & Olhão

Faro, the capital of the Algarve, mixes historic and modern.

• Faro Old Town Walls: views over the harbor and old town
• Sé Cathedral (Faro Cathedral): a Gothic landmark
• Arco da Vila: an 18th-century archway marking the old town entrance
• Largo da Sé: a cobbled square at the heart of the historic district
• Mercado Municipal: fresh produce, regional specialties, and local crafts

Olhão, a short drive away, is a working fishing town with lively markets and fresh catches. It's also the gateway to Ria Formosa Natural Park, a protected lagoon system, reachable by boat tour.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Lagos & Ponta da Piedade

Lagos is a coastal town with defensive walls dating to its history as a port city.

• Santa Maria Church: an 18th-century church
• Governor's Castle: a 16th-century fortress with harbor views
• Ponta da Piedade: cliffs, grottoes, and rock formations, best seen by boat tour

Beaches: Dona Ana Beach, Praia do Camilo, Meia Praia, Praia da Batata, Praia dos Pinhão. Surfing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding are all available locally, contact the Portugal Getaways team if you'd like a specific tour arranged.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Albufeira

Albufeira is a resort town on the Algarve coast with an old town, beaches, and a marina. A boat tour to the Benagil Caves is a popular add-on from here.

Beaches: Praia dos Pescadores, Praia da Falésia, Praia da Oura, Praia de São Rafael, Praia dos Olhos de Água.

Old Town: whitewashed houses, small shops, and the Igreja Matriz, a Gothic church. The Albufeira Marina is worth a stroll toward evening.

All suggestions are optional.