The Best Road Trips and Scenic Drives in Portugal

Portugal is made for driving: vineyard roads along the Douro, clifftop routes on the wild west coast, mountain passes in the north and empty roads across the golden Alentejo. Here are the best road trips and scenic drives in Portugal.

Quick answer: the classic scenic drive is the N222 along the Douro between Peso da Régua and Pinhão. For a longer trip, drive the Costa Vicentina from Lisbon to the Algarve, the Alentejo from Évora to Monsaraz, or the mountain roads of Peneda-Gerês. Our classic route goes Porto to the Algarve in two weeks.

Why drive

Trains and buses link the big cities well, but much of Portugal’s best scenery sits between them: hill villages, wine estates, empty beaches and castles on the Spanish border. With a car you can stop where you like, stay in rural guesthouses and reach places with one bus a day or none. Distances are short. Lisbon to Porto is about three hours on the motorway, and Lisbon to the Algarve a little less.

The best drives

The N222, Douro Valley

About 27km of river bends and terraced vineyards between Peso da Régua and Pinhão, once named one of the world’s best driving roads. Stop at quintas (with a designated driver). See the Douro itinerary.

Porto to Régua is about 1h30 by motorway. The drive itself takes under an hour without stops, but give it a full day with a tasting and lunch. Harvest season, from September to early October, is the busiest and most colourful time. See Peso da Régua and Pinhão.

The Costa Vicentina

From Lisbon south via Comporta, Porto Covo and Vila Nova de Milfontes to Odeceixe, Aljezur and Sagres, past wild beaches and cliffs. See Costa Vicentina and Comporta.

Take the car ferry from Setúbal to Tróia for a shortcut south. Allow three to five days. The coast is part of a protected natural park, so use marked car parks and don’t drive on dirt tracks to the cliffs.

The Alentejo

Rolling plains, cork oaks and whitewashed villages from Évora to Monsaraz, Estremoz and Marvão. See Évora and Monsaraz.

Évora is about 1h30 from Lisbon. Roads are quiet and straight, but summer days often pass 35°C, so spring and autumn are the best seasons. Eat black pork, migas and the local cheeses, and taste Alentejo wine at the estates around Reguengos de Monsaraz.

Peneda-Gerês

Mountain roads, reservoirs, waterfalls and stone villages. See Peneda-Gerês.

Portugal’s only national park is about 1h30 from Porto. Roads are narrow and twisting, and you may meet free-roaming cattle and horses. Base yourself in Gerês or around Soajo and Lindoso, with their granite grain stores.

Serra da Estrela

The road up to Torre, mainland Portugal’s highest point at 1,993 metres, and through the Zêzere glacial valley. See Serra da Estrela.

In winter, the road to Torre can close for snow, so check conditions before you go. Buy the local Serra da Estrela cheese, a soft, runny sheep’s cheese.

The Silver Coast

Óbidos, Peniche, Nazaré and São Martinho, with the monasteries inland. See the Silver Coast.

This works as a two or three-day loop from Lisbon. Add the monasteries at Alcobaça and Batalha, both UNESCO-listed, and Fátima if you have time. A car is especially useful here in 2026, as trains on the Oeste line between Meleças and Caldas da Rainha have been replaced by buses since storm damage in January.

The historic villages

Monsanto, Sortelha, Belmonte and the frontier castles. See the historic villages.

The N2

Portugal’s longest road runs about 739km from Chaves in the north to Faro in the south, through small towns, mountains and the Alentejo. Driving it end to end has become popular, with a stamp passport for each town. Allow at least four or five days.

The road opened in 1945 and crosses 35 municipalities in 11 districts. The N2 passport was launched in 2018 by the association of those towns, and you can pick one up at tourist offices along the route, then collect stamps as you go.

The Algarve coast

From Tavira to Sagres on the now toll-free A22, with detours to cliffs and villages. See the 7-day Algarve itinerary.

Madeira

Spectacular (and steep) mountain and coastal roads. See the Madeira itinerary.

Full itineraries

See our two-week Portugal road trip from Porto to the Algarve.

A good one-week loop from Lisbon takes in the Silver Coast, Coimbra and the Douro, then heads back down. With a second week, add the Alentejo and the Costa Vicentina before finishing in the Algarve. One-way hire is possible but usually costs extra.

Tolls in 2026

Driving in the interior got cheaper in 2025. Since 1 January 2025, these motorways have been toll-free: the A22 in the Algarve, the A23, A24, A25 and A13, and the A4 beyond Amarante (the Transmontana, including the Marão tunnel). The A1 between Lisbon and Porto, the A2 from Lisbon to the Algarve and the A4 between Porto and Amarante are still tolled, so budget for them on the main north-south routes.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for most routes: mild weather, green or golden landscapes and quieter roads. July and August are hot inland, especially in the Alentejo and the Douro, and the coast roads are busy. In winter, the mountain roads in the north can bring snow, ice or fog, but the Algarve stays mild and the roads are empty.

Tips

• Rules and tolls: see driving in Portugal and Portugal tolls explained.
• Car hire: book early for summer and automatics. See car rental or compare on Discover Cars.
• Toll transponder: many motorways use electronic tolls only, so ask your hire company for a Via Verde device.
• Don’t drink and drive in wine country.
• Allow extra time on winding mountain roads.
• Old towns: park outside the walls and walk in. Streets are narrow and some are closed to traffic.

FAQ

What is the most scenic drive in Portugal?

The N222 along the Douro between Peso da Régua and Pinhão is the best known, with river views and terraced vineyards for its whole 27km. The Costa Vicentina and the mountain roads of Peneda-Gerês come close.

How many days do you need for a Portugal road trip?

One week covers a loop from Lisbon to the Douro and back. Two weeks lets you drive from Porto to the Algarve without rushing.

Are Portuguese motorways tolled?

Many are, including the A1 and A2. Several interior motorways and the A22 in the Algarve have been free since January 2025.

Can you drive the whole N2 in a weekend?

Not comfortably. At about 739km on slow roads through many towns, it’s best spread over four or five days.

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