Portugal Road Trip: The Perfect 2-Week Route from Porto to the Algarve

A road trip is the best way to see Portugal: medieval villages, wine valleys, cork forests and golden cliffs, all linked by excellent roads and rarely more than a couple of hours apart. Here’s our classic two-week Portugal road trip from Porto to the Algarve, with driving times, tolls and tips, plus shorter options.

Quick answer: fly into Porto, spend a few days there without a car, then pick one up and drive Douro Valley → Coimbra → Nazaré → Óbidos → Lisbon → Évora → the Algarve, dropping the car at Faro. Allow 12–14 days. Tolls cost about €25 for Lisbon–Porto and €24 for Lisbon–Algarve, and the A22 across the Algarve is now free. Expect a one-way drop fee.

The route (12–14 days)

Driving times are approximate and without stops. Always check Google Maps on the day.

In total you’ll drive roughly 900 to 1,000km, mostly on motorways, with slower scenic stretches in the Douro and the Alentejo. No single day has more than about three hours at the wheel.

Days 1–3: Porto (no car needed)

Explore the Ribeira, cross the bridge to the port cellars and take a river cruise. See 2 days in Porto and where to stay. Pick up your car on the morning you leave.

Walk across the top deck of the Dom Luís I bridge for the view. The lower deck has been closed to private cars since 2023, and the Guindais funicular has been suspended since July 2026, so plan to walk or use the metro. Picking up at the airport saves you driving out of the old centre.

Days 4–5: The Douro Valley (Porto to Pinhão, about 1h45–2h)

Drive the N222 along the river, visit two or three wineries (with a designated driver!) and stay overnight at a quinta. See the Douro Valley without a tour.

The most famous stretch of the N222 runs between Peso da Régua and Pinhão, with the river on one side and terraced vineyards on the other. Book winery visits ahead, especially at weekends and during the harvest in September. Lamego, with its long baroque stairway, is a short detour south of Régua. See Pinhão and Lamego.

Day 6: Coimbra (from the Douro, about 2h30 via Porto)

Portugal’s old university town, with the Joanina Library. See Coimbra. Aveiro is an easy detour on the way. See Aveiro.

Book a time slot for the university and the library, which is popular. The old town is steep and parking is tight, so use a car park near the river and walk up.

Day 7: Nazaré (from Coimbra, about 1h15)

See the giant-wave viewpoint at the fort and the fishing town. Stop at the Batalha or Alcobaça monasteries on the way. See Nazaré.

Big waves usually appear between October and March. In summer, Nazaré is a busy beach town instead. Parking near the Sítio clifftop and the fort fills up fast on sunny weekends, so arrive early.

Day 8: Óbidos (from Nazaré, about 40 minutes)

Walk the walls and try ginjinha in a chocolate cup. Peniche and the Berlengas are 25 minutes away. See Óbidos.

Days 9–11: Lisbon and Sintra (from Óbidos, about 1h)

Return the car or leave it parked. Driving in Lisbon is no fun. See 3 days in Lisbon and Sintra in one day (go by train).

Private cars can’t drive up to Pena Palace, and Pena tickets are for a set date and time, which is another reason to use the train. If you keep the car, book a hotel with parking, as street parking in central Lisbon is scarce and charged. A drive out to Cabo da Roca is easy: the clifftop is free, and only the lighthouse visit is paid. The lighthouse opened to visitors in July 2026, from about €5, or about €10 with the climb.

Day 12: Évora and Monsaraz (from Lisbon, about 1h30)

The Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones and Alentejo wine, then sunset and stars at Monsaraz (50 minutes further). See Évora and Monsaraz and Alqueva.

The drive crosses the Tagus on the 25 de Abril or Vasco da Gama bridge, then follows the A6 through cork oak country. Park outside Évora’s walls, as the centre has narrow, restricted streets. Évora is European Capital of Culture in 2027, with the year opening on 6 February 2027, so book rooms early if you travel then.

Days 13–14+: The Algarve (Évora to Lagos, about 2h45–3h)

Base yourself in Lagos or Carvoeiro, see Benagil from the water, walk the Seven Hanging Valleys, then head east to Tavira (Lagos to Tavira about 1h15) before dropping the car at Faro airport (30–35 minutes from Tavira). See where to stay in the Algarve.

Since August 2024, you can’t swim to Benagil cave or land on its beach, and kayaks may only go with a licensed guide. A boat trip or a guided kayak tour from Benagil or Portimão is the way to see it. See Benagil cave and the Seven Hanging Valleys trail.

Shorter versions

• 7 days, Lisbon and the Algarve: Lisbon (3 nights, no car), then drive via Évora to the Algarve (4 nights).
• 7 days, the north: Porto, the Douro, Braga and Guimarães, and Peneda-Gerês. See Braga and Guimarães and Peneda-Gerês.
• 10 days, the classic: see our 10-day Portugal itinerary.
• The wild coast: Lisbon to the Algarve via the Alentejo coast and the Costa Vicentina. See Costa Vicentina.
• Mountains and villages: from Coimbra, loop through the Serra da Estrela and the stone villages of the interior, using motorways such as the A23 and A25 that are now toll-free. See Serra da Estrela.

More ideas in our best road trips in Portugal.

Costs and practicalities

• Tolls (2026, normal car): about €25 on the A1 from Lisbon to Porto and about €24 on the A2 from Lisbon to the Algarve. The A22 across the Algarve is free since 2025. Get a car with a Via Verde transponder. See Portugal tolls explained.
• One-way drop fees: picking up in Porto and dropping in Faro usually costs extra, often around €30–100 or more. Compare quotes with the fee included.
• Fuel: roughly €2 a litre or a little more in September 2026, and diesel has recently cost slightly more than petrol. Prices change weekly, usually on Mondays, and supermarket petrol stations are often a little cheaper. Diesel is gasóleo and petrol is gasolina.
• Parking: easy in small towns, expensive and scarce in Lisbon and Porto.
• Automatic cars are rarer and pricier, so book early.
• Rules of the road: see driving in Portugal.

Driving tips

• Speed limits: usually 50km/h in towns, 90km/h on ordinary roads, 100km/h on expressways and 120km/h on motorways. Speed cameras are common.
• Drink-driving: the limit is 0.5g/l of blood, and lower (0.2g/l) for drivers who have held a licence for less than three years. With wine tastings on the route, the simplest rule is not to drink and drive at all.
• Roundabouts: traffic on the roundabout has priority. Use the outside lane only if you’re taking the first exit.
• Carry with you: your licence, passport, the hire papers, a reflective vest and a warning triangle (check the hire car has them).

Book your car

We compare deals on Discover Cars, which shows one-way fees up front. Read our full Portugal car rental guide first. Not keen on driving? Multi-day tours cover the same route. See multi-day tours.

Before you drive off, photograph the car all round, check the fuel policy (full to full is usually cheapest) and confirm the toll device is switched on. Some companies charge a daily fee for it, capped per rental.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are ideal: warm, green or golden, and less busy. Summer is hot inland, but perfect for the Algarve. See the best time to visit Portugal.

In July and August, the Évora and Douro days can pass 35°C, so start early and keep plenty of water in the car. In winter the roads are quiet and hotels are cheaper, but the days are short and some Algarve businesses close.

FAQ

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

Two weeks lets you drive from Porto to the Algarve without rushing. With 7 days, pick one region, such as Lisbon and the Algarve or Porto and the north.

How do you pay tolls in a hire car?

Ask for a car with a Via Verde transponder, which pays every toll automatically. The rental company bills you afterwards, often with a small daily fee for the device. See Portugal tolls explained.

Is it easy to drive in Portugal?

Mostly, yes. Motorways are good and quiet outside the cities, but old town centres have narrow, steep streets, so park outside and walk in. Driving in central Lisbon and Porto is best avoided.

Can you pick up a car in Porto and drop it in Faro?

Yes, most big rental companies allow it, but expect a one-way fee, often around €30 to €100 or more. Compare quotes with the fee included.

From our sister blog: An alternative road trip from Lisbon to the Algarve on Sunset Travellers.

See also: a 2-week road trip itinerary.

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