We asked our friend Sara over at Big Adventures With Little Feet to lend her expertise for a Portugal road trip 7-day itinerary. She has recently spent a month in Portugal with her family and personally visited these places during her trip. There are lots of fantastic places to visit in Portugal and she’s chosen her favorites.
Portugal Road Trip 7-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Explore Lisbon the Capital City
Start your Portugal one week road trip itinerary in Lisbon. I love wandering around the streets of Lisbon. You can start with the history of Alfama and walk all the way to Belém.
There’s a lot to see in Lisbon. It is good to plan ahead, especially if you visit during the busy peak season when lines for popular experiences such as riding Tram 28 can be over an hour long.
As well as riding Tram 28, one of my favorite things to do in Lisbon is to head to the Castelo de São Jorge and take in the amazing city views. And if music is your thing, then you must make a reservation for a traditional Fado music show in the evening.
Day 2: Discover Sintra
You can easily rent a car in Lisbon once you have explored the city. There are lots of amazing places that you can explore nearby.
One of the best in (my opinion) is to head to Sintra to see its castles and palaces. The most popular sites to visit are the multicolored Pena Palace, the Insta-worthy initiation wells at Quinta da Regaleira, and the incredible views from the Moorish Castle.
Top tip: Plan your day in advance. You’ll need to book a time slot to visit popular sites such as Pena Palace.
Because Sintra is an easy day trip from Lisbon, most visitors head there for the day before heading to Cabo da Roca. If you want to have time to see all of the sites, you’ll need more than a few hours. We’d recommend spending the night in Sintra to fully explore this city before moving on.
Day 3: Drive to Nazaré with a Stop at Obidos
Along the way to Nazaré, Obidos makes a great stop for an hour or so. The beautiful small town is famous for having one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Portugal.
It is fully encircled by its medieval castle walls. Visitors are allowed to walk freely along the tops of them creating a unique experience on your road trip through Portugal.
No visit to Portugal would be complete without a stop at a beach. And, the one that stands out the most to me is Nazaré.
In summer Nazaré is a charming seaside town with winding roads and beautiful beaches. And then come winter it is where the expert surfers head to ride the biggest waves in the world. There’s lots to see in the town itself before heading to the beautiful beach to relax on.
Day 4: Visit Fatima, Tomar and Coimbra
When I visit a country I like to try to take in as much of the culture as possible. The 4th day of this one week Portugal itinerary takes you to three of the key sites in Portugal: Fatima, Tomar, and Coimbra.
Fátima is most famous for the fact that in 1917, a miracle occurred that was recognized by the Vatican. Because of this, it has become a major catholic pilgrimage site.
The main attraction in Fatima is the Sanctuary of Fátima. It is a giant complex with a large church and impressive architecture built on the spot where the miracles happened.
Tomar was at one point the original home of the legendary Order of the Knights Templar. It is most famous for the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Convent of Christ complex. Once the seat of the Knights Templar, the complex features a castle, church, convent, and more.
Coimbra is a beautifully preserved medieval city and was the capital of Portugal before Lisbon. Coimbra is famous for having the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe.
After visiting the other sites, you’ll want to enjoy yourself in Coimbra by wandering through the old town, enjoying some delicious food, and having a rest.
Day 5: Stop at Aveiro on your way to hike the Paiva Walkways
Aveiro is famous for being the “Venice of Portugal”. It has waterways running through the city and boats called moliceiros (gondola-like boats) on the waterways.
Aveiro makes for a great stop on your road trip. Spend a couple of hours in town before driving on to the next stop.
One of the best things that we did in Portugal was to hike the Paiva Walkways (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). They are amazing! They are a set of wooden walkways that take you along the river where you’ll pass stunning valley scenery, and there are even spots along the way where you can wild swim.
The Paiva Walkways are a moderate hike of 2-3 hours. If you’re into heights then you can cross the world’s longest suspension bridge which is 516m long (or you can skip it if, like me, you don’t like heights!).
After a long day in Northern Portugal, you’ll want to rest up in Porto ahead of another full day of sightseeing the next morning.
Day 6: Spend the Day in Porto
There’s lots that you can pack into a day in Porto, so make sure to kick start it with a good breakfast!
A good one-day in Porto itinerary could cover the following amazing things to do:
- Starting off with a walk along the river
- Taking a riverboat tour under the 6 bridges
- Head out for a tuk-tuk tour of the main historical sites
- Enjoy a tasting at one of the Port wineries
And, don’t forget to end the day with a Francesinha, the local “sandwich” which is a combination of meats, cheese, and other delights. It’s yummy and very filling!
Day 7: Head out to the Douro Valley
If you’re into wine then a trip to the Douro Valley is a must. If you’re not into wine, the stunning scenery alone is worth the journey.
To make the most of the scenery you should definitely take a train part of the way. The full journey from Porto to Pinhão is 3.5 hours.
However, if you’ve got your car still, then it’s worth driving to Tua and taking the train from there as it’s little more than an hour and this is the best part of the train journey for scenery.
Once at Pinhão, you can take an incredible boat tour along the river where you’ll get to see the beautiful vineyards high up on the sides of the river. And of course, after your boat ride, you’ll want to take in a wine tour too.
Important Tip: Don’t forget to book in advance as most become fully booked and don’t allow walk-ins.
Portugal Road Trip FAQs
Is 7 days Enough Time in Portugal?
You can get a good “taste” of Portugal during a week-long visit. Discover some of the coastal towns, head inland for some history, and take in the city sights.
Is Portugal good for road trips?
The roads are well taken care of and easy to navigate which makes it easy to road trip around Portugal. What makes it fun is that some great roads connect the main sites within the country. There is also some epic scenery to be seen along the way.
What are the best months to visit Portugal?
The best months to visit Portugal are in the shoulder months of March, April, September, and October. The weather is still warm, it’s relatively dry, and it’s a lot less busy!
Do you need to make reservations for popular sights in Portugal?
During the warmer and busy summer months, the places that I’ve mentioned for our 7-day road trip in Portugal can be very busy. If you plan to visit places such as Pena Palace in Sintra, Castelo de São Jorge in Lisbon, or a wine tour in the Douro Valley, you will need to book in advance as they get fully booked weeks in advance.
How do you stay connected while driving through Portugal?
We love e-sims when we travel. They’re a great way to use data through your phone. We use Airlo, but there are plenty of other suppliers out there to choose from. Having an e-sim allows you to stay connected if you need to do things such as make last-minute tour bookings, without needing to find wifi.
How to Get Around Portugal
There are several ways that you can travel around Portugal. You can take a tour, use public transport, drive, or walk.
Yes, I’ve added walking as an option because one of the Caminho de Santiago pilgrimage routes travels the coast of Portugal from Lisbon to Porto and into Spain. On our road trip through Portugal, we met numerous pilgrims completing the walk. They can be recognized by the scallop shell on their backpacks.
Is it better to travel around Portugal by car or train?
If you like flexibility and efficiency when you travel, then traveling by car is significantly better. We prefer it as it allows us to travel at our own pace and allows us to stop where we want and when we want. The trains in Portugal are very good. They are a perfect option if you’re into slow travel and have the time to get between destinations.
Do you need an international driver’s license to drive in Portugal?
This depends on where you received your driver’s license. If you are from an EU country or are an American national then you can drive in Portugal with your driver’s license.
If you do not have an EU or American license, then you should look to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before arriving. It’s important to note that if you are staying longer than six months then you will require an International Driving License.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Portugal?
The price of renting a car in Portugal starts at around $8, or £6, per day for a small car such as a Peugeot 208 and quickly goes up if you go for a bigger car with a bigger engine.
Cheap car rental options make hiring a car an affordable option for this 7-day road trip in Portugal. In order to not worry about the car and enjoy your holiday, I’d always advise checking the insurance and selecting the full insurance package. For peace of mind, I always do this and recommend you do too.
Important Tip: You should make sure to do a thorough inspection of the car before you take it out on the road for the first time. You should always ensure that any pre-existing damage is noted by the rental company.
Final Thoughts: 7 Days on a Portugal Road Trip
Portugal is a fantastic country for a 7-day road trip as you can travel between Lisbon and Porto and there are some brilliant destinations along the way. You never need to drive more than a few hours between sites, the roads are well taken care of, and the scenery is spectacular
