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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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: around €2.10–2.20 per litre in September 2026.
• 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.

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.

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.

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

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