When planning a trip to Portugal you might think of heading to the country’s main cities, Porto and Lisbon. The driving time between these two cities is only 3 hours, but why rush things? For an unforgettable journey you could rent a car, get off the beaten path and take the scenic route passing through the incredible sights along the drive from Porto to Lisbon.
Road tripping through the Portuguese countryside is the best way to discover some of the country’s hidden gems. From charming medieval villages to spectacular castles and one of Europe’s most beautiful and oldest wine regions, the sights and landscapes between Porto and Lisbon are truly breathtaking.
This 10 day Porto to Lisbon road trip itinerary covers the main highlights that lie between Portugal’s two major cities. You will finish this journey on a high and it will leave you dreaming of your next visit to this wonderful country. Read on to find our step-by-step guide to planning your perfect Portugal road trip!
Rooftops of Porto as seen from the Miradouro da Vitória viewpoint
Table of Contents
Porto to Lisbon Road Trip Overview
- Porto – 2 nights
- Peso Da Régua
- Pinhão
- Lamego – 2 nights
- Tomar
- Obidos – 2 nights
- Sintra – 2 nights
- Lisbon – 2 nights
Stunning vineyard views in the Douro Valley
Recommended Stops
Day 1 – Arrive in Porto and explore some of the sites around the city if you have time.
Night 1 – Porto
Day 2 – Spend a full day of seeing the highlights of Porto.
Night 2 – Porto
Day 3 – Rent a car in Porto and begin the 1.5 hr drive to the Douro Valley. Make your way to the small town of Lamego with stops at Peso da Regua and the Galafura viewpoint along the way.
Night 3 – Lamego
Day 4 – Spend a full day in the Douro Valley, visiting a few vineyards around Pinhão and taking a scenic boat cruise along the Douro River.
Night 4 – Lamego
A vibrant sky lights up over the Castle of the Knights Templar, Tomar
Day 5 – Start the day by leaving Lamego early and driving 2.5 hrs to Tomar. Enjoy most of the day sightseeing in the beautiful historic town of Tomar before continuing your drive for 1 hr to Obidos.
Night 5 – Obidos
Day 6 – Spend the day enjoying your time in the medieval village of Obidos.
Night 6 – Obidos
Day 7 – Depart Obidos in the morning and begin a 1 hr drive to the town of Sintra. You will have the rest of the day to spend at Monserrate Palace and Sintra National Palace.
Night 7 – Sintra
Day 8 – Spend the full day visiting the spectacular palaces of Sintra. Starting with Pena Palace followed by the Castle of the Moors and then if you have some time left over Quinta da Regaleira is also worth a visit!
Night 8 – Sintra
Day 9 – Begin the day with a 30 minute drive to Lisbon, your final stop. Spend the rest of the day sightseeing around Lisbon.
Night 9 – Lisbon
Day 10 – Explore the highlights of Lisbon on your final day of the road trip.
Night 10 – Lisbon
Final Day – Return rental car to Lisbon airport and fly home.
Total Driving Time
6 hours 45 minutes depending on traffic
Longest Stretch of Driving
2.5 hours from Lamego to Tomar
Total Kilometres Covered
600 km
Porto to Lisbon Road Trip Highlights
⦁ Obidos + Tomar – Magical medieval towns that will immediately take you back to another era.
⦁ The Douro Valley – A spectacular and historic wine region with some of Portugal’s highest quality wines.
⦁ Palaces of Sintra – The most unique and breath-taking palaces you will ever see.
⦁ Porto + Lisbon – Portugal’s best cities that are full of fascinating history and culture, delicious cuisine and amazing sites.
The picturesque village of Pinhão in the Douro Valley
How Long Will I Need?
I would recommend allowing 10 days to complete this Portugal road trip if you’re following the exact itinerary listed above. Leave an extra day at the end to drop off the car and travel home. If you prefer to travel at a slower pace, you can easily extend it to two weeks by spending a few extra nights at any of the stops along the way.
If you have the flexibility, it is worth spending more time in either Porto or Lisbon. These cities are truly amazing with so much to see and do, you definitely won’t be bored. If you are flying in from overseas, you should plan to spend a few more days in Porto to recover from your travel journey before you begin the road trip.
Keep in mind, you could choose to reverse this itinerary and road trip from Lisbon to Porto instead.
Best Time To Visit Portugal
For sunny and warm weather, the best time of year to travel to Portugal is any time between May – September. The summer months of June – August are high season for tourism in Europe, so if you’d like decent weather with less crowds, we’d recommend booking your holiday in May or September.
Portugal enjoys a mild climate year round but you can expect to see some rain if you travel there during off season/winter. If you visit Portugal in spring or early fall you can expect pleasant temperatures with plenty of sun and minimal crowds.
Clerigos Tower, Porto
Must Try Portuguese Wines
Douro DOC – If you like rich, full-bodied wine with delicious dark fruit notes and a hint of oak then this is for you! It is a non-fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley, which is the best place to try it, however it can be found all over Portugal and comes close to topping the list for our favourite red variety.
The best Portuguese wines we had are not widely distributed around the world so be sure to make the most of this amazing wine while you’re here.
Vinho Verde – This wine variety hails from the northern Minho province and is not actually a variety of grape but are rather named due to their region of original and the production method.
The wine is bottled soon after harvest (3-6 months) and traditionally had a slight fizz which was a due to unwanted bottle fermentation and considered a fault. This is however what made the wine so appealing to us and many others which is why wine producers often artificially add a slight fizz now-days!
Port – A fortified wine known around the world and taking the namesake of its city of origin. You cannot visit Porto without sampling the finest port you can find anywhere in the world.
The best place to do this is in one of the traditional port wine cellars along the river; here you can tour the old buildings whilst trying a variety of port wines and admiring the old Rabelo boats that used to transport the barrels downriver from the Douro valley.
The Best Travel Insurance for Road Trips
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Where to Rent a Car in Porto
Whenever we travel, we use Rentalcars.com to book car rentals because the insurance prices are the most reasonable, they have the best selection of providers and the best rates. Click here to compare prices on car rental options for the dates that you require.
Panoramic views can be seen from The Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto
The Ultimate Porto to Lisbon Road Trip Itinerary
Porto
Before you begin your drive from Porto to Lisbon, spend the first two days exploring the second largest city in Portugal. This coastal city has so much to offer from the colourful houses of the Ribeira waterfront to the famous port wine cellars and the beautiful Douro River running through the middle of it all.
Porto is full of history and plenty of amazing things to see and do, you could easily spend more than two days here but this amount of time allows you to tick off the highlights and get a good taste of what this city is all about. All of Porto’s main landmarks are relatively close together making it easy to see everything in a short time.
Highlights of Porto
The Ribeira District – The most colourful and ancient part of Porto lines the Douro River waterfront. Explore the maze of narrow winding streets and beautiful old buildings that make up the Ribeira District. This place really comes to life at night. With its many traditional bars and restaurants, it makes the perfect place to grab some dinner and hang out in the evening. Don’t forget to try some port! You will catch the best views of the The Dom Luís I Bridge from this area.
Clérigos Church & Tower – For 5€ climb the 200 steps of the most iconic building in Porto. This massive church tower can be seen from pretty much any point of the city. The view from the top will not disappoint! Find tickets to the Clerigos Tower here.
Inside the São Bento Train Station
São Bento Train Station – Often referred to as the most beautiful train station in the world, it’s worth a visit even if you don’t have a train to catch. Intricately painted blue and white azulejos (tiles) decorate the historic train station’s interiors, telling the story of Portugal’s history. This place is absolutely beautiful and very photogenic.
Tour the Wine Cellars – Porto is home to a number of historic wine cellars which are known for producing the world-famous Port wine. Situated along the banks of the Douro River, these wine lodges are open to the public for tours and tastings. A trip to Porto simply isn’t complete without a visit to a Port wine cellar!
The most popular tour option is of the Cálem Caves winery. They offer an excellent guided tour of their wine cellar where you will learn all about the fascinating history of Port production in the Douro Valley region. The tour ends with a Port tasting accompanied by a live Fado performance.
Tickets for the Cálem wine cellar tour can be purchased here.
Clérigos Tower
Best Viewpoints in Porto
Miradouro da Vitoria – Don’t miss out on this awesome view-point looking out over the old city, Douro River and bridge.
Dom Luís I Bridge – Head to the bridge and walk over the top for a breathtaking view overlooking the city and river below.
Ribeira de Gaia – Once you have crossed the bridge on the lower section, you are now in Vila Nova de Gaia, the city located on the south bank of the Douro River. If you walk all the way to the water’s edge, you’ll enjoy views looking back at Porto’s colourful Ribeira waterfront and the Rabelo boats. These traditional boats were used for centuries to transport wine from the Douro Valley to cellars in the city.
Vila Novo de Gaia – This beautiful viewpoint is accessed by walking across the upper platform of the Dom Luís I bridge from Porto. Once you cross into the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, you can enjoy a stunning view looking back at Porto, the river and bridge all at once.
Perfect city views from the top of Vila Novo de Gaia lookout
Ribeira de Gaia view
Where To Stay In Porto
Aparthotel Oporto Entreparedes – Centrally located self-catering apartments within the heart of Porto’s historic centre. Only steps from the main attractions of Porto and offering lovely city views, this accommodation provides a clean and comfortable place to base yourself during your stay in Porto.
Laurear Guest House – Set in a convenient location with plenty of shops, restaurants and attractions nearby, these clean and tastefully decorated rooms are a popular choice in Porto. Featuring city views, free Wi-Fi, an airport shuttle and a delicious breakfast included, you really can’t go wrong with this lovely guest house.
OportoHouse – A cosy family-run guest house in an excellent location. OportoHouse offers easy access to all attractions around Porto, it’s a 5-minute walk from the São Bento Train Station, and provides the option to include a continental breakfast; all for a very reasonable price! This guest house is ideal for the budget conscious traveller seeking comfort and convenience.
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