From north to south, Portugal packs lively cities, vineyards, golden plains and ocean cliffs into a few hundred kilometres. Here is a ten-day road trip from Porto to the Algarve.
Itinerary: north to south in 10 days
- Days 1 and 2: Porto: the Ribeira and the port cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia
- Day 3: The Douro valley and its terraced vineyards
- Day 4: Coimbra and its university
- Days 5 to 7: Lisbon, with a day in Sintra
- Day 8: The Alentejo: Évora and the countryside
- Days 9 and 10: The Algarve: Lagos, the cliffs and the coves
When to go
Spring and autumn are perfect for a road trip: sunny without too much heat. Summer is ideal for the Algarve beaches, but very hot in the Alentejo and very busy on the coast.
Getting around
A car makes the trip much freer, especially for the Douro, the Alentejo and the Algarve. In Porto and Lisbon, leave it parked and get around on foot, by tram or by metro.
Our tips
- Some motorways only have electronic tolls: ask your rental company for a transponder
- A one-way rental Porto – Faro saves driving back north
- Bring good shoes: Lisbon and Porto are very hilly
- Book guided visits to the coastal caves in advance in summer
Plan this trip with Voyage : mon guide
Add each stop with its number of nights: the app creates the days and puts the whole route on an Apple Maps map. Keep miradouros, beaches and pastéis bakeries in the ideas box, log flights, trains and rentals on the right day, then prepare the trip for offline use before leaving. Once there, Guide mode shows the current day and tonight’s hotel.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Ten days cover the essentials from north to south. With a week, focus on Lisbon and the Algarve, or on Porto and the Douro.
Can I do this trip by train?
Partly: trains link Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and the Algarve well, but a car is better for the Douro and the Alentejo.
Plan this itinerary with Voyage : mon guide.
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