Destinations › Europe › Portugal
Portugal in 12 days: Porto, the Douro, Lisbon & the Algarve
Port wine and azulejos, a night in a wine barrel, the hills of Lisbon and the golden cliffs of the Algarve — a road trip from north to south.
Duration
12 days
Best time
May – June, Sep – Oct
Getting around
Rental car
Route
Porto → Algarve
I travelled
2016 & 2019
two trips
Portugal is a small country, full of history, architecture and incredible food — and still one of the best-value destinations in Europe.
I explored it on two trips — Lisbon and the Algarve in 2016, then Porto, the Douro and the rest of the country in 2019 — and put them together into one 12-day road trip from Porto and the vineyards of the Douro all the way down to the beaches of the Algarve, with Sintra, Lisbon and Évora along the way.
The route at a glance
From the Douro to the Algarve
Tap a stop on the map to jump to that part of the trip
Day by day
The itinerary
Days 1–2 · 2 nights
Porto
Arrive and head straight for the restaurants and bars on the riverfront. Next day, walk along the Douro, cross the Dom Luís I bridge and visit the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal and Liberdade Square.
Day 3 · 1 night
Braga & the Douro Valley
Pick up a rental car, visit the gardens of Braga, then drive 90 minutes to the Douro Valley for a wine tasting. We slept inside a giant wine barrel at Quinta da Pacheca — an unforgettable night.
Day 4 · 1 night
Nazaré & Sintra
Drive south for a swim at Nazaré, home of the biggest waves in the world, then spend the afternoon among the fairy-tale palaces of Sintra. Don’t miss Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.
Days 5–6 · 2 nights
Lisbon
Day one: the Alfama district, Mercado da Ribeira, Bairro Alto and Praça do Comércio. Day two: Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and the view from the Cristo Rei sanctuary.
Day 7
Évora
On the way south, stop in Évora to see the Roman Temple and the cathedral, then continue to the Algarve.
Days 8–11 · 4 nights
The Algarve
Four days of golden cliffs and coves: Praia da Marinha, Praia dos Três Irmãos, Praia do Camilo and the famous Benagil cave. Buy a Bola de Berlim from the beach sellers — about €1.
Day 12
Back to Lisbon & home
A last morning on the beach before driving back to Lisbon airport.
When to go
The best time to visit Portugal
Avoid July and August — the busiest, hottest and most expensive months. Spring and autumn bring great deals and good weather.
Best Good OK
Before you go
My top 3 tips for Portugal
01
Rent a car at the airport
The best and cheapest way to travel; trains and buses work too.
02
Keep to the right lane
On motorways, driving in the middle lane can get you a fine.
03
Travel off-season
Avoid July and August for better prices, fewer crowds and still lovely weather.
What to eat
Don’t leave without trying
Pastel de nata
Warm custard tarts — eat them fresh with cinnamon.
Port wine
Taste it in the cellars of Porto and the quintas of the Douro.
Bola de Berlim
The Algarve beach treat, sold by vendors on the sand.
Tailor-made
Want this trip, made for you?
I’ll design your Portugal road trip — quintas in the Douro, boutique hotels in Lisbon and the best beaches of the Algarve.
On this page
Photo gallery
Portugal through my lens
