If you are looking to discover a nearby, affordable destination with a wide variety of attractions, you don’t need to go very far. Here I suggest traveling to Portugal by car to discover our neighboring country, an inexhaustible source of travel experiences. It offers so much that you can choose between trying to savor it all at once on a complete road trip through Portugal or tasting it in small sips by planning different getaways.
I suggest traveling to Portugal by car for 15 days, touring the north and center of the country, although without passing through Lisbon. The Portuguese capital, with such special places as La Baixa, Alfama or Belém, is of course an essential place to see in Portugal. However, this time it is left out of the route as I have already been there twice before.
Itinerary for traveling to Portugal by car for 15 days
This proposal of what to see in northern and central Portugal in two weeks is designed to be cooked slowly, to drive at low revolutions and record every scene in your memory in slow motion. If slow travel is not your thing, you can surely get more out of each day and include many other recommended places such as Aveiro, Braganza, Batalha or Elvas, but that would be a different and faster road trip through Portugal
Take note of this route through northern and central Portugal taken in early December, completely improvised, with the aim of fleeing the rain as an incentive and with three very small children in the back of the car.
Day 1: Penha García
Shortly after crossing the border from Extremadura, this unknown village in central Portugal awaits you with a history that dates back more than 480 million years. Back then, an ocean covered these lands that now boast their rich geological and paleontological heritage. In Penha García, belonging to the Naturtejo Geopark, you can observe trilobite fossils, as well as the tracks that these now-extinct arthropods left while crawling along the seabed back in the Paleozoic.
But in addition to the Fossil Route, Penha García also boasts a Templar castle, old mills next to the Ponsul River, and a network of cobbled streets through which it is a delight to stroll. This and much more makes this Portuguese village worth at least one night.
- My accommodation in Penha García: Casa Santa Catarina.
Day 2: Monsanto – Porto
A stone’s throw from Penha García, you reach Monsanto and discover why the previous expression fits this Portuguese village like a glove, which cannot be missing from the lists of the most charming Portuguese villages. As if some whimsical giant had been here playing at throwing stones, Monsanto is built around huge granite rocks scattered over the top of a hill. The result is a unique and irresistibly photogenic architectural complex that well deserves a long stop if you are going to travel to Portugal by car.
After ascending a bit towards the old castle, enjoy the views from a place that was once coveted by Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, and Templars. Afterwards, it’s time to completely change scenery and head to Porto.
- My accommodation in the center of Porto: Oporto Chic&Cozy
Days 3 and 4: Porto
The second most famous lady of Portugal after Lisbon deserves all the time you can dedicate to her, to get lost aimlessly through streets scented with nostalgia; to admire self-absorbed from the Dom Luís Bridge how the last rays of sun flirt with the Ribeira at sunset; to collect the most photogenic tile facades with your camera; to hop from viewpoint to viewpoint; to recharge with a hearty francesinha after going up and down hills; to sail down the Douro River on the short and recommended six bridges cruise of Porto…
- Book now the activities and guided tours to do in Porto.
The list of things to see in Porto goes on and on. I was left wanting to explore everything Vila Nova de Gaia has to offer, from contemplating the Ribeira between the masts of the rabelos (traditional sailing boats used to transport wine) to visiting a winery, passing through riding the cable car or walking on the beach in front of the Senhor da Pedra chapel.
Traveling to Portugal by car should not be incompatible with parking it for a few days to explore Porto thoroughly. However, be prepared to pay for parking.
Day 5: Porto – Amarante
Follow the course of the river until you see how its waters flow into those of the ocean and so, as if by magic, the Douro changes its name to be called Atlantic. The place where this happens is called Foz do Douro and well deserves a stop along the way before continuing with this two-week road trip through Portugal. Just as fresh waters merge here with salty ones, the modest seafaring scenes of the port intermingle with the opulence of palatial houses and lighthouses coexist in peace with castles.
You can recharge your batteries by eating fish practically with your feet in the sand at Homem do Leme beach and then take the car. In about 45 minutes, arrive in Amarante and cross the Tamega River by its charming medieval bridge. This charming town is ideal as a base for visiting some of the essential places in northern Portugal, especially if you are lucky enough to find the accommodation I mention below available, with a very pleasant patio, barbecue, toys for children, and a very good price.
- My accommodation in Amarante: Casa do Arco.
Day 6: Braga
Immerse yourself unhurriedly, but with great enthusiasm, in one of the largest, oldest, and most beautiful cities in Portugal. In Braga, heritage and religiosity go hand in hand to walk through streets, almost the same ones through which Celts and Romans walked, full of history, granite, charm, and, above all, churches. Two stand out among them all: the cathedral, which seems to want to go unnoticed tucked away in the old town, and the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, which draws attention from the top of the hill where it rises far from the center.
That is where I recommend you end the day. Walk up its photogenic white staircase that winds in a zigzag until it takes you to enjoy one of the most special sunsets that you can experience in the Portuguese country.
Day 7: Lamego
It is time again to make an effort to climb another staircase, another one that also takes you to a sanctuary. Comparisons between Bom Jesus and the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios are inevitable. And although the one in Braga seems to take the prize, the one in Lamego, much less known, honestly has nothing to envy.
Small Lamego becomes very large as soon as you scratch the surface and discover its cathedral, its castle, its old cistern, and the remains of its wall. All of this in a tiny old town surrounded by vineyards, wineries, and the Vale de Varosa with many more attractions to discover.
- Get to know the history of this place in depth with the free tour of Lamego.
Day 8: Guimarães
There is no road trip through the north of Portugal that does not stop in Guimarães, whose walled old town is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. As soon as you set foot there, you will understand why. Its cobbled streets take you from one square to another, each more charming than the last, crowded with terraces, yes, but all with an evocative medieval air that fades when looking at the balconies with iron railings.
Guimarães also boasts a complex that you cannot miss, formed by the castle and the Ducal Palace surrounded by the remains of the wall.
- Book the best tours and guided activities in Guimarães now.
Day 9: Coimbra – Óbidos
Traveling to Portugal by car also means waking up early sometime to make the most of the day. It is time to head to the center of the country and leave Amarante, the home base from which Braga, Lamego, and Guimarães were visited, to arrive in Coimbra in less than two hours. Get ready to climb and descend slopes again, but also to admire the oldest university in the country and one of the oldest in Europe, visit two cathedrals, two monasteries, and, of course, churches.
If you go with children, it would be a crime to leave without visiting Portugal dos Pequenitos, a very interesting park that reproduces typical buildings of the country in miniature, in addition to reviewing the Portuguese presence in the world. The little ones will have a great time entering and leaving each little house. Say goodbye to Coimbra to arrive in Óbidos to sleep, an hour and a half away by car.
Day 10: Óbidos
Here is a delight turned into a town. Óbidos has all the ingredients to become one of your favorite places in Portugal; its bit of a labyrinth of cobbled streets, its white-washed facades with touches of blue and yellow, adorned with flowerpots and bougainvilleas, its portion of wall tenderly embracing the old town, its castle at one end to watch over everything, and even an aqueduct and a lagoon that you can visit by bicycle.
Everything with the aroma of chocolate, cherry liqueur, and a seductive literary perfume. And if you also go at Christmas, this town will make you recover that childhood excitement in Óbidos Vila Natal, a kind of Christmas village perfect for children.
- My accommodation in Óbidos: Charming Óbidos Townhouse
Day 12: Óbidos – Peniche – Setúbal
In order not to forget that this route is about traveling to Portugal by car, it is time for a day on the move. A short trip of only half an hour from the interior to the coast to arrive at Peniche, a photogenic corner thanks to its attractive cliffs shaped by waves and winds. Peniche has a surfer soul and an interesting combative past with stories of pirates and movie-like escapes that you can learn about if you visit its fortress, now converted into the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom.
If you go in summer, the Berlengas archipelago, a Natural Biosphere Reserve, becomes a paradise where you can soak in crystal clear waters, go snorkeling, diving, admire an almost floating fortress, or simply enjoy the boat trip to the islands.
The road trip day through Portugal ends arriving in Setúbal to sleep.
- My accommodation in Setúbal: Casa Santos Nicolau.
Days 13 and 14: Setúbal and Sesimbra
Take the car to travel along the coastal road that connects Setúbal to Sesimbra with the green of the Arrábida mountains on one side and the blue of the Sado estuary nature reserve on the other. A very special area with many attractions along the way, from the estuary’s sand islets where you might be lucky enough to see flamingos and dolphins, to the turquoise water of beaches like the famous Figueirinha, passing by an old abandoned fort where three artillery batteries remain.
A good place to stop to eat fresh fish is in Portinho da Arrábida. In Sesimbra go up to the castle to enjoy the impressive 360-degree views and end the day in the city with a sunset at Califórnia beach next to the Santiago fortress.
The next day, the route also starts in Setúbal, but heading to Cape Espichel where perched on the cliffs you will find a most photogenic lighthouse, a sanctuary that welcomed hundreds of pilgrims and even dinosaur footprints. Be amazed by the pristine landscape of Foz beach hidden under a superb rock wall and do the same at the picturesque Albufeira lagoon separated from the sea by small sand dunes.
- Book the best activities in Setúbal and surroundings.
Day 14: Setúbal -Vila Viçosa
Before continuing your car trip through central Portugal, don’t leave Setúbal without visiting the San Felipe fortress, taking a stroll through its old town, discovering the restored Jesus convent, trying a torta de azeitao, catching the bustle of the centennial Livramento market and walking along its port decorated with very colorful dolphins.
To finish the experience of traveling to Portugal by car, continue the journey until spending the last night in Vila Viçosa.
- My accommodation in Vila Viçosa: Hotel Solar Dos Mascarenhas.
Day 15: Vila Viçosa- Madrid
Let yourself be surprised by this small town near the Spanish border that you may not have heard of. Vila Viçosa, already in the Alentejo region, is the best example that getting lost in Portugal always brings rewards. This was the home of the Braganza dynasty for a long time, so it boasts a walled castle and an impressive ducal palace whose marble facade promises to leave you speechless. In addition, its quiet cobbled streets dotted with orange trees invite you to enjoy a relaxed walk with the scent of orange blossoms without haste.
Can I travel to Portugal by car now?
As of today and until March 20, 2022, Portugal is in a state of calamity due to the increase in coronavirus cases after the appearance of the Omicron variant. In addition, some exceptional containment measures have been decreed, such as the closure of nightlife or the requirement to present a negative test to stay in a hotel. Yes, today it is possible to travel to Portugal by car from Spain, but always complying with the health measures and updated safety guidelines that you can consult on this Ministry of Foreign Affairs page or on the official Portuguese government page.
Más artículos sobre Portugal:
Viajar a coche en Portugal: ruta de 15 días
Portugal dos Pequenitos, plan con niños en Coímbra
5 pueblos con encanto en Portugal
Lamego, 12 motivos para visitarlo
Óbidos Vila Natal, destino navideño
Alfama es nombre de mujer
Vila Viçosa, la princesa del Alentejo
Oporto te entiende
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