Portugal road trip in 7 days: Lisbon to Porto
Seven days is enough to see the best of mainland Portugal if you drive north from Lisbon to Porto. This route links the capital, the palaces of Sintra, the walled town of Óbidos, the giant waves of Nazaré, three World Heritage monasteries, the old university of Coimbra, Porto and the vineyards of the Douro. Most driving legs are under an hour.
Lisbon
Spend your first day on foot. Start at the castle for the view, wander down through Alfama, and end in Chiado and Bairro Alto for dinner. You do not need a car in Lisbon: pick it up on the morning of day 2.
São Jorge Castle → Santa Luzia viewpoint and Alfama → Baixa and Praça do Comércio → Chiado and Bairro Alto
Night: Lisbon · hotels in Lisbon
Sintra and Cabo da Roca
Sintra is about 40 minutes from Lisbon. Be at Pena Palace when it opens and book a timed ticket online. Parking in the old town is scarce, so leave the car at your hotel and use the local bus between the palaces. Finish at Cabo da Roca for sunset.
Pena Palace → Quinta da Regaleira → Sintra centre → Cabo da Roca
Night: Sintra · hotels in Sintra
Óbidos and Nazaré
Drive about an hour north to Óbidos, walk the walls and try a ginjinha in a chocolate cup. In the afternoon continue 40 minutes to Nazaré. From October to March, the lighthouse at the fort is where you can see some of the biggest waves in the world.
Óbidos village → Sítio da Nazaré → Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo
Night: Nazaré · hotels in Nazaré
Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar
Three World Heritage sites in one day, each 15 to 45 minutes apart. Alcobaça holds the tombs of Pedro and Inês, Batalha is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and Tomar's Convent of Christ was the seat of the Knights Templar. Fátima is a 20-minute detour if you want to add it.
Alcobaça Monastery → Batalha Monastery → Convent of Christ
Night: Tomar · hotels in Tomar
Coimbra, then on to Porto
Coimbra is one hour from Tomar. Visit the university and the Joanina Library (book the time slot), then walk down to the Baixa. In the late afternoon drive about 1 h 20 to Porto, your base for the last three nights.
University of Coimbra → Old Cathedral (Sé Velha) and Baixa of Coimbra
Night: Porto · hotels in Porto
Porto
Leave the car parked and explore Porto on foot: the cathedral, São Bento station, Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello in the morning, the Ribeira and a port-wine cellar in Gaia in the afternoon.
Ribeira riverfront → Porto Cathedral (Sé) → São Bento Station → Clérigos Tower → Livraria Lello bookshop → Port wine cellars
Night: Porto · hotels in Porto
Douro valley day trip
Drive about 1 h 15 to the Douro valley. See the São Leonardo de Galafura viewpoint, take a boat trip from Pinhão and finish at the Casal de Loivos viewpoint before driving back to Porto. You can also do this day by train from São Bento.
São Leonardo de Galafura viewpoint → Pinhão Station → Douro boat trip → Casal de Loivos viewpoint
Night: Porto · hotels in Porto
Practical tips
- Pick the car up in Lisbon on day 2 and drop it in Porto on day 5 or 7. One-way rentals usually cost extra, so compare the fee when you book.
- Many Portuguese motorways have electronic tolls only. Ask the rental company for a toll transponder so you do not have to pay at a post office later.
- Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) have the best weather and fewer crowds. September is grape-harvest season in the Douro.
- Book timed tickets online for Pena Palace, Livraria Lello and the Joanina Library, especially in summer.
Want to go deeper?
Each part of this route is also a full circuit with more stops and extra days.
