Road trip, Portugal edition: 5 ways to make the most of a drive between Lisbon and Porto
While I am no stranger to road trips, a European version, until now, has been foreign to me.
Earlier this year, I completed a 2,000-mile Southwest U.S. adventure in a Mustang. And growing up, my family would regularly make the drive between New Jersey and Florida.
But exploring Portugal's major cities – as well as its nooks and crannies – by car has always been on my to-do list. I was excited to recently go on my first European auto adventure, between Lisbon and Porto.
Related: The 10 most frequently asked questions about my visit to Portugal
Portugal has a fairly robust train network, but I wanted to do this trip on my own terms, free from train schedules. Plus, the pandemic has created a renaissance of sorts for the classic road trip as a safe, clean way to get back out in the world.
Here are five things you should know if you're planning a Portugal road trip, including my itinerary between the two cities.
Don't cram too much into your itinerary
There are many options when it comes to a Portugal road trip.
Do you want to start in Lisbon and head south to the Algarve coast? Perhaps you want to begin in Porto and go north to the vineyards of the Douro Valley? Or like me, maybe you want to experience two of Portugal's biggest cities – Lisbon and Porto – and stop at a few notable sites along the way.
Whatever you choose, don't cram too much into your itinerary. I was guilty of this on my trip and ultimately had to cut out a couple of destinations while already en route.
Looking at a map between Lisbon and Porto, you can take a slower seaside route or a faster highway alternative.
Since I only had a few days to cover the journey (in addition to reviewing hotels), I went with the major highway. But even then, I wanted to stop at several cities closer to Lisbon, and frankly, I planned too much. Don't make the same mistake I did.
Don't try to do a day trip to Cascais and Sintra on the same day
Cascais and Sintra are both worth a visit when you're in Lisbon. They're popular day trips from Portugal's capital and easily accessible by car or train.
Unfortunately, I made the rookie travel mistake of trying to cram in both locales on the same day. Cascais and Sintra are only 30 kilometers from Lisbon each, but not in the same direction. After a morning and early afternoon at the upscale beachside town of Cascais, I tried to visit Sintra and its medieval attractions later in the afternoon.
Due to traffic and a late start, we missed seeing Sintra's famed castle, Castelo dos Mouros, because it was closed by the time we arrived.
Avoid driving in Lisbon and Porto city centers
European cities weren't built with cars in mind – and updates to infrastructure and urban planning can only go so far.
While driving outside of the cities was a piece of cake, I would not recommend using your car in the main historic centers of Lisbon and Porto. Both areas are highly walkable, and you don't need a car when visiting either one.
I picked up my rental car on the last of three days in Lisbon before starting the journey north to Porto. The drive through the streets to my hotel was a bit harrowing, to say the least.
And the parking garage at the Moxy Lisbon City had the tightest space I've ever had the pleasure (or displeasure) of experiencing.
Take day trips that are only easily accessible by car
Instead of taking the car out to go to Cascais or Sintra as a day trip from Lisbon, two spots easily accessible by public transportation, use your car to go to more off-the-beaten-path locations.
For instance, I visited Galapinhos Beach, about an hour south of Lisbon and part of Arrábida Natural Park. This is one of the most picturesque beaches in Portugal, and some locals even say it's better than the touristy Algarve.
I also made a stop in the sleepy seaside fishing village of Alcochete, about 40 minutes by car from the center of Lisbon.
My friend and I were probably the only tourists in the entire town and we enjoyed some of the freshest seafood all of Portugal has to offer.
Expect swanky amenities at highway rest areas
While on the road, you'll eventually have to fill up the tank (or recharge your batteries).
I was impressed with Portugal's rest areas along the major highways. They had a full suite of amenities, a variety of fresh dining options and best of all, clean bathrooms.
And of course, it's not a complete road trip without some (thankfully minor) roadside issues. When my rental flashed a warning about low tire pressure, I had to make an extra stop at a rest area.
Not only was the air pump for the tire free, but the directions to do so were also clearly given in both Portuguese and English. That's a lifesaver for city dwellers like me who are, admittedly, uninformed about the world of cars.
Mix historic city stops and nature
While this is more of a personal choice, my journey to Portugal was intended to be an ideal blend of city and nature.
And that's exactly what I did. I took advantage of having a car to see the country's oceanside beauty and immerse myself in lush forests and dramatic cliffs. I also experienced the medieval town of Coimbra, the metropolis of Lisbon and the impressive history of Porto.
My full itinerary
Related: How 2,000 miles, 4 national parks and a $10 rental car made me love the great American road trip
Here was my original plan:
Start: Lisbon (3 night stay)
- Stop 1: Arrábida Natural Park (Galapinhos Beach)
- Stop 2: Alcochete
- Stop 3: Cascais
- Stop 4: Cabo Raso Lighthouse
- Stop 5: Sintra*
Hotel 2: Coimbra (2 nights)
- Stop 6: Coimbra
- Stop 7: Bucaco National Forest
- Stop 8: Aveiro*
Hotel 3: Porto (3 nights)
- End: Porto
*Due to timing, I missed out on most of my planned sightseeing in Sintra, and I had to cut a stop in Aveiro.
Overall, I had an amazing eight-day drive in Portugal between Lisbon and Porto.
My itinerary is just one iteration of an endless number of possibilities for a Portuguese road trip. From rugged cliffs at the westernmost point of continental Europe (Cabo Raso Lighthouse) to perhaps the most beautiful forest in all of Portugal (Bucaco), there are myriad spots that you can see only by car.
Of course, the start and end points – Lisbon and Porto – were highlights in and of themselves.
You can't go wrong with a visit to Portugal.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.