Embarking on a road trip in Portugal is a fantastic way to explore the country’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. Here is our 5 Days Portugal Road trip itinerary for you.
Planning
So, I told my girlfriend: Let’s go Portugal. She said: Portugal? Really? Why Portugal? And I said: Why Not? And just like that two days later I bought airplane tickets and started planning our trip. After couple of days, I looked at 5 pages long note on my phone and thought “Holy S&%%t, she will never agree on this!” and sent it to her. She responded almost immediately “Looks great, lets do it”. I knew, she didn’t read it, she probably didn’t even open it.
Three months later we woke up early morning in Cascais, walked around historic city center, ate breakfast, walked to the Cascais castle, then to promenade, checked out from hotel, drove to Sintra, went to Peña Palace and then to Moorish Castle, had lunch, walked around Sintra historic center, done some souvenirs shopping, visited Quinta da Regaleira, drove to Monserrate Palace, explored palace and garden, drove to Cabo de Roca, watched sunset, drove to Obidos, stopped to see aqueduct, had a little adventure getting to the hotel in the castle, checked to the hotel, had dinner in the castle, walked empty cobblestone streets and finally got to our hotel room. She looked at me and asked “How many more days we have here in Portugal?” I said: Four, just four more days, you can do it!
5 Days Portugal road trip – Lisbon to Porto
Day 1- Cascais
We started our journey in Lisbon, where we rented a car and hit the road towards our first destination, Cascais. This charming coastal town offered a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, with plenty of delicious seafood restaurants and beautiful beaches to explore. We settled in for the night, excited for what was to come.
Day 2 – Peña Palace, Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, and Cabo de Roca
We woke up early and headed to Cascais’ historic center. We explored the charming narrow streets and colorful buildings, soaking in the town’s unique character. After breakfast, we drove to Sintra, where we visited the stunning Peña Palace and the Moorish Castle, taking in the breathtaking views from the hilltop. We then headed to the historic center for lunch, followed by visits to the Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace. I have a detailed itinerary on how to visit all 4 palaces in one day here. As the sun began to set, we drove to Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, before making our way to the picturesque walled city of Obidos. Here, we saw the impressive aqueduct and enjoyed dinner at the Obidos Castle before spending the night in our castle hotel.
Pena, Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate – How to visit all four in one day.
Sleep Like Royalty: Spending the Night in the Óbidos Castle
Day 2 – Monasteries : Alcobaca, Batalha, and Convent of Christ
We woke up early and walked along the castle walls, taking in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. After breakfast with a view, we did some souvenir shopping before checking out of the hotel and driving to Alcobaca to visit the impressive monastery. We then made our way to Batalha, where we marveled at the stunning Gothic architecture of the monastery. Next, we drove to Tomar to explore the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then made a quick stop at the Roman ruins before heading to Coimbra, where we checked into our hotel and enjoyed a Fado performance. We walked around the charming cobblestone streets, taking in the lively atmosphere, before settling down for dinner.
Day 3- Coimbra University, Aviero, Porto
We had an amazing breakfast in the hotel, then headed to Coimbra’s historic university, taking in the beautiful architecture and fascinating history of one of the oldest universities in Europe. After lunch in Aviero, we drove to Porto, where we checked into our hotel and explored the city’s historic center, enjoying a delicious dinner and a tasting of the famous port wine.
Day 4 – Porto
We visited the iconic Livraria Lello bookstore before having lunch and riding the famous Tram 1. We then made our way back to Lisbon, returned the rental car, checked into our hotel, and enjoyed a delicious dinner in the city center.
Day 5 – Lisbon
On our final day, we started by taking the Santa Justa Elevator and exploring the city’s stunning cathedral. After lunch in the city center, we took a bus to Belem to visit the iconic Tower of Belem and the Jeronimos Monastery. We stopped for some delicious Pasteis de Belem before heading back to Lisbon, then headed to the bar for white port. We walked to Elevador de Bica, rode it up and back down, before settling down for our final dinner in the city center.
Overall, our 5 days road trip in Portugal was an unforgettable experience, giving us a chance to see some of the country’s most beautiful and historic sites while enjoying the freedom and flexibility of traveling by car. We highly recommend this type of trip to anyone looking to explore Portugal in-depth and truly immerse themselves in its rich culture and history.
