Porto to Lisbon Road Trip: Guide for 10-Days -2024

Road trips are a great way to see a country. Portugal is no different. There are incredible sites between Porto and Lisbon. This Porto to Lisbon road trip itinerary allows you to see them!

Some of these sites aren’t accessible with public transit so you’ll be able to get off the beaten path a bit!

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Porto to Lisbon Road Trip- Itinerary Overview

Day 1 and 2- Explore Porto- Sleep in Porto

Day 3- Aveiro, Costa Nova, Mata Nacional do Buçaco, – Sleep in Coimbra

Day 4- Explore Coimbra, Condeixa-a-Nova, Tomar – Sleep in Tomar

Day 5- Tomar, Batalha, Nazaré- Sleep in Tomar

Day 6- Elvas and Évora- Sleep in Évora

Day 7- Drive to Lisbon – Return Rental Car – Sleep in Lisbon

Day 8-10 – Explore Lisbon- Sleep in Lisbon

Day 1 and 2- Explore Porto

Porto is one of my favorite cities in Portugal. It’s a low-key coastal town. Even though it’s kind of small as far as cities go there is so much to see and do. Plus, the vibes in Porto are the perfect way to start a trip.

2 days in Porto gives you time to explore and beat the jet lag.

But, if you can spend 3 days it’s worth it to get out to Guimarães Castle or the Duoro wine country.

Total Drive Time for the Day

I don’t recommend driving in Porto. Take public transit or walk during your visit to Porto. It would be too much to consider driving here, in my opinion.

Porto Public Transit

Get an Andante card when you get to Porto to use public transit without worrying about the cost. Buy the Porto City Card before you go if you’d rather not deal with it when you get there.

Porto is divided into zones for public transit. Zone 2 covers central Porto. Most of your sightseeing will be in Zone 2.

Tickets are €1.20 per ride or €4.15 for a 24-hour pass. The Andante 24 card is a true 24 hours. So, you’d have access until 24 hours after your first swipe.

What to See and Do

There are lots of things you can do in Porto but we’ll divide it all up into 3 categories to make it easier to think about.

Ribeira

The Ribeira part of Porto is by the river. The houses are colorful and the streets are picturesque. There are restaurants and port wine bars along the water so you can take in the ambiance of the area.

Cross the river to Gaia for the perfect view of Porto, and more port wine bars. Take a tour of a port wine cellar to taste some of the wine and learn more about the process.

The funicular on this side of the river provides my favorite overlook of the city.

Walk down the hill and take it back up to the top when you’re ready to cross the Dom Luis Bridge back to Porto.

Azulejos

Porto is known for blue and white tile work called azulejos. My favorite examples of this are at São Bento station and Igreja do Carmo.

Check out the sé (the cathedral) while you’re at it. There is some title work here too!

Livraria Lello

This bookstore is one of the most well-known places in Porto. I’ve seen it once and I can’t say that I would do it again. There are so many people that a lot of the charm is lost. But, the bookstore is stunning.

If you want to visit the bookstore be sure to buy your ticket early. It will still be a bit of a wait, even with a ticket.

Where to Sleep

Stay near São Bento station. This part of this city is home to some of the best attractions and it’s much easier to access with public transit than Ribeira. Plus, there are great restaurants.

We used credits to stay at the Intercontinental Porto. The hotel is around the corner from São Bento Station. It’s an excellent luxury stay but there are plenty of other options.

Day 3: Aveiro, Costa Nova, Mata Nacional do Buçaco, to Coimbra

On day three pick up your rental car.

If you’re nervous about driving, I’d recommend taking the train to Aveiro and picking up your rental car there instead of in Porto. Porto is a bigger city and driving there can be stressful.

But, you’re just going to head straight out of the city.

If you’re not nervous, pick up your rental car in Porto.

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Total Drive Time for the Day

• Porto to Aveiro – 50 minutes
• Aveiro to Costa Nova- 5 minutes
• Costa Noa to Mata Nacional do Buçaco – 50 minutes
• Mata Nacional do Buçaco to Coimbra- 40 minutes

Total Drive Time -2.5 hours

What to See and Do

Spend some time walking around Aveiro. It’s a small little town so it won’t take you long to explore.

Next, drive to Costa Nova to see the elaborately painted houses along the coast. They’re stunning! If weather and time permit hang out at the beach for a bit to take in the sun. Grab lunch in Costa Nova or Aveiro before you leave.

Head to Mata Nacional do Buçaco to get some time outdoors. The area is prone to rain and fog so it can be quite mysterious. It was settled by monks and was home to several arboretums. So, the plant life is stunning!

Walk one of the trails or visit the old convent that is now a hotel.

Where to Sleep

I recommend you sleep in Coimbra.

This university town is home to several restaurants and hotel options.

Day 4: Explore Coimbra, Condeixa-a-Nova, Tomar

Start day 4 of your Porto to Lisbon road trip by exploring Coimbra. This university town is home to an incredible library that’s worth checking out.

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Total Drive Time for the Day

• Coimbra to Condeixa-a-Nova – 17 minutes
• Condeixa-a-Nova to Tomar- 50 minutes

Total Drive Time- Around 1 hour

What to See and Do

Explore Coimbra in the morning. The sites at the university require a tour. You can use a tour company or book your tour through the university.

You won’t be able to take photos inside the buildings but they are worth visiting!

Plan to spend the morning exploring the university town before lunch. Leave your car parked at your hotel and take public transit or walk through the city.

Next, drive to Condeixa-a-Nova to see some Roman Ruins! The ruínas de Conímbriga are open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. You can also see the old Roman aqueduct that is still in use by the city. Neither will take a long time to visit.

Where to Sleep

If you prefer to stay in the same place you could go back to Coimbra for the night. But, for efficiency, drive from Condeixa-a-Nova to Tomar. Tomar is where we’ll start the next day.

It’s a small town but there are restaurant and hotel options here.

Day 5: Tomar, Batalha, Nazaré

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Total Drive Time for the Day

• Tomar to Batalha- 40 minutes
• Batalha to Nazaré- 30 minutes
• Nazaré to Tomar- 1 hour

Total Drive Time- Just over 2 Hours

What to See and Do

Start your day exploring Tomar. Tomar was the seat of the Knights Templar in Portugal.

The biggest attraction is a stunning convent/castle that overlooks the city.

After visiting Tomar, drive to Batalha to see the Monastery of Batalha. This is a massive gothic monastery that dates back as far as the 1300s. The town’s name means “battle” and this monastery was built to commemorate a victory in battle.

After visiting the monastery, either grab lunch in Batalha or head to Nazaré. Nazaré is on the coast and is the site of some of the biggest waves in the world. If it isn’t big wave season head to the beach to enjoy some sunshine. If you’re lucky enough to visit when there are giant waves go watch some surfing! The waves can be as large as 80 ft tall so it’s not your everyday surfing. But, it’s incredible to see where the bravest surfers take on the waves!

Where to Sleep

I recommend staying a second night in Tomar. It will make the drive on day 6 easier!

Day 6: Elvas and Évora

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Total Drive Time for the Day

This is the longest driving day on this Porto to Lisbon road trip. But, both sites are incredible. So, it’s worth it.

• Tomar to Elvas- 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Elvas to Évora – 1 hour

Total Drive Time- 3 hours and 15 minutes

What to See and Do

Head out of Tomar early to get to Elvas early in the day. Elvas is very near the Spanish border. It’s a fortified town with impressive walls still up! Since Elvas was very near two empires it was persistently under threat of attack.

The walls are the most unique of any town I’ve ever seen. There are multiple layers of walls and battlements. From above they’re shaped like a star. So, impressive. Explore the forts, aqueducts, walls, and plazas. Not many tourists make it here but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it.

After you explore Elvas, head to Évora. If you have time in the day stop at one of the wineries on your way.

Évora is home to Portugal’s Chapel of Bones. The chapel is built from the bones of monks from the area. It’s eery but still very cool. There are also ruins of a Roman temple at the top of the hill in the city. It’s small but fun to explore.

Where to Sleep

After a long day of sightseeing, sleep in Évora.

Day 7-10: Lisbon and Surrounding

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Total Drive Time for the Day

This is our last driving day on our Porto to Lisbon road trip. Lisbon is a big city and it can be very stressful to drive there. So, drop your rental car off at the airport (or another convenient rental location).

• Évora to Lisbon- 1 hour and 15 minutes

Total Drive time- 1 hour and 15 minutes

Getting Around Lisbon

Walking

I’m usually a stickler for exploring a city on foot, and I loved walking around Lisbon. I also realized that you’ll have to pick your battles in Lisbon. Most of the attractions in the central part of the city are close enough to walk if you’re okay pushing through uphill treks. But, you won’t be able to walk all of the hills!

Wear comfortable shoes with sticky soles. I made the mistake of wearing a pair of loafers with slick bottoms to dinner one night and thought I would slide down the hill like I was ice skating!

Public Transit

Plan to take more public transit than you may take in another city. Luckily, the transit system in Lisbon is extensive and affordable. Trams, metros, buses, elevators, and funiculars get you up the steepest of hills.

Rides are €1.50 and a day pass is €6.40. Get a Viva pass at a yellow stand near a metro station for €0.50, and refill it as you go. The daily transit pass is likely worth it when you go to Belém and Sintra. It’s also nice because you don’t have to debate taking a tram when your feet and legs are exhausted!

You can also get the Lisbon City Pass which gives you admission to attractions (like those in Belém) and the public transit system.

What to See and Do

There are so many things to do in Lisbon!

This itinerary assumes you’ll spend three days in Lisbon.

Day 1 in Lisbon

After you drop your rental car off you’ll have most of an afternoon in the city. Drop your luggage at your hotel and head to the Praça do Comercio to start a walking tour. You can book one or you can take a free walking tour through the Rick Steeves Europe app.

On your walking tour, you’ll see several of the plazas, and the Santa Justa Lift, and you may even get to ride on a tram. Take in the city and find dinner when you’re done.

Day 2 in Lisbon

Start day 2 in Belém. This little neighborhood is home to some of the best things to see in Lisbon. Luckily, the sites are all pretty close together so you can make quick work of it!

After you’ve explored Belém head to the Alfama district of Lisbon. Alfama is the oldest part of the city and also the most fun to explore. It’s best to start your time in Alfama at the São Jorge Castle at the top of the hill. I’d take transit or an Uber up the hill because it is quite steep!

After visiting the castle, take your time wandering down the hills toward the cathedral.

Day 3 in Lisbon

Head to Sintra for a day trip. There are several day trips you could pick from Lisbon.

But, Sintra is hands-down the best. So, it’s not worth researching the others.

Visit Pena National Palace and Quinta da Regaleira if you’re looking for a shorter day. There are other places in Sintra you can visit if you’re looking for a longer day.

Regardless, make sure you’ve planned out the details to have a successful day. Sintra is a lot to plan but it is so worth it.

Don’t want to plan? You can always take a tour.

Where to Sleep in Lisbon

There are so many options for where to stay in Lisbon. I stayed at The Emerald House on the west side of the city. It was away from the tourist attractions in an area that felt much more residential than much of Lisbon. I enjoyed that we were closer to Belém and Sintra.

If we were going back, I’d stay here again. The staff was welcoming and warm. As a significant bonus, the kitchen could accommodate my celiac disease at the restaurant, which was super convenient for breakfast!

Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto is on a hill on the west side of the city. The area maintains much of the charm of its medieval beginning and is the city’s nightlife hub. The clubs and bars can get wild. I’m not a nightlife girl so this isn’t somewhere I’d recommend staying.

Baixa

Baixa is in the middle of Bairro Alto and Alfama. It’s centrally located and very well connected. If we were staying in a different part of the city, we’d stay somewhere near Baixa.

Alfama

Alfama is the oldest part of the city. It is also the area with the most charm. I can understand wanting to stay in this part of the city.

It can be flooded with visitors from cruise ships during the day. So, if you stay here, explore your home base at other times.

The main thing to consider is that public transit in Alfama is connected but not well-connected.

The well-known, but insanely busy Tram 28 is the primary way around. Expect to spend a fair bit of time walking up the hill when returning and down the hill when you go anywhere.

There are unique places to stay here and it’s a beautiful part of the city.

Porto to Lisbon Road Trip Tips

Best time to visit Portugal

Like most places, Portugal is best during the shoulder seasons. Portugal is an up-and-coming destination so it isn’t quite as busy as other European countries in the summer. But, it’s still quite busy.

I found that April was the perfect time to visit. The weather was perfect and the crowds were light.

What to Wear in Portugal

The biggest thing to know in Portugal is to wear comfortable shoes with sticky soles. You’ll be walking a lot and there are a lot of hills. To add to it, the hills are decorated in beautiful tile mosaics on the sidewalks.

They are stunning but they are also slippery.

I wore the wrong shoes one day and felt like I was skating down the hill.

Renting a Car in Portugal

It’s not always easy to rent directly from an international company and I’ve had great luck renting through major third-party booking sites.

I can see all of the options and look at reviews of unfamiliar companies before I book. I love renting from Sixt if I can.

Be sure to search for an automatic transmission. The standard in Europe is manual and that would be an issue for most Americans I know.

Porto to Lisbon Road Trip

If you’re looking to explore Portugal a road trip from Porto to Lisbon is a perfect way to see the main sites and get off the beaten path a little bit!