Portugal has a mixture of the medieval, martial and maritime.
A rich and turbulent history has left the interior scattered with walled towns topped by castles, while the pounding Atlantic has sculpted a coast of glorious sand beaches. Road trips are as small as the country is, with less time behind the wheel bringing more time to enjoy the atmosphere. It is easy to get to the top places in the country by car.
Seven of the best road trips in Portugal can be found on these itineraries.
It is a distance of over 200 miles from Vila Nova demilfontes to Cacela Velha.
The southern coast of Portugal has a Mediterranean ideal, with aromas of pine, Rosemary, wine and grilling fish drifting over some stunning beaches. Since this is the Atlantic, you can count on surfable waves, important maritime history and great wildlife watching. Some of the finest beaches in the region as well as intriguing towns that conserve their North African–inspired street plans can be found on this drive. The sandy paradise of Praia da Amoreira, the hulking and forbidding fortress of Fortaleza de Sagres and the vibrant town of Lagos are some of the highlights.
The best beaches in the Algarve.
The distance from Praia do Guincho to Praia do Pedrgo is 229 km.
You have come to the right country if you think endless crashing surf sounds like heaven. The west coast of Portugal has a mix of first-rate surf camps, gleaming white towns with authentic seafood restaurants, golden beaches, and unforgettable sunsets.
Surfers and kitesurfers of all levels can be found on the sparkling Atlantic coast, while many small towns offer plenty to explore away from the shoreline. The popular beach town and surfer hotspot Peniche is one of the highlights.
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The distance from Porto to Miranda do Douro is 358 km.
It is a small drop of heaven. One of Portugal's most evocative landscapes is offered by this Unesco World Heritage region, with miles of vineyards and terraced hillsides. Superb food, sumptuous wines, palatial quintas and medieval stone villages can be found along seemingly every road.
The world's best port can be found in the rolling hills of Pinho. The Casal de loivos is 4.5 km from Pinho and has a view point. Taking in the full sweep of its stone-walled terraced vineyards, stitched into the hillsides, and the river scything through it all, the Douro is in postcard form.
The top beaches in Portugal.
The distance from Lisbon to Mértola is 720 km.
You can take this drive from Lisbon, Portugal's romantic capital. The historic center of bidos has cobblestoned streets with flower-bedecked, whitewashed houses livened up with dashes of yellow and blue paint. The magnificent Convento de Cristo is located in the town of Tomar and can be seen from there. The beautifully preserved medieval town of vora is worth a visit later on.
The distance between Guimares and Peneda is 217 km.
The northwestern corner of Portugal has splendid medieval cities, spirit- lifting pilgrimage sites and dune-flanked Atlantic beaches. One of the most exquisitely preserved medieval centers in the country is located in Guimares, where Afonso I, Portugal's first king, was born. The village of Peneda is located in Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gers. The oldest cathedral in the country is located in Braga, a center of Portuguese spirituality. The Costa Verde has a double shot of medieval center and gorgeous beaches, as well as the best medieval bridge in Portugal.
Portugal's top natural wonders.
Santa Comba Do–Seia is a distance of 141 km.
In a nutshell, the Do is off-the-beaten-track. The country's rural heartland is filled with vineyards, pine and eucalyptus woods, family-run wineries and whitewashed villages. Hikes in the wilds of the country's highest peaks in Serra da Estrela are just one of the things that await. One of the region's foremost wine producers can be found at Quinta de Cabriz, the headquarters of Do Sul, which has 38 hectares of vines. Take a tour of the vineyards at Pao dos Cunhas de Santar, located in Santar.
The top 10 food experiences in Portugal.
Mata Nacional do Buaco is located in Coimbra and is 970 km long.
From the buzzing university town of Coimbra to the stern borderland fortresses, this trip takes in a lot of Portuguese historic highlights. The mountain town of Manteigas is located at the foot of the Vale do Zzere, which has high peaks and forest-draped slopes. The village of Monsanto is stunningly beautiful. There is a reason to drive through the steep streets lined with stone houses.
The article was first published in August of 2020.
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