Round trip across Portugal

Fly by car Portugal
The last European tour is in Portugal. Here you will find the ideal combination of bustling cities, picturesque towns, colorful culture and beautiful nature. My advice is to take at least 2.5 weeks for this tour; that way you can discover everything at your leisure. Do you have less time? So that’s no problem either! You can also start the round trip in Lisbon, this way you travel from Lisbon to Faro. Or you can choose to skip the south of Portugal and travel through the north of Portugal from Porto to Lisbon.

The tour is ideal to do it with a rental car. This way you are very flexible and drive through the most beautiful places. In addition, the route from north to south, along the coast, is of great beauty. Do you prefer to travel by public transport? The round trip is also easy to do by bus or train.

Authentic Port
Porto is a wonderful place to start your tour. The city is not too big, so everything is within walking distance. Ideal to spend the first days of your round trip. Stroll through the small alleyways, get acquainted with Portuguese food and drink, and enjoy the incredible view on the other side of the Luís Bridge. In this city you can eat, shop, absorb culture and, of course, drink port. After my visit to this wonderful city, it has definitely become one of my favorites!

Surfing town of Nazaré
From Porto you can easily travel to the south of the country. Don’t have a rental car? Don’t worry, there are several buses and trains in the direction of Lisbon. I took the train south and ended up taking a bus to the surf town of Nazaré. This small coastal town is known for its long beaches and some of the highest waves in the world. In other words, a super popular destination for surfers. Even if you’re not a surfer, it’s nice to stay 1 or 2 nights in this quaint seaside town; not only can you enjoy a delicious fish meal, but you can also recharge your batteries on the beach after a few days in the bustling city of Porto.

Tip: For a moment of peace and quiet, I recommend this very nice glamping site: OHAI Nazaré. Here you can enjoy the beautiful nature in peace and stay in luxury tents. A true paradise!

colorful Lisbon
Lisbon is best known for its iconic yellow trams, colorful tiles, and historic districts. From Nazaré you can easily travel by bus to beloved Lisbon. No matter how often you visit Lisbon, this city never gets boring! From drinking cocktails at a rooftop bar, dining with live music in the Alfama district to shopping in Bairro Alto. For the best view of the city, climb the Castelo de São Jorge; the castle is 110 meters high. The walk through the historic Alfama neighborhood is great fun, but if the climb is too much for you, the 28 tram stops right around the corner from the castle!

Sunset in Sagres
After lively Lisbon, it’s time to continue the journey to the south of Portugal: the Algarve. Sagres is a picturesque city in the western part of Portugal. This seaside town is also very popular with surfers for its high waves. This typical surfer’s town has a number of trendy restaurants and shops and is also appreciated mainly for its incredible views and stunning beaches. In fact, you can enjoy the most incredible sunsets at Cabo de São Vicente, the most southwestern point of continental Europe. Sagres can be cold at any time of the year due to strong winds, so pack a warm sweater or jacket for the summer months.

Tip: After a wonderful day at the beach, I recommend you drive to the nice Three Little Birds restaurant. This place is run by surfers and both the atmosphere and the food are amazing!

sunny Logos
Lagos is especially known for its particularly beautiful beaches. From small bays to rocky cliffs, the Algarve coast is unique! My favorite bays in the Algarve are: Praia do Camilo, Praia Dona Ana, Praia Porto de Mós and Praia da Marinha. Especially in the summer months these little bays can get very crowded; Therefore, the first hours of the morning or the last hours of the afternoon are the best times to visit the beaches. Watching the sunset at one of these beaches is also an absolute must! In addition to the beaches, the old town of Lagos has many cozy restaurants and shops. Especially in the afternoon and evening hours it is very lively in the city.

idyllic lighthouse
In the south of Portugal, in the city of Faro, end your tour of Portugal. Faro is a small city, where you don’t have to stay long. Perfect to spend the last night of your vacation; this way you are already close to the airport. Within the city walls of Faro is the old town, where you can stroll through the narrow alleys and eat traditional Portuguese food. Faro is mainly known for its authentic architecture and its orange groves. 🍊

Would you like to go on a wonderful round trip across Europe this summer? Then choose the impressive Portugal. Here you can immerse yourself in a colorful culture, enjoy delicious traditional food, admire the beauty of nature; and all this under the Portuguese sun!