Portugal 2 week itinerary (3 EPIC options)

14 days is a great time to explore Portugal.
You can have a taste of most of the regions including beaches, mountains, cities, palaces, monasteries and old towns...
Below are 3 suggestions for your Portugal 2 week itinerary (with all my favorite places to visit, where to stay, driving times...).
Find the right one for you!

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Are 2 weeks sufficient to travel around Portugal?

Portugal is narrow but long.
2 weeks will allow you to explore a little bit of everything but not deep dive into the regions, unless you choose just one.
It is a fantastic timeframe to get a feel for the country, but it means making choices as you don't have enough time to see everything.
To give you some perspective, here is an idea about the main driving times (when using motorways):

Where can I go with 14 days in Portugal? How can I spend them?

There are a multitude of options to spend your 2 weeks. 
You can focus on one region or rent a car and drive around several of the regions.
In the article below, I am sharing 3 detailed itineraries to spend 2 weeks in Portugal: 

• Option 1 - A taste of everything: lots of driving but a snapshot of all the regions: Lisbon, Sintra, Center, North, Alentejo, Algarve...
• Option 2 - In depth South: less driving with some of the most famous locations and beaches in Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra, Algarve, villages...)
• Option 3 - Portugal by train: if you don't want to drive, you can spend time in various cities connected by train and book day trips.

Best way to get around Portugal in two weeks: road trip

Renting a car is really the best option to be able to explore the country.
Portugal has so much to offer with beaches, palaces, monasteries, mountains... only the main cities are connected by train. And with only 2 weeks, public transportation will slow you down.

To rent your car:

• All major brands of car rental are available at the airports
• Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated sites!
• Choose the car and company you prefer (remember the villages have narrow streets, so don't choose a car too big)
• Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles
• See all my 36 tips in my Portugal car rental article.

Can you do 2 weeks in Portugal by train?

Yes, of course.
The main towns in Portugal are connected by train.
Just know that you will be limited in what you can see. But it can be a more relaxed trip.

Can I include the Portuguese Islands?

With 2 weeks, you can already be quite busy with the mainland.
Trying to fit the Azores or Madeira would be way too much.
However, if you are more interested in the islands, you could combine a few days in Lisbon with 10 days in Madeira for example. Learn more about Madeira in my guide here.

Best time to road trip around Portugal

Portugal is a great destination all year round. 
It offers beautiful sunny days, especially in the Southern regions.
However, note that during winter and spring, the water is not very warm - it is the Atlantic Ocean after all...

In my opinion, the best months to visit Portugal (for good weather and smaller crowds) are May and October.

You should also understand the following:

• There can be quite a difference in temperature between the coast and inland, and between North vs the South.
• July and August are very busy with European tourists as well as locals on holidays
•  Smaller attractions are closed in the Winter
• You will have longer days to drive around and see the sights if you visit in Spring rather than in Autumn. 

Where to land in Portugal / Where to start: Porto, Lisbon or Faro?

The main airports in Portugal are Lisbon, Porto and Faro (Algarve).
Don't dismiss Porto and Faro, just because Lisbon is the capital. They can have some really good options.
The itineraries below start from Lisbon, but you can adapt them to start from Porto or Faro

Compare flight prices on Skyscanner

All 3 have a large offering for car rentals:

• Lisbon airport car rental - see deals
• Porto airport car rental - see deals
• Faro airport car rental if visiting the Algarve - see deals

Itinerary planning tips

Here are some of my top tips for planning an itinerary in Portugal:

• Don't plan too much driving every day - there are many places to see and visit
• The country is narrow - Don't do zigzags, do a loop going North on one side of the country and South on the other side.
• If you want to plan your own itinerary and not follow the ones below, check out my eBooks:

Is it easy to drive around Portugal?

Yes, it is overall easy. Roads are in very good conditions in general.

• It is on the right side of the road
• Driving in Portugal is actually quite easy. There are many good quality motorways.
• Road signs are clear
• Just be careful with the tolls in the South where you cannot pay cash

Learn more (with video and photos) in my Driving in Portugal article

And compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated sites!

Introduction

Below is my suggested itinerary if you want a snapshot of every region: North, South, cities, palaces, mountains, beaches...
You will get to see some of the most amazing sights in the country!
However, know that:

• You have to be very selective and choose 1 or 2 of each before changing location
• It requires quite a lot of driving to cover most of the territory 
• You rarely sleep twice at the same place
• Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com 

Summary of the Portugal 2-week itinerary

• Day 1 - Lisbon
• Day 2 - Lisbon
• Day 3 - Sintra
• Day 4 - Obidos and Batalha
• Day 5 - Aveiro & Porto
• Day 6 - Porto
• Day 7 - Braga & Douro Valley
• Day 8 - Estrela mountains (Manteigas)
• Day 9 - Monsanto, Marvao
• Day 10 - Alentejo drive, Evora to Mertola
• Day 11 - Algarve East
• Day 12 - Algarve West
• Day 13 - Algarve West
• Day 14 - South-West Coast with Porto Covo

Day 1 - Lisbon center

• Stop 1 - Lisbon Sao Jorge Castle with beautiful views over the cities
• Stop 2 - The Santa Justa Elevator - for its architecture, history and views of the city
• Stop 3 - Stroll in the city, taste the local delicacy, listen to the music... just soak in the beautiful atmosphere

Check out the best rated accommodations in Lisbon

Extra tip - or check out my article about the best things to do in Lisbon

Day 2 - Lisbon & Cabo da Roca

• Stop 1 - Admire Belem Tower by the river - visit outside or climb inside - but if you have to choose, visit the monastery rather than the tower
• Stop 2 - Visit the Jeronimos monastery - stunning!
• Drive to Cabo da Roca - 45min
• Stop 3 - Cabo da Roca, with its beautiful cliffs, the westernmost point of Mainland Europe
• Drive to Sintra - 30 min

Check out the best rated accommodations in Sintra

Extra tip - if you have time, before heading to Sintra, you can enjoy the view over Magoito beach. And impressive long dark cliff over a sandy beach.

Day 3 - Sintra 

• Stop 1 - visit the magnificent Pena Palace - book ticket in advance. It requires a lot of walking.
• Stop 2 - explore the ruins of the Castle of the Moors - you need to be quite fit, lots of stairs and amazing views.
• Drive to Obidos - 1h15
• Watch sunset from the walls of Obidos and taste the local liquor

Check out the best rated accommodations in Obidos

Extra tip - visit as early as possible to avoid most of the traffic.

Day 4 - Obidos & Batalha

• Stop 1 - Explore stunning village of Obidos, its fortification walls and charming streets
• Drive to Batalha - 1h
• Stop 2 - Explore the Batalha Monastery (visit is quite long) with the stunning architecture and the unfinished chapels (one of the country's architectural masterpieces with Gothic style and Manueline decors) - Unesco site
• Stop 3 - If you started early, you could add the visit of the Knight Templars' Convento de Cristo in Tomar (40min drive away) - but it will be quite a long day!

Check out the best rated accommodations in Batalha

Day 5 - Aveiro & Porto

• Drive to Aveiro = 1h30
• Stop 1 - Enjoy the waterways of Aveiro
• Drive to Praia da Costa Nova
• Stop 2 - Discover Praia da Costa Nova, an Atlantic-side beach in Portugal with sand dunes and colorful houses
• Drive to Porto = 1h
• Stop 3 - Stroll along the river in Porto or go for wine tasting of both

Check out the best rated accommodations in Porto

Day 6 - Porto

• Explore Porto, its views, churches and historical buildings.
• My favorites are: the Sé Cathedral, the view from Serra do Pilar, the tile work on the side of many buildings

Check out the best rated accommodations in Porto

Extra tips -
The hop on hop off bus in Porto is very practical - get tickets
Or you can book a guided tour - see options

Day 7 - Bom Jesus & Douro Valley

• Drive to Braga = 1h
• Stop 1 - Explore the Bom Jesus do Monte church and staircase in Braga - take the funicular up and walk down the famous staircase
• Stop 2 - Drive around the Douro Valley, choose one section (as the river is quite long) - great viewpoints include Miradouro Sebolido, Miradouro de Catapeixe, Miradouro de Casal de Loivos, Miradouro de Sao Salvador do Mundo...

Choose from the best rated Douro Valley accommodations

Extra tip - if wine is not your thing, you can replace with a visit of Guimaraes, a unesco site with medieval buildings.

Day 8 - Estrela Mountains

Drive South East through the Estrela Nature Park - You can include:

• Zezere Valley, a glacial valley 
• Senhora da Boa Estrela
• Cavao Cimeiro
• Lagoa Comprida
• ... 

Check out the best rated accommodations in Covilha, past the mountain roads

Day 9 - Monsanto & Marvao

• Drive to Monsanto = 1h10
• Stop 1 - Explore the famous boulder village of Monsanto listed as the "most Portuguese village of Portugal" even though it is quite unique
• Drive to Marvao = 2h
• Stop 2 - Explore Marvao, its fortification wall, historical streets, castle and enjoy the views all over the region

Check out the best rated accommodations in Marvao (book early, there are not many options)

Extra tip - if you are tired of driving, skip Monsanto and drive directly to Marvao.

Day 10 - Alentejo drive to Mertola

Drive from Marvao to Mertola. Driving in the Alentejo region is beautiful and relaxing, in my opinion.
2 route options:

• Option 1 - via Town of Evora and Beja Castle (3h30 drive) - if you enjoy history and architecture
• Option 2 - via countryside and the white village of Monsaraz at the border with Spain (4h drive) - my favorite option
• Visit the white village of Mertola and enjoy the views over the river

Check out the best rated accommodations around Mertola

Day 11 - Algarve East

And then you drive down to the famous Algarve region.
The East and the West are very different.
To the East, the beach are rather flat with lots of sand.

• Stop 1 - Tavira with its beautiful white houses, waterway and beaches
• Stop 2 - Stroll along Praia da Manta Rota beach
• Alternative - head to the Ria Formosa Natural Park for bird watching

Check out the best rated accommodations in Albufeira

Day 12 - Algarve Center and West

West Algarve is rich in smaller beaches with impressive cliffs.
There are so many stunning ones, it can be difficult to choose.
Here are my suggestions:

• Stop 1 - Praia da Falesia, my favorite beach in Portugal with orange and white cliffs
• Stop 2 - Benagil to take a boat tour and see the cliffs and caves - learn more
• Stop 3 - Praia da Marinha, the most famous of the Algarve beaches

Check out the best rated accommodations in Portimao, or the best rated accommodations in Lagos

Extra tip - Check out the tide to plan your day - Marinha should be visited at low tide and Benagil is better at mid tide

Day 13 - Algarve West

And we continue further west on the Algarve with more beaches and cliffs.

• Stop 1 - Praia dos Tres Irmaos with the double arch
• Stop 2 - Camilo beach
• Stop 3 - Ponta da Piedade with the magnificent arches and cliffs - great at sunset
• Stop 4 - Visit the Sagres fortress, a 16th century sea fort with a famous compass rose on the ground.

Check out the best rated accommodations in Portimao, or the best rated accommodations in Lagos

Extra tip - once again you should check out the tide, visit the beaches at low tide and the cliffs and fortress at high tide

Day 14 - South-West Coast

Drive back up to Lisbon:
Lagos to Lisbon (via motorway inland) = 3h drive
OR via the coast = 3h30 drive

• Stop 1 - Odeceixe with the drive along the river and the beautiful bay
• Stop 2 - Porto Covo and its beautiful rocks and low cliffs
• Stop 3 - if you have time, you could also stop at Sines and its promontory

Intro

As we have seen in the itinerary before, there is a lot of driving involved in covering the entire country.
Some of the most famous sights are located in the South half of the country. 
Therefore, below is a detailed 2 week road trip itinerary in Portugal focussing on the South:

• you can visit more palaces, beaches and monasteries
• there is less driving
• You can sleep twice at the same place to slow down the pace
• Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com 

Summary of the South Portugal road trip 2-week itinerary

• Day 1 - Lisbon
• Day 2 - Lisbon
• Day 3 - Sintra
• Dau 4 - Sintra and Cabo da Roca
• Day 5 - Peniche and Obidos
• Day 6 - Batalha and Tomar
• Day 7 - Monsanto and Marvao
• Day 8 - Monsaraz and Evora
• Day 9 - Beja, Mertola and Tavira
• Day 10 - Algarve East and Center
• Day 11 - Algarve West
• Day 12 - Algarve Inland
• Day 13 - Algarve West
• Day 14 - South-West Coast via Porto Covo

Day 1 - Lisbon center

• Stop 1 - Lisbon Sao Jorge Castle with beautiful views over the cities
• Stop 2 - The Santa Justa Elevator - for its architecture, history and views of the city
• Stop 3 - Stroll in the city, admire the tiles, find all the best viewpoints
• Stop 4 - Visit a museum, churches or the Pantheon - I recommend the Pantheon and the Monastery Sao Vicente de Fora

Check out the best rated accommodations in Lisbon

Extra tip - check out my article about the best things to do in Lisbon

Day 2 - Lisbon Belem neighborhood

• Stop 1 - Admire Belem Tower by the river - visit outside or climb inside - but if you have to choose, visit the monastery rather than the tower
• Stop 2 - Visit the Jeronimos monastery - the carved details are stunning! This is a Unesco site.
• Stop 3 - Get up the Padra dos Descobrimentos, built in the 20th century to view the giant rosacea and the views

Check out the best rated accommodations in Lisbon

Extra tips - depending on what you prefer (soaking in the Lisbon vibe one more time or being ready to explore Sintra as early as possible the next day), you can already drive to Sintra or not
Or you can spend 4 nights in Lisbon and drive to Sintra both day 3 and Day 4.

Day 3 - Sintra

• Stop 1 - visit the magnificent Pena Palace - book ticket in advance. It requires a lot of walking.
• Stop 2 - explore the ruins of the Castle of the Moors - you need to be quite fit, lots of stairs and amazing views.
• Stop 3 - Stroll in town
• You can also visit the National palace, in the heat of the town

Check out the best rated accommodations in Sintra

Day 4 - Sintra Cascais

• Stop 1 - Choose one more palace to visit in the morning such as Monserrate or Quinta da Regaleira - my recommendation would be for Quinta da Regaleira with a lot of time in the park - See opening hours
• Stop 2 - Head outside of Sintra, to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Mainland Europe
• Stop 3 - Stop by Praia da Adraga and enjoy its arches
• Stop 4 - Head to Praia do Magoito and admire the impressive cliff

Check out the best rated accommodations in Sintra

Day 5 - Peniche & Obidos

• Drive from Sintra to Peniche = 1h15
• Stop 1 - Explore the charming fishing town of Peniche and take a boat tour to Berlengas and its impressive fort island.
• Drive to Obidos = 30min
• Stop 2 - Explore stunning village of Obidos, its fortification walls and charming streets

Check out the best rated accommodations in Obidos

Day 6 - Batalha and Tomar

• Drive to Batalha = 50min
• Stop 1 - Explore the Unesco site of the Batalha Monastery (visit is quite long) - it offers a stunning architecture and the unfinished chapels (with Gothic style and Manueline decors)
• Drive to Tomar = 40min drive
• Stop 2 - visit of the Knight Templars' Convento de Cristo in Tomar (40min drive away) - This is also a long visit but a fascinating one. It has a very difference atmosphere and there is a lot to see.

Check out the best rated accommodations in Tomar

Extra tip - The pilgrimage site of Fatima is also in the area

Day 7 - Monsanto and Marvao

• Drive to Monsanto = 2h from Tomar
• Stop 1 - Visit Monsanto, the most Portuguese village in Portugal with houses built under giant boulders
• Drive to Marvao = 2h
• Stop 2 - Explore Marvao, its fortification wall, historical streets, castle and enjoy the views all over the region

Check out the best rated accommodations in Marvao

Day 8 - Monsaraz & Evora

• Drive to Monsaraz = 2h - enjoy the Alentejo typical landscapes
• Stop 1 - Visit the hilltop village of Monsaraz with its white houses. It has inspired many artists.
• Drive to Evora = 1h
• Stop 2 - Visit the town of Evora with its temple, cathedral, aqueduct, bone chapel and historic center

Check out the best rated accommodations in Evora

Day 9 - Beja and Mertola and Algarve East

• Drive South to Beja = 1h
• Stop 1 - Visit the Beja Castle and its impressive tower
• Drive to Mertola = 45 min
• Stop 2 - Visit the white village of Mertola and enjoy the views over the river - one of my favorites in Portugal
• Drive to Tavira = 1h
• Stop 3 - Enjoy a relaxing evening in Tavira with all its white buildings and stroll along one of the sandy beaches in the area

Check out the best rated accommodations in Tavira

Day 10 - Algarve East or Center

• Option 1 - head to the Ria Formosa Natural Park for bird watching
• Option 2 - start discovering the famous Algarve beaches and their cliffs
• Stop 1 - Visit Senhora da Rocha, the little church on a promontory between beaches.
• Stop 2 - Praia da Falesia, my favorite beach in Portugal with orange and white cliffs
• Stop 3 or 4 - Benagil to take a boat tour and see the cliffs and caves - learn more
• Stop 3 or 4 - Praia da Marinha, the most famous of the Algarve beaches
• Check out the tide to plan your day - Marinha should be visited at low tide and Benagil is better at mid tide

Check out the best rated accommodations in Portimao

Extra tips - If you don't want to change accommodations all the time, I recommend staying in the central Portimao for the 4 Center-West Algarve nights. But if you want to reduce driving times, you can spend one night in Albufeira (see options), 2 in Portimao or one in Lagos (see options).

Day 11 - Algarve West 

• Stop 1 - Visit Praia dos Tres Irmaos One of the best beaches in Algarve with its famous double arch rock formation.
• Stop 2 - Enjoy the charming seaside village or Ferrugado
• Stop 3 - Feel small next to the formations at Praia dos Tres Castelos

Day 12 - Algarve Inland

• If you want to change things from beaches or escape the had, you can head to the hills inland with the village of Monchique or the red fortress of Silves

Day 13 - Algarve West

And we continue further west on the Algarve with more beaches and cliffs.

• Stop 1 - Praia do Camilo, a small but charming beach - you can find kayak tours
• Stop 2 - Praia Dona Ana, the most famous beach in Lagos
• Stop 3 - Ponta da Piedade with the magnificent arches and cliffs - great at sunset
• Stop 4 - Visit the Sagres fortress, a 16th century sea fort with a famous compass rose on the ground.

Extra tip - parking can be difficult at those beaches in the afternoon during Summer or weekends.

Day 14 - South-West Coast

Drive back up to Lisbon:
Lagos to Lisbon (via motorway inland) = 3h drive
OR via the coast = 3h30 drive

• Stop 1 - Odeceixe with the drive along the river and the beautiful bay
• Stop 2 - Porto Covo and its beautiful rocks and low cliffs
• Stop 3 - if you have time, you could also stop at Sines and its promontory

If you don't want to drive, you can also enjoy the country by train.
But understand that you will spend a lot more time in cities rather than in nature, as access will be limited.

You can book you train tickets on Rail Europe

And Here is an example to visit Portugal by train over 2 weeks:

• You can fly into Porto
• Stay in Porto - check out the best rated accommodations in Porto
• Day 1 - Visit Porto
• Day 2 - Visit Porto
• Day 3 - Day trip to Douro Valley - see options
• Day 4 - Day trip to Bom Jesus and Guimaraes - See tour options and book
• Day 5 - Train to Lisbon - Stay in Lisbon - check out the best rated accommodations in Lisbon
• Day 6 - Lisbon Center with cathedral, castle, Elevator, churches...
• Day 7 - Lisbon Belem neighborhood with Belem Tower, Jeronimos monastery...
• Day 8 - Day trip to Sintra - See tour options
• Day 9 - Day trip to Obidos and Batalha - Check out Program and availability
• Day 10 - Peniche and Erbalunga tour (Check out program and prices) or Evora tour
• Day 11 - Train to Portimao  - check out the best rated accommodations in Portimao
• Day 12 - Boat tour to Benagil Caves and Marinha beach - see options
• Day 13 - Enjoy the beaches around Portimao (Tres Castelos...)
• Day 14 - Take the train to Lagos and head out to see Ponta da Piedade
• You can fly out of Faro

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