Portugal West Coast Road Trip: 2-Week Dream Itinerary

A road trip along Portugal’s west coast is arguably one of the most beautiful trips you can take in Southern Europe. Portugal is truly beautiful and has so many highlights to offer. Most tourists tend to head to the spectacular—but also very touristy—Algarve in southern Portugal. But the rougher west coast, with its steep cliffs, secluded beaches, and beautiful cities like Porto and Lisbon, is every bit as impressive. On this road trip through Portugal along the west coast, we’ll show you the most beautiful beaches, our favorite stops along the way, and the most popular activities.

Portugal West Coast Road Trip | 10–14-Day Round Trip

Our Portugal West Coast road trip starts in the north and then takes you past all the major sights all the way to the western part of the Algarve. Of course, you can also start this round trip along Portugal’s west coast in the opposite direction or skip individual stops.

First, we’ll give you a brief overview of the route, followed by detailed information about each day’s leg of the trip.

The Best Time to Visit Portugal

As with many other Southern European countries, the peak travel season for Portugal is midsummer, specifically July and August. During this time, you’re almost guaranteed great weather, but you’ll also face high prices and crowds of other tourists. Temperatures also rise slightly to over 30 degrees. We would therefore recommend traveling during the off-season. The months of May/June and September/October usually offer good weather, but with far fewer tourists and lower prices.

Getting There for the Portugal West Coast Road Trip

For this road trip, it’s best to fly to Porto and pick up your rental car at the airport there. From Porto, you can drive north toward Peneda-Gerês National Park in about 1.5 hours to begin your tour of Portugal. Alternatively, you can reverse the itinerary and start in Lisbon.

Days 1–2 | Peneda-Gerês National Park

Your Portugal West Coast road trip kicks off with a highlight you’ve probably never heard of. Way up in the north, the Peneda-Gerês National Park awaits—not only is it Portugal’s only national park, but it’s also a true hidden gem. Few tourists find their way to this beautiful national park. Yet the park is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience Portugal’s unspoiled nature up close. Here you’ll find breathtaking landscapes with towering mountains, roaring waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes.

There are wonderful hiking trails here that wind through deep gorges and unspoiled nature. You should spend at least 1–2 days here to truly enjoy the natural surroundings.

Days 3–4 | Porto

For us, Porto is one of the most beautiful cities and should be a must-see on any tour of Portugal. The city on the banks of the Douro River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enchants visitors with its narrow alleys, lively squares, and colorfully decorated buildings in the historic old town. You can easily explore the city’s highlights on foot, as everything is quite close together.

The city’s landmark and biggest attraction is the large arched bridge, Ponte Luís I, which spans nearly 400 meters across the Douro River. The bridge has two levels: the upper level is reserved for trams and pedestrians, while the lower level is open to both pedestrians and cars.

We actually liked Porto a little better than Lisbon because it’s less bustling and touristy, and you can stroll through the narrow streets in a bit more peace and quiet. If you just want to focus on the top sights, one day in Porto is enough. But if you really want to take your time exploring the city, have a coffee along the banks of the Douro, and let it all sink in, you should plan on spending two days in Porto.

Day 5 | Nazaré, the Surfing Capital

After strolling through Porto, the road trip continues west along the Portuguese coast to Nazaré, the surfing capital. This small town is famous for its waves, which can reach heights of up to 30 meters in winter and are just waiting to be conquered by surfers. Since 2013, the world’s best surfers have been gathering here, where they’re admired by thousands of spectators.

In the summer, however, the town belongs entirely to beachgoers, as the waves here are only of normal height during the summer months. Of course, you can still (learn to) surf here. But Nazaré, with its kilometer-long beach and cozy alleys, is also perfect for swimming and strolling.

Day 6 | Ursa Beach

On your way south during your road trip through Portugal, you should make a stop at the steep cliffs of Cabo Carvoeiro before heading to Ursa Beach. These cliffs are located along the Peniche Peninsula and form one of the westernmost capes of mainland Europe. A loop trail takes you around the small peninsula. Along the road, there are various viewpoints and opportunities to pull over and climb a bit on the rocks. We didn’t find the nearby town of Peniche—which you’ll inevitably pass on your way to the cape—particularly worth seeing.

From Cabo Carvoeiro, the journey continues to one of Portugal’s most spectacular beaches, Praia da Ursa. The descent from the gravel parking lot is an adventure in itself, but what awaits you down on the beach defies description. Here you’ll find super-fine sand, and the water is crystal-clear and turquoise blue.

On the beach and in the water, numerous rock formations 20–40 meters high rise up, displaying a variety of colors. You can already see the entire panorama from above, but it’s even more impressive down on the beach.

Although the parking lot isn’t easy to reach and the descent to the beach is quite arduous, Praia da Ursa is always very popular. The parking lot is located here (Google Maps). But be warned: the last part of the route to the parking lot is rather difficult to drive. The narrow and steep footpath to the beach takes about 20 minutes.

Days 7–8 | Sintra

You’ve never seen a town quite like Sintra—it’s home to buildings that look like they could have come straight out of a fairy tale. Sintra used to be the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family, as the small town sits over 300 meters above sea level and is therefore a bit cooler in the summer than the often-hot Lisbon.

In Sintra, you can look forward to phenomenal palaces, castles, and mansions. And, unfortunately, very crowded streets as well, since the extraordinary scenery always attracts a large number of tourists.

Days 9–11 | Lisbon

Lisbon is not only the capital of Portugal but also the most-visited city in the country on the edge of Europe. And for good reason. Lisbon is beautiful and simply brimming with sights. You definitely shouldn’t skip Lisbon on your Portugal West Coast road trip—there’s simply too much to see here.

Among other things, Lisbon is famous for its picturesque Tram Line 28E, the authentic neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto, and, of course, the numerous viewpoints from which you can enjoy wonderful views of the hilly cityscape and the Tagus River.

In fact, the entire Old Town is like a giant open-air museum, and it’s simply a joy to stroll through the narrow and sometimes very steep alleys, never ceasing to be amazed.

Days 12–14 | Algarve West Coast

You’ll spend the last few days of your Portugal West Coast road trip on the beautiful Algarve. From Lisbon, it’s about a 3-hour drive south. On the western coast of the Algarve, you’ll find beaches just as beautiful as those in the south, though they’re often a bit rougher but also much less crowded. Especially during the off-season, you’ll hardly have to share these beaches with anyone else and can enjoy the beauty of nature in peace.

An absolute highlight awaits you at your first stop. Praia da Amália was one of the coolest beaches in the Algarve for us, and we’ve nicknamed it “Stork Beach.” On this already spectacular beach, several pairs of storks nest on the jagged limestone cliffs.

Before you reach the beach, you’ll have to hike along a rather adventurous path that winds through a dense forest of ferns and vines. It almost feels like you’re in Costa Rica. After scrambling down a small flight of stairs, you’ll find yourself on a gorgeous beach with fine sand. You might already be able to make out the storks on the jagged cliffs to your right.

One parent is always on the nest while the other searches for food. When one of the storks takes flight from the nest and flies over the beach, a large shadow flits across the sand. We always had to look up immediately to watch the stork fly. Simply breathtaking!

Another beautiful beach is Praia de Odeceixe. This large beach, framed by steep cliffs, is located on the northern Atlantic coast of the Algarve. You can park here outside the small village of Odeceixe. From the parking lot, walk through the small village and down a steep path to the beach, which is several hundred meters wide and long. What makes this beach special is that at high tide, a river forms at the edge of the beach, framing it, so to speak.

Another dream beach on Portugal’s west coast is Praia da Amoreira. There are two parking lots here, or rather, two ways to get there. We’d recommend approaching from the south. You’ll have to climb down a fairly steep path to the beach, but on the way to the parking lot, you’ll pass a stunning cliff with several beautiful viewpoints.

• The recommended parking lot (at the Taberna do Gabriel II restaurant): Google Maps
• The official parking lot on the other side of the beach: Google Maps

Return Trip or Continuing On

After thoroughly exploring Portugal’s west coast on your road trip, you can either take the quickest route back north. Or—if you have more time—spend a few more days visiting the rest of the beautiful Algarve. Here you can visit breathtaking cliffs, beautiful coves, and gorgeous beaches.

More info: Algarve Road Trip | 1 Week in Southern Portugal

Our Take on the Portugal West Coast Road Trip

Many people come to western Portugal to visit the cities of Lisbon or Porto. But Portugal’s west coast has so much more to offer. Stunning natural beauty in Portugal’s only national park, spectacular sheer cliffs, and secluded beaches. A road trip through western Portugal will give you a dream vacation that you won’t soon forget.

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More travel reports on Portugal:

• Portugal Attractions I The 13 Most Beautiful Highlights from the Algarve to Porto
• Peneda-Gerês National Park | 5 Highlights of Portugal’s Only National Park
• Portugal’s West Coast Highlights | TOP 11 Most Beautiful Places & Beaches (with Map)
• Évora, Portugal | 5 Must-See Highlights
• Wild Camping in Portugal | 8 Important Camping Tips Legal Information
• Sintra Attractions | 5 Great Highlights You Must See
• Monsanto, Portugal | Highlights of the Rock Village & Parking Tips
• Algarve’s Most Beautiful Places | The 6 Most Spectacular Highlights
• Algarve Coast | The 8 Most Beautiful Beaches & Highlights