Portugal is a great country to travel by road at your own pace, because there aren’t huge distances between each city. Are you looking for the best getaways to Portugal?
Portugal hides many charms, although you may be more tempted to book low-cost flights to other European destinations. And the best part is that there is not just one Portugal. In the north, you can visit historic towns and cities, vineyards, and eat very well. In the south, you will find the Algarve and some of the most beautiful beaches of the Iberian Peninsula.
From Porto: Guimarães and Braga, the historic north
If you start your route in Porto, where OK Mobility has an office to pick up your rental car, one of the best getaways to Portugal is through the northern interior of the country. You will reach Guimarães, considered the cradle of the country, in less than an hour. Visit the medieval quarter, its squares and the castle that dominates the city, and you will feel like you have travelled back in time.
The next natural stop of the getaway is Braga, a very elegant city with baroque churches, wide avenues and one of the most visited places in the north of Portugal, the Santuario do Bom Jesus. The staircase is very famous, and walking up it is the best way to justify the pastel de nata you're going to eat afterwards.
From Porto: Aveiro and Costa Nova, ocean and colour along the Atlantic coast
If you prefer a different type of getaway without leaving the north of Portugal, you can start in Porto and head down to Aveiro and Costa Nova.
- Aveiro is known as 'the Portuguese Venice', although the atmosphere is much calmer. It is a fairly comfortable city for strolling and snacking, with its canals, colourfully painted Moliceiros boats and facades with a modernist air.
- A few miles down the road, you will reach Costa Nova, famous for the colourful striped houses along the shoreline. It is worthy of featuring on a postcard and you will have no trouble falling in love with it.
From Lisbon: Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca on the same route
If we move on to getaways in the south of Portugal, Lisbon has enough to keep you busy for several days. However, a drive to some nearby cities is also well worth your time.
The first stop on our route is Sintra, where the Palácio da Pena and the Quinta da Regaleira are must-sees. If you like architecture, you will be amazed by everything you can do in Sintra. From here, the road continues down to Cascais, with a rather elegant seaside atmosphere, beaches and terraces overlooking the Atlantic.
And the finishing touch is provided by Cabo a Roca, continental Europe’s westernmost point. It's the perfect route if you're looking for getaways to Portugal that have a little bit of everything.
Getaways to Portugal from Faro: Tavira and Cacela Velha in the Algarve
The Algarve is an increasingly touristy area, although its 200 kilometres of coastline are enough to distribute the tourists across different cities with a lot of charm. From Faro, for example, you can embark on a trip to the east.
Tavira is one of the most charming cities in the south, as it has an old bridge, white houses, several churches in the historic centre and a pace of life that you will love. If you continue driving, you will reach Cacela Velha, a small village perched above the Ria Formosa, with one of the most beautiful sea views in the area.
Lagos, Sagres and the Algarve at its wildest
If you’re looking for cliffs, a drive by the sea and the feeling of approaching the end of the world, then you have to drive west.
- Lagos has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, with hidden coves and rock formations. The coast is more abrupt, open and wild compared to the eastern part of the Algarve.
- If you continue along the road, you will reach Sagres and then Cabo de São Vicente, with its cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.
The best thing about touring Portugal is that all the cities are quite close to each other, and from Porto, Lisbon or Faro you can organise one-day, two-day or several-day getaways to Portugal. What’s more, you can easily go from inland landscapes and palaces to the most beautiful beaches in the country.
To enjoy your getaway, all you have to do is rent a car with OK Mobility in Porto, Faro or Lisbon to travel the country from north to south at your own pace. It's worth it!
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