One of the best things you can do in Portugal is to go on a road trip! Portugal is super tourist and road-trip friendly and there are a ton of different itineraries you can follow. After spending 3 months in Portugal, some of our favourite memories are still from our west coast Portugal road trip.
Along the west coast of Portugal, you will find coastal towns, palaces and even some of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal”. During this road trip, you’re going to get a taste of the best of Portugal and everything it has to offer from the ocean to historic monuments. And did we mention that Portugal is super camping friendly?
The itinerary below is for 2 weeks in Portugal but feel free to adjust it if you have more or less time. In these 14 days of road tripping around Portugal’s west coast, you’ll have plenty of places to try out surfing, hiking, taking epic photos, and exploring one of the coolest medieval castles we’ve ever been to.
The post has been written for travelling Portugal by van, but if you’re simply just renting a car, this itinerary will still work for you. You might just want to consider finding a different type of accommodation instead of the recommended campsites 😉
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What to see on a west coast Portugal road trip
What we love about road tripping in Portugal is how many amazing spots there are and how close together everything is. We’ve done a fair amount of road trips in the past but we’ve never experienced having so many spots so close together.
As an added bonus, the road conditions in Portugal are really good and everything is easily accessible. That’s probably one of many reasons why Portugal is as popular as it is!
Grab a campervan in Lisbon
If you’re in Portugal with your own van then that’s awesome. You can skip this section and just jump straight to the itinerary. But you’re renting a van in Lisbon or are planning to fly into Lisbon to start your road trip, then keep reading.
So if you need a van you can easily book one from one of the campervan companies in Lisbon. We used a van from Portugal By Van and it was excellent. They’re right on the outskirts of Lisbon and after you’ve picked up your van, you can be on the highway in a few minutes and then you’re off to your first destination!
Day 1: Cascais
Where to camp: Camping Orbitur Guincho in Cascais
We only have good things to say about Cascais! We did a day trip from Lisbon to Cascais even before road-tripping to this coastal city. Cascais is a little paradise, and for that reason (and because it’s quite close to Lisbon), it does get quite busy. But there are tons of fun things to do in Cascais and it’s beautiful so it’s definitely worth a visit!
There are a few wonderful beaches that are right next to the city. During the summer months, these beaches are packed but we have a favourite beach in Cascais that’s not right in the center of the city and a little less busy!
There’s also a delicious vegetarian restaurant in the heart of downtown that is called House of Wonders and worth checking out (even if you’re not vegetarian). You can sit on their rooftop or in their garden and they have a different menu every single day so the concept is really cool!
Cascais is very catered towards tourists so all the shops and cafes in town are lively and you’ll enjoy exploring all the cute streets and maybe enjoy some Vinho Verde (green wine) at one of the local restaurants.
Also read: Visiting Cascais as a day trip from Lisbon
Day 2 and 3: Sintra
Where to camp: Free Camping spot in Sintra
Sintra may be the most magical place in all of Portugal! Known as one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal” this beautiful city is known for its famous Pena Palace and Castle of Moors. (The hike up to the Castle of Moors was actually one of our favourite activities we did in Sintra). It is also on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and it’s easy to see why.
The beauty of Sintra is that there are guided tours and buses that take you up to all the famous sights but you can also walk to all of the famous landmarks instead if you prefer. Especially in the Sintra National Park, the trail system is amazing and it’s so fun to walk through the Sintra Forest and see all the ruins of the Castle of Moors Wall.
This is just a sample of what there is to see in Sintra and that’s why we recommend spending two days exploring this paradise. You have all of the castles to visit, the small city of Sintra to explore, and lots of yummy food to eat!
Bring your walking shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of exploring these two days! 😉
Day 4: Cabo da Roca
Where to camp: Cabo da Roca parking lot
Cabo da Roca is less than half an hour drive from Sintra and the perfect place to spend a night on your west coast Portugal road trip. If you didn’t know already, Cabo da Roca is the most western point in mainland Europe. You can catch a beautiful sunset at Cabo da Roca – arguably one of the best sunsets in all of Portugal – and it makes it quite a special place to visit.
If you get to Cabo da Roca earlier in the day, we recommend hiking the Praia da Ursa Trail – one of our favourite hikes in Portugal (see a pattern here?). The hike basically starts from the parking lot so you can leave your campervan parked and walk to the trailhead.
Once you’re back from the epic Praia da Ursa Trail you can either cook up some food in your van or head to the restaurant right next to the parking lot. Just make sure you don’t miss the sunset!
Another nice thing about staying the night here is that even though it’s not an actual campsite there’s a visitor center where you can use the toilet when you need it (during opening hours) for just 50 cents.
After visiting Cabo da Roca the trip continues north towards the Silver Coast!
Also read: The Best Sunset in Portugal – Cabo da Roca
Day 5 and 6: Ericeira
Where to camp: Ericeira Camping
This stop is a good one! It’s also why we recommend staying 2 nights in Ericeira. Firstly, because Ericeira Camping is an awesome and affordable campsite within walking distance to the city. Secondly, there are so many things to do in Ericeira that it doesn’t make sense to rush through this awesome coastal city.
Ericeira is also the perfect place to go surfing. There’s a few coastal cities during this 2-week west coast road trip where you can surf and Ericeira is one of the best. You can rent a surfboard from one of the surf schools downtown and head to one of the many amazing beaches in Ericeira where you can catch some waves (beginners to advanced can surf here).
Make sure you also spend some time exploring the streets of Ericeira. There are so many cute cafes and restaurants in the old town and Ericeira gives off such a cool vibe. Once you’re there you’ll understand why people migrate towards this little surfing paradise along Portugal’s coast.
Also read: 20 Fun Things to Do in Ericeira, Portugal
Day 7: Peniche
Where to camp: Peniche – Consoloação
The nice thing about this road trip is that there isn’t a whole lot of driving each day. It’s nice to drive and see the country but it’s also nice to enjoy each location and get to explore the place. So we try to keep the drives short and Ericeira to Peniche is a nice short drive.
Peniche is another coastal city just north of Ericeira that is known for its amazing beaches and watersport activities. Peniche is a little smaller and less vibey than Ericeira but is an awesome coastal city to check out.
If you have the time you can easily go on a guided tour to one of the small little islands next to Peniche, The Berlengas’ Islands. There’s an old fortress on the main island named after São João Baptista and it’s really cool to explore. It’s not a big island but the boat ride and exploring the island for a bit makes for a fun afternoon trip.
You can also explore Peniche and walk the streets. Even though it’s a small coastal city there’s still life to it with some delicious seafood restaurants and local cafes as well.
Day 8: Óbidos
Where to camp: Unique Campsite next to Óbidos Castle
Peniche to Óbidos is another short drive so that gives you more time to explore Óbidos Castle (one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal). You can actually drive straight to the Óbidos camping spot, park your campervan and from there head to the city!
It’s a short walk from the camping spot to the city centre where you’ll spend all your time exploring this amazing medieval castle. It really is no ordinary castle! There’s basically a full-on mini-city inside the castle walls that’s just waiting to be explored.
While you’re roaming around the city, look for the famous Baloico Óbidos swing. The swing has the coolest view of the whole castle and city. Óbidos also has a great bakery inside the city walls called Capinha d’Óbidos. People usually stand in line to get in and order because it’s so popular and it is totally worth the wait!
There’s a bunch of other fun things to do in Óbidos and spending a full day there is perfect.
Also read: The Ultimate Guide to Óbidos
Day 9 and 10: Nazaré
Where to camp: Free and paid camping spots in Nazaré
After enjoying the beautiful medieval castle of Óbidos you’ll head back to the Silver Coast to probably the most famous city along the west coast of Portugal: Nazaré. Nazaré is known for its humongous waves and epic surfing.
Although Nazaré is famous for its big wave surf, it’s also great for “normal” surf. There are great spots for beginners and intermediates right at Praia da Nazaré. It’s a beautiful beach and it’s where most of the surf schools are. Then there’s Praia do Norte where you’ll see some of the biggest waves you’ll ever see and the craziest thing is that there are actually people riding them.
Nazaré isn’t all surfing though! There’s a bunch of fun things to do in Nazaré and one of our favourites is the Nazaré Funicular Trail that leads you to Baloico de Ladeira swing! Just like in Óbidos this swing has one of the best views overlooking Nazaré.
This coastal city has a similar vibe to Ericeira! Both are very vibrant, full of young people, and just a great atmosphere! So if you enjoyed Ericeira there’s a good chance you’ll love hanging out in Nazaré and that’s exactly why we recommend staying two nights here!
Also read: Top 11 Things to Do in Nazaré, Portugal
Day 11: Figueira da Foz
Where to camp: Campground in Figueira
Figueira is another beautiful city located along the Silver Coast that is totally worth visiting. It is just over an hour drive from Nazaré to Figueira da Foz and this is the most northern city on this road trip.
Figueira is the biggest city you’ll visit along this trip and it’s a lot more historical than some of the surfer towns so it’s a totally different vibe. Figueira da Foz has some beautiful architecture and beautiful streets that are worth exploring.
If you haven’t seen enough beaches by now, Figueira has some incredible ones you can check out! Also, it’s kind of random but Figueira has a very famous casino that’s worth stopping by because the architecture is very unique!
Since Figueira is a bigger city, there are lots of great food options including some nice seafood and traditional Portuguese restaurants in the city!
Enjoy the beach as you’ll be headed inland next!
Day 12: Fátima
Where to camp: Free camping outside of Fátima
After your visit to Figueira da Foz, it’s time to head inland to the famous city of Fátima. Once you get to Fátima, the main attraction for you to see is the Sanctuary of Fátima. It’s the beautiful plaza you see in the image just above. Other than the Sanctuary, there are also a bunch of beautiful churches and basilicas.
There are also two great places to see near Fátima. Unfortunately, they’re in opposite directions but none of them are too far away. The first is the Batalha Monastery which is another one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is located in the heart of the city Batalha and it’s just 25 minutes from Fátima. If you want, you can stop by Batalha on your way from Figueira da Foz to Fátima.
In Batalha, you can go inside and explore the famous UNESCO heritage site, The Monastery of Batalha. After you’ve visited the monastery, you can walk around the city and explore Batalha!
The second place to visit from Fátima is the Mira de Aire Caves! They aren’t one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal at the moment but they have been nominated for it. They’re quite spectacular and definitely worth a visit.
Day 13: Serra de Montejunto National Park
Where to camp: Camping in the countryside
This road trip has taken you to some of the best beaches on the west coast, some beautiful surfing towns, and even a few of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Now it’s time to explore some of Portugal’s beautiful countryside!
The Serra de Montejunto Park is absolutely beautiful with great hiking trails and awesome viewpoints like the one from Antenas de Montejunto or Miradouro da Cruz Salvé Rainha.
There is also another Baloico (at this point we’re sure you know that’s a swing)! It’s called Baloiço do Montejunto and it has an awesome view overlooking the countryside in the area.
There is so much to see just in this area and you obviously only have a day to see it all but pick a hiking trail that leads to one of these viewpoints and take in the Portuguese countryside!
You can also get up a little early on your last morning and do a short hike since you’ll only be about an hour away from Lisbon!
Day 14: Back to Lisbon
Now, that’s what we call an epic 2-week west coast road trip around Portugal! The reason you want to be closer to Lisbon on the last day is because usually campervan returns are done by noon. This way you don’t have to drive too far and stress too much in the morning before handing in it.
Enjoy the scenery on your last bit of driving and who knows maybe you’ll end up doing an Algarve road trip next! 😉
Other related questions to road tripping in Portugal
How long does it take to drive the coast of Portugal?
The west coast of Portugal is roughly 700 kilometres long with lots of coastal towns along the way. If you’re driving along the coast you’ll want to split the trip up into multiple days since driving along the coast with all the windy roads can get quite exhausting.
If you drive through the country you can get from Lisbon to Porto in around 3 hours on the main highway. This is a much faster way to get across the island but a lot less scenic than taking then driving along the west coast of Portugal.
Is Portugal good for road trips?
Portugal is incredible for road trips. Portugal is also very camper van friendly and you’ll find lots of free or cheap campsites and campgrounds along the Portuguese coast. The weather in Portugal is also good for the majority of the year so road trips are a lot of fun.
The Algarve and the Silver Coast of Portugal are the two most common areas for road trips around the country. Both offer awesome coastlines, beautiful cities, and great surfing!
Are 2 weeks too long in Portugal?
2 weeks is perfect for a west coast Portugal road trip! It gives you enough time to see everything between Lisbon and Porto and even some time in both those cities.
If you plan to try and see as much of Portugal as you can then 2 weeks should be enough time to properly enjoy the country, experience the culture, and enjoy some delicious Portuguese food.
Can you drive around Portugal?
Yes, you can drive around Portugal and actually driving around Portugal is probably the best way to see the country. There are so many awesome coastal cities, castles, and viewpoints all over the country that having a car is the best way to see them all.
If you have a camper van it’s even better because then you can drive around Portugal and stay at some awesome campsites around the country.
You may also like…
- Amazing Day Trips From Lisbon You Can’t Miss
- Best Things to Do in Lisbon in 2 Days (A Weekend Guide)
- The Ultimate Packing List for Portugal in 2022
- 8 Cities on Portugal’s Silver Coast You’re Going to Love
- The Ultimate Guide to Camping in Portugal
Recap of the most awesome 2-week west coast Portugal road trip
The craziest thing about this two-week road trip is that it’s going to go by in the blink of an eye. You’ll be doing so much and seeing so many new and beautiful places. It really goes by quickly!
In this post, we’ve tried to keep the drives relatively short every day so you have almost the full day to explore in each destination. And then we added a few locations where we thought It’d be cool to spend a few extra days which is what we did as well. Tweak this itinerary so it fits exactly to the kind of trip you want and then go have fun!
We can’t wait to hear all about your trip and what your favourite spot is. Enjoy the castles, coastline, and the Portuguese countryside. It’s going to blow you away!
And if you’re looking for more things to do in each location, then check out this post: 8 Cities on Portugal’s Silver Coast You’re Going to Love.
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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