Portugal is an amazing country on the very edge of Europe, famous for its unique views and its special atmosphere, which you can fully enjoy only by getting to know the local color on your own, without a guide and a noisy crowd, having time to feel every moment and consider every detail. The easiest and most convenient way to do this is to travel around Portugal by car. After all, this country is rich in all kinds of beauty and entertainment, located not only near large cities, but also in secluded places where public transport often does not go, and a taxi is very expensive. Therefore, you can have time to walk through the beautiful lemon and orange gardens, relax on the best beaches, visit popular water parks and admire the picturesque cliffs in one trip, only by choosing your own route in Portugal and renting a car.
Traveling around Portugal by car will help you save a lot of energy, time and money, as well as get the most out of your experience. The territory of this country is small. If you have a car, it is easy to drive it from north to south in 6-7 hours, so you can safely plan a difficult route in Portugal, including several cities and even regions, and for a relatively short vacation. Also, a car can be useful when relaxing within the same city, because it allows you to comfortably get anywhere at any time, regardless of the schedule of public transport.
Car rental in Portugal
The most convenient and cost effective way to rent a car in Portugal is to find a good car rental company at one of the major airports such as Lisbon, Faro and Porto airports. Here, the choice of rental companies and offers is especially wide, so finding the perfect option is easy. Also, the advantage of renting a car at airports in Portugal was the convenient location of offices.
Many of them are located directly in the terminal, which greatly simplifies the search and saves time. Parking at such companies, as a rule, is located at the terminal itself, so a tourist can leave the airport in a rented car immediately after filling out the necessary documents. However, the cheapest cars in Portugal usually offer rentals, whose offices are 5-10 minutes away on a free branded bus. Since this location is less expensive than maintaining an office at the airport, such companies are generally very moderately priced, especially in winter. At the same time, it is not necessary to start traveling around Portugal by car with walking from office to office in the hope of finding the best conditions. On our website you can find and book a suitable option in advance in Russian.
In Portugal, as well as throughout Europe, all you need to get a car is a foreign passport, a plastic-based driver's license and a credit card in the driver's name with the amount needed to make a deposit. The deposit is frozen in the account for the duration of the rental. If
Everything for independent routes in Portugal: driving features and roads
Car traffic in Portugal is practically no different from Russian. The Portuguese driving style is quite calm, not aggressive. Traveling around Portugal by car is easy and pleasant, and many tourists prefer to explore the country by car. Often in the high season there are even more vacationers on the roads than the Portuguese. However, this does not prevent you from enjoying driving around Portugal by car. After all, the road network in this country is well developed. Its length is about 80,000 km. Road surfaces are of high quality, regardless of whether they are paid or not.
When thinking about the routes of an independent tour before leaving for Portugal, especially near Lisbon, it is important to remember that not everywhere you can travel for free. In addition to the usual roads with free passage, there are also autobahns or highways, designated in Portugal as autoestradas or simply A. These high-speed tracks with perfectly even surface are well equipped. Clear signs, clear markings, reflectors, dividing barriers and numerous roadside cafes, gas stations and shops make getting around Portugal by car simple and comfortable, but at the same time fast. Speed limits of up to 120 km/h are allowed on motorways.
Like everything convenient and modern, highways cost money. Fares are mostly moderate and vary depending on the specific road and vehicle class. You can pay for the use of the motorway both in cash and by card. Nevertheless, we recommend taking on a trip not only virtual, but also real money. No one is immune from the failures of plastic cards. In this case, the motorist receives a check that will need to be paid at the post office. For long trips around Portugal by car, it is best to use Via Verde, a compact device for instant contactless fare payment, which is rented at a number of car rental companies and at some technical service stations, and is sold in specialized centers. The device allows you to drive along a dedicated lane without stops and barriers, because the payment is read automatically at the entrance to the Electronic Toll gate marked with a green V sign.
Also, getting acquainted with Portugal by car, you should pay attention to the roundabouts. Here, priority is given to those who drive in a circle. Thanks to this rule, the intersection is regulated without the participation of a traffic light.
Portugal by car: where to stay
The choice of accommodation in Portugal is great, and the cost is varied. In winter, prices for apartments with a kitchen start from 10 euros per night. In summer, accommodation in guest apartments and hotels is somewhat more expensive, but thanks to the variety of options, there is a good offer in any season if you start your search in advance.
Where to go in Portugal. Lisbon on your own
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, where the bulk of tourists arrive. A modern city with a centuries-old history will be of interest to both connoisseurs of architecture and ancient artifacts, as well as lovers of shopping, stormy nightlife and lazy rest on the beach. After all, here ancient castles, cathedrals, museums and archaeological excavations are harmoniously combined with shopping malls, famous boutiques, markets, atmospheric bars, clubs and beaches. To see all these popular places in Lisbon on your own, you will undoubtedly need a car. Especially when this city is only part of the route through Portugal.
However, staying in Lisbon for just a few days, you can do without it. If you need a car just to get from the airport, a transfer can easily replace it. This service includes a meeting upon arrival and delivery of a tourist to the door of the hotel. The asking price is literally 10 euros.
Itinerary in Portugal from Lisbon to the Algarve
The best self-guided routes to the north of Portugal
After a holiday in the Algarve, it's time to head to the northern regions. This is the longest route in Portugal, which means that it will not be superfluous to relax, which is also a wine house and a famous restaurant. The store at this curious establishment sells locally produced wine, which will be a great gift for family and friends.
The north of Portugal attracts travelers with beautiful cities. Porto, Coimbra and other significant places of tourism and recreation will not leave anyone indifferent. When staying in ancient cities, remember that their center is rather cramped and not rich in parking lots. When visiting these settlements in Portugal by car, it is more convenient to settle on the outskirts of the city. If you really want to touch the nature and traditions of winemaking, you should go to the Dauro Valley - the wine "capital" of Portugal, a region spread over a vast territory.
Traveling by car in Portugal will give you many interesting moments, luxurious beaches where it is pleasant to see off the sunset, opportunities to discover new cities and unexplored corners of this wonderful country. . Mark your favorite types of vacations and comfortable weather, get acquainted with suitable regions and relax in Portugal on your own along your own itinerary.
I want to dedicate my second story to a beautiful sunny country - Portugal. I went there with my husband in August 2014. The country is very beautiful and colorful!
I do not know when I would have gathered there myself. Because for some reason this country was not on the list of desired trips in the next few years. But fate decreed that my good friend was offered a hand and heart by her young man, a Portuguese.
My husband and I were invited to the wedding, and then everything started to spin) We began to plan a new individual trip. Overall plan was like this - fly to Lisbon on the eve of the wedding, take a walk at the wedding, then leave for Porto by train for five days, and then return and settle for the remaining days (6 days) in Lisbon, take a good look at it and its surroundings.
We arrived in Lisbon around 10pm. Since the suitcase was light and we were still full of strength and energy, we decided to save money and went to the hotel by metro. We got on the subway easily. But then the adventure began) we booked an apartment in the Alfama district - one of the most colorful areas of Lisbon. The area is really very interesting and beautiful. Of course, it’s inconvenient to walk there - all the time it’s descents, then ascents. Such a relief is typical in principle for the whole of Lisbon, but especially for this area. Therefore, it must be said separately here that for a trip to Portugal it is especially important to choose the right shoes - no wedges, platforms, and even more so heels. Only sports and very comfortable shoes! In the other one, you can not only get very tired, but also get injured, because all the roads in Lisbon are tiled, not very even and quite a lot.
So) When we got to Alfama, it was already dark. The streets in Alfama are very small and confusing, and what is more important, they are so short that even the locals do not know a lot of streets. Here our apartments were just on a street that no one knows)) Another difficulty was that few Portuguese speak English. But here it helped us that even though they do not know English, they are very positive and always ready to help. We stuck to a walking young couple, they were local residents, as I understood, but did not know our street. And they decided to look for it with us, we wandered along Alfama together, and they periodically asked passers-by in Portuguese about our street. After wandering for about 15 minutes together with our Portuguese assistants, we nevertheless found it) the couple continued their walk, and we began to solve a new quest - how to get into the apartment). While we were looking, I called the owner (as we agreed by e-mail), but there was no answer. I called a few more times, but no one answered. And here we are at night (it was already 12 o'clock) standing under the door of our apartment and thinking where we can spend the night. This happened to us for the first time, and we were at a loss. In Portugal, by the way, it’s cool at night, it’s better to take warm clothes with you, in the evening the weather changes dramatically - it’s all the ocean). We did not stay long, the owner soon called back, he forgot the phone somewhere according to his chaotic explanation and reassured us, saying that he was coming to us. Soon he arrived, we settled in, and life got better)
Alfama is definitely worth a visit, where you can feel the real spirit of Portugal. Alfama is fado coming from every cafe in the evening, extraordinary architecture, azulejos, trams that can hardly fit on the street ...
Flying to Portugal and sitting on the same beach is not the smartest option, unless of course you live an hour's flight or drive away. It is worth renting a car already at the Lisbon airport and rush towards adventure. I used the services of Gold Car and was satisfied. This is our third meeting with this European distributor, which is in danger of soon turning into a friendship, growing stronger thanks to the good price and quality of service. This friendship is sometimes trying to break the very worthy Herz or Sixt, but so far without success.
Main points along the route:
Lisbon - Cabo da Roca - Sintra - Vila do Bispo - Sagres - Lagos - Ferragudo - Silves - Lagoa - Albufeira - Lisbon
Only about 800 km. With arrivals at local points - lookouts, beaches and just the places you like - 900 km.
On the map, our route looks like So :
1. Neighborhoods of Lisbon: Lisbon - Cape Roca - Sintra - Lisbon
On the Lisbon you need at least 3-4 days, one of which is worth devoting to Cape Roca and historical Sintra located half an hour away.
Cape Roca(Cabo da Roca) is the extreme western point of Europe and is interesting precisely for its location. Of the attractions - a lighthouse and beautiful views of the coastline. However, the skyline in other places along the route will not be worse.
Sintra- an ancient town, quite nice, although very touristy. It is ideal to come to Sintra in the morning, right after the lighthouse at Cape Roca, before 10 o'clock. Firstly, there are more options to park, and secondly, it will take at least 6 hours to get to the city itself. We watch the palace, the fortress, walk along the winding steep streets and try delicious treats in local confectioneries.
2. The second part of the route - the road from Lisbon to the Algarve
We drive by regional roads N5, N253, N261, N120, N268, N125. We go to the beaches according to the signs and choose “The best of”
Destination number one on the route - Comporta, a winery and a beach in the style of the movie "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Beach from horizon to horizon, a boardwalk, a huge shaft.
Beach coordinates: 38.381372, -8.802608
Can be skipped Sines if there is little time and immediately move to the side Villa do Bispo is the extreme southwest of Europe. There are several beautiful beaches in the vicinity, but the water in these places rarely exceeds +20, they are interesting from the point of view of wandering around, enjoying the ocean and watching the sunset.
Before reaching Vila do Bispo, we stop at Amado beach - beautiful views, a surfer's beach, but you can swim in summer.
You can spend the night in the town of Vila do Bispo, exclusively as a transit overnight, or you can immediately go to the town of Sagres - the extreme southwestern point of Europe.
Not so much interesting Sagres, How many Lighthouse S. Vicente. Very nice lighthouse and great view coastline, several viewing platforms.
Parking coordinates near the lighthouse S. Vicente: 37.16858, -8.665534
Near the lighthouse on the road to Lagos is the interesting Beliche beach, popular with locals. Not crowded with a good inexpensive restaurant, azure ocean, surrounded by beautiful rocks. (37.02421, -08.99426)
3. Part three along the route - the southern coast of the Algarve, the warmest and favored by tourists of all calibers.
Points of interest: Lagos is a beautiful tourist town with old narrow cobbled streets, promenade and restaurants. There are several beaches and lookouts in the vicinity.
Praia dona Ana - (37.091233, -8.0669761)
City longest and warmest sand beach Maia Praia (37.106858. -8.665534)
Ponta da Piedade, which offers a beautiful view of the rocks, from here you can also ride a boat through the local grottoes. (37.08162, -08.66978)
More interesting places:
The village of Ferragudo, a beautiful fishing village on a hill, a good place for a photo - (37.125894, -8.52227)
Praia da Roca beach near the town of Portimao
The town of Lagoa is the best place for overnight stays in my opinion, conveniently located 3 km. from the ocean and equidistant from all interesting places. For us, this was the main base for exploring the Algarve coast and historical monuments.
Silves - here is an old Arab fortress, well preserved, you can spend a couple of hours in front of the beaches.
Praia do Marinha (37/090073, -8.412599) is one of the most beautiful on the coast, but swimming is difficult in summer due to black algae blooms almost all over the beach. Great for "sunbathing, drinking wine and enjoying the rocks"
- Senhora da Rocha- Guidebooks report that this is the most photographed beach in the Albufeira area. Probably because there are a lot of hotels nearby... :) The beach is beautiful, but somewhere at the end of my conditional top ten Algarve. Coordinates: 37.09750, -008.38643
- Albufeira. White houses, several beaches in the vicinity make it the most popular town in the Algarve. I would still prefer Lagos or Lagoa for Algarve research.
- Praia do Castelo- our favorite beach in the Algarve, which has been awarded the title of #1 beach, is located between Albufeira and Lagos. There are no hotels in the vicinity, so the contingent is mainly local and independent road travelers. The Pic Nic restaurant is open all year round, overlooking the ocean and bright yellow rocks of indescribable beauty. Coordinates: (37.07354, -008.29812)
4. Road to Lisbon
We return, or rather we fly along the E1 autobahn in 2.5 hours without stopping, we enter the city through the longest bridge in Europe, Vasco da Gama, and spend an unforgettable 10 hours in the city before departure.
P.S. The Algarve is full of beautiful beaches and beautiful places, so the right thing to do is to plan a little more time and just follow the signs at random.
Portugal is a popular tourist country with stunning natural landscapes. However, it is not always possible for tourists who come on a package tour to appreciate the natural beauties of this country. Therefore, traveling around the country on your own or rented car is becoming increasingly popular. Portugal by car is perceived in a completely different way, opening up as if from the inside, moreover, traveling by car along your own route is much more convenient.
Visa application
If you are traveling to Portugal as a tourist, you should apply for a Schengen visa category C. This visa can be single, double or multiple entry. The validity of this category of visa can be 1 month, 6 months, 12 months or 5 years. In each of these cases, the period of stay in the country should not exceed 90 days from the date of first entry. Most often, travelers are issued visas for a period of 1 month or 6 months.
What are the customs rules
According to the rules of entry into Portugal, travelers who are 17 years of age or older are allowed to import duty-free into the country:
- cigarettes - 200 pieces, or cigars - 50 pieces, or tobacco - 250 g;
- strong alcoholic drinks (with an alcohol content of more than 22%) - 1 l;
- wine (with an alcohol content of less than 22%) - 2 liters;
- coffee - 500 g;
- tea - 200 g;
- perfume - 50 ml;
- toilet water - 250 ml.
Goods for personal use imported into Portugal must not exceed 175 euros (185 US dollars) per person.
Features of the road
The first thing a foreign traveler needs to know is that most of the Portuguese roads, as well as some bridges, are tolls. At the same time, the average speed on highways is 100 kilometers per hour, while free roads passing through settlements limit the speed to 50 kilometers per hour. Tolls are traditionally calculated based on the distance between entry and exit points on the motorway. In order to pay for the fare, there are special lanes of the corresponding color at the toll highway terminals: green - only for users of the Portuguese payment system ViaVerde, orange - for paying through the operator in cash or by card, red - for paying in cash or by card through the machine. In the latter case, you need to be careful, because when paying in cash, the machine does not give change.
Parking in Portugal is also paid, the average cost for 1 hour of use is 1 euro (1.05 US dollars).
In addition, travelers by car should be aware that in case of staying in the country for more than 90 days, it is necessary to obtain a local license.
Features of tourist routes in Portugal
When compiling your own route in Portugal for traveling, we recommend using the advice of experienced autotourists:
- find out in advance about the features and cost of renting a car and the nuances of payment, take into account the cost of gasoline and road use fees;
- do not try to see all the sights in one day - better plan to visit 3-4 points and take your time walking around the city;
- during the trip, spend more time contemplating the picturesque landscapes and visiting palaces and castles;
- going to Portugal by car, take care of booking a hotel or hostel with parking;
- drive no more than 150-200 km a day;
- do not forget to set aside time for lunch - for this you can choose interesting places to visit on the Internet or stop at any local colorful restaurant you like;
- if you choose hotels on the highway for an overnight stay, instead of hotels in settlements, you can save a lot;
- for travelers who want to come to Portugal by car on their own, there is an opportunity to stay instead of a hotel in one of the car campings.
And, finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is about the status of the debtor that it is easiest to “forget” when going on another vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a proven service not to fly.rf
By car in Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after the capital. There are no picturesque landscapes in the city, but you can fully enjoy the city architecture and museums. The unique attraction of the city is the Cathedral of Porto, built in the XII century. The cathedral has retained its original appearance, as it has never been rebuilt. You should definitely visit the Ribeira quarter, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - many residential buildings in it were built 300 years ago. Travelers by car should definitely cross the Ponti di Don Luis bridge, designed by Theophilus Seyrig, who was a student of the famous Gustave Eiffel. It is no coincidence that the elements of the bridge are very reminiscent of the world-famous creation of his teacher - the Eiffel Tower. By the way, there is a bridge in Porto, which was built according to the project of the Eiffel himself - the Ponti Di Dona Maria Pia Bridge.
By car in Faro
The city of Faro is worthy of attention primarily due to the Ria Formosa Natural Landscape Park located here. The park is a 60-kilometer lagoon along the coast. General city the area of the lagoon is 18,400 ha. As a tourist center, Faro is not the most popular city in Portugal, however, here is one of the the best beaches countries of Praia da Faro. The beach is quite large, but it is crowded here only at the height of the summer season.
Connoisseurs of architectural monuments can visit various castles, cathedrals, churches and monasteries in this city. To do this, go to the old central quarter. Not far from the city there is another attraction - the Eshtoy Palace, built in the Rococo style.
By car in Portimão
Most beautiful place in Portimão - this is its coast. Go to the Praia de Rocha beach - there is an observation deck that offers stunning views of the city and the seascape. Architecture lovers can stroll through the city center and visit the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Chapel of St. José, Alvor Castle or the Jesuit Monastery.
Driving to Sagres
The small town of Sagres is known for the fact that it was here that Prince Henry the Navigator founded a school of navigation in the 15th century. There is every reason to believe that the world-famous navigators Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama studied at this school. In addition, in this city it is worth visiting Cape San Vicente, which in the past was considered the edge of the world. One of the largest lighthouses in the world is located on the cape, the lighting range of which reaches 90 km.
Driving to Lagos
5 km from Portimão and 45 km from the city of Faro is the small town of Lagos (Lagos). This resort town great for family holidays. The main thing to see here is the ocean, beaches and rocks. On the cape of Ponta da Piedade there is an observation deck and a lighthouse. By the way, free parking is provided for car travelers near the lighthouse. Leaving the car in the parking lot, you can take a boat trip through the grottoes and water caves. There are several beaches in this city, but the most impressive of them, which is a must-see for car tourists, is Marinha Beach.
Driving to Madeira
The only way to get to Madeira by car is by ferry from Porto Santo (once a day). The cost of ferry tickets depends on the month, class, and whether you are a resident of the island. Buying tickets for a group of two to four people, you can get significant discounts. The average cost of tickets for one person with a car is shown in the table:
There are no ferry connections between the Portuguese mainland and Madeira Island, but you can deliver the car by cargo ship, and use the plane yourself. In addition, you can rent a car directly on the island.
When traveling by car on the island of Madeira, the main thing to see is nature. The island is dominated by a mountainous landscape, so the roads here are quite winding. Go by car to the viewing platforms. For example, Eira do Serrado is located at an altitude of 1,053 meters, Pico dos Barcelos - at an altitude of 355 meters. The first platform overlooks the Valley of the Nuns (Curral das Freiras) - this name appeared in the 16th century, when pirates attacked the nearby monastery of St. Clara, and the nuns were forced to hide in this valley. The second site is closer to the ocean, and from here the sea vessels are better seen.
Driving to Lisbon
Perhaps the most important sight to see in the vicinity of Lisbon is the statue of Jesus Christ. To get here, you need to cross the Tagus River on the April 25 Bridge. And the bridge itself is also worth seeing. It is absolutely identical to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, as they were built by the same American construction company. So, on the other side of the Tagus River, at the place where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Almada is located. Here, at an altitude of 113 above sea level, a monument rises, which was built in 1959 as a token of gratitude for the non-participation of Portugal in World War II. The statue of Christ can be seen from anywhere in Lisbon. 
Walking through the city center, be sure to look at the Commerce Square. Here, the Arc de Triomphe of Augusta Street immediately catches the eye, which you can climb for 2.5 euros (2.65 US dollars). So observation deck offers a beautiful view of the bay, picturesque streets, castles and monasteries, which you can spend the rest of your time visiting and exploring.
Traveling by car in Sintra
Sintra is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal. It is said that the beauty of this city surpasses even Lisbon. On the first day of your stay in the town, you can leisurely visit two places: the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. Near the palace there is a large park, the entrance ticket to which can be purchased separately without buying a ticket to the palace. Another attraction is the Castle of the Moors. This fortress was built in the IX-X centuries. You can get to the castle by a long staircase going through the forest.
Not less than interesting object worthy of the attention of travelers is Montserrati Palace, located 4 km from the city. The palace has a botanical garden with 2,000 species of plants from around the world.
Another monument is Quinta de Regaleira, an architectural structure in neo-Gothic style. On the territory of this palace and park complex, you can find various mysterious signs and symbols of the Templars and Masons everywhere.
If you like to study history not only through acquaintance with castles and palaces, you can visit the News Museum. Here you will get to know the history of Portugal through media coverage.
And finally, while in Sintra, one cannot help but visit one of the most significant places not only in Portugal, but also in the entire continent - Cape Roca. This is the most extreme point Eurasia in the West, where a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean opens.
How to rent a house in Portugal
When traveling in Portugal, you need to stop somewhere. If you are not satisfied with the option with parking lots and hotels, you can rent housing. When traveling, it is better to consider options for daily rental housing. Ads can be found on the Internet on forums, on popular sites for daily rent of real estate, or you can ask around from local residents.
Driving to Portugal: Video
