How to prepare your Road Trips in Portugal
There are several apps available to guide you through your Road Trips in Portugal. Making sure you don't get lost in the heart of our country, always knowing which the fastest way is to go or how far you are from a gas station or restaurant, are fundamental to make your trip more peaceful. We suggest you install Google Maps or the application Waze and if your car does not have a mobile phone charger, we suggest you buy a powerbank to go with it.
Have the ideal car for any destination
Select your destinations beforehand to ensure you have the right car on your side. If you choose to discover the most known mountains, your road trips in Portugal will require a SUV, if you make a more city trip, then you can opt for a more economical car. At Enterprise you will find all car segments, so that your adventures are made with all the safety and freedom.
Prepare some snacks for your trip
If you decide to discover the country by national or secondary roads, you may have some difficulty finding places to stop at any time to eat. We therefore advise you to take some snacks with you, to stave off hunger until you find a place to stop and venture into the local flavours.
Road Trips in Portugal: what to visit on the National Road 2
The longest national road in Europe and third longest national road in the world, it has given us some of the best landscapes in our country for over 75 years.
The historic National Road 2 was given this name in 1945. It covers more than 738 Km, connecting Portugal from North to South, from Chaves to Faro. It crosses 32 counties, 11 rivers, 4 mountains and a countless number of points of interest. Discover now our 5 days itinerary, with the best places of what will be one of the best Road Trips in Portugal.
Day 1: from Chaves to Viseu
- Chaves: S. Neutel and S. Francisco Forts, Roman Bridge of Trajano, Nadir Afonso Museum of Contemporary Art, Castle, Vidago Palace Hotel, Pedras Salgadas Park;
- Vila Real: historic city centre, House of Mateus;
- Régua: trip to Pinhão, with a stop in Alijó, visit to the wine cellars of Quinta da Pacheca;
- Lamego: Climb to the Castle, Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios;
- Castro Daire: visit to the town centre, Montemuro mountain;
- S. Pedro do Sul: Termas de São Pedro do Sul, Poço Azul, Serra de São Macário, Aldeia da Pena;
- Viseu: historic centre, Sé Cathedral, Porta dos Cavaleiros, Viriato's Statue and Vault.
Day 2: from Viseu to Góis
- Tondela: Fonte da Sereia, Penedo de Mouros Farm, Caramulinho, Caramulo Mountain, Museu do Caramulo;
- Santa Comba Dão: Visit to the city centre; Aguieira dam, Bussaco forest (Luso);
- Penacova: Moinhos de Gavinhos, visit to the Caldas de Penacova factory (water);
- Vila Nova de Poiares: visit to Moinhos da Atalhada and a walk through the centre;
- Lousã: Pedra da Ferida waterfall, Trevim swing, Candal, Castelo da Lousã, Talasnal, Casal de São Simão;
- Góis: visit the centre and the river beach, visit the villages of Aigra Velha and Aigra Nova.
Day 3: From Góis to Ponte de Sôr
- Pedrógão Grande: Padrões island;
- Pedrógão Pequeno: Cabril Dam, Philippine Bridge;
- Vila de Rei: Geodesic Centre of Portugal, Água Formosa village, Penedo Furado;
- Sardoal: Moinhos de Entrevinhas, visit to the town centre;
- Abrantes: Abrantes Bridge/Linha da Beira Baixa, Abrantes Castle/ Cine Teatro Alferrarede, Almourol Castle;
- Ponte de Sôr: Retas Sul do Tejo, Pedestrian Bridge, Arts and Culture Centre, Tramaga Mills.
Day 4: Ponte de Sôr to Aljustrel
- Montargil: dam with the same name; Coudelaria Dias;
- Mora: Mora Fluviarium, Pavia Village;
- Brotas: Torre das Águias, Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora das Brotas;
- Montemor-o-Novo: Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Visitação, Grutas do Escoural, Porta da Vila, Torre da Má-Hora, Convento da Saudação, Castelo de Montemor-o-Novo;
- Ferreira do Alentejo: village of Alcáçovas, Calvary Chapel;
- Aljustrel: Aljustrel Mines, Pisões Roman Ruins, Messejana Village, Viewpoints all over the city.
Day 5: Aljustrel to Faro
- Castro Verde: Windmill, Chapel of Our Lady of Aracelis;
- São Brás de Alportel: Clock Tower, Costume Museum, Verbena Garden;
- Faro: Palácio do Visconde de Estói, Capela dos Ossos de Faro, Arco do Repouso, Sé Catedral de Faro, Arco da Vila, Ruínas Romanas de Milreu, Teatro Lethes, Museu Marítimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigão.
Road Trips in Portugal via National Roads
There are more than ten thousand kilometres of national and regional roads to organise your own road trips in Portugal. Besides the countless options, there are several advantages associated to choosing this type of roads for your trips:
- These roads allow you to make more stops along the way.
- It passes through several cultural and regional points of interest.
- They allow you to appreciate the landscape of the different regions.
- The speeds are lower, which can help in making a safer journey.
With Enterprise you can rent a car in various parts of the country and set off to discover the best landscapes in the country. Use cities like Porto, Lisbon, Aveiro or Viseu as a starting point for your trip. Your only decision will be which will be the first of your road trips in Portugal.
