The city that rolls downhill to the river
Two slow days in Alfama and Graça, where the trams do the climbing and every miradouro hands you the Tagus again — and where to leave the car before you start.
From the road
Latest dispatches
Port, the Bridge & the Golden Hour
Cross the Dom Luís on foot, taste through the Gaia cellars, then drive out for the last light on the river.
The Cliff Road to the End of Europe
From Lagos to Cabo de São Vicente — sea caves, hidden coves and every worthwhile place to pull over.
Practical guides
Tolls in Portugal with a Rental Car: What's Free Since 2025, and What You Still Pay
The A22 and six other former SCUTs are toll-free since 2025; the rental toll device still costs about €2.15 a day. What that means for each drive.
Fuel for a Rental Car in Portugal: Pump Prices, Tank Rules and What the Summer Heat Adds
Weekly pump prices, the fuel rules of 25 Lisbon Airport suppliers (17 want the tank back full) and what summer air-conditioning adds to the bill.
Where to Park at Portugal's Busiest Sights — and Lisbon Hotels with Their Own Parking
Pena is closed to cars, Belém's CCB garage is €4 a day, Nazaré can close the Sítio to visitors: where to leave the car at Portugal's busiest sights.
Should You Rent a Car in Portugal? A Practical Guide
Short answer: skip the car for city-only days; compare a rental when your Portugal itinerary includes several coast, countryside or small-town stops.
The routes
Drive them as printedThree itineraries we have driven end to end — each stop links to its guide, and each route to a rental you can pick up at the first stop and drop at the last.
The Grand Loop
7 days · ~780 kmThe whole country in a week: capital, palaces, walled towns, surf, students and wine — a clockwise circle back to where you started.
Southern Escape
4 days · ~430 kmDown through the Alentejo cork plains to the Algarve's cliff coast and the literal edge of the map at Sagres.
Northern Vineyards
3 days · ~250 kmPort cellars, a canal town, terraced vineyards and a university city — all within easy reach of Porto.