Portugal Coast - road trip

[m3sye]

Thinking of doing a bit of a road trip along the coast of Portugal in September starting from Lisbon going down...has anyone else done this? any recommendations, pointers etc?

Thank you

[m3sye]

ratboiler said:

Do you mean going up towards the UK?

No sorry gonna fly into Lisbon or Porto and hire a car at the airport then drive down the Portugal coast and fly back home from either Portugal or somewhere in Spain...

[m3sye]

Anyone else any recommendations for Algarve or up the West coast side ?

Flying into Faro 21st sept got 8 nights, need to fill them

Plans are Lagos, Lisbon, Sintra, Porto so far

[m3sye]

ratboiler said:

I was in Porto last summer, be aware that parking there is not good so best hire when you leave then no worries.
Go to the Taylors winery do the trip and have a silver service meal in their restaurant it's well worth the effort to walk up there.
Walk back and watch the kids jumping off the bridge, visit the station to take a look at the walls just unbelievable.

Worth going if both of us cannot stand Port?

[m3sye]

OK this is my plan (I think)

Faro > Lagos > Lisbon > Sintra > Coimbra > Aveiro > Porto > HOME

Now to decide how long I stay in each place... going for 8 nights in total ?? some places I will do just a day visit

Edited by m3sye on Thursday 1st September 14:30

[m3sye]

valiant said:

Avoid the motorway - it's tolled and just another boring motorway. Use the N125 coast road and you'll go through a few picturesque towns and villages.

Go up the mountains to Monchique. It's a decent steer up the mountain roads and there are plenty of quiet roads leading to it. I had great fun hammering our diesel Punto hire car up there.

OK Thanks Valiant

[m3sye]

Any places on there you would cross off and add on Paul?

[m3sye]

Ok thanks
One main doubt I have ever is faro, weather data there and pick up the car, worth staying or head more West and find somewhere else to stay in the algarve. Done vilamoura before so not bothered about there ...

[m3sye]

maturin23 said:

The coast between Faro and Lagos is fairly touristy - not sure if that's what you're after. Doesn't really hit the spot for me.

We have a timeshare villa Quinta do Lago which is very comfortable but very golf-focussed and not very 'authentic'.

If you are looking to see a bit more of the 'real' Portugal I'd definitely recommend going slightly east of Faro and perhaps staying a night or two on Culantro - a fisherman's island - stunningly relaxing place! https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/239793?sug=51

I am 36 and partner is 26 we dont yet mind the tourist places (although I am sure it will come soon) , especially as we are not going till 21st Sept so most of the kids will have gone home thank you anyway