Portugal is one of the easiest and most enjoyable countries to explore by car and boasts very varied landscapes – from the hills of Estrela and the Geres National Park to the beaches of the Atlantic and the broad estuary of the Tagus – and grand cities and towns that pepper the history books of the great explorers, the Golden Age and the Napoleonic wars in particular.
You can combine days of exploring Portugal’s historic city centres with gentle or strenuous exercise walking through inspiring green valleys and along wonderfully quiet sandy beaches, and visiting its port wine houses and up and coming wine estates.
Enjoy its Mediterranean style cuisine and its calm pace, without needing to know much of its language.
In seven days you can scratch the surface of Portugal enough to enjoy yourself immensely without pressure, although you may find yourself coming back for more year after year. We have created these wonderful self drives routes: