What is the best way to travel through Portugal?

Can you travel through Portugal without a car?

Okay, so Portugal, right? You totally can do it without a car, especially the big cities. Lisbon? Piece of cake. Porto? Easy peasy. Public transport’s pretty good there. Buses, trains, even the metro in some places. But, like, if you wanna see the really gorgeous bits – the Algarve coastline, those crazy cliffs, the little villages – you’re gonna want a car. Seriously. It’s a pain in the butt otherwise. And forget about the Azores! Absolutely need a car or rent a scooter there. Totally worth it though.

So here’s the deal:

• Major Cities: Totally doable without a car. I did Lisbon last year, used the metro loads.
• Rural Areas (Algarve, etc.): Car is a must-have. The busses are infrequent and unreliable. Trust me on this.
• Azores: Definitely rent a car or a scooter. The islands are stunning, but spread out. Public transport’s limited there too, even worse than the Algarve.
• Consider costs: Car rental in 2024 is expensive, but so is constantly using taxis or ride-sharing services. Do your research.
• My experience: I went to Lagos in the Algarve last summer and regretted not having a car. It’s just much easier to explore those tiny beach towns that way.

How many days are enough for Portugal?

Portugal…a whisper. Seven days, ten days…is that enough? A fleeting glimpse? No, no. Portugal demands more. My grandmother’s azulejo tiles, each a story…More than a week.

The Algarve sun, baking memories into skin. The scent of oranges, heavy in the air. Is a week really enough to capture that?

Lisbon, a vibrant dream. Porto, a soulful echo. Days bleed into nights. One week? Perhaps only a tease.

Seven days, maybe. But I yearn for more. To lose myself in the Douro Valley…the emerald vineyards, stretching, reaching. At least 10 days, yes.

A week is a hurried affair. A dash of salt, a sip of wine.

Ten days… that offers deeper exploration. It feels more like settling in.

• Lisbon and Porto: a taste.
• The Algarve: Sun-drenched beaches.
• Douro Valley: Wine heaven.
• Évora: Ancient history whispers.
• Sintra: Fairytale castles.
• Coimbra: University town.

I have tasted Portugal. A week is not enough! I know it.

Can I get around Portugal by train?

Man, Portugal in 2024? Trains were a mixed bag, lemme tell ya. I was there in July, scorching hot. Lisbon to Porto? Piece of cake. Fast, comfy train, right on time. Beautiful scenery too, rolling hills, vineyards. Felt so good after a hectic flight.

Then, trying to get to Óbidos from Tomar? Nightmare. The train schedule was, ugh, a total mess. Delays, cancellations. Ended up taking a bus, which took forever. I was sweating like crazy, the air-con barely worked. Seriously, the heat was brutal.

Major cities? Trains are great. Seriously efficient. But smaller places? Forget it. Buses are your only option, often cramped and uncomfortable. Don’t get me started on the rural routes.

I swear, I wasted half a day waiting for that train from Tomar. It was hell. My phone died, I was starving, and those damn bus stops had zero shade. Lesson learned. Plan your smaller-town journeys carefully. Seriously. Check timetables repeatedly. They change.

• Lisbon to Porto: Excellent train service.
• Tomar to Óbidos: Train service unreliable. Bus journey slow and uncomfortable.
• Buses needed for rural areas. Be prepared for a bumpy ride and delays.
• July in Portugal is HOT. Pack accordingly, seriously.

So yeah. Trains are fine for the big cities, but don’t rely on them for everything. I’m still salty about that Tomar to Óbidos leg. I might have even shed a tear. Or two. Okay, three. It was a terrible experience.

How long does it take to get from one side of Portugal to the other?

Five hours. Just five hours. That’s all it takes to cross Portugal, north to south. From Porto to Faro, gone.

It feels like longer, somehow. Like a lifetime can pass in those five hours. The landscape blurs by. You think of everything.

I did it once, or twice, I forget now, from Espinho…almost the same. Alone.

• Driving allows thinking time. Maybe that’s why it feels long.
• Five hours to unravel, you know? And redo it all.
• It’s the A1 highway, mostly straight, really.

Yeah, five hours on the A1. North to South. And you’re there.

What is the most scenic drive in Portugal?

N222, hands down. Drove it last summer, 2023. Crazy good views along the Douro river. Like, seriously. Forgot my sunglasses, big mistake, sun was intense. Wine country, remember lots of vineyards. Think it went from Peso da Regua to Pinhao. Wife loved all the little towns. We stopped, took pics. Should have stayed longer, def going back.

• N222: Douro Valley, river views, vineyards. Amazing.
• N2: Chaves to Faro, long one, diverse scenery. Heard it’s epic, gotta try it sometime. Prob next trip.
• N247: Coastal, Peniche to Cascais, supposed to be great for surfing spots. Didn’t go this time.

Road was kinda windy on the N222, watch out for that. Worth it tho. Took us, like, three, four hours? Stopped a bunch, of corse. Got some port wine at a roadside stand. Delicious. Remember thinking, this is the life. Car was packed, small rental. Barely fit our luggage. But windows down, music up, perf weather… Couldn’t beat it.

How safe is Portugal for tourists?

Safe. Portugal is safe. Low crime. Simple.

Seventh safest globally, 2024. Index says so. Numbers.

Folks are alright. Mostly. It’s chill. So what?

Think about it: safety’s a feeling. Elusive.

• Crime rate: Low. Makes headlines, sometimes. Doesn’t mean much.
• Politics: Stable. For now. Stability can be deceptive.
• People: Friendly-ish. Superficial kindness pays off.

Safety exists on a spectrum. Consider perspective. My Lisbon trip? Lost my wallet. Still, felt safe. Go figure.

What is the cheapest way to travel around Portugal?

The bus… yeah, the bus. It is the cheapest way to see Portugal, isn’t it?

Visiting those little towns… slower, definitely slower. Reminds me of a time I missed a connection, stranded in some village, no one spoke English. I didn’t even know where I was.

But hey, the Algarve too… Buses are good for that, I guess. Cheaper than trains, I know that for sure. It’s always about the money, right?

• Buses reach smaller towns. Train lines miss them, that’s true.
• Algarve exploration: Bus lines cover the coast extensively.
• The slow pace… it’s not always bad. You see more.
• Price: Definitely the biggest draw. No arguments there.
• My worst bus experience? Losing my phone in Faro. Ugh.
• The bus from Lisbon to Porto. Never again! So long.