••• Portugal ••• 14 full days. A self-guided road trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about tours, bookings, or documents? We've gathered answers to the most common questions to make your trip as smooth and worry-free as possible.

• 1. What months are best for planning this trip?

  This trip can be planned for any month of the year. The ideal months would be from March to May or September to October – during this time, it’s neither too hot, there are fewer tourists, and the days are of a good length. Summer is also fine, but it will be too hot and crowded, although the beaches in Algarve will be perfect for swimming. In winter, due to shorter daylight hours, some days’ itineraries may need to be shortened. It is not recommended to plan the trip during the Christmas holidays (expensive and many places will be closed).

• 2. How dependent is this route on the weather?

  Unlike many other routes, this one is almost independent of the weather. The only day when more or less decent weather (no thick fog or heavy rain) is important is Day 10, when we visit the viewpoints of the Douro River Valley. Good weather will also be a plus on the last days during the hikes in the beautiful Algarve. On the other days, the weather is not critical.

• 3. What should be done before the trip?

  Before starting the trip, you should purchase tickets to and from Lisbon, book a car, accommodations along the route, and tickets for certain attractions. Additionally, if you haven’t done so already, it’s recommended to install the Uber and Bolt taxi apps linked to a bank card that works in Portugal. It’s also advisable to thoroughly read this material, make decisions about visiting optional sites, and take note of important details marked along the route.

• 4. Is it possible to do this route without a car, using public transport?

  No, this particular route is designed for a car trip. Some sections of this route are simply not feasible with public transport. If necessary, we can prepare an individual route for you, specifically designed for public transport, taking into account that and all your other preferences.

• 5. Where can I get a car for this route, and which car would be suitable?

  A car can be rented from any car rental company in Portugal, operating at the starting point of the route (Lisbon, preferably with the car picked up at the airport). Alternatively, you can arrive in your own vehicle. There are no dirt roads or difficult routes on this journey, so any regular car will do, without additional requirements for off-road capability.

• 6. Does the itinerary regulate when to wake up and go to bed?

  Yes, at the beginning of each day, there is a recommended start time for the route. As a rule, this time is optimally aligned with the opening and closing times of the sites we plan to visit. Additionally, this time often aligns with daylight hours, and in Portugal, the time zone means that it gets light quite early and dark not too late, so it is highly recommended to wake up and go to bed earlier during the trip.

• 7. What kind of meals are included in the itinerary?

  The trip includes a fairly hearty breakfast, a light lunch, and a full dinner. There are generally no specific recommendations for breakfast – you can have it either in the hotel or at a café of your choice (if there are interesting options on-site, recommendations are given in the itinerary). For lunch, you can prepare it in the morning or evening and bring it along (picnic sets, sandwiches, snacks, etc.), and if there are interesting places to have lunch or a snack along the route, that will also be indicated. For dinner, recommendations for the best local restaurants serving authentic Portuguese cuisine are provided at each overnight stop.

• 8. Is this route suitable for traveling with children?

  The route is ideal for children aged 8-10 and older (tested) and includes locations that will interest them – castles, mysterious parks, caves, a theme park, an oceanarium, an interactive museum, and much more. As for younger children, it’s up to the parents to decide whether to take them on this trip, as they know best the capabilities and needs of their children. Very young children may find some of the walking segments difficult.

• 9. Is this route suitable for people with limited mobility?

  No, this route involves many steep steps, old buildings, and rough terrain. Unfortunately, not all locations are accessible to people with limited mobility. However, we can prepare a special adapted route upon request.

• 10. How were the locations selected for this route, and why were some places not included?

  During the preparation of the route, an enormous amount of locations, possibilities, materials, reviews, and recommendations were studied. Furthermore, the route itself was thoroughly tested. Some attractions were excluded because similar, more interesting ones already existed along the route. Some intriguing spots are located far from the main route, and including them would have required significant detours, preventing the inclusion of other sites. A number of attractions were excluded after testing, when we realized they were less impressive than other points on the route. We fully understand that people are different, and some may find the places we excluded more interesting than those we included. For those individuals, there is always the option to order a custom itinerary or use this prepared one as a foundation for their own personalized route.

• 11. Is the itinerary too overloaded, is there enough time for everything?

  We assume that on a trip, you want to experience as many emotions as possible and see as many places as you can. You can rest, sleep, and relax at home, not when you’re visiting another country. Therefore, we adjust the itinerary according to daylight hours and strive to fill each day with impressions. Thanks to optimal logistics and well-thought-out timing, we manage to see at least one and a half to two times more than an average, unprepared traveler would. And yet, there’s no need to rush—there’s plenty of time to enjoy walks in parks or along beaches, observe architectural details, or take photographs. All the attractions included in the itinerary are realistically achievable and can be visited at a relaxed pace—this has been tested.

• 12. Is there any time allocated for a beach holiday on this route?

  The route is designed to be year-round, so no specific days or hours are allocated for a beach holiday. However, we do visit the country’s best beaches, so during the right season and with good weather, there will be enough time for swimming and sunbathing. If you want more time for the beach, you can add as many days of beach relaxation as you like, for example, between Day 13 and Day 14. Alternatively, we can modify the route according to your preferences upon request.

• 13. What should I take with me on this trip?

  It is recommended to bring good, comfortable shoes for walking (preferably hiking boots or at least sneakers), weather-appropriate clothing, hats, and light backpacks. No special equipment or gear is required for this route.

• 14. How to use this itinerary?

  Before starting the trip, it is essential to read the entire itinerary thoroughly and take care of all necessary preparations in advance (reservations, prepayments for tickets, etc.). During the trip, it is recommended to review the next day’s plan carefully in the evening of each day.

• 15. Can the route be started from a city other than Lisbon?

  Lisbon was chosen as the starting and ending point of the route because it has more flight connections than other cities in Portugal. However, the route is circular, so if it’s more convenient or cost-effective, you can start from Porto (in this case, Day 7 becomes Day 1, and Day 14 continues as Day 1). If you’re driving from Spain, you can start from Day 13 if arriving from Seville, or from Day 9 if arriving from the north, from Vigo, and continue along the described route.

• 16. Can individual parts of this route be changed?

  Yes, you can use the ready-made itinerary as a basis and modify it according to your preferences—removing less interesting places and adding new ones. However, be cautious, as you will need to calculate the logistics and timing on your own.

• 17. Can the order of visiting attractions within a single day be changed?

  The order of attractions in each day has been carefully chosen based on optimal route progression. This means that if you change the order, you may not have enough time for some sites, you might arrive before they open and have to wait, or you may not be able to visit some places at all, as they might already be closed. Therefore, we don’t recommend changing the order of visits, but if you do, make sure to calculate the consequences yourself.

• 18. Can this route be completed in fewer days?

  Yes, it can, if you reduce the number of places you visit. For example, you can skip half of the attractions in Lisbon and Porto and shorten your time in Algarve – this would save about three days. Additionally, some segments of the route can be removed. We recommend not doing this on your own but rather contacting us to create a custom route tailored to your needs and preferences.

• 19. Can this route be stretched over more days?

  Yes, of course. If you want to spend more time in any particular place and you have the time for it, it’s easy to add. You can add days in Lisbon or Porto, dedicate an entire day to the vineyards of the Douro River, or spend a couple of days sunbathing on the beaches of Algarve – all of this can be easily incorporated into the itinerary. We recommend not splitting up the existing days but rather adding new ones in between them.

• 20. Can you create a custom route specifically for me?

  Yes, with pleasure. We can create a significantly altered route based on this one, or a completely new one, based on what you specifically want to see and experience. Your pace, preferences, and interests will all be considered and incorporated into the new route, which will be carefully calculated and optimized. Naturally, this will cost extra and require additional time to develop.

• 21. Can you fully organize the trip for us along this route?

  Yes, no problem. We are ready to find the best hotels according to your requests, book and purchase all tickets, organize transport, and, if necessary, arrange local guides or a coordinator to accompany you throughout the trip. Contact us, and we will do everything in the most optimal way, saving you both time and money.