How long is the drive from Lisbon to Porto?

About three hours on the A1 motorway without stops. With stops, plan two to five days.

What are the best stops between Lisbon and Porto?

Óbidos, Nazaré, Alcobaça, Batalha, Fátima, Tomar, Coimbra and Aveiro. With little time, choose Óbidos, Nazaré and Coimbra.

How many days do you need for a Lisbon to Porto road trip?

Three days covers the main stops. Two days works if you choose either the coast or the monasteries, and four to five days lets you see both.

Is it easy to drive from Lisbon to Porto?

Yes. The A1 and A8 motorways are fast and well signposted. The hardest part is driving and parking in the old town centers, so use the car parks outside them.

Are there tolls between Lisbon and Porto?

Yes. The A1 and A8 are toll roads. Ask your rental company how tolls are charged, as some motorways in Portugal are electronic-only.

Can you do the road trip from Porto to Lisbon?

Yes. The same stops work in reverse, starting with Aveiro and Coimbra and ending with Óbidos, about an hour from Lisbon.

Portugal Itinerary 14 Days: Car or Train

✈️ THE SHORT VERSION

Lisbon to Porto takes about three hours on the A1 motorway, but the drive is worth stretching over two to five days. The classic route heads north to the walled town of Óbidos and the big-wave beach of Nazaré, then inland to the UNESCO monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, the sanctuary of Fátima and the Templar convent in Tomar, before university town Coimbra and the canals of Aveiro. No leg between stops is longer than about an hour.

This guide covers each stop with driving times and parking tips, itineraries for 2, 3 and 4 to 5 days, tolls and car rental, and our road trip packages.

The Route at a Glance

Driving times are approximate and do not include traffic or stops.

Stop	Drive from the previous stop	Time to spend	Highlight
Óbidos	About 1 hour from Lisbon	2 to 3 hours	Medieval walls and ginjinha
Nazaré	40 km, about 35 to 45 minutes	2 to 3 hours	Giant waves and the Sítio viewpoint
Alcobaça	15 km, about 20 minutes	1 to 2 hours	UNESCO monastery and royal tombs
Batalha	19 km, about 25 minutes	1 to 2 hours	UNESCO Gothic monastery
Fátima	20 km, about 30 minutes	1 to 2 hours	Catholic sanctuary
Tomar	30 km, about 25 minutes	2 to 3 hours	Templar castle and Convent of Christ
Coimbra	86 km, about 1 hour	Half a day or a night	UNESCO university and Joanina Library
Aveiro	64 km, about 50 minutes to 1 hour	2 to 4 hours	Canals, moliceiro boats and Costa Nova
Porto	74 km, about 50 minutes to 1 hour	2 to 3 days	Ribeira, port wine and the Douro

You will not fit every stop into one trip. Pick the coast (Óbidos, Nazaré, Aveiro), the monasteries (Alcobaça, Batalha, Tomar) or a mix, and leave time to walk around each one.

The Best Stops Between Lisbon and Porto

Óbidos

Óbidos is a small town inside medieval walls, with whitewashed houses and flower-filled streets. In 1282, King Dinis gave it to Queen Isabel as a wedding gift, and it stayed part of the dowry of Portuguese queens for centuries. Try ginjinha, the local cherry liqueur, served in a small chocolate cup. In December, the town holds a Christmas village with markets and lights.

Parking: use the car parks outside the Porta da Vila gate or by the tourist office, a few minutes' walk from the center. The streets inside the walls are narrow and best explored on foot.

Óbidos Castle rises above whitewashed houses, church towers and terracotta rooftops in Óbidos, Portugal. Warm evening light illuminates the stone towers and crenellated walls beneath a peach sky. — Óbidos Castle, Óbidos, Portugal

Nazaré

Nazaré is a fishing town with a long beach and the famous big waves of Praia do Norte. From about October to March, Atlantic swells meet an underwater canyon and build some of the biggest waves ever surfed: in October 2020, Sebastian Steudtner rode a 26.21-meter (86-foot) wave here, a Guinness World Record. Watch from the lighthouse at the Sítio, the old upper town, reached by a funicular or a footpath.

Parking: the Sítio fills up fast. If it is full, park near Praia do Norte or in the lower town and take the funicular up.

Elevated view of Praia da Nazaré in Nazaré, Portugal, showing the broad sandy beach curving beside densely packed town buildings. Atlantic waves roll ashore as the setting sun lights the sea and nearby cliffs. — Praia da Nazaré, Nazaré, Portugal

Alcobaça

The Monastery of Alcobaça was founded in 1153 by Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989. Inside the Cistercian church are the carved tombs of King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, the subject of Portugal's most famous love story. Do not miss the kitchen, with its huge chimney and a stream channeled through it.

Parking: paid parking next to the monastery, and a free car park a short walk away.

The facade of Alcobaça Monastery in Alcobaça, Portugal, features twin bell towers, carved statues, a circular rose window and a pointed entrance arch. Broad stone steps lead up from the square beneath large white clouds. — Alcobaça Monastery, Alcobaça, Portugal

Batalha

King João I built the Monastery of Batalha to give thanks for Portugal's victory over Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. Work went on for two centuries, and the result is one of the masterpieces of Portuguese Gothic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The Founder's Chapel holds the tombs of João I, Queen Philippa of Lancaster and their sons, including Henry the Navigator.

Parking: free and paid spaces around the monastery, a few minutes' walk from the entrance.

Two levels of intricately carved stone arches surround the cloister courtyard of Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, Portugal. Geometric lawns and pale paths fill the courtyard, with visitors walking through the galleries. — Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal

Fátima

Fátima is one of the world's best-known Catholic sanctuaries, built where three shepherd children reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917. The site has two basilicas and the small Chapel of the Apparitions. The biggest pilgrimages take place on May 12 and 13 and October 12 and 13, when the town is very busy.

Parking: large free car parks surround the sanctuary, but they fill up on pilgrimage days.

The illuminated Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary rises above the Sanctuary of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal. Curved colonnades and glowing lamps frame the broad square beneath a violet evening sky. — Sanctuary of Fátima, Fátima, Portugal

Tomar

In 1160, Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, built the castle of Tomar. Inside it, the Convent of Christ grew around the Charola, the Templars' round church, and later became the seat of the Order of Christ. Look for the Chapter House window, the finest example of Manueline carving in Portugal. The Convent of Christ has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Parts of the castle have been closed for restoration, so check before you go.

Parking: two small car parks near the convent, or park in town and walk up the hill.

Water cascades over a low weir across the Nabão River in Tomar, Portugal. White buildings with terracotta roofs line the opposite bank, with a bridge and leafy trees to the left. — Nabão River, Tomar, Portugal

Coimbra

Coimbra is home to one of Europe's oldest universities, settled here for good in 1537. The University of Coimbra, Alta and Sofia, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, and its baroque Joanina Library is the highlight. Places in the library are limited, so get your ticket early in the day. Coimbra is a good place to spend the night, halfway between Lisbon and Porto.

Parking: park below the historic upper town and walk up, as the streets at the top are steep and narrow.

A Portuguese flag fills the foreground above the Mondego River in Coimbra, Portugal. Colorful hillside buildings rise towards the University of Coimbra and its clock tower, with trees lining the waterfront. — University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal above the Mondego River

Aveiro and Costa Nova

Aveiro is crossed by canals, where colorful moliceiro boats, once used to collect seaweed from the lagoon, now take visitors on short rides. Try ovos moles, the local egg-yolk sweet. A short drive away, Costa Nova is known for its striped wooden houses facing the beach.

Parking: use the underground car parks near the center, as street parking is limited, especially in summer.

Colorful moliceiro boats are moored along the Canal Central in Aveiro, Portugal. Tiled facades, pastel buildings and a large palm tree line the waterfront, reflecting in the rippling water. — Canal Central, Aveiro, Portugal

Lisbon to Porto Road Trip Itineraries

2 Days: Coast and Coimbra

Day 1: Lisbon to Óbidos, then Nazaré for lunch and the waves. Drive on to Coimbra for the night.
Day 2: The university and the Joanina Library in the morning, then Aveiro and on to Porto.

3 Days: The Classic Route

Day 1: Óbidos and Nazaré. Sleep in Nazaré.
Day 2: Alcobaça, Batalha and Fátima or Tomar. Sleep in Coimbra.
Day 3: Coimbra in the morning, Aveiro and Costa Nova in the afternoon, then Porto.

4 to 5 Days: Coast and Monasteries

Day 1: Óbidos and Nazaré. Sleep in Nazaré.
Day 2: Alcobaça and Batalha. Sleep in Tomar.
Day 3: Tomar, then Coimbra for the evening.
Day 4: Coimbra in the morning, then Aveiro and Costa Nova. Sleep in Aveiro or drive on to Porto.
Day 5 (optional): Arrive in Porto, or add a day trip to the Douro Valley.

Porto to Lisbon? The route works the same way in reverse. Start with Aveiro and Coimbra and end with Óbidos, about an hour from Lisbon.

Plan both ends of the trip

🗺️ Lisbon Itinerary: 3, 4 and 5 Day Plans 🍷 The Douro Valley: Port Wine Region of Portugal

Driving Tips

Tolls. The A1, the main motorway between Lisbon and Porto, and the A8 to Óbidos and Nazaré are toll roads. The A1 has toll booths where you can pay by card or cash, but stay out of the lanes marked Via Verde, which are for electronic transponders only. Some motorways in Portugal are electronic-only, so ask your rental company how tolls are charged before you leave.
Pick up the car when you leave Lisbon. You do not need a car in Lisbon or Porto, where traffic, hills and parking make driving hard work.
One-way rentals. Picking up in Lisbon and dropping off in Porto is common, but some companies charge a one-way fee, so check when you book.
Parking. Use the car parks outside the historic centers. Old towns like Óbidos and Coimbra's upper town have narrow streets with little or no parking.
Timing. Avoid Fátima on the big pilgrimage days in May and October, and Nazaré and Aveiro on summer weekends, unless you want the crowds.