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Portugal is a destination that lends itself to all types of travel: road trips, solo, as a couple, with family, or with friends!
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, the gateway to the Douro Valley, and the capital of Port, a sweet dessert wine. In the city, there is plenty of choice for tasting Port or visiting factories.
This free walking tour of Porto will allow you to discover this magnificent city.
Then, for hiking enthusiasts, it is also possible to start the Camino de Santiago from Porto.
Finally, you could treat yourself to a cruise on the Douro River and admire the sunset from the sea.
Building an open-jaw or multi-city itinerary is a good way to save time. Indeed, you can arrive in Porto and depart from Lisbon during your trip to Portugal.
It is in this mountainous region that the majority of Port and Portugal‘s wine are produced. The vineyards are located at the top of the valley: this will allow you to admire breathtaking views while sipping your glass, while tasting some typical Portuguese dishes.
Ideally, it is best to rent a car to travel through this region of Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in order to discover as many vineyards as you want and at a pace that suits you.
On the other hand, multiple tours are available to explore the Douro Valley. You won’t have to limit your alcohol consumption since you have a driver!
Departing from Porto, discover the Douro Valley with this tour of two vineyards, including lunch and a cruise.
This small village near Porto is of great importance in the founding of Portugal. Indeed, it is here that the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques, was born.
The sites are very well preserved, including the Palace of Guimarães, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, and the old town. This free walking tour of Guimarães will immerse you in the heart of its history.
Located south of Porto, the tourist town of Aveiro is in an ideal location for a getaway from Porto or on a road trip itinerary in Portugal.
Aveiro is best known for its canals, colorful boats, and architecture. Don’t hesitate to book a moliceiro boat ride on the canals of Aveiro.
Praia da Nazaré stretches for several kilometers and is one of the best beaches on the coast; this beach is sheltered from currents and winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean. So, it’s a wonderful place to relax and for family vacations.
On the other hand, in winter, the waves of Nazaré will satisfy surfers. You can see waves as high as 30 meters forming in this small corner of Portugal!
The small town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in the hills, not too far from Lisbon. You can discover splendid castles through its pine forest and transport yourself into a fairy tale.
The abundance of historical sites and the magnificent setting of Sintra make it one of the most popular attractions in Portugal. Moreover, a getaway to Sintra is easily done from Lisbon’s Rossio train station.
However, there are so many palaces and mansions to visit that it is better to stay there for a few days to get a feel for the place.
Discover its beauty during this guided tour of Sintra departing from Lisbon, including the Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais.
Lisbon has gained a lot of popularity in recent years since the cost of living is very affordable and the quality of life is high!
The capital of Portugal is a splendid place, offering breathtaking views. Among the tourist attractions, you will find a large number of museums, historical buildings, restaurants, and cafes. You can also taste pastéis de nata, iconic tarts of Portuguese cuisine.
Among the activities to discover, we suggest this free walking tour in Lisbon and this pastéis de nata baking workshop.
Besides the city of Lisbon itself, a short trip to Belém is a must. For fans of Portuguese cuisine, pastéis de nata from Portugal originally come from Belém.
Consult our guide to the best activities for a stay in Lisbon to plan your visit to the capital.
Hotels:
Our reports:
In southern Portugal, you can find the city of Évora, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Évora is a destination for history buffs; unlike Lisbon, Évora was spared by the great earthquake of 1755 and maintains a more authentic appearance.
Inside its walls, we can observe a picturesque landscape with numerous public squares, Gothic art, Renaissance palaces, and… a macabre chapel covered in human skeletons!
Although Nazaré beach is very beautiful, it is not comparable to what can be found in the seaside resorts of the Algarve. The choices of beaches are enormous for beach hopping.
This region of Portugal is gor-geous! The temperature is perfect, the landscapes are utopian, and the villages are charming.
Faro and Lagos are important historical and cultural centers of the region. They are excellent bases for discovering the Algarve.
Hotel: Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve
Before leaving, there is nothing better than equipping yourself with addresses, recommendations from friends, books, or sites and forums. As always, very good books to read on the Ulysse Guides for Portugal website, also available in PDF version:
Portugal is a beautiful destination to discover at any time. The best time to visit Portugal to enjoy a pleasant climate and low tourist crowds is in the spring and fall, specifically:
During the summer season, it can be very hot and the number of visitors skyrockets since Portugal is a very popular country for an economical trip compared to other destinations in Europe.
I completed a one-week itinerary between Porto and Faro. However, it involves a lot of driving (about 2,000 kilometers passing through the Douro Valley).
If, like me, you only have one week: focus on one or two regions during your visit to Portugal. Such as:
To get to Portugal from Canada, various options exist with Aeroplan, notably with Air Canada and TAP.
In economy class, the flight starts at 35,000 points for a one-way Montreal / Porto or Lisbon. In business class, you should expect to pay from 60,000 points for a one-way trip.
A trip to Portugal also combines well with a vacation in Morocco!
With Air Canada, the price varies based on the market. However, choosing a flight operated by Air Canada can represent a big advantage for families: you can benefit from a free checked bag for yourself as well as for eight people on the same reservation. Provided, of course, that you hold an Aeroplan credit card offering this benefit.
If you plan to use your Aeroplan points to travel on TAP, be careful to calculate the valuation of your points.
TAP often offers excellent prices between Montreal and Lisbon. It will be preferable to apply travel points to your reservation (see next section), rather than using Aeroplan points.
With airfare prices often attractive to Portugal, it is very practical to have a bank of points that can be applied to travel purchases, such as NBC rewards travel points from the National Bank World Elite Mastercard.
When booking a flight on the NBC À la carte Rewards portal, you can use your NBC rewards points directly on the flight purchase at a rate of 10,000 points for $100. This is the best exchange rate for these points.
Also, don’t forget that this card comes with travel insurance and that you can use travel credits for seat selection or adding luggage!
A trip to Portugal is very easy to do with public transport; it is not difficult to get from one city to another with the train and bus network.
These bus and train tickets can be paid for with a credit card. So, if you use a credit card without conversion fees, you can save the 2.5% foreign currency fee. Plus, unlike cash payments, it will be possible to earn points on these purchases!
Within cities, it is generally possible to explore all tourist sites on foot, with public transport, or by tram!
A trip focusing mainly on the major cities of Lisbon and Porto can easily be done without having to rent a car.
On the other hand, to explore certain corners of Portugal, I recommend renting a car, especially if you are traveling with family.
To offset the cost of a car rental in Portugal, you can earn, without much effort, a lot of TD Rewards points with the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card and make your reservation on the Expedia for TD website.
There is a lot of choice for all tastes and prices are quite competitive. Finally, on this platform, you can use your TD Rewards points at an optimal rate.
If your driver’s license was not issued in the European Union, it is best to obtain an international driving permit. The rental counter will not require an international driving permit, but you put yourself at risk of fines.
There is plenty of choice for reasonably priced hotels in Portugal. Since it is a very popular country, demand will dictate accommodation rates. So, expect to pay a bit more during the peak summer season; look into hostels, as there are sometimes very good prices for private rooms.
On the other hand, in spring and fall, it is not uncommon to find deals for hotel rooms all over Portugal.
If you feel like spending your summer in Portugal, it would be interesting to look at home rentals with VRBO.
Indeed, life in Portugal is very beautiful both in terms of weather and gastronomy! You will never tire of pastéis de nata, fish dishes, and seafood!
Apartment prices on Airbnb in Portugal are very affordable.
Families will also be delighted to know that there is a large number of Airbnb accommodation choices in Portugal. Indeed, this country is a destination of choice with young children, and having a kitchen as well as the opportunity to do laundry is very practical.
In Portugal, Marriott Bonvoy program hotels are widely present in the cities of Lisbon and Porto as well as in tourist regions; there is something for all tastes and budgets since there are several brands.
We have actually visited these Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Portugal:
To quickly accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points, you should look toward credit cards co-branded with the program or those offering Membership Rewards points that are transferable to Marriott Bonvoy.
Finally, several hotels cost less than 35,000 points while the cash rate can be more expensive. Thus, you can use Free Night Awards. These are annual benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card and the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card.
So, if you play your cards right, you can stay at expensive hotels at a lower cost with certificates.
If you only have one week, focus on one or two regions during your visit to Portugal. You could discover the two major cities, Porto and Lisbon, taste fine wines in the Douro Valley, or admire the southern landscapes while traveling through the Algarve.
The best time to visit Portugal to enjoy a pleasant climate and low tourist crowds is in the spring and fall.
Your budget will depend notably on the chosen period, your accommodation, and your activities. To save on travel, prioritize credit card points. A travel point strategy can provide a lot of flexibility for rentals, particularly for a car or Airbnb accommodation.
The Douro Valley is one of the jewels of Portugal. The vineyards are located at the top of the valley, allowing you to admire breathtaking views while sipping a glass of wine.
You could visit the Expedia site and select “All-inclusive hotels – Portugal.” Then, simply click on the hotel of your choice to see its location.
Savings this way:
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