Anyone visiting Portugal with a love for wine will have the Douro Valley firmly on their radar. Here vines cascade down steep hills until the skinny terraces reach the curves of the Douro River. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, dating right back to 1756.
Driving directly between Lisbon and the Douro Valley (Regua) takes 3.5 hours, but Portugal’s Central belt is one of the country’s most underrated areas with many villages, towns and destinations well worth stopping at. If you have the time, stop for lunch or even stay overnight and see more of this magical country.
Here are some ideas on where to stop when driving a road trip from Lisbon to the Douro Valley, or the Douro Valley to Lisbon. I suggest rolling up the inland motorway, the A1, making a lunch stop at Coimbra. On the return, you could spend a few days in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, then drive back by the coastal route via the A8 and A17, past Aveiro, Nazaré, Caldas da Rainha, and Óbidos.
Don’t want to drive? Then I suggest taking the train or a private driver to Porto, and then join a guided Douro Valley day trip. I’ve rounded up top-rated Douro Valley winery tours here.
The fastest route (with toll roads)
Portugal has an incredible highway network that can zip you across the small country in a matter of hours. The catch? Toll roads. The fastest route from Lisbon to Regua, in the Douro Valley, takes you via the A1 highway but will sting with more or less €20 in tolls, one way.
Need a rental car? Find the best prices using RentalCars.com or Discover Cars – both sites search and compare car rental companies including international and local rentals to find the best rates.
If you hate paying tolls, there is a route that takes around 5.5 or 6 hours to reach Regua.
The scenic route from Lisbon to Douro Valley
You can turn your Portugal road trip from Lisbon to the Douro Valley into a brilliant triangle by adding Porto. My suggestion is to take the fastest inland route to the Douro Valley from Lisbon, via Coimbra and Viseu. After the Douro Valley, drive west towards Porto, following the curves of the Douro River until it meets the sea.
Porto is a fantastic city and it’s worth spending a couple of nights here to discover the port wine cellars and see the medieval beauty of this skinny cobblestone destination. Then finally, continue south to Lisbon along the coast, pausing at Aveiro, Nazare, Caldas da Rainha and Obidos if you have the time. I’ll detail these stops below!
Read next… How to spend 48 hours in Porto
Where to stop on the way between Lisbon and the Douro Valley
The Douro Valley is a large region, not just one city. There are two main towns that most people visit to stay at – Regua and Pinhão. Rather than stay in town, if you have a car I suggest looking for accommodation at a beautiful estate or quinta out in the countryside. Many have amazing views of the river and a unique viewpoint on the rippled vine terraces that cover most hills.
If you have the budget, Six Senses Douro Valley is a 5-star beauty, or I have Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta, Quinta de la Rosa, and Quinta da Gricha on my bucket list.
Anyway, let’s dive into where you can stop on your Portugal road trip between Lisbon and the Douro Valley.
Óbidos: Medieval walled village
Back in 1282 Portugal’s King Dinis gave Queen Isabel the little village of Óbidos to mark their wedding. This super cute medieval walled city is lies just over an hour north of Lisbon and makes for the perfect morning tea stop, or overnight stay.
Step inside the fortified stone walls to discover a village of white-washed buildings with yellow or blue trims. Climb the walls to gain bird eye view of the village, and if you have time, explore deeper with a walking tour that reveals secret spots and medieval tales.
Óbidos is small and you can see most of the village within an hour, but it’s quite popular – so to see it without the crowds, consider sleeping in the 14th-century castle for your own royal moment. The Pousada Castelo de Obidos is a dream stay! If it’s out of budget, Óbidos has plenty of cute guesthouses.
Guided day trip from Lisbon: If you have a few days in Lisbon, Óbidos makes for a good day trip. Take a look at this top-rated guided tour that combines the walled village with the towns of Fátima, Batalha and Nazaré.
Read next: 16 most beautiful villages and small towns in Portugal
Nazaré: home of big waves
The fishing town of Nazaré is now best known for its big waves. The Nazaré canyon pumps out some of the biggest waves in the world, but only at certain times of year, usually in winter. But if the waves aren’t on (check the web cam or surf reports) then the town itself is an ideal seafood lunch stop en route from Lisbon to the Douro Valley, or vice versa.
White-washed, yellow trimmed houses line the streets and old ladies still wear traditional clothing (seven layers of skirt! High knee bus driver socks!). There are two parts to the town – the lower main part is beside a huge half-moon beach, or the upper part near the fort. There is a paid funicular tram or free footpath between them. You can also drive.
Nazaré is a summer destination, with the wide lower beach filling with striped beach huts and racks drying fish. If you’re seeking adventure, join a 4×4 Buggy Tour, or hire jet skis or rent e-bikes to explore.
You can join a guided day trip from Lisbon to Nazaré, often passing through Óbidos and Fatima too – like this full-day trip, or this one that includes Batalha too. Or book a private car if you prefer not to drive.
Related blogs: Tile of the day: Nazare’s Ermida da Memória
Coimbra: Portugal’s oldest university
Two-hour drive from Lisbon // One-hour, 45-minute drive to Regua, Douro Valley
Coimbra is a perfect haflway point on the drive from the Douro Valley to Lisbon, or Libson to the Douro. The medieval capital of Portugal has deep academic roots, with the landmark University of Coimbra opening here in 1290. It sits at the top of the hill in the grounds of a former royal palace – a site will worth exploring with it’s Baroque library and colourful tiled chapel.
Coimbra is a perfect overnight stop on the road trip between Lisbon and the Douro Valley or Porto (and you should see Coimbra-style fado if you stay), but if you’re short on time you could tick off the essentials in a fast-paced afternoon and join a skip-the-line tour of the university. If you do stay, my favourite spot is the historic Hotel Astoria, which has old-world charm without the luxury price tag.
Related blogs: 36 hours in Coimbra // Where to eat in Coimbra
Viseu: connected to history and religion
Three-hour drive from Lisbon // 50-minute drive to Regua, Douro Valley
This small city in the centre of Portugal is closely linked to Portugal’s history and religious golden age. Here the 12th-century Viseu Cathedral is the main drawcard, along with the annual Fair of São Mateus, an event held in August and September that dates back to the same time.
Viseu was the birthplace of Vasco Fernandes, one of the most important Portuguese artists from the 16th century. You can see his works at the Grão Vasco Museum and inside many churches.
Aveiro: Art nouveau and stripy fisherman houses
2.5-hour drive from Lisbon // 90-minute drive to Regua, Douro Valley
If you take the more coastal route to or from Lisbon, stop by charming Aveiro, Portugal’s Art Nouveau city that’s set around a handful of canals. Colourful moliceiro boats, once used to collect seaweed in the Ria Aveiro lagoon, travel the waterways, passing Art Nouveau houses with tourists on board. Those canals have earnt Aveiro the doubled-edged nickname “Venice of Portugal”, but come expecting a unique city with a gorgeous historic centre, beautiful beaches and plenty to do.
Wander the historic core on foot, ride in a cute traditional boat, follow the Art Nouveau architecture trail, and try “ovos moles”, a sweet egg custard enclosed in a thin wafer-like shell. My favourite spot for these sweets is Peixinhos. After, drive to Costa Nova, a must-stop for photos where historic striped fisherman shacks have become a landmark.
Related Blog: 11 best things to do and see in Aveiro
Lamego: Fancy staircase and sparkling wines
3.5-hour drive from Lisbon // 20-minute drive to Regua, Douro Valley
Your final stop – and first taste of the Douro Valley – could be Lamego, a special town just south of the Douro River. One of Portugal’s prettiest little cities, in the heart lies a spectacular and dramatic blue-and-white tiled staircase that leads up to the Shrine of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. Snap photos with the beautiful flight of stairs, and climb to the top for views over town.
Later, reward yourself with a glass of the local espumunte. You could drop into Raposeira for a tasting, or try it at A Presunteca de Lamego. Here you can pair local vinhos with cheese and cured meats. Also in town, visit the Castelo de Lamego and Lamego Cathedral.
Need a rental car? Find the best prices using RentalCars.com or Discover Cars – both sites search and compare car rental companies including international and local rentals to find the best rates.
Bonus stops between Lisbon and the Douro Valley:
There are only a handful of highways that link the north of the country with Lisbon, so maybe you’re looking for some alternative stops on the route from Lisbon to the Douro Valley. Here’s a few more off-beat suggestions between the capital and the wine region.
Caldas da Rainha: hot springs and ceramics
I love Caldas da Rainha, a small city north of Lisbon. This underrated city is known for two things: hot springs and ceramics. Sometime in the 15th century, Portugal’s Queen Leonor established a hospital and church here, hence the name, which means “Queen’s hot springs”. By the 19th and 20th centuries spa towns had become all the rage with aristocracy but it didn’t last. Now we’re left with a cute heritage town centre that speaks of former grandeur. It’s also home to Bordallo Pinheiro’s main workshop – and a ceramic factory outlet!
Related blog: 10 things to do and see in Caldas da Rainha
Arouca Geopark: quiet, natural wonder
3.5-hour drive from Lisbon // 80-minute drive to Regua, Douro Valley
One of my favourite adventures in 2024 was a hike to an abandoned village in Arouca Geopark. After, we stopped for a hearty lunch in a tiny stone village and I made friends with a herd of goats. Dreamy. To add this to your itinerary would require a bit of a detour to travel the winding roads within the Arouca Geopark reserve.
Some girlfriends and I did the half-day hike to Drave, an abandoned village that’s a three-hour return hike from Regoufe. After I drove some rather hairy roads to Pena, where we’d pre-ordered the oven-roasted veal at Adega Típica da Pena. After, I wandered the two-street village and found myself in a pack of goats making friends and giving them scratches behind the horns. It’s a hard-to-reach spot!
Don’t want to drive? Then I suggest taking the train or a private driver to Porto, and then join a guided Douro Valley day trip. I’ve rounded up top-rated Douro Valley winery tours here.
Did your road trip finally lead you the Douro Valley? Keep reading…
- Guide to the best Douro Valley winery tours
- 48 hours in Porto
- 22 most beautiful castles in Portugal
- 16 most beautiful villages and small towns in Portugal
- Best tiles in Porto: Where to find Porto’s most beautiful azulejos
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