Sights, stop offs and seascapes: Lisbon to Faro road trip
Fly into Lisbon, fly out of Faro and have a whole lot of fun in between with a wonderful Portuguese road trip.
Whether you’ve just got a few days or you fancy taking a couple of weeks, this Portuguese road trip is worth taking. There are so many sites to see between the Portuguese capital and its southern Algarve city.
So book your flights, hire a car and get ready for a ride full of culture, history, delicious food and incredible beachside views.
There’s so much to see and do in Lisbon. Start your Portuguese road trip with a couple of days exploring the capital
Fado: Get a taste for the authentic Portuguese culture with a visit to a see a traditional Fado music performance. There are lots of places you can do this, but A Baiuca is a women-owned space that’s intimate and feels a little more authentic than some of the competitors.
Pastel de Nata: It wouldn’t be a trip to Lisbon without a Pastel de Nata. The original is from Pastéis de Belém, but you’ll find worthy competitors in every nook and cranny in the city. We once even spotted pastels being sold out of a side-street window to Saturday night revellers.
Belém: This Lisbon neighbourhood was key to Portugal’s 15th and 16th century Age of Exploration and has plenty of monuments celebrating that time. Wander around to see the Torre de Belém, constructed in 1520, and the impressive 52-metre-high Padrão dos Descobrimentos.
LX Factory: Originally a 1846 textile factory, LX now is a vibrant, creative hub with lots of cool independent boutiques. But don’t leave without trying the legendary Landeau Chocolate Cake. A decade after first trying it, we’re still thinking about it. And so is the New York Times.
It’s roadtrip time! Stop offs worth making
It’s worth taking your time on your journey from Lisbon to Faro. Sure if traffic goes your way, you could do it in a little under three hours. But where’s the fun in that? Make the drive a focal point of your holiday and enjoy plenty of stop offs on the way. You’ll be glad you did.
Monsaraz
Take an inland detour on your Portuguese road trip to visit the pretty whitewashed town of Monsaraz. It’s right beside the Spanish border and is one of the oldest settlements in southern Portugal, with human settlement going back thousands of years. Its hilltop position also gives it stunning views over the Alqueva Dam and the surrounding countryside.
- Drive from Lisbon: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Drive to Faro: 3 hours
São Pedro do Corval
We love a souvenir that really makes us smile and Portuguese pottery is something that can brighten up every meal time. São Pedro do Corval is one of the best places in the country to find the perfect piece(s!) to add to your collection, with streets lined with artisan workshops creating beautiful handmade pottery.
- Drive from Lisbon: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Drive to Faro: 2 hours 50 minutes
Évora
Due to be a European Capital of Culture in 2027, there’s a lot of buzz around Évora at the moment. This medieval walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of Roman ruins, gothic architecture and many more architectural gems. One of the most striking buildings here is Capela dos Ossos. Directly translated as Chapel of Bones, it was decorated in the 1500s with the skulls and bones of 5,000 ordinary people.
- Drive from Lisbon: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Drive to Faro: 2 hours 40 minutes
L’and Vineyards
Inject a little bit of luxury into your Portuguese roadtrip with a stay at the exclusive L’and Vineyards. Come here to make your own organic wine (or just enjoy tasting it!), chill out in the state-of-the-art spa, take to the skies with a hot air balloon ride and enjoy a spot of stargazing from the comfort of your very own kingsize bed.
- Drive from Lisbon: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Drive to Faro: 2 hours 30 minutes
Serra de Grândola
Stretch your legs with a journey through the Serra de Grândola cork oak forests. It’s the perfect place to connect with nature with rolling landscapes, bubbling streams and lots of wildlife. You can hike or bike the trail, but be warned it’s pretty hilly so not for the faint-of-heart! But if you’re feeling fit and have the time to do it, the views make it all worthwhile.
- Drive from Lisbon: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Drive to Faro: 2 hours
Praia da Falésia
It wouldn’t be a real Portuguese road trip if we didn’t have a beach stop off, right? Praia de Falésia is a stunning 6km beach that links Albufeira to Vilamoura and is surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Take a dip in the turquoise waters and relax on the soft golden sands. This is an ideal time to reflect on all the adventures you’ve had and look forward to a few more ahead in Faro…
- Drive from Lisbon: 3 hours
- Drive to Faro: 50 minutes
Celebrate the end of your Portuguese road trip with a little time in Faro before you fly home
Sé de Faro: Ground yourself in the city’s geography by getting a birdseye view. Climb this cathedral’s bell tower and you’ll be rewarded with fabulous panoramics of the city. The cathedral itself is also a gem, with plenty of beauty to explore while you’re there.
Museu Municipal de Faro: Faro’s municipal museum is in a 16th-century convent and lets you take a closer look at how the region developed from prehistoric times until now. Marvel at the Roman mosaic of the god Oceanus, one of Portugal’s national treasures and so much more.
Cataplana: Enjoy the rich flavours of the Algarve with this delicious seafood stew. It’s cooked in a copper clam-shaped pot has a rich tomato base and is packed with shellfish, fish, white wine and herbs. You can find it throughout Faro, but why not try this local spot?
Ria Formosa: This conservation area is only a short drive from Faro and is an important ecosystem for many different species of birds including flamingos! It’s a must-visit for anyone who has a special interest in wildlife, or if you simply want to slow down a little. Plus there are gorgeous beaches in this conservation area, accessible by ferry.
