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One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon is an enchanting place—but let's face it, once you've seen the ceramic tiles, ridden the trams, and tasted the Pastéis de Belém, you might be ready to broaden your horizons. Portugal's treasures are well worth venturing beyond the capital city, and all you need is a rental car for the southern half of the country to open up to you. If it’s charming villages, stunning beaches, verdant mountains, and ancient castles you’re after, you'll find them all within a three hours' drive from Lisbon.
Whether you’re traveling with kids, a design-conscious companion, a gourmand, or simply venturing forth on your own, here are three famed road trips that will lead you into a variety of Portuguese scenery and stories.
A food odyssey to a vineyard haven: Alentejo
Start your Lisbon retreat at Palacio Principe Real, a 19th-century palace hotel in the trendy Principe Real neighborhood, where the lovely antique-furnished suites offer yoga mats, handcrafted candles, and Smeg fridges filled with local treats, smoothies, and juices. Guests can relax in the wellness zone, the lush garden with its infinity pool, the living room or the library, and enjoy modern cuisine at EVOO restaurant.
The culinary adventure continues in Alentejo, the largest and most rural region of Portugal and a land of contrasts where you can find whitewashed towns, cork forests, and dreamy vineyards. Just over an hour on the way from Lisbon to Évora is the small town of Montemor-o-Novo, which doesn’t draw a horde of tourists but offers curious visitors the chance to wander around the remains of a medieval castle perched on a hill, and the Convent of São Francisco with its interesting frescoes and sculptures. Not far is L’And Vineyards, a hidden gem of a hotel (a Relais & Chateaux property) that will delight foodies and wine lovers—and a perfect base to explore this corner of Alentejo.
L’And combines modern architecture with nature, offering 22 suites with private terraces, some of which have bedrooms with retractable roofs that allow you to sleep under the stars. The hotel also has an outdoor saline pool, a tennis court, a library, and a wine club where you can taste and blend your own wine during a guided experience with the winemaker. Other highlights include the spa and the restaurant, both of which are inspired by Alentejo products. The spa offers treatments based on grape extracts, olive oil, honey, and herbs, as well as vinotherapy sessions that promise to rejuvenate your skin and body. Meanwhile, Mapa Restaurant leads diners on a culinary journey, with each dish taking cues from a destination, such as the Mozambique-inspired Algarve coast shrimp served with matapa, peanuts, and coconut.
About an hour from the hotel is Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the rich history and culture of Alentejo in its Roman temple, the Gothic cathedral, the Moorish alleys, and the Renaissance palaces that dot the medieval walls. Don’t miss the eerie Chapel of Bones, decorated with human skulls and bones, or the Museum of Évora, which houses a collection of paintings, sculptures, and archaeological artifacts. For a taste of the local cuisine, head to one of the many restaurants that serve hearty dishes like açorda (bread soup), migas (fried breadcrumbs), or porco preto (black pork). For lighter fare, stop at Lombardo, a charming little restaurant that serves Mediterranean style dishes meant to be shared.
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Artistic coastal charm: Melides
Start at The Ivens, Autograph Collection, located in Lisbon’s trendy Chiado district. The hotel pays homage to the Portuguese explorer Roberto Ivens, who traveled across Africa and Asia in the 19th century, and the décor is inspired by his adventures—think exotic prints, maps, and globes adorning the walls. The rooms are spacious and sunny, with plush beds, Marshall Bluetooth speakers, Jo Malone amenities in the black & white tiled bathrooms, and balconies overlooking the city or the river. The Ivens has a buzzy restaurant, Rocco, which serves contemporary Italian fare.
From Lisbon, you’ll drive 90 minutes south to Melides, a tiny village on the Atlantic Coast that more than makes up for its small size in charm and laid back vibes. Shop for handcrafted ceramics at Vida Dura and sample fried cuttlefish at O Fadista, a simple family-run tasca. Then spend the rest of the day swimming, paddling, or surfing at some of the most gorgeous beaches in all of Portugal, walking along the amber-hued dunes, or visiting the nearby pine forests.
A quartet of structural gems in the hilly outskirts of Melides, hotel Pa.te.os offers spacious and bright homes designed with a respect for the natural countryside and a nod to the local architectural vernacular. Made of concrete and perfectly positioned to frame the countryside, sky or sunset from outdoor patios, each home is fully equipped with modern amenities, including a floating fireplace, Miele kitchen, and comfortable indoor-outdoor spaces for lounging and relaxing. The homes share a saline infinity-edged pool, crafted of dark grey concrete to contrast with the blue sky and surrounding nature (some 350 species of flora and fauna). There is no restaurant on site, but they do offer a delicious breakfast spread as well as a variety of experiences you can book ahead, such as private yoga or meditation sessions, massages, and in-home dining, which the staff deliver on wicker baskets to your table (inside or out) that they set with beautiful linen placemats and earthenware.
Not far is the town of Grândola, where you can book a horseback ride with Passeios a Cavalo Melides, which offers excursions across the dunes and along the sand to splash in the waves, or to the cork tree forest of Serra de Grândola. To continue with the equine theme, venture into the charming village of Comporta and enjoy a meal at Cavalariça. This Michelin-recommended modern restaurant is set in a former horse stable and serves international dishes made with organic and seasonal produce from local farmers. Try the roasted beetroot served with quinoa, cheese, and a “ketchup” made with rocha pear (a Portuguese pear variety), or the cured mackerel with a grapefruit ponzu dressing. Before dinner, take some time to explore the village and check out some of the boutiques, especially Casa da Cultura, which promotes Portuguese craftsmanship and culture. Pick up a hand-woven caftan or a leather bag from an indie Portuguese brand.
For a night out in Melides, visit the 16th-century former convent that now houses Christian Louboutin’s luxe Vermelho Hotel and Xtian, a bistro style restaurant where chef David Abreu offers creative and refined dishes that showcase seasonal ingredients from local producers and blend Portuguese traditions with a French slant—think a seared Skate wing with crushed potato, spinach, sundried tomatoes and Vierge sauce, or braised ox cheeks with celeriac puree, wild mushrooms and a red wine sauce.
Sun-soaked golden shores: The Algarve
There aren’t many hotels in Lisbon that offer accommodations big enough for a family of four, except that is, for Four Seasons Ritz. The iconic 1950s property recently underwent an impressive renovation that includes a new outdoor swimming pool and bar, a new terrace for the Ritz Bar, a Michelin-starred restaurant, CURA, and guest rooms that play up the retro-modern aesthetic.
The Algarve, about a 2.5-hour drive from Lisbon and the southernmost region of Portugal, is the place to go to enjoy dramatic cliffs, golden sands, and the chance to swim in sea water that’s relatively warmer than elsewhere in Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
Check in at W Algarve, which opened in 2022 on the outskirts of Albufeira and offers 134 rooms and suites featuring spacious balconies that look out to the cascading pool and the golden bay of Armação de Pera. Perfect for a family of four, the 10 WOW suites feature two ensuite bedrooms, an open-concept kitchen and living room, balcony, and a private rooftop patio with a pair of sunbeds and your own plunge pool. The expansive property has its own herb garden, outdoor playground for little ones, a gorgeous pool that wraps around a bar, and walking paths that meander around cliffs to a pair of beaches—one of them a secluded cove that’s practically empty (even in high season)! Dinner at the rooftop Paper Moon, a modern Italian restaurant with gorgeous sunset views, is a must do.
There’s much to keep you entertained at the W, but don’t miss out on a visit to the buzzing town of Albufeira, which is particularly popular because it offers plenty of activities right on the beach—from dolphin-watching excursions to kayaking the Benagil caves, surf lessons, and more.
For something a bit less touristy, head to the eastern Algarve and Tavira, a quaint little destination with a history that spans from the Phoenicians to the Moors. The whitewashed town, with its cobblestone streets and blue painted doors, might remind you of a Greek island. But unlike Mykonos or Santorini, here you’ll find a pretty Roman bridge (it crosses the Gilão River) that leads to some interesting architectural and cultural sites, including the Castelo de Tavira, a medieval fortress that once was used to defend the port from Moorish invasion, and later from pirates. There’s plenty to do off the cobblestone streets, too; kayak in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a lagoon system that shelters a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna and offers the chance to swim in some gloriously warm water. Don’t miss Barril, a former tuna-fishing village that has a peculiar anchor cemetery and a wooden walkway that leads to a gorgeous beach where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds for the day.
Another excursion from Albufeira is the marina town of Vila Real de Santo António, set on the border with Spain. Here you’ll find Grand House, a dreamy boutique hotel with a Belle Epoque façade and a colonial-meets-art-deco interior. Book a table at Grand Salon, the hotel’s cozy restaurant overlooking the marina, where the chef combines Portuguese culinary traditions with a modern touch.
