The Perfect 12-Day Portugal Road Trip

12-Day Portugal Road Trip Itinerary: Lisbon, Algarve, Porto & Cascais

Hearing so much of how wonderful Portugal is, it's been making it's way up to the top of my list for a vacation. A lover of driving and exploring, I knew there was lots to see in Portugal and i decided to plan out a 12 day roadtrip that would capture the essence of the country and cities while allowing us to maximize our time and enjoy and discover, without any lost drawbacks.
We flew out from JFK on a Wednesday night so we would arrive at Lisbon airport at 8am and be ready to hit the road at 9am. We picked up our rental car (treated ourselves to a BMW 4 series convertible, because VACATION) and headed south to Albufeira in the Algarve, Portugal's Southern coast, to enjoy our first 4 days of vacation, baking in the sun and getting that summer tan locked in.

Road Trip Stop #1: Albufeira

We stayed at Masana Algarve, a small boutique resort with 33 one and two bedroom residences and villas. Located in Albufeira, this property was so beautiful, conveniently located and backed up right onto some beautiful cliffs and trails the Algarve is known for. The beach that the hotel overlooks has the cutest beach setup where you can rent 2 loungers with a sunshade for 25 euros for the day. There's also the cutest little restaurant for drinks and fresh AF fish to enjoy that you can have prepared your way.

The nightlife scene in Albufeira reminds me of those classic beach town party hubs, the streets filled with young adults, looking to party all night. I wanted to explore Albufeira as they have an LGBTQ+ bar that I wanted to check out, Connection Bar. With a cute and intimate inside and an exterior terrace that overlooks the strip below, it's a great spot to enjoy a drink, people watch, and connect with other LGBTQ+ travellers in the Albufeira area.

As you all know, I LIVE for a boat day, so we rented a catamaran to take us around and experience the Algarve from the water and really take in those incredible coastlines that the Algarve is known for. A full day of sailing around, endless rose and the most delicious food provided by our captain and skipper. If you need a connect for an incredible sailing day, we ALWAYS have a contact!

My absolute favorite meal while in Algarve was at Villa Joya SEA, a Michelin rated, al fresco dining shack that serves up a new menu every season on the beach of Villa Joya. One of those places that books up well in advance, but we were able to snag a reservation for the most incredible afternoon lunch.

‍

Road Trip Stop #2: Cascais

‍After 4 days of beach and sun, we packed up, put the top down and headed back north on a 3 hour drive to the cutest coastal beach town of Cascais, just outside of Lisbon. We stayed at The Evolution Hotel, a modern and vibrant lifestyle hotel, so we could enjoy some rooftop pool and sun after an early morning drive and then walked into town for a delicious dinner and cocktails at the cutest bar IZAKAYA. Cascais was the perfect stop over to rest and relax before driving up to Porto, which is 3 hours north of Lisbon

_{Road Trip Stop #3: Porto}

The next morning we hit the road at 10am to arrive in Porto just in time for an early check in. We booked a room at the Altis Porto, a beautifully designed hotel overlooking the Duoro River. With a rooftop pool and an incredible spa, this hotel was the perfect hub for us to relax and enjoy while being super central in Porto. We were sure to book a room with "river views" so we could open the balcony and take in that crisp Porto air.

One of Portugal's oldest cities, Porto is rich in history so we decided to book a private Tuk-Tuk tour to learn all about the history of the city and see the famous site while being guided by a local who could answer all our questions and give some recommendations for the rest of our time in Porto.

We swung by Fabrik Bar, one of the few handful of LGBTQ+ bars in Porto. After a full day of sightseeing and an incredible dinner, we arrived around 11pm, an early time for a party as we learned. Most of the bars are open till about 4am, so if you're aiming to have a full crowd and party, be sure to arrive later in the night. We were told 1am is the perfect time to come by by the bartenders.

Our favorite meal was at GRUTA, a women owned and woman run restaurant that is a twist on traditional Portuguese cuisine with modern flair. We did not have a single bad bite. The freshness of all the seafood is a standard all throughout Portugal.

Be sure to be prepared to CLIMB; as I'm sure you've heard of Lisbon's steps and steep city infrastructure, Porto is the same and there are constantly hills to climb up giving those glutes and calves a nice workout. Be sure to walk the famous Dom Luis Bridge, stand over the Duoro River and catch the most beautiful sunset illuminating the valley and cities

‍

Road Trip Stop #4: Lisbon

After 2 nights in Porto, it was time to head back down to Lisbon, for the final leg of our trip. The drive between all the cities is serene and peaceful. Wide open highways with views that go on as far as the eye can see. Vineyards, mountains, oceans in the distance, it was honestly such a beautiful and stress free driving experience. Once in Lisbon, we returned the rental car since in Lisbon you should plan on walking everywhere or taking Ubers.

We decided to stay in one of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods of Lisbon, Bairro Alto, which is in the historic area and super close to lots of the sights you want to see and experience in Lisbon. When booking hotels, I always consider the amount of time being spent in the room/on the property as a determining factor. Knowing Lisbon is meant to be explored all day and all night, we opted for a more economical option that was centrally located, 9 MERCY HOTEL. This was our perfect home-base to rest and get a solid night of sleep, while having the city to explore at our doorsteps.

As foodies and admirers of history, we booked an incredible food tour that explored the history of Portugal's cuisine in relation to some of their colonies of years ago. We were thrilled to enjoy 6 hours of history and delicious meals all while connecting with local restaurateurs and owners who have strong ties in their community and a commitment to their culture. Food tours always provide an insight to local cuisine and the history of a destination so I always try to book one while traveling to new places.

We had so many amazing meals in Lisbon, but my top three would be Prado a glorious farm to table experience serving modern seasonal cuisine, JNcQUOI Asia an over the top glamorous restaurant with dishes from India, Thailand, China and Japan, and Faz Frio a centuries old institution in Lisbon serving up traditional dishes with exceptional service.

We would go out nightly to the bar-hop in Barrio Alto. With about 10 LGBTQ+ bars within walking distance of the hotel, we were thrilled to be able to hop around and enjoy drinks with locals and other tourists in an inclusive and welcoming environment. We always felt welcome and the atmosphere is vibrant and driven by community and love.

‍

Portugal is an incredible country and should be on the top of your destinations to visit list. A country that is very welcoming of our LGBTQ+ community, has a vibrant nightlife scene for the community, an incredible culinary scene, and beaches and coastlines that are absolutely breath taking. This 12 day road trip journey is the best way to get that first taste for Portugal. Let me plan your trip or even copy this itinerary, you will not regret it one bit.

‍