Road tripping - drive slo, enjoy the road
November 15, 2021
Best road trips around Portugal
Looking for the road trip of a lifetime? Look no further than a small country at the edge of Europe. Here are our four top road trips, with many close contenders not making the list, but still highly recommended. Without further ado, let’s drive slo into:
The Alentejo coastline
Dreamy wanderlust beaches. Ragged dirtroads into deserted spots. Wonderful longboard surf lines. Grilled fish. Lost villages that have been entirely renovated but kept their old charm. The Alentejo coast has it all. What’s best, you can land in Lisbon (Leash-bow-ah as the locals say), get a car or a campervan and you’ll be out of the city and full into the Alentejo in an hour.
The Gerês national park
Drive for miles with only nature as your companion. Stop in the middle of the road to let wild horses or a shepherd and their sheep walk past you. Chase hidden waterfalls or snap a picture next to one that smiles at you roadside. The Geres national park is a portuguese gem that the locals love but doesn’t get enough love outside the Portuguese borders. Just go. But go slo.
Serra da Estrela
The highest mountain in the Portuguese mainland offers starking views, quiet fireplaces in beautiful modern boutique hotels, some small but super fun ski slopes in the winter. The best goat cheese you’ll have ever tasted, and some breathtaking hikes through nature leading into quiet lakes. If you get nostalgic listening to the long and winding road, this is for you.
The Douro valley
Of course, never drink and drive. But drive, park, drink. Take the Douro valley. Land in Porto, sleep in Gaia overlooking the Cidade Invicta, take a boat tour and ride the old train back, go to many a-wine tastings. Take a Douro valley road trip and experience the most beautiful sights, the best food and the loveliest people you’ve ever encountered.
What’s the best car to rent if I’m road tripping Portugal?
You decide how adventurous you want to get. Generally speaking though, if you get a car from one of the big guys through Skycanner, Kayak or Rentalcars, you’ll be fine. You don’t need a big car or a jeep for most places, but a mid-sized will help you navigate the worst roads in the country if you’re spending time outside the city. There are also some great camper sites so if you’re into the lifestyle, look at Portuguese indie campers for an amazing slo stay.
How to use slo on the go
If you’re taking a road trip, you’re not the average traveler in any case. You’ve decided to go on your own, take your luggage and find the hidden corners and stop to take in the serendipity of finding an un-instagrammed corner. Slo is the personal travel assistant that goes in your pocket and is always a message away. Change of plans, need recommendations or want to stay a little longer? Give us a shout (no CAPS please), we’re here to help.
Go slo
So there you go, if endless calls, a pile of unmanageable emails and crappy travel sites aren’t your thing, don’t worry. They’re our thing. All you need to do is sign up on our website, start a conversation with us, and you have the best personalized agents in the world, right in your pocket. Why would you travel the old hectic way, when you can travel slo. Feel the sun and the wind in your face, worry less, travel slo.
written by slo.travel. Follow us on instagram