After Lisbon days, we will drive up the coast, stopping in Sintra for a night and then Obidos for two. We will be staying in Porto for three nights and then in Pinhao. We have a rental car and two days to spend somewhere en route to Lisbon airport. We don't want to drive back down the coast again. Where would you suggest to break up the drive? A lovely farm/vineyard hotel? We prefer a little bit of comfort. Somewhere near Viseu, without going into the city? Is it too far to go to Marvao? We only have two nights to fill in. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Moved to the Europe Forum and tag changed to Portugal.

Many questions:

• What time of year?
• Is there a specific reason why you are spending just 1 night in Sintra and 2 in Obidos?

I ask only because the huge crowds descending on Sintra this year make seeing the monuments challenging in just one day.
Some Fodorites have fairly recently budgeted 2 full days for their Sintra sightseeing, staying for 3 nights.
Obidos could be seen in a few hours in a day trip, many would say.
But perhaps you plan to use the equally "very, very busy-with-day trippers" Obidos as a base to tour Albocaça (30 min. drive) and/or Batalha (50+ min).

• How many nights will you spend in the Douro Valley in Pinhâo? Just a night or perhaps 2?
• For your two nights on the drive from Pinhâo back to Lisbon airport, does your flight from LIS leave in the early morning, therefore necessitating spending the night before in the city or near the airport? So do you actually have 2 nights for this drive or just one?

For a 1 night or 2 night stay, depending on how many nights you actually have, on the non-coastal, inland drive from Pinhão back to Lisbon, I would choose Coimbra, as a a halfway point.
But you seem to want not to go into a city but instead are looking for a rural experience.

Viseu for me would be too "early" on this drive, and Tomar would be closer to Lisbon.

I've experienced all 3, but in Viseu at the Pousada in town, in Coimbra across the river in the extremely comfortable and relaxing Quinta das Lagrimas with easy parking and quiet and beautiful gardens, pools (indoor and outdoor), spa, 2 restaurants and which is steeped in the history of Pedro e Inés.

In smaller Tomar some Fodorites have stayed at the Thomas Boutique Hotel. And there's the newer Via Galé Collection Tomar boutique hotel with pool.
Tomar is a quiet and pretty town sitting on the river with the magnificent Templar's Convento de Cristo looming above it.

As to a vineyard stay in the Dão wine region, there's the Puro Dão Hotel & Spa, outside of Viseu. But again, it's only an hour and a half drive from Pinhão, so not at all a halfway point.
I personally would want to be much closer to Lisbon. It really all depends on when you have to be back in Lisbon for your flight home.

Agree that I would spend more time in Sintra than in Obidos and do recommend both monasteries in Batalha and Albocaca. We had a morning stop at Albocaca but spent a night at a modern business hotel in Batalha right across the street from the monastery which was so interesting. Don't recall the name of the hotel but parking was free as was breakfast buffet and we also enjoyed a nice dinner.

Just in case you do want to visit either monastery, Alcobaça or Batalha, they could both be accessed as well from far less touristed Tomar, if you want to spend your 2 nights there, if indeed you have 2 nights in between Pinhão and the time you need to be at LIS for your flight home.
From Tomar to Alcobaça is a 55 minute or so drive, from Tomar to Batalha, only 40 min. on the IC9 . Obidos is closer to Alcobaça.


Since you asked about Marvão, the "eagles' nest", in the Upper Alentejo, the scenic Serra de São Mamede, the drive from Pinhão to there, or vice versa, would take on the toll road just under 4 hours with a quick refueling or rest stop.
You would not pass Viseu but instead Castelo Branco and Guarda.

Should you stay in Tomar, we bought the combo Unesco Heritage Monument ticket for Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Convento de Cristo in Tomar and Mosteiro da Batalha. We loved Tomar and stayed at Thomar Boutique hotel. Check out Chapters Ten, Eleven and Twelve on our 2022 trip to Portugal detailing our days visiting each UNESCO site (and more). Lots of photos and ideas (including Lisbon and Sintra in previous chapters).
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/portugal-2022/
Our favorite restaurant in Tomar was Sabores ao Rubro (my review below):
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/sab...omar-portugal/
Here's a photo from Mosteiro da Batalha: