susanandmark15

We are traveling to Portugal in May and want to pick up our rental car at the airport to drive to Porto. We are wondering if this is a good pick up location and how complicated it is to get out of the city from the airport or should we look at another location. Also how complicated or difficult is it to drive to Porto. We want to rent the car for two weeks and plan to leave right from our flight to Porto - Evora - then we have six nights in Lagos and when we return to Lisbon for 4 nights we plan to leave the car behind at that point. Any advice on where to pick up and drop off the car in Lisbon would be appreciated.

thursdaysd

Are you planning to stop on the way to Porto? Because if not you might do better to take the train and rent a car when you leave Porto, unless the drop-off fee would be high. You don't say where you're coming from, but I wouldn't want to get off a night flight and drive any distance.

HappyTrvlr

It was cery easy to pixk up a car at rhe Lisbon airportmand head out to other destinarions.

Robert2533

Not knowing where you are coming from, it's difficult to give you a lot of information on what you want to do, but if your first stop is Porto, why not fly into Porto instead of Lisbon?

If you need to fly into Lisbon for some reason, you would be advised to spend the night somewhere between Lisbon and Porto, or forget about picking up the car and take the train up to Porto.

Also, it is about a 4-1/2 hour drive from Porto back to Evora.

I would also take the train from Lagos back to Lisbon instead of driving.

Actually, you might want to talk to someone about planning your trip to save you time, money and headaches.

MyriamC

It is absolutely not dificult to drive from Lisbon airport to Porto. There is a tollroad (E1/A1/IP1) very close to the airport (less than 500m if I recall well) that goes straight to Porto, and directions in Portugal are very clear. You could also take your GPS from home or rent one at the car rental office.
Once in Porto, drop off your car in a parking garage and leave it there until your drive to Evora. It's a bit sad, though, that you will have to drive the same road twice to get to Évora.
Pick-up and drop-off at Lisbon airport is by far the easiest.

phpacha

I've done something similar with my wife and daughter last year. But we stayed two nights in Lisbon (after getting the car in the airport) and only gone north until a little town called Santa Maria da Feira (near Porto).

We make this trip from Lisbon to Santa Maria in two days, staying overnight and thought the day in Coimbra (a lovely university town) and in Santa Maria. In this pace, traveling in the afternoon, it was a very enjoyable trip. The roads are great, but be careful to take the toll ticket when you pass the automatic cabins otherwise you'll have to pay a heavy fine (been there, done that) in the next toll.

In the journey back, Óbidos is a incredible medieval walled city in the top of a hill. At the higher point of the city stands a beautiful castle. It's near Lisbon, but deserves at least an afternoon.

If you're staying at Porto, Santa Maria da Feira could be a interesting day trip, also with a great castle and in good condition. It's there the best restaurant I've ever eat: Orfeu.

Contrary to the common wisdom about driving in major European cities, we thought that the transit in Lisbon to be very easy to handle. Although I must say that this evolution come from people who drive in the transit of Rio de Janeiro. Anyway, keeping the car in Lisbon is a very good way to see the sights in the city. Don't miss the Pastel de Belém!

thursdaysd

If you drive in Rio, Lisbon should be a breeze, lol. However, a car is completely unnecessary in Lisbon, which has excellent and multifarious public transport. And cheap taxis.

susanandmark15

Thanks everyone from your feedback. We are arriving in Lisbon from Canada. Our flights are already booked to Lisbon and we already have a committment in Lagos for the six nights so we are trying to figure how to book our other nights around it.
We are now thinking that we will spend three nights in Porto as we want to take a day trip to the valley and then just one night in Evora. Is one night in Evora enough.
Also can we do less traveled roads between Porto and Evora or do we need to take the major highway back through Lisbon.

Appreciate all the feedback.

goldenautumn

I might be the only one, but I am unclear about the order of your itinerary.

Are you still thinking of going from the airport directly to Porto, or someplace else?

In the event, if you are arriving from Canada, I would suggest taking the train to your first destination -- especially if it is Porto. Taxis in Lisbon are astoundingly inexpensive, and you can just take one to the train station and get the fast train to Porto. I suggest this because I don't think you will want your first experience of driving in Porto doing it while you are jet lagged.


Just as aside, I don't understand this comment posted in this thread::

"Actually, you might want to talk to someone about planning your trip to save you time, money and headaches."

Isn't this what the poster is doing? Talking to us about planning the trip? Or is this somebody trying to drum up business for a paid consultancy?

susanandmark15

Our planned route was Porto - Evora - Lagos - Lisbon. The only reason we were looking at picking up the car right away was we were concerned about strikes with the train. Should we be concered about that?
Our preference would be to take the train to Porto and either pick up the car there or do a return ticket to Lisbon and pick it up there and then drive to Evora and onto to Lagos. What do you think?

hkto

I wouldn't bother with car until you are ready to leave Porto. Just take a taxi (5 min ride, no more than 7-8€) to Oriente station and take train from there. Train tickets can purchased in advance from cp.pt There are also frequent buses (at least hourly, sometimes 2 per hour), they go from Sete Rios station) http://www.rede-expressos.pt/ Car is not necessary in Porto, it's difficult to drive and hard to find parking. Some hotels have it but more likely it's not free. You can always pick it up when up leave town. Last time we stayed in Best Western & I saw AVIS employee deliver car directly to the hotel. BTW that one had paid outdoor parking next to it but hotel wasn't that good.

Also you can fly with Ryanair from Porto to Faro, get car there & return it in Lisbon.

susanandmark15

Thanks. We have decided to do the train to Porto and then wait until we leave there to rent the car and go to Evora then onto Lagos.

We want to do a day trip to the Duoro Valley while in Porto and wondered if anyone has any suggestions on how to organize this with and which companies are our best bet.

thursdaysd

You don't necessarily need a company. There's a train line that runs up the vallery.There used to be mountain railways as well, but I haven't checked on them lately. You could also check on boat trips.

Robert2533

There are several trains each day from Porto - Campanha to Regua. The cost is €9,50, one-way. The fastest train takes about 1hr 42min.

http://www.cp.pt

MyriamC

We drove the Douro Valley in our rental car, from Porto upto Pinhão. We took the road along the river. The views were splendid. The road was very nice to drive: winding, and in the hills overlooking the river and the vineyards.
The first part of the road, until Peso da Régua was the least interesting part. Once past Peso da Régua, the beauty of the landscape was breathtaking. The advantage of being in your own car is that you can get out wherever and whenever you want.

ratansingh

Hello! We are looking at a similar trip. Flying in from USA to Lisbon on the 15th and then on to Porto. Our overnight flight gets in at 8:40 so we should be able to get on a train around or after 11 (anyone who recently cleared customs/immigration can let me know if this is feasible). Based on earlier comment in this thread (hkto) suggested taking the train from Oriente station. However the cp.pt website shows the last train leaving for Porto around 10:30 - not sure we can make that. So first question is - our there other options? in terms of other Lisbon train stations or was my search criteria not correct. Also it did not look like I could just book one way passage.

Prefer to stay in 4 star type properties (so suggestions very welcome). We fly back from Lisbon on the 22nd morning. The plan is to spend the nights of 15-16-17 in Porto and do day trips. We then plan/hope to drive from Porto towards Lisbon, spending a night on the way (suggestions?). This will leave us spending 3 nights in Lisbon. First trip to Portugal, we are not very familiar with this beautiful part of the world. So welcome suggestions/changes etc

hkto

Clearing passport control and collecting luggage is fast but you never know whether plane is late or not. There 15-16 trains per day from Lisboa-Oriente to Porto, first at around 7am, last at 9:39pm. I am not sure what schedule you've looked at; try http://venda.cp.pt/ticketing/search....urnDepartTime=

for June 15, some with 23euro sale fares. Also RENEX runs buses from Oriente to Porto see renex.pt takes 3 hrs

amer_can

On your other post i recc. Pousadas.pt and Pestana group.. Have a wonderful time in this outstanding destination..

ratansingh

Thanks! What do you all think about renting a car and driving down from Porto to Coimbra (spend a night there) and then on to Lisbon. Is driving easy? Interesting things to see on the way?
I have driven between cities in Italy and France and found it to be a great way to travel/explore.

What about a day trip from Lisbon to Evora? Hear the train ride is comfortable and scenic- but also read elsewhere that trains are not very reliable.

MyriamC

If you have driven in Italy, Portugal will be a piece of cake!

The Schist villages in the centre of Portugal are supposed to be very worthwhile. We haven't had the chance to visit but will certainly do next time. Check out this website: http://goeurope.about.com/gi/o.htm?z...iasdoxisto.pt/

Why not drive Lisbon - Evora if you have a car? It's a very scenic drive along the N114. The road is quiet and there's a great variety in the endless landscape. Really beautiful!