A fly & drive trip through Portugal might be the best travel decision you ever make. You land in Lisbon or Porto, pick up your car, and the country opens up. Not just the postcard version, but the real thing: whitewashed villages at the end of unmarked roads, hilltop castles with no tour bus in sight, wine poured by the person who made it. Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe to drive, compact enough to cover serious ground without feeling like you're spending the whole trip in a car, and varied enough that every hour on the road brings something new.

Our fly & drive packages take care of the flights, accommodation, and car rental, so you can focus on enjoying the journey. Depending on the itinerary, some packages are fully self-guided with pre-booked hotels and a detailed road book, while others include a mix of guided elements to help you get the most out of specific regions. All of them leave room for the kind of spontaneous detours that make your trip memorable.

Departure Airports

Most of our fly & drive packages operate from Toronto and Montreal, where direct flights to Lisbon and Porto are most readily available. If you're departing from another Canadian city, give us a call and we'll help you find the best routing.

Where You May Stay

• Lisbon: Most itineraries begin or end here, and rightly so. Lisbon is one of those cities that rewards wandering: the neighbourhoods have distinct personalities, there’s excellent food at every price point, and the late afternoon light over the Tagus is something you’ll never forget. It's also a very easy city to navigate before or after a long drive, whether you're walking, jumping on the metro, or catching one of the vintage trams up through the Alfama.
• Porto: Portugal's second largest city, known for stately bridges and port wine production. Spend an evening in the Ribeira district, cross the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia for port wine tastings at the historic lodges, and try to leave time for the Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world.
• The Alentejo: This is the part of Portugal that visitors who've only done Lisbon and the Algarve don't know they're missing. Vast and quiet, with a landscape of cork oaks, olive groves, and sunflower fields, the Alentejo moves at its own pace. Évora is the main hub, a compact walled UNESCO city with Roman ruins and extraordinary restaurants.
• The Douro Valley: One of the most visually dramatic wine regions in Europe. The valley drops steeply from the high plateaus down to the river, with terraced vineyards clinging to the slopes at improbable angles. A fly & drive gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace, stopping at quintas for tastings and following roads that the tour buses don't reach. The valley is stunning year-round but extraordinary in autumn during harvest, when the vineyards turn gold and the activity on the river picks up.

Portuguese weather for a road trip

Portugal's climate varies more than most visitors expect, especially once you're moving through different regions. A few things worth knowing:

Spring (March through May) is ideal for driving. The roads are quiet, the landscape is green and flowering, and temperatures are warm without being hot. Probably the best season for a fly & drive overall.

Summer (June through August) is peak season, particularly along the coast and in Lisbon and Sintra. Inland regions like the Alentejo can get very hot in July and August, which is worth factoring into your planning. That said, the long evenings are beautiful, and the pace of life slows pleasantly in the heat.

Autumn (September and October) is another excellent window, particularly for the Douro and Alentejo wine regions during harvest. Warm, less crowded than summer, and the light is extraordinary.

Winter (November through February) is mild in most of Portugal, and the roads are yours. The Alentejo and the north can see some rain, but if you're not beach-focused, winter is a pleasant and affordable time to travel. 

Not sure which itinerary is right for you?

Our agents know Portugal well, and can help you figure out the pace, the regions, and the level of guidance that suits you. Give us a call at 1-800-665-4981 and let's plan it together.