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City Break in Porto and Lisbon: A Week-Long Road Trip
Combine your city trip to Porto and Lisbon with a stunning route through nature. This trip (which we took in February) is a week filled with sunshine, picturesque cities, and unexpected discoveries in nature, as you follow the breathtaking Douro River from Porto to Lisbon.
It’s a journey through the history and culture of unique Portugal. Read about the road trip between the two cities. Of course, you can also do the route in the opposite direction.
Porto: History, Harry Potter, and Heavenly Meals
This city is fascinating all year round. With a handy map, you can explore the city. Admire the beautiful train station with its azulejos that tell the story of its history; enjoy the stately homes and green parks. Discover the Porto of Harry Potter, where J.K. Rowling found her inspiration. You’ll be amazed by the stunning Livraria Lello bookstore.
O Caseirinho, a family restaurant just outside the city center on the Douro River. Local wine, cheese, and meat.
Livraria Lello Bookstore: You can reserve a time slot online (it gets pretty crowded there). You’ll also receive a book voucher.
Porto: A tram ride to the beach and wineries along the Douro
Your next day began with a delicious breakfast, followed by a leisurely ride on the old wooden tram to the beach. On the way back, you’ll stroll along the Douro River, past wineries and the impressive Church of St. Francis with its catacombs. Porto proves that it’s worth every step. In Porto, you can get around on foot, by bike, or by tram. A car is absolutely unnecessary here.
Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest university
Coimbra, a somewhat forgotten city nestled between the famous cities of Porto and Lisbon, but this former capital of the Kingdom of Portugal is well worth a visit. The city is divided in two by the Mondego River. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal during the Middle Ages and has a long and significant history.
In 1290, King Dinis founded Portugal’s first university in Coimbra. The university is also one of the oldest in the world. The Coimbra student organization played a central role in the country’s subsequent history as a defender of the values of freedom and democracy, served as a bastion of resistance, and stood up against the Estado Novo dictatorship. Initially confined to the Royal Palace, the university spread throughout Coimbra, transforming it into a university town and earning it the title “Coimbra, City of Knowledge.”
Fado in Coimbra
It was also within the university that “Fado de Coimbra” was born, a musical expression unique in the world. The poems and artists evoke sweet serenades about love and longing for a woman, for the city, and for the Academy. The songs are accompanied by special round-bodied acoustic guitars.
Today, Coimbra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its many historic buildings and the city’s significance in the history of Portugal.
Coimbra, the setting for the love story of Pedro and Inês
Coimbra was also the setting for one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories that still lives on in the Portuguese imagination today: the forbidden love between D. Pedro of Portugal and D. Inês de Castro. It was in Coimbra that sparks flew between the heir to the Portuguese throne and the Galician noblewoman. Their tombs can still be visited in the magnificent monastery of Alcobaça (an hour’s drive south of Coimbra).
The Joanina Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world
The Joanina Library was named one of the most beautiful libraries in the world by The Telegraph. The library was built in the 17th century using gold reserves discovered in Brazil. It is located in the Paço das Escolas at the University of Coimbra.
Old Cathedral of Coimbra, Quiema das Fitas
The site where Portugal’s second king, D. Sancho I, was crowned serves as the stage for the monumental serenade that marks the beginning of “Queima das Fitas” (literally, “burning of the banners”). On the first Friday in May, students celebrate the end of the academic year by burning the banners of the various faculties and performing a serenade at midnight on the steps of the impressive cathedral. The Queima lasts eight days (one day for each faculty) and has now evolved into a festival featuring a parade and floats. It is one of the largest student events in Europe.
Alvados: Nature, Tranquility, and Culinary Delights
Continuing along the Douro Route, you’ll arrive in Alvados, at the Cooking & Nature hotel. At “the Nest,” you’ll experience complete tranquility surrounded by nature. There’s one local restaurant, but you can also dine at Cooking & Nature. The next day, take an e-bike tour along the breathtaking route lined with orange and olive trees—it’s unforgettable.
Nazaré: the world’s highest waves
A new highlight awaits you in Nazaré: the world’s highest waves crash along the coast. Surfers brave these impressive waves—a thrilling spectacle. A little further on, you can try your hand at calmer waters. From here, continue on to Lisbon!
Lisbon: narrow alleys and breathtaking views
Of course, the best way to explore Lisbon is by taking tram 28. Stroll through the narrow alleys of Alfama, which were spared by the 1755 earthquake. You’ll enjoy a stunning view from one of the city’s rooftop bars, such as the one at Hotel Mondial. You definitely don’t need a car in Lisbon. Everything is easily accessible on foot or by tram.
Fado in Lisbon
Of course, try a Fado restaurant. A chance encounter with an elderly man led us to Trovas Antigas, a “non-touristy” Fado restaurant in the bustling Bairro Alto neighborhood. An evening filled with enchanting music and delicious food.
Practical Tips for a City Trip to Porto and Lisbon
The trip from Porto to Lisbon is also easy to make by train; there are as many as 20 trains a day, and the ride takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes
The Nest Hotel next to Cooking & Nature in Alvados
O Caseirinho Restaurant in Porto
Trovas Antigas Fado Restaurant in Bairro Alto, Lisbon
You can fly to Porto and Lisbon with airlines such as Transavia
Car Rental in Porto: You can rent a car from Sunnycars. You don’t really need a car on your first and last days in the city. Both cities are hilly but easy to explore on foot.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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Peloponnese Hiking Tour
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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Get inspired
Are you looking for the most beautiful hiking and biking routes? Or do you want information about traveling by train or advice for the most beautiful road trips through nature. Get inspired for your next trip in green; ideas for planning your own trip or opting for an organized trip.
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