Explore Southern Portugal: Road trip from land to sea

Your bags? Packed! Your level of excitement? Off the charts! As you stand in the airport with your sunglasses on, you can almost already feel the fresh, salty air of the Atlantic.

One minute, you're thinking about your upcoming adventures, and the next, you're sitting behind the wheel of your hire car in Lisbon.  

Your very first adventure on the way to Fátima is a stopover in Óbidos! Let this enchanting little town take you on a journey through time. Stroll through the colourful alleyways of the old town, browse the small shops and get your foodie heart racing with tasty Portuguese cuisine. You can even take a walk above the streets on the mighty, centuries-old city wall! Look down at the countless white houses that lie at your feet and soak in the fantastic view of the surrounding countryside. Snap a few pics to save the memories for later, then head for Fátima, the holiest city in Portugal. What makes it the holiest? The Virgin Mary herself is said to have appeared here many, many years ago!

You enjoy your breakfast here and take one last walk along your favourite spots to stretch your legs before getting back into your hire car and continuing your road trip through Portugal.

Where to now? Évora! The capital of the Alentejo region is a true hotspot for history buffs. Even from afar, you can make out the ruins of a Roman temple perched on a hill above the city – a taste of what awaits you in the alleyways of the historic Old Town. After checking in, you immediately make your way to the centre. The arcade-lined Praça do Giraldo square, boasting the Igreja de Santo Antao church, is the heart of the city and the perfect starting point for your discovery tour. Street musicians play the soundtrack to the colourful hustle and bustle as you stroll through the many small alleyways, marvel at the gleaming white facades and browse the souvenir shops.

Before you make your way to your new stay today, it's worth making a detour to Monsaraz. This small village of whitewashed houses within the walls of a medieval castle lies high up on a mountain and looks like it's been frozen in time. Enjoy the tranquillity of this dreamy little place and take in the spectacular views of the surrounding countryside until your thirst for adventure beckons you to more!

Time to hop back behind the wheel! Where to? The Algarve! You can hardly wait to finally lie on the fine sand of the vast beaches that you've been dreaming about for so long. Once you arrive in Monte Gordo, you're drawn to the marshland between Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, so you make one last stop before revelling in beach bliss. You pull on your trainers and admire the flamingos wading through the watery landscape as you breathe in the fragrant air wafting from the orange and lemon groves. Then it's off to the beach, which is just a stone's throw from where you're staying!

Where you're staying is just a few hundred yards from the Spanish border. So, you head off on a morning walk to the Guadiana border river and wave to Portugal's neighbours as you forge your plans for the day. But before you jump into the waves of the Atlantic, you get back into your hire car and drive a few miles west. Your destination: the Ria Formosa Natural Park! You know those places where you just can't believe it's all real? Well, this is one of them! The park is a unique labyrinth of canals, salt marshes, mudflats, sandbanks and marshland – a landscape that's dominated by the tides and constantly changing. One moment, small islands are rising out of the water, and the next, they're swallowed up by the salty torrents. Explore the countless hiking trails and keep your eyes peeled along the way, because with a bit of luck, you might spot flamingos, purple swamphens and white storks! And by the way, there are also wonderful, secluded beaches to relax on.