Thanks to affordable direct flights and a favorable exchange rate, Portugal is quickly becoming a popular getaway this summer. Distances are relatively short between must-see cities and seaside villages, so it's an ideal country to rent a car and explore. We're happy to design an itinerary that includes lodging, driving routes, private guides, activities, and recommended restaurants. Or we can suggest a guided tour that best fits your dates. Here are the stops we recommend for your journey:

 

Lisbon

Portugal's capital is one of Europe's loveliest cities, where Moorish architecture mixes with a contemporary flair as neighborhoods crowd the hillside above the wide Tagus estuary. Sophisticated Bairro Alto is where you find the city's chic boutiques and bars above the cosmopolitan bustle of the Baixa district, grandly rebuilt after the city's devastating 1755 earthquake. Alfama is a medieval melange of ramshackle cobbled streets enlivened by Fado bars and outdoor markets like Feria da Ladra (Tuesday and Saturdays), a Lisbon institution. Sintra, the UNESCO World Heritage Site full of fairytale 19th-century architecture is only a 30-minute drive from Lisbon. Also within an hour drive to the southwest of the city is the late 16th-century fort in Setubal, a city now known for its production of muscatel wine, orange groves, and exquisite nearby beaches.

 

Porto

Take the train or drive 3 hours north of Lisbon to reach Porto, home to a fascinating mix of Baroque and modern architecture. En route, stop to tour the whitewashed village of Obidos. Porto's multi-colored old quarter tumbles to the Douro riverfront where historic warehouses sell wine from the surrounding Minho region as well as the ever-present port. We usually put clients up at the stylish Yeatman Hotel or the service-oriented   Mercador Guest House.

 

Douro Valley

A 90-minute drive to the east of Porto and you arrive in Quinto do Vallado, the heart of Douro Valley's lush wine country. Sample the local wares on guided bike rides or on small boats traveling the Douro River. Terraced landscapes of classic wine estates line this section of the river. Six Senses Douro Valley is situated in a restored 19th-century manor house perched atop a hill overlooking the rolling hills of the Douro Valley.

 

Evora

Heading 4 hours south of Douro Valley or a 90 minute drive east of Lisbon is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Evora. Explore the narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses and see the ancient Roman ruins and Moorish architecture. 16th and 17th-century houses, most with tile patios, fill nearly every street. Cobblestone streets, squares with bubbling fountains, and displays of Moorish-inspired arches characterize the town. Spend the night at Pousada Convento Evora, a 15th-century convent transformed into an elegant hotel. Evora is also in the heart of the Alentejo region, known for its olive oil, wine, and cheese production. Just south of Evora, Beja was founded by Julius Caesar and is definitely worth a stop to visit the 5th-century Church of Santo Amaro and the massive tower, tallest in Portugal, found at the medieval Castelo de Beja.

 

The Algarve

Most people associate the Portuguese Algarve with Spain's Costa del Sol, an area with far too many high-rise hotels and far too many tour groups.  This is certainly true in the popular British resort town of Albufeira. Yet, there's a simpler side to the Algarve, where small fishing communities like Carvoeiro and Vilamoura hide coveted crescent beaches ideally suited for travelers who want to leave behind the hectic pace of modernity. There are nine beaches in Carvoeiro, all backed by cliffs, and most of them are exquisite. Just ask my parents. After following my advice and heading to this quiet town, they didn't leave for a month. Choose O Castelo Guesthouse and kiss the world away.