A Five-Day Portugal Road Trip {Video}

Our Portugal road trip included beach towns, castles, historical landmarks and boat tours, giving us five action-packed (and mishap-filled) days to explore this beautiful country. 

Portugal is one of Europe’s most unique little countries, with everything from beaches to castles, music to history, and a whole host of carby, delicious pastries in between.

But, while beautiful, Portugal was not one of our best trips. I hate saying that; it’s admitting failure, but I guess, to be blunt, we #failed hard during our five-day Portugal road trip. Like, really hard.

If you’ve read any of my previous Portugal blog posts, you’re well aware of the mishaps, but I’ll let spell out this lovely little chaotic nightmare for you once more:

• I booked two hotels for the same night – and therefore no hotels for one night. As one does.
• Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere southern Portugal, and we had to call a Portuguese tow truck and get a cab two hours up to Sintra. Again, as one does.
• We missed a train from Sintra back to Lisbon for our miniscule time in the capital city, but honestly, that was hardly a blip on our error radar.
• We both came home to what I’ll pleasantly describe as 24/7 occupation of the bathroom. Beautiful, I know.

Am I bummed Portugal wasn’t as romantic and seamless as our Iceland road trip adventure? Actually, no. I love the chaos and embrace the challenge of figuring how the Hell to call a tow truck without cell service in a foreign countryside (I believe they call that masochism…?).

And, in looking back through footage for my latest Portugal travel video, I was reminded that despite the hiccups, hardships and horrible post-vacay bathroom trips, our messy Portugal road trip was nothing short of amazing. Here … have a look!

For those interested, here’s a little play-by-play of major destinations featured in our video:

:06 – Santa Justa Elevator, Lisbon
:08 – Private Beach at Vilalara Thalassa Resort, Algarve
:12 – Pena Palace, Sintra
:28 – Top of Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belem
:34 – Benagil Sea Cave, Algarve
:35 – Tram 28 ride, Lisbon
:43 – Benagil Sea Cave Boat Tour, Algarve
:55 – Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belem
1:04 – Top of Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belem
1:12 – Fado music in the Alfama District, Lisbon
1:22 – Eating Pasteis de Belem, Belem
1:46 – Parque da Pena, Sintra
2:09 – Pena Palace, Sintra
2:15 – Vilalara Thalassa Resort, Algarve
2:33 – Belem Tower, Belem
2:38 – Pasteis de Belem bakery, Belem
2:46 – High Cross in Parque da Pena overlooking Pena Palace, Sintra
2:55 – Moorish Castle, Sintra

If you have any questions about destinations from our video – or just about Portugal in general – drop me a line in the comments!