LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Along the Atlantic Coast
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ONE WEEK / LISBON TO PORTO
With detours along the way, it’s around 355km from Lisbon to Porto. Frequent and inexpensive train connections link the towns, and there is also a decent bus service, which will be your main transport to the suggested stop-offs on the way.
Start in Lisbon, making sure not to neglect café culture, fado in the Alfama or Bairro Alto’s street parties. After this urban revelry, head north for a relaxing stay in the hillsides of Sintra, then make your way to the hilltop village of Óbidos. Next, drink in the heady architecture of Alcobaça and Batalha.
After all that culture, take a stroll along the coastal pinewood of Pinhal de Leiria before dropping in at the colourful university town of Coimbra. From here, it’s a daytrip to Portugal’s best-preserved Roman ruins, the mosaics at Conimbriga. More sylvan scenery awaits on a walk to the go-for-baroque palace at Buçaco, a prelude to the imposing sight of the castle Montemor-o-Velho. Then, go north to Porto, Lisbon’s rival in beauty. Enjoy a night out on the town then head across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, a dreamy spot for the port wine lover. End with a boat trip along the Rio Douro, taking in the dramatic gorge scenery
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