Portugal’s warm, dry summers make this country ideal for driving adventures. In July and August, you can expect long days and little rain. As you rent a car and drive, you’ll benefit from plenty of sunshine and mild evenings. Summer means you can pack your itinerary with outdoor sights, from sailing on a lake to dining in a shaded village square. Our guide shows you the best routes, pickup points at the airports, and scenic stops for a summer road trip in Portugal.
Portugal’s summer climate and airport access make driving practical.
Portugal’s climate is Mediterranean, so summers are usually warm, dry, and bright. In July and August, you can expect up to 15 hours of daylight and little rain. You can sail on a lake, walk to a viewpoint, visit a market, enjoy a summer festival, or dine in a shaded village square. Coastal breezes can make hot days pleasant, while cooler nights help travellers rest after long drives.
A rental car gives you more control over your day. You can spend the morning on a golden beach, drive into the hills for an afternoon walk, then stop at a viewpoint before dinner. Many summer destinations in Portugal are easier to enjoy when you are not tied to fixed public transport times. You can also reach countryside lanes, remote villages, coastal pools, and mountain lookouts that are harder to visit without a car.
Major Portuguese airports have easy car hire access, so you can start driving soon after landing. Porto Airport works well for northern Portugal, while Lisbon and Faro suit mainland routes. For island trips, Funchal Airport in Madeira, Ponta Delgada Airport in São Miguel, and Flores Airport in the Azores have car rental companies nearby or on-site.
To make your trip easier, you can book your car with Final Rentals and choose from various car types, low daily rates, airport pick-up, and included insurance.
These routes connect volcanic islands, dramatic coastlines, wine valleys, forests, waterfalls, and mountain viewpoints.
Sete Cidades is one of the most iconic stops on São Miguel Island, roughly 45 to 50 minutes by car (about 50 kilometres) west of Ponta Delgada Airport. This volcanic caldera is known for two twin lakes, one blue and one green, below steep crater walls. From Vista do Rei viewpoint, travellers see both lakes side by side.
In summer, the rim trails are open for walking or cycling, and the calm lakes are ideal for photos. A car lets you stop at viewpoints, picnic by the water, and enjoy the crater landscape at your own pace. Many travellers include this stop in a summer road trip in Portugal.
Furnas lies in the eastern part of São Miguel, about 45 minutes by car from Ponta Delgada. Its name means “craters”, which matches the valley’s geothermal setting. You can see steaming fumaroles, mud pots, hot springs, and volcanic ground throughout the area.
Terra Nostra Park is a key stop, with a botanical garden and a warm mineral pool. Local cooks prepare cozido das Furnas by burying pots underground and using volcanic heat. In summer, you can walk through flowering gardens, relax in the pool, and try food shaped by the island’s geothermal landscape.
Fajã Grande is a small coastal village about 30 minutes by car, or around 20 kilometres, west of Flores Airport in Santa Cruz das Flores. It is one of Europe’s westernmost settlements, surrounded by green fields, cliffs, waterfalls, and ocean views.
The drive winds past lush scenery and high coastal edges. In summer, waterfalls flow strongly, and the views of the Atlantic are dramatic. The village is quiet and charming, with natural basalt pools near the far end of the beach, making it lovely for swimming, sunset views, and a slower island stop.
Rocha dos Bordões is about 20 minutes south of Santa Cruz das Flores by car. This area is known for unusual basalt columns, and you can follow rural roads through meadows, farms, and green slopes before reaching the viewpoint.
From Miradouro do Portal, you can see dozens of stone columns standing around 10 to 20 metres tall. The formation looks like a wall of giant pillars and contrasts with the soft fields around it. In the calm summer air, visitors can take photos slowly and enjoy one of Flores Island’s most distinctive landforms.
Porto Moniz is on Madeira’s rugged northwest coast, around 1 hour by car, or about 49 kilometres, from Funchal Airport. The village is famous for natural lava pools where seawater collects within volcanic rock along the Atlantic coast. In summer, the ocean is warmer, and the pools are refreshing after the coastal drive.
Drivers usually reach Porto Moniz by scenic mountain and seaside roads, passing the Paul da Serra plateau and cliffside viewpoints. Bring swimwear, enjoy the pools, and leave time for the seaside village. This stop adds coast, geology, and mountain scenery to a summer road trip in Portugal.
Pico do Arieiro rises to 1,818 metres above sea level, making it Madeira’s third-highest peak. It is about 35 minutes by car from Funchal Airport, and the route climbs through mountain roads and laurel forest before reaching the summit area. The air is often 10 to 12 °C cooler than the coast, so you may meet mist, clouds, or clear views. At the top, there is parking and a small café.
On clear summer days, visitors can see across Madeira and sometimes as far as Porto Santo. Many hikers begin the trail to Pico Ruivo from here, but even a short summit walk gives wide mountain views.
From Porto Airport, the drive to the Douro Valley takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. The route follows a lush river landscape known for vineyards, wine estates, and steep terraced slopes. Small towns such as Pinhão and Peso da Régua are close to the riverbanks and make good stops. This region is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for Port wine.
Roads such as the N222 run beside the river and give you wide valley views from many bends. In summer, long days allow time for wine farm visits, viewpoint stops, and a riverboat cruise. A summer road trip in Portugal works well here because the route is scenic.
Peneda-Gerês National Park is about 1.5 hours north of Porto. As Portugal’s only national park, it offers waterfalls, forests, granite villages, mountain roads, and cooler air during hot summer days. You can drive through shaded areas with chestnut and oak trees, and you may see goats or wild horses.
The park has waterfalls, including Tahiti and Arado, along with high peaks reaching around 1,400 metres. There are also many hiking trails for travellers who want a break from driving. Gerês feels remote and wild, with stone bridges and rural villages adding to the landscape's history.
A summer road trip in Portugal should leave you with room for slow mornings, unexpected viewpoints, and small stops that become the best part of the day. Keep your route flexible, choose a car type that fits your luggage and roads, and give yourself enough time between places so the journey feels enjoyable rather than rushed.
Rent a car in Portugal with Final Rentals and start your journey from Porto Airport, Ponta Delgada Airport, Flores Airport, Madeira Airport, or other convenient locations across the country. Choose from compact cars, family vehicles, SUVs, automatic models, and 7-seater options, all with competitive daily rates, airport pick-up, and included insurance.
Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
The best route depends on your arrival airport. For northern Portugal, start from Porto Airport and drive to the Douro Valley and Gerês National Park. For island scenery, start from Ponta Delgada Airport, Flores Airport, or Madeira Airport.
Yes. A rental car is helpful because many beaches, viewpoints, mountain roads, villages, and natural parks are easier to reach by car. It also gives you more flexibility during busy summer months.
Top nature destinations include Sete Cidades, Furnas, Fajã Grande, Rocha dos Bordões, Porto Moniz, Pico do Arieiro, the Douro Valley, and Gerês National Park. These places offer lakes, waterfalls, cliffs, vineyards, mountains, and scenic drives.
