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Trips and Adventures
7 perfect getaways for an autumn escape in Portugal
Summer may get most of the attention, but autumn in Portugal has plenty to offer, especially if you are staying in the country for several weeks or months and have time to explore beyond the usual tourist spots.
The temperatures tend to become milder, popular destinations are generally less crowded than during peak summer, vineyards turn shades of gold and red, and mountain villages, thermal spas and cultural cities become particularly inviting. Portugal’s climate also varies considerably between regions, so while the north and mountainous areas become cooler earlier, the south can remain pleasantly warm well into the season.
For expats, digital nomads and long-stay visitors, autumn is also the perfect excuse to spend weekends discovering a different side of the country.
And with a car, those weekends can become much more than a trip from A to B. You can combine vineyards with villages, hiking trails with thermal baths or a city break with a day on the coast, without having to build your plans around public transport timetables.
1. Experience harvest season in the Douro Valley
If there is one landscape made for autumn in Portugal, it might be the Douro. As the season changes, the terraced vineyards along the valley take on shades of yellow, orange and red, creating one of the most striking road trip settings in the country.
The grape harvest usually takes place between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, depending on the weather and vineyard conditions. Several wineries offer special harvest programmes, and in the Douro many wine estates organise activities during September and October.
Start around Peso da Régua or Pinhão and then explore some of the region’s traditional wine villages. Favaios and Provesende sit on the north bank, while Barcos, Salzedas, Ucanha and Trevões are further south.
This is where having a car really pays off. Rather than choosing between a vineyard, a viewpoint or a small village because of transport limitations, you can combine several stops in a single day and take the road at your own pace.
2. See another side of Serra da Estrela
Serra da Estrela may be famous for winter snow, but there is no need to wait until then. Autumn brings changing colours, cooler hiking temperatures and dramatic mountain scenery. The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is Portugal’s largest protected area and includes hiking trails, glacial valleys, lagoons and mountain roads that are worth exploring long before the ski season begins. Manteigas is a great base, but you can also include places such as Seia, Loriga or Unhais da Serra in your route.
Travelling by car also makes it easier to combine the mountains with small inland villages and rural restaurants that are difficult to reach by public transport.
Just keep an eye on weather conditions. Temperatures and visibility can change quickly at higher altitudes, particularly later in the season.
3. Slow down on an Alentejo road trip
Wide landscapes, cork oaks, vineyards, hilltop villages and roads that seem to stretch endlessly into the distance: the Alentejo is an obvious choice for a relaxed autumn road trip in Portugal. Évora is a natural starting point. From there, you could continue to Estremoz, Vila Viçosa, Monsaraz or even head north towards Marvão.
Wine lovers can also turn the journey into a regional tasting route. The Alentejo Wine Route connects areas including Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Reguengos, Vidigueira and Évora, making it easy to combine wineries, villages and local food.
With the intense summer heat behind you, autumn makes long drives, village walks and leisurely lunches considerably more appealing.
4. Spend a weekend in Portugal’s natural parks
Autumn is also an excellent time to trade laptops and city streets for walking boots. For mountains and forests, head north to Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park, where traditional villages such as Pitões das Júnias and Tourém sit among rivers, waterfalls and rugged landscapes.
Elsewhere, you could explore Douro Internacional, Serra da Estrela, Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, Serra de São Mamede or Arrábida. Portugal has protected areas spread across the country, from mountains to coastal environments.
Many trailheads, viewpoints and villages are much easier to reach by car. It also gives you the freedom to change plans if the weather does, particularly useful during autumn.
5. Follow the coast without the summer crowds
Portugal’s coastline does not suddenly become off-limits when August ends. Early autumn can still bring mild, sunny days, making it a great season for coastal drives and walks.
Try combining Sintra and the Atlantic coast, driving south from Lisbon towards Arrábida and Setúbal, or following sections of the Alentejo and Vicentine coast.
A car gives you much more freedom to stop at smaller beaches, viewpoints and coastal villages along the way rather than limiting the day to places served by direct public transport.
And because swimming does not have to be the main attraction, windy or cooler days can still be perfect for walking, photography, seafood lunches and watching the Atlantic from somewhere new.
6. Make autumn your spa season
Some plans are better when the temperature drops. Thermal baths are one of them. Portugal has a long tradition of thermal tourism, with destinations such as São Pedro do Sul, Luso, Chaves, Pedras Salgadas and Gerês offering an easy excuse for a relaxing weekend away. Visit Portugal specifically recommends autumn as a good season for thermal and spa breaks.
Having a car means you do not have to spend the whole weekend at the spa either. São Pedro do Sul can be combined with Viseu, Gerês with the surrounding national park, and Luso with other destinations in Central Portugal.
Relax first. Explore afterwards.
7. Turn a city break into a longer road trip
Lisbon and Porto might be the obvious choices, but autumn is also a great opportunity to explore cities such as Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro or Évora. Museums, historic centres, cafés, cultural events and restaurants all make city weekends appealing when the days become cooler.
One of the advantages of having your own car is that your city break does not have to end at the city limits. Spend a weekend in Coimbra and add the Serra da Lousã. Stay in Évora and drive to Monsaraz. Use Porto as your base and spend the following day in the Douro.
For someone staying in Portugal for several months, these small combinations can turn ordinary weekends into a way of gradually discovering the country.
Practical tips for driving in Portugal in autumn
Portugal has an extensive road network, but driving conditions can be very different depending on whether you are on a motorway, a mountain road or entering a historic village.
If you are planning autumn road trips, a few details can make travelling easier.
- Expect changing weather. A sunny morning in Lisbon does not guarantee the same conditions in Serra da Estrela or northern Portugal. Check the forecast before longer journeys and take an extra layer, especially when heading inland or into the mountains.
- Plan around shorter days. As autumn progresses, daylight decreases, so try to schedule mountain walks, rural stops and scenic roads earlier in the day rather than leaving everything for late afternoon.
- Check parking before entering historic centres. Many Portuguese towns and villages have narrow streets and limited parking. When visiting places such as Évora, Óbidos or older neighbourhoods, it is often easier to park outside the historic centre and explore on foot.
- Allow extra time on rural roads. The fastest route on a map may include narrow or winding roads. Drive carefully, particularly after rain or in areas with fog.
If you are new to driving in the country, remember that Portugal drives on the right, vehicles already on roundabouts have priority and the maximum speed limit for cars is 120 km/h on motorways, unless otherwise indicated. Portugal also has both conventional and electronic toll motorways.
Explore autumn in Portugal with Xtracars
If you are living in Portugal for a few weeks or months, buying a car may make little sense. But relying exclusively on trains, buses and local transport can make spontaneous road trips, particularly to rural areas, harder to organise.
With Xtracars car subscription, you can have a car for the period that suits your stay, from 1 to 12 months. The process is digital, you pay a fixed monthly fee, and insurance, maintenance, roadside assistance and tyre replacement are included.
It is a practical option for expats, digital nomads and long-stay visitors who want the freedom of having a car in Portugal without buying one or committing to traditional ownership.
Because when you have several weeks, or an entire season, to explore Portugal, the best itinerary might simply be the one you decide on next.
