To Drive or Not to Drive in Portugal?

[paul10]

I'm starting to plan a Portugal trip for next year, and I'm stuck on the whole transportation issue. Part of me wants to rent a car for the freedom, but I've heard some wild stories about driving there, such as a Reddit thread from a few years back where expats shared experiences and advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/PortugalExp...g_in_portugal/

The discussions left me questioning if road conditions and driver behavior are really as challenging as depicted. I'm quite torn, as renting would allow greater flexibility to explore coastal roads and secluded villages off the beaten path. However, relying on trains and buses could spare me potential hassles.

For those who have personally traveled through Portugal by vehicle, I'd appreciate any insights or anecdotes you may care to share. In particular, perspectives on what the driving environment is truly like from a safety and navigational standpoint would be most helpful as I weigh my transportation options. Any tips for navigating Portuguese roads with ease would also be welcomed.

[MagnetON]

I love how they call themselves "expats" rather than what they are: "immigrants"

[Mike Harte]

I have holidayed in Portugal a few times in the past, and have always hired a car for the duration of the visits. I never found the local driving any worse, or better, than I did in France, Spain or Italy; you just have to be prepared and anticipate that the locals may do some thing that you didn't expect them to do.

And I was always able to return the hire cars in exactly the same condition as when originally picked up from the airport.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

I love how they call themselves "expats" rather than what they are: "immigrants"

I feel your pain here… its just a matter of what kind of boat they sailed. Expats sail large units and migrants inflatable boats…

As to the experience of driving in Portugal as Mike reports I had absolutely no issue driving there, bike, personal car or car of rental and I did it quite a few times. I just appreciated that the police cars are really slow…
My experience of cars of rental slightly differs though, Mikes stated: "And I was always able to return the hire cars in exactly the same condition as when originally picked up from the airport."When I can write "in exactly the same position!

[paul10]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

I love how they call themselves "expats" rather than what they are: "immigrants"

I remember being called an 'expat' in the past, but I never really considered the distinction before, @Magneton. Now that I think about it, it can be a temporary status for work purposes.

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I have holidayed in Portugal a few times in the past, and have always hired a car for the duration of the visits. I never found the local driving any worse, or better, than I did in France, Spain or Italy; you just have to be prepared and anticipate that the locals may do some thing that you didn't expect them to do.

And I was always able to return the hire cars in exactly the same condition as when originally picked up from the airport.

It's reassuring to know that the driving conditions weren't significantly worse than in other parts of Europe you've visited, @Mike Harte. I think your advice to be prepared and expect the unexpected from local drivers is spot on. As long as one approaches it with a bit of caution and adaptability, it sounds like renting a car could still be a viable and rewarding way to explore Portugal. I feel more confident now about that being a good choice for my upcoming trip.

Part of being prepared is also reading articles about the destination. I found an informative piece about Sintra, which is around a half-hour drive from Lisbon. It provides some interesting insights into the town's tourism trends: https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism...el-trends-5747

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

I feel your pain here… its just a matter of what kind of boat they sailed. Expats sail large units and migrants inflatable boats…

As to the experience of driving in Portugal as Mike reports I had absolutely no issue driving there, bike, personal car or car of rental and I did it quite a few times. I just appreciated that the police cars are really slow…
My experience of cars of rental slightly differs though, Mikes stated: "And I was always able to return the hire cars in exactly the same condition as when originally picked up from the airport."When I can write "in exactly the same position!

Haha, that's a good one, @Gerard C! ?

I'm glad to hear more positive experiences about driving in Portugal. It's reassuring that both of you found it manageable. Just gotta keep my wits about me and maybe learn a few Portuguese phrases for the road, right? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Gerard C]

In most places of Portugal you'll find a warm welcome. They are wonderful mechanics too, they love cars (and soccer too…) and its in their DNA to properly fix cars rather than just changing parts or scrapping vehicles.
This country hosts two big tracks, Estoril (near Sintra/Lisbon) and Portimao located in Algarve county (south).

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

I feel your pain here… its just a matter of what kind of boat they sailed. Expats sail large units and migrants inflatable boats…

Yup, 50 people drowning in a rubber boat for 6, MEH!. 5 billionaires in an uncertified carbon-fibre dildo SEND EVERYTHING!

Originally Posted by paul10

Now that I think about it, it can be a temporary status for work purposes.

So "Migrant Workers" then?

Sorry for the "derail" I was just amused recently seeing some muppet living in Spain going on about Brexit / Immigrants being "called out" on being an immigrant himself!

[Tel 911S]

Haven,t been there for a few years , but did the Algarve rally back in the 80s 90s .
That was mostly in the southern half of the country .
Found normal drivers not to bad , but perhaps a bit erratic in the cities .
Out of the big towns / cities , a lot of the roads are not well maintained , cobbled , even dirt / gravel surfaces on country roads .
Going back through the Spanish border I did notice that they seemed to think the Portuguese drivers needed checking more than normal, perhaps because they took less notice of traffic laws and vehicle safety standards .

[morninggents]

I've driven my own (RHD) cars in Portugal on several occasions (first time in 1966) and hire cars (LHD) on a couple of times. I didn't find it any different from driving anywhere else in Europe. And the Portugese are nice people with a great country.

[MartinH]

There really isn’t a problem driving in Portugal …. motorways are well maintained, with auto payment systems & other roads are generally well maintained.
Drivers are like anywhere , could be any nationality, just in a Portuguese reg’d car ! Generally no more problems than in any EU country.

Worst aspect , as anywhere are the rental companies; check the t&c’s concerning fueling policy & check the car for damage etc before you leave their premises… photo & report them …. again, just like in any other country.

Portugal is a great country, enjoy exploring it !

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

In most places of Portugal you'll find a warm welcome. They are wonderful mechanics too, they love cars (and soccer too…) and its in their DNA to properly fix cars rather than just changing parts or scrapping vehicles.
This country hosts two big tracks, Estoril (near Sintra/Lisbon) and Portimao located in Algarve county (south).

That's really encouraging to hear about the warm hospitality and automotive expertise in Portugal. The country's renowned racing circuits like Estoril and Portimao definitely pique my interest. I may have to carve out some time to visit those tracks during my trip, thanks for highlighting them.

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

Haven,t been there for a few years , but did the Algarve rally back in the 80s 90s .
That was mostly in the southern half of the country .
Found normal drivers not to bad , but perhaps a bit erratic in the cities .
Out of the big towns / cities , a lot of the roads are not well maintained , cobbled , even dirt / gravel surfaces on country roads .
Going back through the Spanish border I did notice that they seemed to think the Portuguese drivers needed checking more than normal, perhaps because they took less notice of traffic laws and vehicle safety standards .

It's really interesting to hear about the Algarve rally days - that must have been quite an exhilarating experience. I'm a bit concerned about the potentially poorly maintained roads outside of the towns, but hopefully there have been some improvements in road conditions since then. I appreciate you sharing these valuable insights, @Tel 911S

[paul10]

Originally Posted by morninggents

I've driven my own (RHD) cars in Portugal on several occasions (first time in 1966) and hire cars (LHD) on a couple of times. I didn't find it any different from driving anywhere else in Europe. And the Portugese are nice people with a great country.

It's reassuring to hear from someone who's driven there multiple times over the years. Your comment about the Portuguese being nice people is encouraging too. Thanks for sharing your experience, @morninggents!

[paul10]

Originally Posted by MartinH

There really isn’t a problem driving in Portugal …. motorways are well maintained, with auto payment systems & other roads are generally well maintained.
Drivers are like anywhere , could be any nationality, just in a Portuguese reg’d car ! Generally no more problems than in any EU country.

Worst aspect , as anywhere are the rental companies; check the t&c’s concerning fueling policy & check the car for damage etc before you leave their premises… photo & report them …. again, just like in any other country.

Portugal is a great country, enjoy exploring it !

It's great to hear that the roads are generally well-maintained and the automated payment systems on the motorways seem very convenient. I really appreciate your advice about being mindful when renting a car and thoroughly inspecting it beforehand. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos of the vehicle prior to leaving the rental lot. With your tips in mind, I'm confident I'll be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful country of Portugal to the fullest. Thanks again for taking the time to share your firsthand experiences, @MartinH!

[Tel 911S]

If you know where you are going you could look it up on GOOGLE EARTH , and then street view . but it does look like only the main roads are on street view , and a lot of the country roads which are not on there are still unsurfaced .

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

If you know where you are going you could look it up on GOOGLE EARTH , and then street view . but it does look like only the main roads are on street view , and a lot of the country roads which are not on there are still unsurfaced .

Thanks for the tip on using Google Earth and Street View. That's a great idea to get a better sense of the road conditions, especially for the main roads. I also checked how often Google updates the street view, and it seems Google tries to update Street View images in major cities once a year and in less populated areas every three years.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by paul10

I also checked how often Google updates the street view, and it seems Google tries to update Street View images in major cities once a year and in less populated areas every three years.

I hope Google are more punctual in Portugal with Street view than they are here in Melbourne. I live within 10klms of the CBD so hardly outback Australia, certainly classed as inner suburbs in real estate jargon..

I moved house 5 years ago. My old house was demolished and a couple of new houses were built on the land. Those houses have despite Covid delays been built, sold, and moved into certainly over three years ago.

Google Earth still shows my old house intact and my car from 6 years ago in the driveway. Oh I just saw the date. 2018 is the latest view available..

I checked my current house. Just one klm away. I have lived here for just shy of 5 years. The house was a new build for me. Google Earth has my current house being nothing but flat (cleared) land, albeit with foundations marked out and building ready. It is also dated 2018, albeit December 2018.

I suspect Melbourne classifies as a major city, and with a population of over 5 million certainly the inner suburbs are well populated. Google seems to be well short of their claims, even the 3 year claim for less populated areas. 3 years shy of their 3 year target.

Good luck with your trip, and I hope Google see rural Portugal as a higher priority than they do inner Melbourne. What Google Earth show may not bear much resemblance to reality.

[paul10]

Originally Posted by E.B

I hope Google are more punctual in Portugal with Street view than they are here in Melbourne. I live within 10klms of the CBD so hardly outback Australia, certainly classed as inner suburbs in real estate jargon..

I moved house 5 years ago. My old house was demolished and a couple of new houses were built on the land. Those houses have despite Covid delays been built, sold, and moved into certainly over three years ago.

Google Earth still shows my old house intact and my car from 6 years ago in the driveway. Oh I just saw the date. 2018 is the latest view available..

I checked my current house. Just one klm away. I have lived here for just shy of 5 years. The house was a new build for me. Google Earth has my current house being nothing but flat (cleared) land, albeit with foundations marked out and building ready. It is also dated 2018, albeit December 2018.

I suspect Melbourne classifies as a major city, and with a population of over 5 million certainly the inner suburbs are well populated. Google seems to be well short of their claims, even the 3 year claim for less populated areas. 3 years shy of their 3 year target.

Good luck with your trip, and I hope Google see rural Portugal as a higher priority than they do inner Melbourne. What Google Earth show may not bear much resemblance to reality.

Thanks for the heads-up about the potential discrepancies between Google Earth and reality. I'll definitely keep that in mind and will also look into Waze – maybe they update more often.

[Gerard C]

Well may be a classified field but… I had to plan a trip to a very democratic country, which might be Tunisia or the like and very few reliable info if any was available. I mainly use a free version of Tomtom software with "some" improvements. What I did for me and our small group was to take as many as possible waypoints from Google Earth and implement them in the system. Worked beyond expectations. But I must say that we've a great habit of driving in the desert, some of us are plane pilot and we've a lot of curiosity for Middle Age civilizations…

[paul10]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Well may be a classified field but… I had to plan a trip to a very democratic country, which might be Tunisia or the like and very few reliable info if any was available. I mainly use a free version of Tomtom software with "some" improvements. What I did for me and our small group was to take as many as possible waypoints from Google Earth and implement them in the system. Worked beyond expectations. But I must say that we've a great habit of driving in the desert, some of us are plane pilot and we've a lot of curiosity for Middle Age civilizations…

That's quite impressive! I'm impressed by how resourceful you were with the limited info you had. You and your group must be seasoned pros at navigating the middle of nowhere.

[Tel 911S]

I used to deliver a few customer cars . A 4X4 with clamshell trailer has limited rear vision and not easy to reverse .
So I would look at Google Earth Streetview to see if where I was going had good access , room to unload and turn around .
Not always easy but you do not want to be stuck in a narrow lane or somewhere which has very limited space .

[NaBUru38]

The best route in Portugal is said to be EN 222, west of Porto, especially the section between Peso da Régua and Pinhão.

https://www.roadstotravel.net/portug...onal-road-222/

[morninggents]

I think you mean East of Porto. West may be a bit wet!