This March my partner Kevin and I took a short trip to Portugal. Having been to Lisbon and Porto before, we wanted to explore some alternative destinations and experience a quieter, more authentic side of the country.

After landing at Lisbon Airport, we picked up our hire car and drove up the Atlantic coast towards our first hotel for two nights: Palacio da Lousa, a former palace in the heart of Central Portugal, stopping at charming coastal towns along the way.

Our first stop was Foz do Arelho - a relaxed seaside town where the calm lagoon meets the Atlantic, ideal for gentle walks and scenic views without big crowds. After a spot of lunch we continued northwards to São Martinho do Porto -  a beautiful shell-shaped bay with a long sandy beach and laid-back promenade, perfect for a family-friendly day by the sea. Out last stop before Lousa was  Nazaré - the world-renowned town famous for its record-breaking waves and surfing culture, with dramatic coastal scenery and traditional fishing-town character.

These easy stops broke up the drive from Lisbon and are ideal for a fly-drive holiday in Portugal  if you want to mix coast, scenery and local life.

We arrived at Palacio da Lousa in the late afternoon and checked in for two nights. The hotel has high ceilings, period details and an air of understated grandeur, yet feels peaceful and welcoming. We were visiting in a quieter period so we had the place almost to ourselves, which made it feel even more special. It's a wonderful option if you prefer characterful, historic accommodation and a taste of authentic Central Portugal

In the evening we found a lovely local restaurant serving Portuguese tapas, known as petiscos, along with wines from the nearby Douro Valley and Alentejo regions. Dishes included traditional options such as chicken gizzards and  and pig’s cheek (Kevin wasn't too impressed with those) but trying local specialities is all part of the adventure and adds to the sense of place.

After a couple of relaxing nights in Lousa, we set off towards our next destination, Aveiro, with a stop in Coimbra on the way.

Coimbra is the fourth-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto and Braga, and is steeped in history and academic tradition. We spent a few hours wandering its tiled streets, passing  the University of Coimbra  (the oldest university in Portugal), historic buildings, viewpoints and traditional houses and cafés that give the city a lived-in, local feel. It's a great stop if you enjoy history, architecture and culture  and want to add another layer to a Central Portugal itinerary.

From Coimbra we continued further north to the coastal town of Costa Nova, one of the most distinctive places we visited. Costa Nova occupies a narrow sandbar and offers two very different coastal environments. On one side, the serene lagoon, with its colourful, striped houses and traditional fishing harbour and on the other, a vast stretch of golden beach facing the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, ideal for long walks and big, open skies. This unique mix makes Costa Nova a hugely popular day trip from Aveiro. With excellent seafood restaurants and a laid-back atmosphere, it's an easy place to linger for lunch or an afternoon stroll. If you're staying in Aveiro or road-tripping along this part of the coast, I would definitely recommend a visit.

We arrived at our next destination, the vibrant city of Aveiro, in the afternoon of our third day in Portugal and checked into our hotel, the beautiful MS Collection Aveiro. After a bit of relaxation in the spa, we headed out to a local restaurant for dinner, then spent the following day exploring the city.

Aveiro is often referred to as the “Venice of Portugal” thanks to its canals and traditional brightly painted moliceiro boats. It offers a lovely mix of elegant Art Nouveau architecture, traditional fisherman’s cottages and cobbled streets with a relaxed, walkable centre with shops and cafés

Unfortunately, we didn't have time for a boat trip on this visit, but we still managed a spot of shopping and plenty of wandering before heading off to our next destination.

Costa NovaCosta Nova

After leaving Aveiro we drove south to the charming city of Tomar, the former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar. It's a fascinating stop if you are interested in medieval history and historic architecture, and it works perfectly as a break in the journey between Central Portugal and the Alentejo.

Our time in Tomar was short, but we still had chance to stroll through the atmospheric streets, pause for a cold beer in the sunshine and enjoy a plate of local sausages in a traditional bar. Even during a brief visit, Tomar gives you a real sense of Portugal’s layered history. With more time, you can explore its castle and convent in more depth, so it is somewhere I would happily return to on a longer itinerary.

From Tomar we continued south to Évora, the capital of Portugal’s Alentejo region and a beautiful way to continue our road trip.

On arrival in Evora, we checked into our hotel located  just outside the city walls. The following day we walked around the city which dates back to the Roman era and was chosen by the kings of Portugal in the 15th century to serve as their residence. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site with fascinating museums, a Roman temple and baths, medieval walls and a striking cathedral. Away from the historic landmarks, there are plenty of coffee shops and cafés in the central square where you can sit and watch daily life unfold, plus a lovely botanical garden that offers some quiet green space within the city. Évora has a slower, more contemplative feel than the coastal towns and is surrounded by rolling countryside, vineyards and olive groves. It's ideal if you enjoy regional cuisine and hearty, rustic dishes, wine-tasting and vineyard visits and long, sunny days exploring pretty town squares and peaceful gardens.

On our final day in Portugal we headed back towards the Lisbon area and visited the coastal resort of Cascais.

The sun was shining, so we spent time simply wandering around, soaking up the relaxed seaside atmosphere before stopping at a restaurant for a classic Portuguese lunch of grilled sardines.

Cascais is only around 30 minutes from Lisbon and is popular with locals as well as tourists, which gives it a lively yet authentic feel. It's an excellent option if you would like to add a beach  day to a Lisbon city break, enjoy good seafood restaurants and ocean views and stay in a resort town with easy access to the capital. Cascais is also a great base for a golfing holiday in Portugal, with easy access to several championship courses in the surrounding area. For golfers and non-golfers travelling together, it works perfectly. Golf for those who want it and coastal walks, cafés and day trips to Lisbon or Sintra for those who don't play.

If this journey has inspired you, I can design a tailor-made Portugal Itinerary that suits your travel style, whether you want a short fly-drive from Lisbon, a longer route that continues up to Porto, or a relaxed coastal and countryside combination with time for golf.

I'll take care of everything from flights and car hire to carefully chosen hotels and personalised recommendations for where to stop, what to see and where to eat along the way, so that all you need to do is enjoy the experience.

Contact me today to start planning your own Central Portugal, Alentejo and Cascais road trip.