Portugal
Four days through northern Portugal: mountains, wine and coast
Portugal in October is quiet and pleasant. This route takes you from the country's only national park to the vineyards of the Douro, ending at the salt coast in the south. Four days of driving, plenty of walking, and something new every time.
7 September 2026 · Wayloha editorial · 8 sources
Day 1: Peneda-Gerês, the national park
You start in Peneda-Gerês, Portugal's only national park since 1971. It is large and spread out, so you can choose where to walk. The paths lead you through hills and valleys, past small villages where life moves slowly.
You can walk as much as you like: a few hours, or a whole day. Along the way you'll meet people who really live here. You can sleep in a village close to the park, or find accommodation in one of the small villages nearby.
- Choose your route in advance; the park is large
- Eat in the villages along the way; the food is simple and fresh
They have been harvesting salt on this coast since the Romans, and they are still doing it today.Portugal
Day 2: From Peneda-Gerês to Porto
You drive from the mountains to Porto, on the Douro. It's a half-day drive. Porto is a different Portugal: the houses are covered in blue and white tiles, the streets are narrow and steep, and everything slopes down towards the river.
You wander around, see the tiles, walk through streets you didn't expect, and pause by the river as the sun sets. This is where port wine comes from: the cellars are just across the river. You spend the night in Porto.
- Walk while it's still light; the streets are steep and slippery
- Move away from the main squares and look up at the tiles
Day 3: The Douro Valley, vineyards and port wine
Today you drive east into the Douro Valley, where vineyards are laid out in terraces against the hills. The landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can drive, or take a boat on the river to see the same landscape from the water.
You can visit a winery to see how port wine is made, taste it, have something to eat, and unwind. You'll spend the night somewhere in the valley: in a small village, on a wine estate, or in a town along the river.
- Book your wine cellar tour in advance
- It's best to drive or sail in the afternoon, when the light is warm
Day 4: To the Algarve, salt and sea
You leave the vineyards and drive south. It's a long day: the drive from the Douro to the Algarve is considerable. On arrival you step into something quite different: the eastern Algarve, where salt is still harvested in shallow ponds.
This salt production is ancient work; the Romans bought their salt here. Small producers still do it today: they let the water evaporate and gather the salt. You can walk through the salt pans, see how it works, and perhaps buy some. You'll sleep in or near the Algarve.
- Visit a salt producer such as Sal Marim if you can
- Arrive early; the drive is long
