A 3-day Atlantic coast drive from Lisbon to Porto via Ericeira, Nazaré and Costa Nova
Estimated cost
$1,095estimated total
Stays
$580
Fuel
$45
Food
$420
Other
$50
Estimates generated at planning time — your actual costs may vary.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
53 km1h 1mDepart 17:31
Start
Lisbon
Drive 50 km in ~49 min from Lisbon via A8 and A21, allowing for Saturday evening traffic near Ericeira.
50 km49m
1
Food
Mar d'Areia
Ericeira, Portugal
18:20–19:351h 15m here$120
Portuguese seafood dinner near Ericeira's old center
Park at Parque de Santa Marta and walk in; order grilled fish or octopus, and request an outdoor table if the Atlantic wind is light.
Walk 700 m in ~10 min through Ericeira’s pedestrian-friendly old lanes from Mar d'Areia.
1 km3m
2
Attraction
Beach Pescadores
Ericeira, Portugal
19:45–20:2035m here
Sheltered town beach beneath Ericeira's historic center
Use the ramp from Largo das Ribas rather than the steeper steps; the sheltered sand and fishing boats make an easy post-dinner family stop.
Walk 800 m in ~10 min along the seafront from Praia dos Pescadores; one adult can retrieve the car afterward.
3 km9m
3
Overnight
Hotel Vila Galé Ericeira
Ericeira, Portugal
20:30–07:3011h here$280
Four-star oceanfront hotel with family facilities
Use the hotel car park and confirm two rooms at check-in; the oceanfront location keeps the late-start evening simple and walkable.
Day 2
133 km2h 4mDepart 08:47
4
Attraction
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth
Nazaré, Portugal
10:05–10:4035m here
Historic sanctuary overlooking Nazaré from Sítio
Park at the paid Sítio lots and cover shoulders inside; this landmark anchors Nazaré’s history beyond its famous surf and beach.
Walk 250 m in ~4 min across Sítio’s main square from the sanctuary.
0 km2m
5
Attraction
Miradouro do Suberco
Nazaré, Portugal
10:42–11:0725m here
Clifftop panorama over Nazaré's crescent beach
Keep children behind the railings in strong wind; the short paved viewpoint delivers Nazaré’s essential coastline panorama without a long hike.
Drive 3 km in ~10 min down Avenida Vieira Guimarães from Sítio, then walk from the municipal parking area.
3 km7m
6
Food
Taberna d'Adelia
Nazaré, Portugal
11:45–13:051h 20m here$135
Popular family-run restaurant for Nazaré seafood
Park near Mercado Municipal and arrive near opening to avoid the Sunday queue; grilled sea bass and seafood rice are reliable group choices.
Walk 550 m in ~8 min from Taberna d'Adélia to the central beachfront promenade.
1 km3m
7
Attraction
Nazaré Beach
Nazaré, Portugal
13:08–15:382h 30m here$10
Broad family beach beside Nazaré's tiled promenade
Rent a shade canopy near the lifeguarded central section and obey flag colors; summer currents can be stronger than the sheltered appearance suggests.
Walk 900 m in ~12 min north along Avenida da República from the central beach to the lower funicular station.
4 km9m
8
Activity
Ascensor da Nazaré
Nazaré, Portugal
15:47–16:3245m here$16
Historic funicular linking the beach with Sítio
Buy return tickets at the lower station and fold any stroller before boarding; the steep ride is an easy family alternative to climbing Sítio.
Ride the funicular to Sítio, then walk 1.2 km in ~18 min along the exposed headland road to the fort.
2 km8m
9
Attraction
Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo
Nazaré, Portugal
16:40–17:3555m here$12
Seafront fort and lighthouse above the giant-wave canyon
Wear secure shoes on the exposed approach and check same-day access at Sítio; the lighthouse explains why Nazaré produces record-breaking waves.
Walk back to Sítio, descend by funicular, then walk 650 m in ~10 min through the lower town to Rosa dos Ventos.
4 km15m
10
Food
Restaurante Rosa Dos Ventos
Nazaré, Portugal
18:35–19:551h 20m here$125
Small traditional restaurant known for fresh grilled fish
Join the early dinner queue rather than expecting reservations; choose the fish displayed that evening and confirm its price by weight before ordering.
Walk 500 m in ~7 min along the beachfront lanes from Rosa dos Ventos to Hotel Mar Bravo.
0 km2m
11
Overnight
Mar Bravo
Nazaré, Portugal
19:57–07:2011h 15m here$300
Beachfront hotel on Nazaré's main promenade
Unload at the promenade entrance, then use the hotel’s designated parking arrangement; ask for quieter rear rooms if surf noise affects sleep.
Day 3
449 km5h 11mDepart 07:20
Check out of Hotel Mar Bravo, then walk 450 m in ~6 min through Nazaré’s lower town to Café Central.
88 km1h 4m
12
Food
Café Central
Freiria, Portugal
08:24–09:0440m here$35
Classic Nazaré café for pastries and coffee
Check out and leave luggage secured in the car; order pão com manteiga, pastries and galão for a quick local breakfast before heading north.
Return to the car, then drive 117 km in ~1h 18min via IC9 to Batalha, using the signed monastery parking.
117 km1h 18m
13
Attraction
Batalha Monastery
Batalha, Portugal
10:22–11:421h 20m here$44
UNESCO Gothic monastery and Portuguese landmark
Park in the large lot west of the monastery and enter when ticketed areas open; the Founder's Chapel is the essential interior section.
14
Food
Restaurante O Bairro
Aveiro, Portugal
13:05–14:251h 20m here$135
Contemporary Portuguese cooking near Aveiro's canals
Request a family table and try cod dishes or octopus; finish with ovos moles, the city’s protected egg-yolk sweet, rather than a second dessert stop.
Drive 500 m in ~7 min from O Bairro to the moliceiro boarding point beside the central canal.
11 km14m
15
Activity
Aveiro Yacht Tours
Gafanha da Encarnação, Portugal
14:39–15:2950m here$60
Moliceiro boat cruise through Aveiro's urban canals
Buy the next available shaded boat departure at the canal kiosk and keep hats secured; the cruise gives children an easy view of Aveiro’s waterways.
Drive 6.2 km in ~8 min via A25 and Avenida José Estevão from central Aveiro to Costa Nova.
6 km8m
16
Attraction
Casas Típicas da Costa Nova
Gafanha da Encarnação, Portugal
15:37–16:2245m here$5
Colorful striped fishermen's houses beside the lagoon
Park by Mercado da Costa Nova and explore on foot without blocking residents’ doors; the striped palheiros are the coast’s signature family photo stop.
Walk 750 m in ~10 min across Costa Nova from the striped houses to the beach boardwalk.
1 km4m
17
Attraction
Praia da Costa Nova
Gafanha da Encarnação, Portugal
16:26–17:311h 5m here
Atlantic beach backed by dunes and a wooden boardwalk
Use the boardwalk and stay in the lifeguarded zone if swimming; Atlantic surf and rip currents make paddling safer than deep-water play on rough days.
84 km59m
Finish
Porto, Portugal
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Use A8 and A21 where practical; coastal N-roads are scenic but slower around beach towns.
- 2Reach Nazaré’s Sítio parking early on Sunday because late-August spaces fill quickly.
- 3Check beach flags before swimming; Nazaré and Costa Nova face powerful Atlantic surf.
- 4Keep small coins or a payment card available for municipal parking and funicular fares.
- 5Fuel before leaving Nazaré on day 3; prices and access are easier than in crowded beach districts.
Good to know
- 1Portugal has no vignette, but A8, A21, A1 and A25 sections may carry conventional or electronic tolls.
- 2Confirm how the car pays electronic tolls; unpaid camera tolls can generate rental-company administration fees.
- 3Historic centers in Ericeira, Nazaré and Aveiro contain narrow pedestrian streets; use named peripheral parking.
- 4Late-August beach traffic can add substantial time near Nazaré, Aveiro and Costa Nova, especially around midday.
- 5Atlantic currents remain hazardous in summer; swim only in lifeguarded areas and follow the beach flags.
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