ChavesStory N° 32
Portugal N2 — Chaves to Faro Roadtrip
Drive Portugal's Route 66 — 739 km end to end, from Chaves in the north to Faro on the Algarve, crossing 11 districts.
The itinerary.
7 days · 20 stops
Sunday
Day One
Start at N2 km 0 in Chaves, Portugal's northernmost Roman spa town. Soak in the thermal baths before heading south.
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Chaves Roman Bridge
2nd-century Roman bridge over the Tâmega river, part of the original Via Nova
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Chaves Thermal Spa
Hot springs used since Roman times (73°C at source) termasdechaves.com
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N2 km 0 marker
Official start of the 739km road — photo op
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Hotel
Forte de São Francisco Hotel fortesaofrancisco.com
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Getting around
- Fly Porto (OPO)
- Rental car Porto → Chaves (2h 15m) via A4 motorway
Monday
Day Two
Head into the Douro Valley — terraced vineyards, river bends and some of the world's oldest demarcated wine region.
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Peso da Régua
Gateway to the Douro — Museu do Douro and river cruises museudodouro.pt
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Quinta do Seixo
Sandeman estate on a dramatic bend — port tasting with view sandeman.com
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Pinhão Railway Station
Blue-and-white azulejo panels depicting the wine harvest
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Hotel
Quinta do Vallado Douro quintadovallado.com
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Getting around
- Drive Chaves → Vila Real → Peso da Régua (1h 45m)
Tuesday
Day Three
Continue south through Viseu and up into the wild Serra da Estrela — Portugal's highest mountain range.
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Viseu Cathedral
12th-century cathedral with Manueline cloister at the heart of the old town
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Serra da Estrela
Glacial valleys and granite plateaus at 1,993m — look for traditional Estrela mountain dogs
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Belmonte Castle
Ancestral home of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral who claimed Brazil for Portugal
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Hotel
Pousada Convento de Belmonte pousadas.pt
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Getting around
- Drive Peso da Régua → Viseu → Belmonte (3h on scenic N2)
Wednesday
Day Four
Through the schist villages and hilltop fortress towns of Beira Baixa — sparsely populated, wildly beautiful.
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Castelo Branco gardens
Jardim do Paço Episcopal — 18th-century baroque gardens with apostle statues
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Monsanto
Village built among giant granite boulders, voted 'most Portuguese village'
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Marvão
Eagle's-nest hilltop village 861m up with views over Spain
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Hotel
Pousada de Marvão pousadas.pt
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Getting around
- Drive Belmonte → Castelo Branco → Marvão (3h)
Thursday
Day Five
Cross into the Alentejo — cork oaks, whitewashed villages and the medieval city of Évora.
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Évora Roman Temple
1st-century Corinthian temple in remarkable condition, UNESCO-listed centre
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Capela dos Ossos
Bones Chapel — walls lined with remains of 5,000 monks. Sobering and striking
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Herdade do Esporão
Alentejo wine estate lunch among cork oak plains esporao.com
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Hotel
Convento do Espinheiro Évora conventodoespinheiro.com
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Getting around
- Drive Marvão → Évora (2h)
Friday
Day Six
Southern Alentejo and Serra do Caldeirão — oak-covered hills, hilltop hermitages and cork forests.
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Almodôvar
Sleepy southern Alentejo town — the N2 becomes properly empty here
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Serra do Caldeirão
Shale hills separating Alentejo from Algarve — cork and strawberry tree country
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Hotel
Hotel Vila Galé Albacora Tavira vilagale.com
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Getting around
- Drive Évora → Almodôvar → Tavira (3h)
Saturday
Day Seven
Finish at the sea — Faro old town, Ria Formosa lagoon and a celebratory seafood dinner.
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Faro Old Town
Cidade Velha walled town with cathedral and Bone Chapel (yes, another one)
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Ria Formosa
Protected lagoon with flamingos, barrier islands and clam beds. Boat tours from Faro marina
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N2 km 738.5 marker
End of the road — final photo opportunity
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Getting around
- Drive Tavira → Faro (30m)
- Fly home from Faro Airport (FAO)
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Portugal N2 — Chaves to Faro Roadtrip?
7 days. The itinerary runs from Sunday to Saturday and covers 20 curated stops across 7 days.
How much does Portugal N2 — Chaves to Faro Roadtrip cost?
Mid-range — €150–300 per day per person.
Where do you stay during Portugal N2 — Chaves to Faro Roadtrip?
Forte de São Francisco Hotel is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Portugal N2 — Chaves to Faro Roadtrip itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 20 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Chaves.
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