Look, we love airplanes and passport stamps, but sometimes the soul just asks for a full tank, the windows down and the open road. And if you want a road trip mixing epic curves, jaw-dropping landscapes and food that forces you to undo the top button of your trousers, you don't need to leave Portugal.
The North of our country is the paradise of drivers and good eaters. Martin has mapped out the perfect route for a long weekend tearing up the asphalt from Minho to the Douro:
1. Gerês: Curves, Cows and Waterfalls 🌲
Set off towards the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Get ready for narrow roads where the trees form a tunnel above you.
Watch out for local traffic: in Gerês, the bosses of the road are the Barrosã cows and wild horses. If they decide to stop in the middle of the lane to admire the scenery, you wait and take a photo. Take the chance to dive into the icy Cascata do Arado waterfall and climb up to the Pedra Bela viewpoint. Your car will end up covered in dust, but the view makes up for it.
2. The N222 in the Douro: The Best Road in the World 🍇
Don't take our word for it; the folks at Top Gear and Avis said it. The stretch of the N222 between Peso da Régua and Pinhão is a proper dance floor for anyone who loves driving.
It's 27 kilometres glued to the Douro River, with perfect curves and terraces of vineyards as far as the eye can see. The speed limit is 90 km/h, so soak in the scenery, take the curves with precision, and stop at a quinta to taste (or better, buy to drink later!) a good Port wine.
3. The Minho: Where Diets Go to Die 🥩
No road trip in the North is complete without the real Minho gastronomic experience. Point the GPS to Ponte de Lima or Viana do Castelo.
Forget gourmet restaurants with square plates; look for that village tasca (traditional tavern) with paper tablecloths. That's where you'll eat Arroz de Sarrabulho worth crying for, or a Posta Mirandesa dripping onto the bread. Wash it down with a small bowl of red vinho verde (only if you're not driving, of course!).
4. The Grand Finale in Porto: Francesinha and Ribeira 🌉
To wrap the trip up in style, head down to the Invicta city. Park the car, stretch your legs along the Ribeira and walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge. Your road trip's final prize? An authentic Francesinha, with the sauce just right and chips floating on top, to put back every calorie you (didn't) burn driving.
Your Car Survived the Road Trip… But It's a Mess?
You did the whole trip. The North is gorgeous. But now take a good look at your car:
- The front looks like a mosquito graveyard from the N222.
- The wheel arches are caked in mud and Gerês dust.
- The back seat has bread crumbs, juice stains and sand you have no idea where it came from.
If next week you have that business flight booked, or you're flying off on holiday to a European capital, don't leave your car "growing mould" with all that dirt.
Combine the practical with the genuinely pleasant: do it with Multipark.
When you head to the airport, hand us the key at the Valet Parking service. Your car will be safe with us. But the master move is asking for our extra Full Wash service (interior and exterior).
While you're flying off and handling life in another country, our team strips out the Gerês mud, the Douro mosquitoes and the Minho crumbs. You land at the airport on the way back and your car is waiting at the Departures door, shining like it just rolled off the dealer's lot.
Focus on driving and travelling, we'll focus on cleaning. Get a quote and book your parking and wash on the Multipark website!
