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Lisbon to Porto drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 3 hr 26 min
- Distance
- 315 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €40
- Tolls (est.)
- €18
The Lisbon to Porto drive
The drive from Lisbon to Porto covers 196 miles (315 km) and takes about 3 hr 26 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Most of it is one road: the A1 carries 96% of the distance. On the way you go past Póvoa de Santa Iria, Azambuja and Santarém, and you'll be near Leiria roughly 1 h 32 min in.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 391 m near Leiria. Part of the drive follows the Circuito da Boavista.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €40 one-way plus roughly €18 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 196 miles this is longer than 52% of the 144 routes covered here.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartLisbon
- 20 kmPóvoa de Santa Iria13 min in
- 47 kmAzambuja31 min in
- 74 kmSantarém49 min in
- 141 kmLeiria1 h 32 min in
- 200 kmCoimbra2 h 11 min ingood place to stop
- 292 kmEspinho3 h 12 min in
- 312 kmCircuito da Boavista
- 315 kmPorto
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A1303 km · 96%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. The ones marked on the route are part of the fastest way.
Best stops between Lisbon and Porto
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Aveiro
The 'Venice of Portugal,' a colorful canal city with art nouveau buildings and traditional striped moliceiro boats gliding through its waterways.
Landmarks
Convent of Christ, Tomar
A UNESCO-listed former Knights Templar headquarters with a remarkable blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture.
Landmarks
Batalha Monastery
A Gothic and Manueline masterpiece built to commemorate the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, with its famous Unfinished Chapels.
Landmarks
University of Coimbra
One of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, with a stunning Baroque library and UNESCO World Heritage status.
Cathedrals & Temples
Alcobaça Monastery
Portugal's largest church, a UNESCO Cistercian abbey founded in 1153, holding the facing carved tombs of King Pedro I and his murdered lover Inês de Castro: placed foot-to-foot so they rise facing each other at judgement.
Cathedrals & Temples
Sanctuary of Fátima
One of Catholicism's great modern pilgrimage sites, built where three shepherd children reported Marian apparitions in 1917: a vast esplanade twice the size of St Peter's Square links the 1953 basilica and the 9,000-seat Holy Trinity church.
Castles & Palaces
Castelo de Almourol
A Templar castle on a rocky island in the Tagus river, reached by short ferry from a riverside car park.
Landmarks
Convento de Cristo, Tomar
A UNESCO-listed Templar monastery with a Manueline round church and the celebrated carved Chapter House window.
Cathedrals & Temples
Sé Velha de Coimbra
A fortress-like 12th-century Romanesque cathedral in the old upper town of Coimbra, near the historic university.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Portugal
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Portagens
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: Lisbon ZER (Zona de Emissoes Reduzidas).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Lisbon to Porto FAQs
How long is the drive from Lisbon to Porto?
Driving from Lisbon to Porto takes about 3 hr 26 min nonstop, covering 196 miles (315 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Lisbon to Porto?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €40 one-way. Expect around €18 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Lisbon to Porto in one day?
Yes, at about 3 hr 26 min of driving, Lisbon to Porto is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Lisbon to Porto?
The fastest route uses the A1 (about 303 km). It passes Póvoa de Santa Iria, Azambuja, Santarém, Leiria.
Where should I stop on the way from Lisbon to Porto?
If you stop every couple of hours, Coimbra comes up about 2 h in. All are just off the main road.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 4 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Lisbon and Porto?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Aveiro, Convent of Christ, Tomar, Batalha Monastery: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Lisbon & Porto
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Portugal road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Portugal guide.