Portugal’s N2 by motorcycle in 4 days: Chaves to Faro itinerary

National Road 2 is Portugal’s most iconic motorcycle trip: about 738 km through the interior, from the km 0 marker in Chaves to km 738 in Faro, crossing 35 municipalities. You can ride it in two days, but four gives you time to stop in the towns, at the viewpoints and at the table. This is the itinerary we suggest, using the stops on the route map on MotoTrip.

Day 1: Chaves → Viseu (about 155 km)

Photo at the km 0 marker in Chaves and head south. The first stops are spa towns: the parks of Vidago and Pedras Salgadas. After Vila Real the road drops into the Douro wine region at Peso da Régua, climbs to Lamego (the stairway of the Remédios sanctuary is worth the stop) and crosses the hills to Viseu, a good city to sleep and eat.

Day 2: Viseu → Abrantes (about 200 km)

The twistiest day. Between Santa Comba Dão and Penacova the N2 disappears under the Aguieira reservoir and you detour on the IP3. In Penacova, the Livraria do Mondego viewpoint; then Góis, the Cabril dam, where the road crosses the Zêzere, and the Geodesic Centre of Portugal on top of the Melriça hill. You finish on the Tagus, in Abrantes.

Day 3: Abrantes → Ferreira do Alentejo (about 190 km)

The rhythm changes: long straights, cork oak country and white villages. Ponte de Sor and Montargil have N2 75th anniversary markers, Ciborro has the km 500 marker and Montemor-o-Novo has a castle overlooking the plain. Ferreira do Alentejo, with its round Calvário chapel, is a good place for the night.

Day 4: Ferreira do Alentejo → Faro (about 135 km)

Aljustrel and Almodôvar are the last Alentejo towns before the Caldeirão hills, the most fun stretch of the N2: about 60 km of bends to São Brás de Alportel. Then it’s downhill to the km 738 marker on the way into Faro.

Tips for the trip

• Best time: spring and autumn. In summer the Alentejo easily goes above 35 °C.
• N2 passport: the tourist offices of the towns on the route stamp the passport, a good excuse to stop in each one.
• Fuel: the Alentejo and the Caldeirão hills have long stretches without petrol stations. Fill up whenever you can.
• At weekends, especially in spring, there are lots of riding groups: book your accommodation ahead.
• Download the GPX from MotoTrip and load it on your GPS. N2 signposting is not always clear in towns.