Planning a Portugal adventure next year and could use some advice from anyone who's driven there. I've read some mixed info about the roads, especially outside major cities. Are there many unpaved/dirt roads to watch out for?

Found a helpful article about renting cars here https://www.passportsandpreemies.com...r-in-portugal/. However, I'm torn between renting my trusty Camry or going for an SUV. The roads seem narrow in some historic towns, so maybe the Camry's size would actually be an advantage, but it would be easier to maneuver an SUV on unpaved roads.

Thanks in advance!

 

If you are going to encounter unknown roads and some are not paved, then I would suggest an SUV or a crossover type vehicle. You just don't know what you are getting into and better safe than sorry.

 

This issue with narrow roads may be they are not wide enough for two cars.

The county seems to have classified it road system 1st class and down. See link below. Find your route.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roads_in_Portugal

 

I've done some additional research and would have to agree with @Patonium. Based on my further reading, it is not advisable to rent a car in Lisbon and Porto as one can use public transport and avoid parking issues at the same time as mentioned here https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism...ate-guide-5600. When traveling outside the two main cities, it's always best to be prepared for any road conditions I might encounter. The unpredictability of off-the-beaten-path destinations makes an SUV or crossover a safer option for having better ground clearance and more rugged handling. I can always opt for a compact SUV or crossover to have better fuel efficiency, as fuel is significantly more expensive in Portugal compared to the US.

 

Hi @toyomoho, thank you for the helpful link about roads in Portugal! It's good to know that the country has classified its roads, and I can find my route through that. My initial plan is to visit the Douro valley vineyards, Fatima, and the Algarve, with some day trips to Peniche, Monsaraz, Sintra, and Monsanto.