Driving from Lisbon Airport to Northern Portugal

I’ve not driven from the airport myself but have driven the Vasca da Gama bridge and been in many taxis, Uber’s, etc. It really depends on the time of day as to whether it’s crazy or not. Mid morning or later in the evening (after 8:00), it’s a pretty easy drive. The highways are well signed and it’s pretty easy to head north from the airport.

You could also consider picking up the car a bit out of Lisbon to avoid the traffic altogether.

I have driven many times throughout Portugal and specifically the route you will take. As long as you have a gps (or similar on your smartphone), it is very easy. Traffic is always a consideration, and the motorcycle and scooter drivers are horrendous in how they drive. Once you are on the highway you will fine. Pay attention to signs showing radar and watch your speed when you see them.

Not all cars allow a wired or wireless connection from your phone to a display in the car, so you might be using your phone only to look and listen to the directions. I would bring an inexpensive phone attachment that mounts to a vent, window, or dashboard just in case. Some cars now have usb or usb-c connections, so bring an old style cigarette lighter charger as well, plus your charging wires. That is also inexpensive.

Having a car is well worth the added flexibility.

If I were to pick up a car a little ways outside of Lisbon, where would you suggest I do that? I’ve heard that suggested by others but never heard where would be good. I’m guessing a lot of smaller towns don’t have rental spots. Thanks!

Last September our rental car (rented in Spain since it was cheaper than renting in Portugal) had both USB-2 and USB-C ports. In 2022 our rental only had USB-C ports. Even though it had a built in navigation system I used Google maps since all our lodgings, parking lots, and places we intended to visit were bookmarked to it. Since we had plenty of time and distances between our destinations was short, we avoided most tolls by taking back roads. The Portugal portion of our trip was 2 weeks.

Before I moved here, I picked up a car in Coimbra and turned it in in Cascais. That avoided the airport. However, the traffic here has gotten worse in the last 8 years and it would require Uber, taxi or train to do the reverse of that. If you’re arriving mid day, I’d say, just pick the car up at the airport. And, yes, GPS is a must.

We did your drive.
But hired a car+driver.

No rental car horror stories
No parking hassels
No fear of theft of luggage.
No need to handle roundabouts or follow road signs

Got some work done using car's WiFi when views outside were not appealing. Driver was also a professional guide. So lots of interesting historical/contemporary tidbits about Portugal.

Very efficient use of time, energy and money especially if it is a family.

RS PORTUGAL 2023 guidebook says to pick up a rental car at the airport if you plan to go somewhere other than Lisbon. He echoes your sentiment about driving in Lisbon, "It makes absolutely no sense to drive in Lisbon" (RS PORTUGAL, 2023 p. 158). His guidebook states that parking in all but Porto is not difficult and is inexpensive. He does not advise having a car in Porto, however.
ADDENDUM: my husband, son and I may be traveling to Portugal and Spain over Christmas [originally, it was Rome and Sicily, but I'm liking the new plan even better]. After reading RS guidebook, we would fly into Lisbon, take an Uber (he really distrusts the taxis in Lisbon! and says it's cheaper to Uber for 3-4 people). We would spend a few days in Lisbon and then Uber back to the airport to pick up a rental car to drive to Nazare, Obidos and Coimbra. Or, we may stay in Sintra instead of Lisbon. We are still up in the air about where we'll stay. I'll be following your thread for suggestions.

I have done that drive and it wasn't that bad. I think the most difficult city is Porto, just because the hills are very steep and with lots of narrow turns. The biggest issue will be that sometimes GPS has blindspots when you are surrounded by tall buildings. Just make sure you scope out the drive beforehand each day so you have a general sense of where you are going. If you are flying out of Porto, just turn in the car before you go into the town! Happy travels!