If you have unlimited time, one of Europes greatest pleasures is being "lost" in the dusty plains of the Alentejo or in the hidden little coves of the Algarve. Its fun to wander around Portugal at random, making new discoveries off the beaten path, finding charming cities youve never heard of or reading in a guide, places like Vila Real, the remote capital of Trás-os-Montes, the city of Portugal. province explored.

But few of us have such a generous amount of time in the fast-paced 21st century. Vacations are getting shorter, and a lean-and-mean schedule is required if you want to experience the best of Portugal in a ridiculously short time.

If you are such a time-pressed traveler, like most of us, you may find "Portugal in 1 week" or "Portugal in 2 weeks" more useful to take a look at the highlights. If youve been to Portugal before, exploring tourist trails as well-traveled as Lisbon and Sintra, you may want to discover a different area of the country right now. This is the southernmost province of Portugal and has much to discover. Many visitors to North Africa feel that the Algarve is the European version of that strip of Arabian land.

If you stay on the main highways, Portugal has excellent and well maintained roads. But when you wander off the beaten track, you may encounter less than desirable driving conditions. Anyway, when driving in Portugal you will find (hopefully not face to face) some of the most reckless drivers in Europe. The country has an alarming rate of vehicular accidents, so be cautious and drive defensively. Many Europeans refer to the Portuguese as "cowboys on the road".

Portugal is blessed with a fast and efficient rail system to transport you to the highlights. Where the train ends, a bus is usually waiting to take you the rest of the way.

The following itineraries take you to some of the main attractions, such as Lisbon, but also take you to more isolated villages, such as the perfect village of Óbidos. The pace may be a little breathless for some visitors, so skip a city or view occasionally for a little quiet - after all, youre on vacation.

•